Top Ten Of 2024: Reza Mills
2024 and not much has changed, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to rage, and the scumbag regime in Iran still continues to terrorize its people. Whilst here in the UK, there’s been a general election and a change in government that continues the previous one in terms of incompetence and ineptitude.
My own life on the other hand has been a lot brighter, what with quality gigs from Slowdive, Deaf Club, Sly And The Family Drone, Bohren & Der Club Of Gore and The Damned. More excitingly I was able to travel abroad for the first time since the pandemic with a few days in Leipzeig, Germany whereby I attended Exile On Mainstream‘s 25th anniversary celebrations and the opportunity to finally watch a lot of the amazing artists that feature on that label (some of whom I’ve reviewed).
However, what you’re really wanting to know is what albums made my top ten this year? As ever it’s always a challenge compiling these things, so apologies in advance to the artists who didn’t make the list. You’re still loved. So with that out the way, let’s begin…
10. Gridfailure ‘When The Lights Go Out Vol. IV’
2024 was a comparatively quieter year for Dave Brenner aka Gridfailure. This long-standing project with releases dating back to 2016 has always been a personal favourite, however, it had always evaded the top slot, until now. His best work to date, the fourth installation of his When The Lights Go Out series appeared to have toned down the abstract noise in favour of a more cinematic atmospheric approach. Or to put it another way, less Hantarash and more Herrmann.
Label: Independent
9. Couch Slut ‘You Could Do It Tonight’
From the moment I heard You Could Do It Tonight I knew this was going to be one of my picks of the year. This is how noise-rock should sound in my opinion; grimy, sleazy, heavy as fuck and with a jet black sense of humour. In Couch Slut‘s case they appeared to mine similar lyrical territory to bands such as Killdozer but with the heavier, more metallic approach of Unsane and the sludge punk of Buzzov•en. Coupled with the as ever bleak artwork, this proved an instant classic.
Label: Brutal Panda Records
8. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club ‘Kinnery Of Lupercalia: Buell Legion’
Munly & The Lupercalians Kinnery Of Lupercalia; Undelivered Legion made my Top Ten in 2022 and so too do Scacunincorporated labelmates Slim Cessna’s Auto Club. Musically occupying a similar space to early Bad Seeds, Swans, Gun Club and Exene Cervenka’s Original Sinners, finer exponents of post-punk goth country you will not find outside this weird and wonderful family of bands.
Label: Scacunincorporated
7. The Cure ‘Songs Of A Lost World’
The only album on here I didn’t review came courtesy of the goth rock legends The Cure and one of my all-time favourite bands. After sixteen years, the near impossible happened, Robert Smith and co finally dropped a new record and boy was it worth the wait. Eschewing their poppier tendencies this latest release saw the band harking back to the darkness of 1989’s classic Disintegration but one given a proggier twist. Fingers crossed I’ll get to see them live next year.
Label: Fiction Records
6. Chrome Waves ‘Lost Horizon – Live 1/5/2024’
As with Gridfailure, 2024 has been a quiet year for Jeff Wilson‘s Disorder Recordings, especially seeing as the last few years have seen a seamlessly never-ending string of releases. Live albums can be lifeless cash-in affairs with tracks mirroring exactly what you hear on the record, thereby acting as a glorified greatest hits set. Not with Chrome Waves though, what with a more melancholy and doomy take on Slowdive classic When The Sun Hits and a grittier When Night Falls. Essential.
Label: Disorder Recordings
5. Gouge Away ‘Deep Sage’
Considering they were named after a Pixies track it shouldn’t have registered as a huge shock that Gouge Away chose to incorporate even more alt-rock into their trademark brand of post-hardcore. Tracks like Dallas made me teary eyed with nostalgia remembering 1990s alt-rock, though Stuck In A Dream and The Sharpening demonstrated a band still capable of packing a punch. Refined, intelligent songwriting with strong hooks made for one hell of an impressive album.
Label: Deathwish Inc
4. Scions ‘To Cry Out In The Wilderness’
Scions, an eight-piece collective from Toronto who bring together the forces of post-rock, drone, folk, jazz, ambient and even classical music to brilliant effect. If you fancy a more condensed, far less ponderous Godspeed! You Black Emperor then these guys deliver that sound in spades. The tracks here are beautifully crafted, sounding both ethereal and cinematic and what’s impressive is that this is only their debut album. One hopes this is the start of a lengthy musical career.
Label: Idée Fixe Records
3. Joyce ‘Voyce’
From the good ship Human Worth comes this stunning debut from Joyce, a band comprised of former/current members of The Cure, Future Of The Left as well as a bunch of other bands I’m not familiar with. Acclaimed by the actor Michael Sheen (who makes an appearance) and Red Dwarf star/BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Craig Charles comes a stunningly diverse album laden with power-pop, post-punk and noise-rock which manages to be both effortlessly discordant and catchy.
Label: Human Worth
2. Various Artists ‘New Wave Donut’
The good ship Wax Donut came laden with a plentiful bounty this year ala excellent releases such as the Day Old Donut and Wax Donut Presents Goat compilations along with Rated Eye‘s self-titled debut. However, the true standout was this wondrous tribute to 80’s new wave/post-punk, two of my favourite genres. Spirited covers by Naw, Bovine Nightmares, Basement Family, to name three, made this an exceptional piece of work which I had the privilege of reviewing. Bravo label head Moray!
Label: Wax Donut Records
1. High Noon Kahuna ‘This Place Is Haunted’
It’s stoner rock Jim, but not as we know it. High Noon Kahuna, a Maryland three-piece, helped deliver something far more interesting than your average band in the genre. Shoegaze, surf, spaghetti western and noise-rock are all ingredients in this musical stew. The whole thing could have ended in tears, instead, it resulted in something truly magical. So impressed was I that I immediately picked up the rest of their back catalogue. Outstanding and as such deservedly hitting the number one spot.
Label: Crucial Blast Records
Honourable Mentions
Pekka Laine ‘Pekka Laine & The Enchanted In Slumberland’
Drug Hunt ‘Feast’
Sly And The Family Drone ‘Moon Is Doom Backwards’
Nonexistent Night ‘In The Middle Of A Boiling Sea’
Excel ‘Seeking Refuge’
Scribed by: Reza Mills
