AS WE ALL RECOVER FROM CHRISTMAS DINNER, NURSE OUR HANGOVERS FROM THE NYE CELEBRATIONS, AND PONDER WHAT THE 2025 CHAPTER HOLDS, I THOUGHT WE’D REFLECT ON THE AMPED TEAMS TOP ALBUMS THAT SHAPED 2024.
Words by Josephine Best | Jan 2, 2025
- Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To (Pure Noise Records)
When it comes to heavy music, 2024 belonged to Knocked Loose. Their third full-length album, You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, was nothing short of groundbreaking. The Kentucky kings of hardcore delivered a soundscape that was both refreshingly experimental and unapologetically heavy, proving that innovation doesn’t have to come at the cost of integrity. By incorporating pop-inspired melodies, and even those unmistakable reggaeton beats, Knocked Loose redefined what hardcore can be—without losing a shred of their signature brutality. Let’s not mince words: this is their heaviest album to date.
One of the album’s most striking features was this ability to merge experimentation with the raw energy fans have come to expect. The high-speed kick drums, distorted guitars, and Bryan Garris’ feral guttural vocals are all still here, but they’re infused with an elevated sense of ambition. The band’s willingness to step outside their comfort zone while retaining their ferocious identity created something rare: an album that feels fresh yet undeniably Knocked Loose. Tracks like ‘Suffocate,’ with its unexpected guest feature, Poppy, earned them their first Grammy nomination, and rightly so. It’s not only one of the most talked-about songs of the year but arguably the best.
As if that wasn’t enough, the band joined forces with Poppy for a year-ending performance of ‘Suffocate’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live. While the TV audience may have been left speechless, fans of heavy music revelled in the chaotic, visceral energy they brought to late-night television.
You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To is more than just an album – it’s an emotional marathon of catharsis, plunging listeners deep into the abyss of darkness and despair while simultaneously urging them forward through the chaos. This is Knocked Loose at their most fearless, their most inventive, and their most devastatingly heavy. For those reasons, it’s my album of the year – and it’s a testament to the transformative potential of hardcore music in 2024.
2. Poppy – Negative Spaces (Sumerian Records)
Poppy’s Negative Spaces may have arrived late in the year, dropping in November, but it wasted no time cementing its place as one of the standout albums of 2024. Poppy had an incredible year, from her touring with and collaboration with Bad Omens on ‘V.A.N’ to joining forces with Knocked Loose on the monumental ‘Suffocate,’ which many (myself included) are calling the track of the year. With these massive moments setting the bar impossibly high, expectations for Negative Spaces were through the roof – and yet in my eyes, Poppy exceeded every one of them.
This album to me represents the best of metalcore, blending every hallmark of the genre – intense riffs, anguished lyrics, and relentless energy – with beautifully crafted synth-pop elements. The result is a as heavy as it is hypnotic. It’s a masterclass in merging contrasting styles, and Poppy executes it with precision and heart, making it one of the most polished and ambitious releases of the year.
What makes Negative Spaces even more remarkable is how it showcases Poppy’s constant evolution as an artist. This is a complete 180 from the quirky internet persona we first met on YouTube nearly a decade ago, and even a significant departure from her previous album, which dropped only the year before. Somehow, Poppy reinvents herself with every album cycle, delivering fresh, unexpected sounds while maintaining a core authenticity. With Negative Spaces, she’s found a sound that feels both experimental and deeply rooted in the heavy music world – and I, for one, hope she continues on this incredible trajectory.
3. Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX GEn (RCA)
Bring Me The Horizon’s POST HUMAN: NeX GEn is undeniably one of the most impactful albums of the year, and was a clear winner amongst the AMPED Team. Originally slated for a September 2023 release, fans were taken by surprise when we woke up one morning in May to the band casually dropping the record, ending the agonising four-year wait since the first POST HUMAN project. This seventh full-length album offers a genre-blurring experience that firmly reasserts Bring Me The Horizon’s place at the top of the UK alternative music scene.
POST HUMAN: NeX GEn is a time machine of sorts, channeling the early 2000s emo vibes we all hold dear while also bringing back flashes of the band’s early deathcore roots. Yet, what makes this album truly special is its boundary-pushing sound. Bring Me The Horizon masterfully combines the heaviness of their steel-city deathcore origins with crowd-pleasing pop elements, creating a dynamic fusion that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking. The album’s deep lore adds another layer of intrigue, shrouding it in a mystique that fans can’t get enough of.
For me, ‘Kool Aid’ was an absolute standout, becoming my most-played track on Spotify and a serious contender for track of the year. Its infectious energy and perfectly blended heaviness encapsulated everything POST HUMAN: NeX GEn stands for: a bold, genre-defying celebration of everything Bring Me The Horizon does best.
4. Boston Manor – Sundiver (SharpTone Records)
Boston Manor’s Sundiver is nothing short of a triumph and easily one of my favourite albums of 2024. It represents a thrilling evolution of the band’s sound, blending their signature style with bold experimentation that pushes their music into fresh and exciting territory. From start to finish, the album felt like a cinematic experience – crafted to be consumed as a cohesive whole rather than a collection of standalone tracks. It’s an album that invites you to sit down, listen, and immerse yourself completely.
One of the standout features for me was the seamless marriage of filthy riffs and sexy breakdowns, creating moments of pure intensity while retaining an undeniable sense of groove. The heavier elements are beautifully balanced with an experimental edge that doesn’t stray too far from the Boston Manor we know and love.
Above all, Sundiver was a testament to Boston Manor’s versatility and ambition. It’s an album that demands attention not just for its technical brilliance but for the emotional depth and cohesion that make it truly unforgettable. Boston Manor has proven that they’re not just staying relevant – they’re setting the bar for the future of alternative music.
5. Heriot – Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell (Century Media)
Heriot’s Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell was nothing short of an earth-shattering debut LP. The best way I can describe this record, is a biblical descent into hell – but make it sexy. From the very first note, the album envelops you in a suffocating yet addictive atmosphere, with hefty riffs and guttural vocals that make the very air around you feel thick. It’s an album so powerful and immersive that I can confidently say I’d want it playing as the soundtrack to my own personal descent into hell.
As Heriot’s debut full-length album, Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell is the culmination of everything the band has been building toward. It’s a crescendo of their vision – heavy, abrasive, and entirely immersive. Vocalist Debbie Gough described it perfectly, noting that the album “brings a new style of metal, with the same values we started with.”
The listening experience itself is nothing short of transformative. The album drags you into its depths with relentless riffs and a dark, seductive energy that keeps you enthralled from start to finish. Heriot has crafted a sound that feels fresh yet timeless—a perfect blend of modern heaviness and raw, primal emotion. Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell isn’t just an album; it’s an experience, and one that cements Heriot’s place as one of the most exciting heavy acts of the year and defiantly one to watch.
6. Better Lovers – Highly Irresponsible (SharpTone Records)
Better Lovers’ debut full-length album, Highly Irresponsible, is everything you could hope for from a hardcore supergroup – and then some. Featuring members of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die, and Fit For An Autopsy, this powerhouse lineup came into 2024 with high expectations, especially after the monster success of their 2023 EP. Let me tell you, the album didn’t just meet the bar – it obliterated it.
Highly Irresponsible is a masterclass in unhinged hardcore, delivering feral chaos from start to finish in the best possible way. It feels like an organic evolution from their EP – bigger, bolder, and more dynamic – while still holding onto the visceral intensity that first captured our attention. This album isn’t just an incredible debut; it’s a testament to the collective experience and raw talent of these musicians, representing the very best of what hardcore can be.
7. Graphic Nature – Who Are You When No One Is Watching? (Rude Records)
Graphic Nature’s Who Are You When No One Is Watching stands out as a defining album of 2024, a genre-defying masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates their raw power and creative evolution. By blending jungle and drum-and-bass elements with crushing riffs and heavy bass lines, the band crafts a sound that is as dynamic as it is devastating. The album’s creeping interludes add an eerie, cinematic quality that heightens its tension, making the listening experience immersive and unforgettable.
Lyrically, this record hits hard with its brutal honesty. Every track feels like an unfiltered confession, offering a raw vulnerability that is as painful as it is relatable. These lyrics cut to the core, exploring themes of inner conflict and self-reflection, resonating deeply with anyone who has wrestled with their own demons. It’s not just an album you hear – it’s an album you feel.
A huge big up to the 404, showcasing some of Britain’s very best. Graphic Nature has delivered a record that doesn’t just celebrate the UK heavy music scene, it redefines it.
8. Palaye Royale – Death Or Glory (Sumerian Records)
Palaye Royale’s Death Or Glory was nothing short of a triumph – a testament to resilience and creativity in the face of immense personal tragedy. Following the loss of their mother to cancer in April, the trio of brothers somehow found the strength to channel their pain into a brilliant, showstopping album that stands as one of their finest works to date. It’s a deeply emotional and ambitious record that captures the raw complexity of grief while embracing the band’s signature flair for drama and spectacle.
In true Palaye Royale fashion, Death Or Glory is a masterclass in style and opulence, brimming with bold artistry and theatrical energy. The band themselves have described it as “where chaos meets harmony and where we find ourselves struggling between ego and self-destruction,” and that sentiment is woven into every note and lyric. It’s an album that explores the push and pull of inner conflict, pairing the grandeur of its sound with themes of heartbreak and human fragility. The album exudes showmanship, delivering sweeping tales of loss and self-discovery through a rich blend of pop and rock influences. With its soaring melodies, raw emotion, and modern edge, Palaye Royale have once again proven why they remain one of the most captivating bands in the industry today.
9. Bob Vylan – Humble As The Sun (Ghost Theatre)
In a turbulent era where the UK faces profound social and economic challenges, Bob Vylan emerges as a vital voice, with Humble As The Sun delivering a cathartic soundtrack that channels collective anger and frustration into something both raw and empowering. This album doesn’t merely comment on the broken system – it provides an outlet for listeners to process their rage and find strength in the fight for change.
At its core, Humble As The Sun is a genre-defying masterpiece, blending punk, hip-hop, rock, rap, and drum and bass with remarkable fluidity. This fusion amplifies the potency of its hard-hitting lyrics, which tackle issues ranging from economic inequality and systemic racism to colonisation, police brutality, and toxic masculinity. Yet, despite the weight of these themes, the album retains an element of playfulness, balancing its seriousness with moments of sharp wit and dynamic energy. The juxtaposition of unflinching social critique and creative freedom makes for a listening experience that is both thought-provoking and fiercely engaging.
Bob Vylan channels defiance into inspiration with this latest addition, reminding socially conscious listeners that there is strength in unity and determination in adversity. Humble As The Sun is an album that not only reflects the times but also inspires the will to change them – a crucial release for 2024 and a testament to Bob Vylan’s unshakable vision.
10. Dead Pony – IGNORE THIS (LAB Records)
Dead Pony’s debut album, IGNORE THIS, was nothing short of spectacular and has rightfully earned its place as one of my albums of the year. I first discovered Dead Pony in February when they supported The Blackout, and from that moment, I was hooked. Fast forward to the release of their 16-track debut LP, and it’s clear this band has no intention of holding back. Entirely self-written and self-produced, IGNORE THIS is an ambitious, fearless project that took a big risk and it did not miss.
The album is brimming with infectious energy, each track feeling like it could serve as the soundtrack to a superhero film. Every song is an anthem begging to be sung along to, bursting with hooks and raw power that make IGNORE THIS impossible to forget. From start to finish, it captures the true essence of Dead Pony: vibrant, dynamic, and unapologetically themselves. They’ve created an album that feels deeply personal yet universally exhilarating. This is more than just a debut – it’s a bold statement of identity, passion, and purpose. With IGNORE THIS, Dead Pony has proven they’re a force to be reckoned with, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
Compiling a list of top albums for 2024 was no easy task… It was ever changing and evolving with every brilliant release so naturally I am going to have a list of honourable mentions, for albums that didn’t quite make the Top 10 that myself and the rest of the AMPED Team couldn’t get enough of.
- Casey – How To Disappear (Rise Records)
- Kid Kapichi – There Goes The Neighbourhood (Spinefarm)
- Zetra – Zetra (Nuclear Blast)
- Speed – ONLY ONE MODE (Flatspot)
- Mimi Barks – THIS IS DOOM TRAP (Silent Cult)
- The Story So Far – I Want To Disappear (Pure Noise Records)
- While She Sleeps – SELF HELL (Sleeps Brothers)
Roll on the 2025 chapter of music…
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