TOP ALBUMS 2024: Andy's Picks!
Our esteemed collaborator Andy Cairns picks his favourites of the year too.
You weren’t seriously expecting him to stay out of this, were you? Our beloved collaborator Andy Cairns - frontman of the legendary Therapy? and more recently involved in the staggering JAAW as well - has been sharing his coolest underground discoveries all year round on our most successful feature, The Devil’s Month, so obviously he has his say on the best albums of the year as well. So with only the top 5 left to reveal from The Devil’s Mouth (i.e., José’s) list, let’s make a little detour before the grand finale, and sink our teeth into this big six - here are Andy’s Picks for the top music he heard in 2024. Enjoy!
One Leg One Eye
...And Take the Black Worm With Me
(self-released)
A singular experience in 2024. It doesn't begin or end, it exists and if you want to experience its many treasures you have to let go and exist within its ritualistic drones and dark warmth. Its euphoria is tempered with lysergic aural curves, but this enhances its many wonders. If Rothko had painted an Irish landscape this would be its travelling companion.
Street Grease
BLOODBATH1
(Venn Records)
Heavy duty modern industrial - corroded, abrasive, toxic and very, very addictive. Takes the templates of the genre and toys with them. Synths ooze and drums punish while vocals directly project their deadly punchlines. The production on this EP is incredible. The track 'Spit' needs to be heard to be believed. 'Enforcer' gives a modern twist on classic sounds by Ministry and The Young Gods. A perfect soundtrack to run alongside your news feed.
Other Half
Dark Ageism
(Big Scary Monsters)
This record floored me when I first heard it. I hadn't heard such a perfect mix of Unwound, Slint, Bitch Magnet and The Fall in many years. Compelling song structures and enigmatic vocal interplay intertwined with jagged melodic lines. The intro of 'Strange Loop' could be Voivod and 'A Little Less Than Evil' is relentless 21st century rifferama. This album (alongside 'Optimistic Sizing' by Objections) has some of the very best guitars I've heard in many years.
Gimic
We Are Making a New World
(Crew Cuts Records)
Speaking of great guitars, here's another. Bristol's Gimic manage to take the hardcore template and turn it into artful, thoughtful, fierce and intelligent punk rock. Restless guitars and an almost jazz-like use of dynamics keep this forward-thinking record constantly moving and exciting. I'm looking forward to hearing more.
Light Of Eternity
Aftershock EP
(L.O.E. Records)
I was gutted when Geordie Walker of Killing Joke passed away. One of my favourite ever guitarists. This band featuring Paul Ferguson of KJ has made a couple of fantastic EPs and this one is superb. Monstrous riffs and drums and an overall sound of a modern machine firing at full capacity. Hypnotic, grinding and intense.
Die Verlierer
Notausgang
(self-released)
Hands down my album of the year. Berlin-based post-punk that merges classic songwriting chops with an armoury of sounds mixing Hansa Studios-era Bowie, early Joy Division, Pere Ubu, Neu! and even lo-fi garage rock. The title track is a masterpiece of atmospheric world building within dank, sweaty walls of a club. The guitar manages to sound like it's recorded onto a VHS tape that has its tracking slightly off and is all the better for it. 'Fickt Diese Stadt' is more straightforward in its anthemic ramalama and 'Albtraum' has a super dark surf feel. 'Stacheldraht' melds 'Marquee Moon'-era Television and 'Lust For Life'-era Iggy with the vibe of Joy Division's 'New Dawn Fades'.
Throughout the album, the songs, the way they're performed and the overall sound, let you into their world, a world that is very real - it's joyful, it's unkind, it's frustrating, it's vibrant and it's coming from a band very much in tune with each other trying to navigate their way through the modern world.
Want an exclusive tote bag? Become an subscriber of TDM and we’ll send you one, free postage worldwide. Only for December, any paid subscription will get you a bag. Get on it: