As the year draws to a close we look back on a brilliant 12 months of music, as members of the Bring The Noise UK team share their favourite releases of 2024.
Hannah Gillicker – Editor
1. Maeta – Endless Night
My music taste has expanded a lot over in 2024. I’ve opened myself up to new genres and delved back into some favourites from the past. Maeta grabbed my attention with her 2023 track Questions earlier this year, and when Endless Night dropped in June it instantly became a firm favourite. Her voice is so beautifully captivating and melts right through me, back by a gorgeous blend of R&B and soul. Spotify radio really delivered when it introduced me to Maeta and she’s without a doubt my favourite musical discovery of 2024.
2. Kublai Khan TX – Exhibition Of Prowess
I’ll never forget the feeling when I first heard Supreme Ruler over the summer – it hit differently. So much so, that it was my most listened to song on my Spotify Wrapped this year (I even impressed myself when I found out I’d listened to it 339 times!) With the opening one-two hit of Supreme Ruler and Darwinism I knew this record was going to make a high place in my Top 10. For me, Exhibition Of Prowess is a masterpiece and one I will come back to for many years to come.
3. The Home Team – The Crucible Of Life
I first came across The Home Team just over a year ago and fell in love with their unique blend of rock, R&B, funk and pop-punk. I was so impressed with their latest album The Crucible Of Life, it’s one of the catchiest records I’ve heard in a very long time. The band’s authenticity really shines through on this album and you can tell it’s the music that The Home Team want to write. It’s no surprise that the band’s debut UK headline tour sold out so quickly and having seen them perform in London, it won’t be long before this band skyrocket even further.
4. HERIOT – Devoured by the Mouth of Hell
5. Native James – Rebirth EP
6. Fred again… – ten days
7. Normani – DOPAMINE
8. Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
9. Charli xcx – BRAT
10. Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
Nicola Craig – Live Editor
1. Kids in Glass Houses – Pink Flamingo
It seems to be becoming a bit of a recurring theme that Kids in Glass Houses feature highly on my albums of the year (they’re also high on my favourite albums of all time list), so when they came back with their first album in eleven years I had high hopes. From the upbeat singalongs of Theme From Pink Flamingo and Strawberry Sky to the heartfelt Vulnerable and Flowers In The Rain, it feels like KIGH at their finest. Lyrically this release shines, telling stories on every track all accompanied by simply delightful musical backings. It’s a joy to listen to from start to finish and it’s just great to have KIGH back and doing what they do best!
2. Lauran Hibberd – girlfriend material
Lauran Hibberd‘s second album is the perfect follow-up to her debut, it’s sassy, it’s relatable and it’s sugary in the best way possible. The emotion behind I Suck At Grieving never fails to get to me, and it continues as anti fragile is another sincere moment and look into Lauran’s world. Listening to this album takes me on a bit of emotions rollercoaster, from teary to dancing around singing along to 90’s Kid and 2nd prettiest girl (in the world). Having heard a chunk of this live over 2024 it’s become one of my most played, but also features many of my live show highlights.
3. Rachel Chinouriri – What A Devastating Turn Of Events
You know sometimes when you listen to a debut album and just know from the onset it’s going to be something really special? This release did just this. Covering the rock, the pop and everything in between, lyrically and musically this is a full package to showcase everything brilliant about Rachel Chinouriri. It’s an album of two halves, the lighter side of the world and then something heavier, darker and even more thought provoking on the later part of the release. Standouts for me have been Dumb Bitch Juice, Never Need Me and My Blood, but really you should just check out the full release as 2025 is going to be a huge year for the singer-songwriter.
4. SNAYX – Better Days
5. Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX Gen
6. Benson Boone – Fireworks & Rollerblades
7. Kid Kapichi – There Goes The Neighbourhood
8. Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
9. Bears in Trees – How To Build An Ocean: Instructions
10. Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism
Alan Brown – Contributing Writer
1. Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Released in October, Cartoon Darkness is 33 minutes of punk rock joy, just what I needed as I entered the winter months. Okay, there are a couple of controversial moments lyrics wise, but underneath all that is a collection of songs that grab you from the first notes of Jerkin’ and doesn’t let go until the end of Me and the Girls. If you’re yet to listen Chewing Gum, Big Dreams and U Should Not Be Doing That are standout tracks, while there is also a couple of traditional punk numbers with It’s Mine and Pigs. The band’s UK tour in November was outstanding, so unsurprisingly Amyl and the Sniffers were also my gig of the year.
2. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
The much-anticipated album from the Dublin boys is still my go to album, even though it was released back in August. Grian Chatten has to be one of the best vocalists around at the moment, and is surely one of the reasons for the band’s success. The fans took to Starburster when it was released back in April and they drip fed a few more before Romance was released in full. Their recent UK & Irish arena tour was a complete success and they have so much to look forward to in 2025, including massive show at Finsbury Park and Wythenshawe Park. Watch this band go!
3. NewDad – MADRA
Sometimes the timing of an album release is important, so when MADRA was released in January it set the mood for the mid-winter. It’s an album filled with some memorable shoegaze and indie guitar, which work really well alongside Julie Dawson’s haunting vocals. I was lucky enough to catch NewDad at three festivals during the summer and this quartet from Galway can look forward to another great year in 2025. They went viral in China during the summer where fans interpreted the artwork, they even toured there too.
4. The Snuts – Millennials
5. The Mysterines – Afraid of Tomorrows
6. Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project
7. Pale Waves – Smitten
8. London Grammar – The Greatest Love
9. Snow Patrol – The Forest Is The Path
10. STONE – Fear Life For A Lifetime
Florin Petrut – Contributing Writer
1. The Warning – Keep Me Fed
I first discovered The Warning earlier this year via their MTV VMA performances of EVOLVE and MORE, and I was instantly hooked. It’s impressive to see how much these three sisters have evolved (no pun intended) in their careers so far, and Keep Me Fed is a very good reflection of their progress. S!CK and Six Feet Deep are still on heavy rotation, and I’ve recently found myself listening to Qué Más Quieres much more than I did upon release. All I know is, the second the stars align closer and I can see The Warning in concert, I won’t be thinking twice before buying a ticket, and you shouldn’t, either!
2. Linkin Park – From Zero
Okay, confession time: I never got that much into Linkin Park. Not for any particular reason, I just didn’t really go through too much of an angsty teenager phase, and I’m also as old as their debut record. That said, I’ve always enjoyed listening to their most popular songs. So, I decided to check out their new album and see what a self-confessed “casual fan” thinks of it, and I ended up enjoying it way more than expected. Emily Armstrong is a powerhouse with her vocals, and has more than proven herself to those who doubted her. That should be especially apparent through her performance in bangers such as IGYEIH, Heavy is the Crown, or even more low-key songs such as Over Each Other and Stained. If you haven’t done so already, give this new record a chance, as it might just win you over. And yes, they’re still Linkin Park even with a new vocalist – if bands such as AC/DC, Alice in Chains or Iron Maiden survived switching singer, so will they.
3. Bilmuri – American Motor Sports
Yup, you read that right, Bilmuri at #3. No apologies there whatsoever. No matter how you spin it, American Motor Sports is such a great album, even when you dismiss the music videos and their equally humorous and random nature. Better Hell is one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard all year, and it hasn’t left the confines of my mind since the first listen, as shown by it being my second-most streamed song of the year. Songs such as 2016 CAVALIERS (Ohio) or BLINDSIDED are equally memorable, too, and the album’s 420CC Deluxe Edition only increases the quality of the whole package by adding four more songs to the mix (including another personal favourite, LIVIN’, LAUGHIN’, LOVIN’). If any of you reading this have the opportunity to see Bilmuri in concert anytime soon, do yourselves a favour and get those tickets if you can. Their live performances are enhanced by a live saxophone player, and the stage banter is on par with what you’d expect after seeing their music videos. I only got to see them as openers for Sleep Token at their show in London, and would immediately jump at the chance to see Johnny Franck & co. at a headlining show.
4. Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX Gen
5. Mothica – Kissing Death
6. Cassyette – This World Fucking Sucks
7. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield
8. Kalandra – A State of Mind
9. Vana – Trial & Terror EP
10. Twenty One Pilots – Clancy
Soph Johnson – Contributing Writer
1. Joey Valance & Brae – No Hands
Joey Valence & Brae’s No Hands is an electrifying release with the spirit of a nostalgic throwback, blending old-school hip-hop with modern energy. The duo masterfully captures the essence of 90s rap, heavily reminiscent of Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C., while maintaining their own playful and irreverent style. Tracks like WHERE U FROM and JOHN CENA are brimming with witty wordplay, eclectic beats, and a sense of fun that makes the album feel like a party you can’t help but join. What stands out most is their totally unique sound, that feels both classic and refreshingly individual in today’s music landscape. With No Hands, Joey Valence & Brae have delivered a vibrant, genre-bending record that’s impossible not to relisten again and again.
2. Interpol – Antics 20th Anniversary Edition
Interpol’s Antics 20th Anniversary Edition is a stunning celebration of a landmark album that helped define the music scene of the early 2000s. This special edition breathes new life into timeless tracks like Evil and Slow Hands, reminding listeners of the band’s brooding intensity and magnetic songwriting. Accompanied by live recordings, it offers fans an intimate glimpse into the performance and evolution of an album that remains as compelling as ever. With its sleek production and melancholic atmosphere, Antics continues to resonate two decades on, cementing its place as a cornerstone of modern alternative music.
3. Charli xcx – BRAT
Charli xcx’s BRAT is a razor-sharp exploration of rebellion and self-expression, with all the energy and atmosphere of the perfect hyper-pop release. The album is a bold statement, unapologetically embracing gritty production, raw lyrics, and experimental soundscapes that push boundaries. For me, the key part of BRAT would be its ability to feel both personal and universal – an anthem for those of us unafraid to embrace our flaws and speak their truth. It’s an exhilarating ride that reaffirms Charli xcx as an innovator in modern pop music, and I’m excited to see what comes next.
4. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
5. Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia
6. Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
7. American Football – American Football (25th Anniversary Edition)
8. The Smile – Wall of Eyes
9. Thee Oh Sees – SORCS 80
10. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
