Rock can be a lot of things. Alternative, indie, folk, punk, glam, blues, garage and even electronic. The list of sub-genres goes on and on, and genres can juxtapose with each other in ways you never expected. So for this year’s best of rock list, I wanted to highlight the vastly different sounds rock bands can have. Breaking down the genre to its roots and how it’s evolved over the years, here’s the best of 2024 rock!
Honorable Mention: AWOLNATION – The Phantom Five (Two Twenty Five Music)
With each and every song on The Phantom Five, Aaron Bruno embraces AWOLNATION’S musical history, variations of style, and soundscapes that he’s explored over the past 15 years. It’s an agglomeration of every AWOLNATION record he’s released, and yet, it never once feels predictable or repetitive.
Nothing shows the album’s range quite like the transition between the sentimental and ballad-like “Panoramic View” to the hard-wired synth and rap elements of “I Am Happy,” which even features Del the Funky Homosapien. Longtime fans will have a fun time placing the musical references from previous releases throughout the record.
You can follow the band here.
10) Gina Volpe – Delete The World (Heavy Nose Records)
With Delete the World, Gina Volpe (of Lunachicks and Bantam) solidifies the fact that she’s a musical chameleon, effortlessly infusing elements of pop, punk, electronic, and rock into her debut solo album. Bold and frenetic, Volpe tackles themes of escapism, obsession, control, and unintended consequences.
If we were to award best music videos, Volpe’s “Drink Me” would be at the top of the list. Visually stunning, the psychedelic 3-D video is quite literally a work of art, which was created by multimedia designer Stanzii—who is known for pushing the boundaries of style. The kaleidoscopic background in the video fits the intoxicating lyrics and vocals to a tee, transporting viewers down the rabbit hole of Volpe’s creation.
You can follow Volpe here.
9) The BellRays – Heavy Steady Go! (Sweet Gee Records)
Fiercely DIY, The BellRays were formed by Lisa Kekaula and Robert Vennum in 1990 when the two endeavored to playfully mix punk, blues, and rock. It would be lazy to compare Kekaula’s powerful voice to the late and great Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin—a comparison she often receives—because her performance and irresistible energy takes everything you know about soul and flips it on its head. Defining her voice is a disservice and puts her into a cookie cutter, whose mold she transcends completely.
One of the highlights of the record “Ball of Confusion” sees Kekaula melodically rasp, “Segregation, demonstration, obligation to our nation. Humiliation, aggravation, civil rights violation,” amidst the classic rock stylings of Vennum (which compliments her vocals flawlessly). As the song progresses, it becomes more and more wild and uninhibited, brilliantly matching the state of the world—i.e. a ball of confusion—today.
You can follow the band here!
8) The Dreaded Laramie – Princess Feedback (Smartpunk Records)
Self-described as cock-rock femmecore, The Dreaded Laramie first burst onto the scene in 2019. Earlier this year, the Nashville-based four piece released their debut record Princess Feedback, which was produced, mixed, and engineered by Dave Schiffman (PUP, Thrice, Bayside).
Pure pop-rock, Princess Feedback is a breakup record that will change the way you think/feel about breakup songs. Teeming with an infectious energy and poppy hooks, the album has tracks of pure determination (“Mess”), emotional and creative recovery (“Breakup Songs”), intricately woven instrumentals that say just as much as words (“I Should Go”), a cameo—well, almost—by Chris Hansen (“Fishnets”) and remarkably a reference to a zamboni (“Birmingham Bulls Win”)—though the song is so much more than that. It’s an impressive album that feels like anything but a debut record.
You can follow The Dreaded Laramie here.
7) The Chisel – What a Fucking Nightmare (Pure Noise Records)
With angst and urgency, The Chisel’s What a Fucking Nightmare is a street punk record full of working class anthems, lamenting the state of the U.K., which I’m sure U.S. listeners can relate to. Blunt and anthemic, the record refuses to hide behind fancy frills, and it’s all the better for that exact reason.
In “What Do You Mean,” vocalist Cal Graham spits “There’s a war I can’t escape. In the ballot, I seal my fate” A standout of the album, “What Do You Mean” takes a shot at rules and regulations by exploitative authority figures. This record is the essence of punk, and when you listen to it, you can practically feel the heat of a small venue, the shared sweat and beer on your boots.
You can follow the band here!
6) Friend – Dog Eat Dog (Born Losers Records)
Self-proclaimed goblin punk power trio Friend released their newest album Dog Eat Dog at the beginning of 2024, marking their first release with Born Losers Records. Around the same time, the band made headlines for pulling out of SXSW’s Artist Showcase due to its ties with the defense industry. With a rare genuineness in both their records and live performances, the band strive to be as blatant as possible with their beliefs—an aspect that rings true throughout Dog Eat Dog.
Dog Eat Dog is constantly at odds with itself. Haphazardly barreling down the tracks at 90 to nothing, the record feels like it could derail at any second, but it never does; it’s a masterclass in controlled chaos. Reverberated melancholia mixed with noise and distortion, Dog Eat Dog rings with a nostalgic twinge throughout.
You can follow the band here.
5) Attic Ted – Starfish as Man (Pecan Crazy Records)
Hailing from Texas, Attic Ted are a surrealist dream that borders on a nightmare, taking the shape of gothic carnival music, cardboard masks—that are a work of art in their own right—freakish synths, haunting (and sometimes comical) falsettos and so much more.
Starfish as Man is a record that begs to be experienced live, but if you don’t have that opportunity just imagine this: a duo playing all the instruments with massive masks on (we’re talking big enough to where they could barely fit through the door) and an enthralled but slightly bemused crowd looking at one another with wide eyes—the braver among them finding a way to dance to the jaunty cowboy-clown-space music (seriously, give “Kits and Kats” a listen and you’ll understand). It goes without saying that Attic Ted might not be for everyone, but those that get it, really get it.
You can follow the band here.
4) Alkaline Trio – Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs (Rise Records)
“My mom worked for years as an emergency room nurse. She and her co-workers referred to exceptionally busy nights as ‘blood, hair, and eyeballs,’” Matt Skiba says of the record and title track name. Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs is Alkaline Trio’s first album in six years (their last being Is This Thing Cursed?). It also marks their final release with longtime drummer Derek Grant, who has been with the band for nearly two decades.
Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs feels like the Alkaline Trio record we’ve all been waiting for; in fact, it just might be one of their best albums yet and the perfect soundtrack for dystopia. Relentless modern day horrors prevail throughout, accompanied by huge riffs and aggressive tones. The song that best represents the record is single “Bad Time,” which is a cry for contact and companionship, trying to find what’s left of humanity. It’s quite the progression from Alkaline Trio’s inclination with the graphic, horror and violent imagery (though there’s still a bit sprinkled throughout….would it really be an Alkaline Trio record without it?) It’s a mature record that grows on you with each and every listen.
You can follow the band here.
3) Cliffdiver – Birdwatching (SideOneDummy Records)
Cliffdiver’s sophomore album Birdwatching is a bitter-sweet occasion, marking saxophonist Dony Nickles and guitarist Gilbert Erickson’s final contributions with the band as they step away to focus on their families. And boy, it’s a stellar note for those two to leave on!
Birdwatching is a brutally introspective record that sees the band digging deep within themselves to give voice to topics that aren’t talked about in the mainstream, most notably mental health.They have an authenticity that’s sorely been missed in the scene.
A portrait of intimacy, “baby billy’s bible bonkers,” a reference to HBO comedy The Righteous Gemstones, sees Briana Wright singing the soul crushing lyrics, “If we don’t get eternity, why don’t you want this life with me?” It’s a stripped back track, leaving Wright little to hide behind musically as she bears herself to listeners. While with “black lodge breakfast burrito (limited time only),” Joey Duffy sings lyrics that are both self-aware and deprecatory, “It’s clear to me why I’m so lonely. I only worry about me. If I could just stop talking about myself, maybe I’d mean something to someone else.”
Keep Cliffdiver in your peripheral, because—mark my words—they’re well on their way of taking over 2025.
You can follow Cliffdiver on Instagram here.
2) Bacchae – Next Time (Get Better Records)
After eight years of being a band, Bacchae has sadly decided to call it quits for now … but not before delivering one of the best records of the year. Quite the stark contrast from previous releases Next Time is a more heavy album, filled to the brim with anger at what the U.S. has become, i.e. a late-stage capitalistic society. Each and every song is a punk-rock dirge. Recorded with punk musician and engineer J. Robbins, Next Time is Bacchae’s swan song.
Vocalist Katie McD has one of those once in a generation voices—razor sharp and bright. There’s such a tangible quality to the emotion that drips from each lyric coming out of her mouth. Her siren-like voice makes its home in the catchy riffs, anthemic melodies and syncopated rhythms of the music.
One of the record’s main highlights is “Just a Rat,” a boppy and funk-filled track that sees the band compare themselves to rats. At its heart, the song proudly says, “We’re all just rats to the 1%—something to either be destroyed or used as scapegoats—so, we might as well dance and wreak havoc.” For a record of doom and gloom, you don’t walk away from it feeling the futility of it all; rather, you feel rage … the kind that burns deep within, inspiring revolution.
You can find their music on bandcamp.
1) Sprints – Letter to Self (City Slang)
Scrappy and bold, Dublin-based Sprints came onto the scene in 2019, releasing a fury of singles and EPs. This year saw the band release their remarkably mature debut record Letter to Self and embark on tours with IDLES and Pixies (and next year with Iggy Pop!). Guitarist and singer Karla Chubb uses Sprints as a vehicle to give voice to the issues important prevalent today: sexuality, bodily autonomy for women, mental health struggles and even catholic guilt. The latter of which is explored heavily in “Cathedral,” which sees Chubb sing, “Maybe living’s easy. Maybe dying’s the same.” Splintering, the song feels like an act of catharsis—power reverberating throughout.
Lyrically, there’s specific moments in Letter to Yourself that ingrain themselves deep into your mind. In “Shaking Their Hands,” Chubb hauntingly sings, “It’s been a long day. It’s been a long night. It’s been a long life.” Equal parts wistful and grungy, there’s just something nearly indescribable about the intensity in which she says those words.
Another standout from the record is the upbeat and flirty “Literary Mind,” a Sapphic love song which sees Chubb sing, “I won’t forget my fever swept my heart and home into her hands.” The cheeky bass line fits the pining of her vocals perfectly. “Up and Comer” is a highlight of the record as it sees Chubb jeer at critics (rightfully so) for their scrutiny towards women musicians.
The album come to a close with title track “Letter to Self,” a proud declaration of identity and who you’ve become despite naysayers. “Maybe my happy don’t look like yours. Maybe my life don’t look like yours.” It’s a reminder to be yourself, no matter the cost. She’s saying, don’t sacrifice your life, dreams, or happiness for anyone else—overcome the guilt that comes with it. That’s the biggest lesson any one person can learn. The final verse of the song sees Chubb reach this enlightenment and it sounds as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Tired yet resolute, there’s much work to be done, and the music fades out.
Letter to Self is a powerful record of growth that will no doubt become timeless as the young band is one of the most promising rock bands to hit the scene in years.
You can follow them on Instagram here.
