Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Ten.
Links: Punk Rock Record Reviews Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine.
I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred subgenre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi!, ska, grindcore, and even rockabilly fit the bill if done right. If I can catch a live show, it gives the release an edge. Here are a few releases from 2024 that I recommend you check out. These are in no particular order, however, I’m only reviewing releases that are in contention for the best release of the year. If I’m reviewing it, I liked it. When the New Year rolls around, I’ll put them in order and do a final article of the best of the best. Drop a comment at the bottom if there is a 2024 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.
V/A “I Heard They Broke Up!!” (NOFX Tribute)
Released: March 29, 2024
Format: 12” vinyl, 2xCD, Digital Download
Label: Coffin Curse
From: Knoxville TN (label)
In the words of the almighty NOFX “There is no too soon, if time is relative.” “I Heard They Broke Up!!” is a well-timed tribute to NOFX, and not just something that was quickly thrown together to capitalize on the hoopla around NOFX this year. This is 65 songs that are nearly all good, and the proceeds from the digital download (which I spent plenty on) go to a local no-kill animal shelter. After repeated plays, it was still difficult to narrow down my favorites but I ended up going with The Remote Controls covering “The Idiots are Taking Over”, School Drugs covering NOFX covering Rancid’s “Antennas”, Orphan Riot covering “Herojuana”, and Depraved covering “Dying Degree”. Don’t stop there though, there are probably 50 of the 65 that I would play repeatedly. For fans of NOFX, this is essential.
Amyl and The Sniffers “Cartoon Darkness”
Released: October 25, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, CD, digital download.
Label: B2B Records
From: Melbourne, Australia
In case you are wondering, there IS a fully uncensored version of the video for “Jerkin’” but you can only view it directly on the Amyl & The Sniffers website If you are 18 or over. Personally, I preferred the censored version. I didn’t find anything new with this album, if you liked them before you will like them now. They have a very distinct sound, I would know Amy Taylor’s voice anywhere. This is more of the same, a mix between garage and punk (their on and off-stage antics add to the punk persona). That’s not a bad thing if you are a fan, and this also means a new world tour in 2025. Both “Chewing Gum” and “Jerkin’” are good songs, but if you are new to the band I’d recommend starting with their 2021 album “Comfort To Me” (“Hertz”, “Guided By Angels”, “Some Mutts Can’t Be Muzzled”) or 2019’s “S/T” (“Gacked On Anger”, “Starfire 500”). Fans of The Chats, Itchy and the Nits, Soft Play, Snooper, Ming City Rockers.
Doll Riot “Grage”
Released: July 19, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Last Hurrah
From: San Diego, CA
Doll Riot is another band that I saw for the first time at Punk Rock Bowling. I actually caught them twice, once at a pool party (opening for Zeke!) and then again on the main stage. I remember really liking them, but I still wasn’t expecting how heavy and dark this album gets. The darkness is especially prevalent on the hardcore 28 second opener “Grage”, the stand out punk song “In Too Deep”, and the macabre “Murder Spree”. Outside of that, it’s well done melodic punk / alt rock. With the popularity of all-girl bands, I’d expect Doll Riot to only get better and eventually be headlining tours/festivals. A really great debut release. For fans of Die Spitz, Starcrawler, Amyl & The Sniffers.
The Effigies “Burned”
Released: 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: BFD
From: Chicago, IL
I was surprised to see a new release by The Effigies. Back in the early 1980’s when I was just starting my lifelong love of punk rock, I picked up their “Bodybag/ Security” 7” and played it until it literally wore out. They have always been on my list of the greatest punk rock bands of all time, but I assumed they were long done with music. After doing some research, it looks like they have been dormant for 17 years, but now that some of the band members have retired (from their day jobs) and had time on their hands – they reunited for a new album. Tragically their singer, 64-year old John Kezdy, was killed in a bike crash just after finishing the vocals for this album. The Effigies were never fast hardcore, they relied on crunching guitars, sing-along vocals, and a punk rock ethos. This is more of the same, so if you liked early Effigies you will like this. If you haven’t heard them before, you definitely need to check out the 1982 classics “Bodybag” and “Security” as well.
Haywire “For Better For Worse”
Released: November 7, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Daze
From: Boston
This follows their January 2024 release “Conditioned for Demolition” and starts out with the brutal two-step inducing hardcore track “Feeling Depressed?” (which at times reminded me of early Negative Approach). That track was just as expected, but the next song was not. “Clocktower Place” still has the hardcore feel (with the gruff vocals) but I also found myself singing along (not necessarily screaming). It’s far more catchy than you would expect with this type of hardcore band, I searched around to find out if maybe it’s a cover (it has the feel of a hardcore band covering a non-hardcore song) but I did not see any reference to that.
As I mentioned in my previous review, I recently saw Haywire, a Boston hardcore band, live in Detroit with Terror and Cro-Mags. They absolutely tore it up, and I have been a fan ever since. This is just a four song EP, and I really wish it was longer. After “Clocktower Place” we get one more hardcore track and the final song is an acoustic version of “Love Song” (from their previous release) with some guest artists.
Good Riddance “No More System To Believe In”
Released: October 22, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-Released
From: Sant Cruz, CA
One of my all-time favorite bands, I’m still upset that their show at a local bar was cancelled due to Covid 19 and has not been rescheduled. This is just a single song, hopefully signaling an upcoming album and tour (and inclusion in some of the big festivals). This is as good as anything they have done, although doesn’t quite hit as hard are some of the bangers from years past (“Weight Of The World”, “Fire Engine Red”, “Shadows Of Defeat”, “A Credit To His Gender”, etc.). But this is just one song, which means the possibility of some faster and heavier songs on the full length to come. Either way, I will be scooping it up as soon as it’s out, and catching a live show in 2025 if there is any way possible.
Middle-Out “S/T”
Released:May 21, 2024
Format:Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label:Punkerton Records
From:Detroit, MI
Middle-Out is a local band to me, from the Detroit area, that has been around since 2021. I just saw them with Off With Their Heads at the legendary Smalls Bar in Hamtramck, MI and they were great. I should have been listening to this sooner, but at least I have corrected that now. This is melodic punk with dual vocals, which fit perfectly with OWTH. The first song that really grabbed me was “Ballerinas”, which has a professional video on YouTube worth checking out. “Silhouette” is another good one, also with a professional video (this one featuring The Muppets?). Punkerton Records has been putting out a string of good releases, so whenever I see something new from them I check it out. Fans of OWTH, Direct Hit!, The Dopamines, Dillinger Four, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Lawrence Arms, or just really good melodic punk rock.
The Brains “Evil”
Released: October 29, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Cleopatra Records
From: Montreal, Québec, Canada
I’m not usually a huge fan of rockabilly, although I do go to local shows to support Koffin Kats from Detroit (or more precisely, Garden City MI). The Brains 2013 release, “The Monster Within” however, is fantastic (check out “The Monster Within” and “Give It All”). When I saw this one, I had to check out it based on my love for that release, and I was not disappointed. This is just one song, “Evil” but it’s right up there with their best and has me highly anticipating the full length release that should follow. Fans of Koffin Kats, Nekromantix, Reverend Horton Heat, or dark rockabilly in general will want to check this out right away (and most definitely go back to their first release from 2013 when you have time).
The Hearts of Stone “S/T”
Released: November 5, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-Released
From: Victoria, British Columbia
If you are wondering how this one made my review list, look closer. This is a solo project by Murray “The Cretin” Acton, singer for The Dayglo Abortions. Yes, this is an acoustic project and does not fit the punk theme of what I usually like, but I’m drawn to his vocals and cannot say that I don’t like this. Plus there is a new version of The Dayglo Abortions “Bedtime Story” on here. “I’ve Done Every Drug” was the standout and “Ho-down on the Skids” was the fastest. This is definitely not for everyone, but if you are a fan of any of Murray’s bands you should give this a listen.
Suck Brick Kid “The End Is What I Want”
Released: May 17, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, Digital download
Label: Smartpunk Records
From: Orlando, Florida
This is another band that I discovered by accident at a live show, this time the 2024 Punk In The Park in Orlando Florida. This is an Orlando local band, and I picked up on their song “Granola Cereal Clusters” at that show. I was happy to see that they put out a new release for 2024, which I almost missed because it’s not on bandcamp or Amazon (but I did find it eventually on YouTube and iTunes). Looking at the song titles, I was excited to see “Silence Is Golden But… Duct Tape Is Silver” expecting an Against All Authority cover, but it wasn’t. No matter though, because this release rips.
I normally expect the best songs to be at the beginning, the assumption being that bands want to draw you in immediately (if you don’t like the first song or two, you might give the entire release a chance). The first song “I Wrote On The Wall! Take That Society!” was initially one of my favorites… but the songs at the end, just wow. I think I played “Drunk Octopus Wants To Fight!” three times through before moving on, and then had to look up the lyrics and follow along. That one is followed by “Unacceptable”, at a quick 46 seconds (the shortest fastest songs are generally my favorites). And then we finally get the title song “The End Is What I Want” at the very end. Highly recommended, expect to see this one on my countdown of the best releases of the year.
