Best of 2024

[Apes Clog Snag]

It's that time of the year again, no one is escaping the lists.


So, let's start with these.

Tim Olive – Hindmost Hand
Recombinants – Splatterfarm
Sewer Election & Incipientium – Sorceress
Mogao – Tri-Kàya
Toanche Dwelling – Wendake Ehen
Leather Dog – Chain Bondage
Kylmäkovamaa – Rikottu Minäkuva
Commando 15 – Inner Insurgency Manual

Special mention goes to Carnival by Outdoor Horse Shrine that was released last year.

[Stipsi]

XE: FRONT LINE FIGHTERS
SNUFF: V
HINGST: ABSOLUTE HINGST
JSH: REV 13:6
BIZARRE UPROAR: FINAL APOCALYPTIC STRUGGLE

Waiting for more stuff from 2024 from various labels, so list might be incomplete

[BatteredStatesofEuphoria]

Invaders of the 21st Century-s/t
Infibulation-Abysmal Providence
Bizarre Uproar-Final Apocalyptic....
(have a feeling the Grunt/BU release would probably be on here as well, but still waiting on the order its in)
Outdoor Horse Shrine-Watercourse
Executionists-The Gerry Commission
The Cherry Point-Dawn of the Bloody Tapes
Desiderii Marginis-Bathe In Black Light (technically from '21, but the physical release was this year so...)

Reissues:
Slave Labor-Vol I and II
Einleitungszeit rereleases on Phage

[Vrenndel]

Snuff - V
Xenophobic Ejaculation - Front Line Fighters
Scatmother / scum - S/T
Grunt / Bizarre Uproar – Toinen Iho
Linekraft – Stupid True Horse Bone Idealist
Fistfun - Up The Rolls
FFH – Frozen Music
Withering Herd – Ron's Angel House

[Ivan Rex]

Pain Appendix – Manuhypnoz
Karmic Delusions – Ordinary Confused Human
Freak Animal International Vol. 2
SSRI – Trash Heap
ZSS / XE – War's Wild Beast
Snuff – V
Vigilantism – Fetish Of Death
Maltraitance Animale – Le Langage des Animaux

[Into_The_Void]

I didn't listen to many releases this year, but I also include the new Xenophobic Ejaculation in the best 2024 releases.

[Cranial Blast]

North Central - Dark & Abusive CD by Phage Tapes

M.I.A. - Mutants CD, also released by Phage Tapes

Xenophobic Ejaculation - Front Line Fighters CD by F&V

ZSS/XE - War's Wild Beast CD, also by F&V

There is obviously more, but those come to my mind immediately!

[Krigsverk]

In no particular order:

Vihaa Ja Kiimaa Ikuisesti
David Gilden - Texas Pillbox
The Black Maghreb - Hashshashiyin
Contortus - The Worst Is Yet To Come
Organ of Corti - Fanaticus
Ulvtharm - 7 Uthras
Caligula031 & Taeter - Escalation
Vihanmiehet III - Matalataajuuksinen Extaasi

[PeteHarma]

Rotat – Persisting Calamity
Rotat – Static Antics
Snuff - V
Pain Appendix – Manuhypnoz
Bizarre Uproar – Final Apocalyptic Struggle To Survive
Grunt / Bizarre Uproar – Toinen Iho

Reissue:

Taint – Misogynist Lust


and of course:
Contortus - The Worst Is Yet To Come

[BirdBolt]

A lot of great stuff this year - pretty difficult to make a shortlist.

Psychward - Vomit Noise
Spring of Life - Training Camp
Amek-Maj - Amek-Maj
Barstool Mountain - Tom
Dressing - Old Town
Pain Appendix - Manuhypnoz
Executionists - The Gerry Commission
Finno-Ugrian Suicide Hypothesis - Kansamme Kuolema
HÖH / Hattifnattar - Untitled
Tim Gick - Neighbor Invader
Green Tea - Owl Arcana
Recombinants - Splatterfarm
Organ of Corti - Fanaticus

[Fistfuck Masonanie]

Another great year. It feels like the momentum from 2020 has rolled over to every year since and there is more artist output and even more high-caliber artists than ever. Also, a lot of great labels putting in hard work and quality work.

Best of the Best: Top Picks
Dressing - Old Town
Tourette - Matiere Arrachee
Sawn Half - Sink
Jim Haynes - Inconsequential
Jeph Jerman - Burn-im-rag
Spore Spawn - Okoranaideto
Scathing - Clipping Wings Of Grief
K2 / John Wiese - Multiple Density
Grunt / Bizarre Uproar - Toinen Iho
Richard Ramirez - Eye Contact
The Cherry Point - Dawn Of The Bloody Tapes
Sissy Spacek - Antitheater

Honorable Mentions
Spring of Life - Training Camp
Executionists - The Gerry Commission
Toshiji Mikawa - Encounter When Pigs Fly
Richard Ramirez - Heat
Richard Ramirez / Respirator split
Corral Shut - Upside Cross (NASTY and vicious album)

Reissues
David Gilden Texas Pillbox
Slave Labour Vol I and II
Richard Ramirez - Volume 2
Kazumoto Endo - Brick and Mortar

Compilations
Freak Animal International vol. 1-4 (*Can't pick a favorite though #1 and #4 are both insanely strong)

[AJK]

Some good stuff:

ABYSSE DES ÂMES: Mielen lujittama hulluus
Not your basic noise album. This is more like a haunting sound collage full of creaks, whispers, echoes and even some traditional instruments. Very well crafted and structured, and you find something new during every listening session.
https://satatuhatta.bandcamp.com/album/m...ma-hulluus

GREEN TEA: Owl Arcana
A confusing album, tying noise and new age synths together. But this weird solution works, shaping the sharpest edges but still keeping things harsh and interesting. Maybe a bit too long experience but otherwise no complaints.
https://satatuhatta.bandcamp.com/album/owl-arcana

NUORI VERI: NVV
Every Nuori Veri release is like a story. Now I found myself at the forgotten wastelands, where nature is conquering concrete, old bullets and memories lying here and there. Abandoned, prosaic and worn-out soundscapes.

ORGAN OF CORTI: Fanaticus
Forget hassle and hurry. These guys - known from Altar of Flies, Sewer Election and what else - know what they are doing and there is no use to do anything else what is needed. Simple loops and samples, one after another. Quiet music that says a lot.
https://newforces.bandcamp.com/album/fanaticus

Also the new RMSS album sounds very promising.

[burdizzo1]

FFH – Frozen Music

Yes, this is good. However, "Tip Of The Spear" is what elevates it to another level: a power-driven oscillating mechanical pulse and reverberating vocal delivery. I would say one of the best tracks of the year (though "Bloodflag" off the ZSS/ XE album would give it a good run for its money).

[John Cagefight]

SPRING OF LIFE - Training Camp
SEWER ELECTION / INCIPIENTIUM - Sorceress
ARTHUR CANTERBURY - Talking to Dead People
APRIL CHEST - Dog's Tongue With Special White Sauce
ROTAT - Static Antics
ORGAN OF CORTI - Fanaticus

[mag-maa]

my list of noise/exp related favourites:

Kluik - Verstörung
Junkyard Shaman - The Unborn
[ówt krì] - Parasitic Symbiosis
Free Tala - Underwater Sounds To Lure The Fishes
Juho Toivonen - Sisarusten Toistuva Uni
Palokoro - Vapaat Miehet Kulkemaan
Tahma - s/t
Salo Ra II - Viptronic
Kartio - Annual Report
Mogao - Tri-Kaya
Violent Shogun / Resting Place / Hazarda Bruo Sonsistemo
Magic Nousiainen & Wonderful Lehtisalo - Cafetic Atom

some of these I listened only from bandcamp (so far),
but will buy a copy one later if i find them in nice price.

thumbs up for Wooden Sherpa (all projects) and Junkyard Shaman for being active
and releasing a lot of new intersting stuff.

also realized these are all Finnish. I surely enjoyed some non-Fin stuff too.