I appreciate I'm a little late to the party with my 'best of 2024'. Then again what better way to start the new year than arse first?
As always this 2024 has been an awesome year for metal and rock music. There has been far to many brilliant records to name here. I have, however expanded the list from ten to twenty just to give myself a bigger headache.
Happy new year and look after yourselves x
D. Gilmore Out of Step UK
Cryptopsy are a legendary name in Death metal. Having been around in one form or another since 1988. They are on the cusp of reissuing some of their most impressive records on vinyl and vocalist Matt McGachy took some time to talk to about them.
At time of writing you plan on reissuing both your 'Book of Suffering' EP on one vinyl record for the first time. What do you feel makes those EP's such a standout for the band?
Matt: The "Book of Suffering" EP series is extremely important for the history of Cryptopsy. It really marks the beginning of a new era for the band. There's been many eras of course, (including a weird one we're not gonna talk about!). This EP series is when Christian (Donaldson, guitars) was at the helm really for the first time handling all of the writing. He had trouble trying to find his own identity as Cryptopsy's main songwriter whilst honouring the legacy of what had gone before. I'm very excited that for the first time ever they are going to be combined into one vinyl and I can't wait for fans to be able to hear the songs in this way!
In addition to those EP's fans will also be able to get their hands on the reissue of your 2012 self entitled record. The album was largely regarded as a return to form for the group. How do you feel about it looking back?
Matt: It most definitely was! The self titled record was a real return to form. In 2008 we dropped "The Unspoken King" that was an experimental record (to say the least!). It was my first record with the band and if it wasn't for that record I wouldn't be here today. After that record we needed to do something to come back strong with. John (levasseaur, guitars) came back to write the album with us. He had a bunch of songs already composed in his head and it didn't take long to get them down with the rest of the band. It's a great record I look back on it extremely fondly. It's the first record that I used a concept on when writing lyrics. I'm really happy with it and I wish we could play more of it live!
'Shag harbours Visters' is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Do you have an interest in UFO's and the paranormal? Does the band have any personnel experiences you could tell us about?
Matt: I personally don't have any experiences with UFO'S or the paranormal stuff. I was researching for something cool that had happened in Canada. I stumbled across the Shag Harbour story which was really interesting. I just took that and had some fun with it! Who knows the universe is so big we have no idea what's really out there!
The track "Red-Skinned Scapegoat" features a truly unique and oddly wonderful jazz breakdown at its conclusion. How did that happen!?
I love that little jazz interlude. It's so much fun and is one hundred per cent John and Flo (Mournier, drums) having fun, it's a jam room thing that came out wacky and weird. They love to challenge each other and that's where that came from. For me, looking back at this record some thirteen years later I definitely wouldn't call the song what I did. I feel that I'm lucky I didn't get any slack for that back in the day!
In 2025 the band will be touring Europe with the legendary Decapitated and Warbringer. Are you looking forward to it? What can fans expect from your setlist?
Matt: I'm very very excited for that. We had a great time in Europe last year, it was our first tour back since the pandemic back in February/March of 2024 with Athiest that was super fun. The fans were amazing and I can't wait to get back. Decapitated are a legendary band and it's going to be really fun to play these massively packed rooms and share a new setlist with the fans
Matt, you appeared on LLNN's beast of a record 2022's 'Unmaker' how did that collaboration come about? Does the band have any plans for similar projects in future?
Matt: LLNN is a band that I love. I interviewed them on my podcast and when I wrapped up my chat I said "if ever you want me to do guest vocals I would be sooo stoked!" And that's sort of how it happened! I like doing guest vocals, I'm not doing any at the moment but if anyone is interested in having me hit me up!
As band Cryptopsy have been around for some thirty two years and even the newest member has been with you over a decade. What advice, if any would you give newer bands on the scene?
Matt: Play lots of shows! I wish I'd had this advice! You ve got to get out there because during every live perform you learn so much so get out there and play. Go to other cities, play there have fun! Oh and be open to advice!
Australian natives and grindcore maniacs King Parrot have been terrorising crowds all over the world for well over a decade now. The band are set to support the newly reformed Pantera early 2025, an opportunity that doesn’t show up too often. I recently had a chat with the lads to find out about the year ahead.
It’s been awhile since the band last released any new music. Are there any plans to get back in the studio anytime soon? If so could you tell us a little about the record?
We have just finished our new record and we’re going to release it in 2025. First single is out late January with a new video too. We thought it’d be good to release something before we come back over to Europe and the UK.
As Melbourne natives, what was the local scene like when the band were coming up? Has it changed much since then?
Melbourne has always had the best and most active scene in Australia when it comes to punk, rock and metal. There’s a ton of venues and different spots to play and we also have great regional areas within an hour or two of the city that bring a totally different audience. We’ve always played a variety of different bands, and don’t always just stick with metal bands, we like to mix it up a bit and do different kinds of lineup’s as we aren’t just strictly metal fans, as you can probably tell in our music. The Melbourne scene is awesome though, we couldn’t ask for a better scene to call home.
At the moment in the UK Australian bands seem to be gaining in popularity. (The Chats, Amyl and the Sniffers etc) are there any bands you guys could recommend for fans of King Parrot?
I would have to say there are so many great bands, its hard to pick, but some of my absolute favourites are Private Function if you’re into punk rock, that band is incredible. If you’re into stuff that sounds more like King Parrot then you can’t go past Choof who are killing it right now with their new album. Another band I love from Sydney is called Astrodeath who have more of a stoner vibe, but they are really their own unique beast and they are signed to Heavy Psych Sounds Records in Europe.
It’s that time when everybody is thinking about their album of the year. Are you guys listening to any albums that you’d nominate?
Some of my favourites from this year are Nails –Every Bridge Burning, Orange Goblin – Science Not Fiction, Spirit In The Room – Passengers EP, Heriot – Devoured by the Mouth of Hell, Necrot –Lifeless Birth ... just to name a few... I’ve really been digging the 2 new singles from Dax Riggs too, that stuff is genius.
Phil Anselmo has been a vocal supporter of the band, even contributing to a few tracks in the past. How did that relationship start? What’s your opinion on the Pantera reunion with Zakk and Charlie?
It started by him emailing us probably over a decade ago now, and from there we just became friends and met at fests and on tours and things like that. We’ve since recorded several times at his studio and have been on his label Housecore Records for years now. It’s like a big family, and we all just have such a great time hanging out, so we have often been invited to do tours with Philips projects like Down, Superjoint, The Illegals and now of course Pantera which is absolutely crazy. We got to do some shows with them in the US in 2023 and Australia in 2024. It is an amazing show and so great for a new generation of fans to hear those songs live. They do a great job of it. Coming to Europe to tour with Pantera is something we are very grateful for, we are well aware not many grindcore bands like us get an opportunity like this.
I understand you opened this years Knotfest Australia. How was that experience? Did you get a chance to watch/hang out with anybody the other bands performing?
It was a great experience for us. We’ve done other big festivals in Australia previously prior to Covid like Soundwave, Download and Unify but this was our first big one back after that and it was great. We hung with the Thy Art is Murder guys a little bit as we’ve known them for years, top guys, and of course we hung with the Pantera crew as they are our good friends. Unfortunately we didn’t get to hang out with Disturbed though.
At time of writing you’ve just finished up your Australian tour with Weedeater. Musically you guys are quite different! How did the tour go?
It was awesome, we had the best time. Those guys are absolute sweethearts and we love them dearly. We’ve had a long friendship with them and toured Europe and the US with them several times prior. It was really great to get them down under and show them the sights. I think they had a really good time, but holy hell can those boys drink some booze! Lol
Will King Parrot be performing a headline tour in the UK anytime in 2025?
Well, who knows, let’s see what happens after we get this tour done and with the new record. We would definitely like to spend more time in the UK, I think of all the places in the world we’ve played, the UK kinda understands what we are about, so with this new record hopefully we can solidify our relationship with you geezers!
Lastly and most importantly, what’s the biggest animal you reckon you could take on in a fist fight?
We fight kangaroos all the time for shits and giggles! Honestly though, none of us can fight for shit so I would say maybe a small kitten or a poodle maybe. All photos curtesy of Metal Dave Media
It's that time of year when the decision what to include on lists like this one take precedence over buying turkey or trying to work out what the in-laws want for Christmas. This year has been a great one for metal and music in general. To commemorate this we've expanded the list to the twenty best records of 2024. If we've missed out your favourite record I look forward to hearing all about it, constantly until next year.
20. Wormrot 'Left to Rot'
Ok I'm starting as I mean to go on by cheating a bit on this one. Whilst not an album in the traditional sense Wormrot's latest record is a compilation of B sides and rarities from across various split EP's and the like. Despite this the band still perform better than almost all their peers and despite its nature there isn't a single track on here worth skipping.
18. Knocked loose 'You wont go before your supposed to'
I'll admit it, this one took me awhile to get into. However it's accurate to say that this record is an great example of modern hardcore. The bands recent live performance on American TV further cements their legacy and future. ARF ARF indeed.
19. Beaten to Death 'Sunrise over Rigor Mortis'
Sounding like it was recorded in a garden shed with rusted barbed wire and mud BTD's sixth record is an event to say the least. Eighteen minutes of mental 'Melodic Grindcore' is perfect to confuse and enthral with equal measure.
17. Spectral Wound 'Songs of Blood and Mire'
As ironic as it may be the venomous black 'n' roll of Spectral Wounds latest record cheered me up immensely earlier this year. A gloriously fun romp through a hunted forest if ever there was one.
15.
Poppy 'Negative Spaces'
Creating a fine line between pop music and heavy metal Poppy's latest record is in a league of its own. Whilst more accessible then her previous offerings Negative Spaces is equal parts heavy and beautiful.
16. Brodquin 'Harbringer of Woe'
The bands first proper record in twenty years is as gnarly as menstrual blood caught in your teeth and heavier than a cancer diagnosis after a heavy night in the Goldschlager. Never change boys.
13.
Despite having one of the worst album covers in recent history this album is up there musically with the bands finest work.
Wonderfully heavy and blissfully furious.
14. Kerry King 'From Hell I Rise'
If you were to tell me this was a lost Slayer record from the early 2000's I wouldn't be at all shocked. However this album is different enough to stand on its own. Whilst it may not be a new Slayer album it's great to hear Satan's favourite guitarist shredding once again.
80's inspired electronica has a special place in my heart. The fact that you can dance as well as mosh to Gost's newest release serves to drive the point home even more. This is one of the artists most accomplished albums that hopefully elevates them to even greater heights.
11. Distant 'Tsukuyomi, The Origin'
Yes I know this is a re-release/revamping of the bands debut EP but fuck it this record is great. With seven new tracks and altered versions of the original songs the record is different enough to stand on its own and be what it is: a bloody good deathcore album from one of the best bands of the genre.
10. Chat Pile 'Cool World'
Sounding equal parts The Jesus lizard and Korn Chat Pile are pretty much everything I could want in a band. Once brilliantly described by a passer by at Arctangent as "Korn for art students" the band have are only getting better and darker with time.
9. Body count 'Merciless'
With Merciless Ice T and Body count and released the best album of their career. The band has created an emotionally powerful record full of rage and spitting bile. Additionally their interpretation of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb' with Dave Gilmour himself is probably my favourite song of the year.
8. Couch Slut 'You Could Do it Tonight'
If you plan on doing any interior decorating anytime soon. A purchase of this album would be greatly beneficial as I'm pretty sure if played loud enough it could strip the paint off your walls. An album as visceral as it is fucking awesome.
7. Unto others 'Never, Neverland'
Unto Others have always been a band that scratched that gothic itch and this record continues their rise to power. For whatever reason the group have always had a vaguely 'Ramones' air about them and their cover of 'Pet Seminary' is a great enforcement of that identity.
6. Meryl Streek
As a red blooded English man it's refreshing to hear someone who hates the government more than the majority of us do. Meryl Streek is the answer. Full of more bile than a conservative politician speed walking through a lower class neighbourhood.
5. 200 Stab Wounds 'Manuel Manic Procedures'
One of the best 'new' death metal bands out their. This, their second full length is an improvement on their debut in almost every way. If there was ever a band to carry the torch for extreme music 200 Stab Wounds are it.
3. Crippling alcoholism 'With Love from Padded Room'
Like a tick buried under your foreskin this record has been making me itch since I first heard it. There is simply nothing else quite like this band or record. Their vocalist sounds like Mark lanegan gargling gravel and the music sounds like Radiohead after they ve ran out of anti-depressants. Wonderfully miserable stuff.
4. Civerous 'Maze Envy'
Well this one came right out of nowhere! I admit to only recently hearing this record despite being out since March. This album sounds like a messy exorcism taking place in a seedy diner at the outskirts of hell. Grandiose and crushingly heavy Civerous have made a record to listen to whilst the world ends.
2. Lee Mckinney 'To Those Who
Know Pain'
This record is without a doubt the most strikingly beautiful albums I've heard in a long while. A completely different beast to his work in djent behemoths 'Born of Osiris'. Mckinney has produced a progressive, guitar driven love note to anyone with time enough to listen. Awesome.
1. Blood incantation 'Absolute Elsewhere'
Yeah well it had to be really didn't it! This record is simply the nest thing I've heard this year bar none. For a more in-depth review see later in this issue!
