Earlier this week, I dropped my Best Hardcore Demos of 2024 list, so as I work closer to my Album of the Year feature running next week, let's meet it halfway today.
Dig into my Best Hardcore EPs of 2024 list and see how your picks match up with mine. As with any of these kinds of articles on No Echo, my hope is to help shine the spotlight on some releases that readers might have missed.
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Blockage, Berlin Takedown
(Germany)
With several titles landing on my year-end lists this year, DBNO Records has been on fire as of late. Back in September, the label dropped Blockage's Berlin Takeover, an 8-track ripper with only 2 of them passing the 1-minute mark.
It's the kind of caveman hardcore that could have come out in 1984, 1992, or any other year, and still sound vicious and authoratative.
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Collateral, We Still Know
(USA)
Regardless of EP, LP, or demo, We Still Know is a Top 5 hardcore release for me this year. There's fast parts, moshy sections, catchy riffs, and clear and commanding vocals running throughout its 7 cuts.
FFO-wise, I hear some Straight Ahead vibes on this. Either way, whatever Collateral is doing is top notch, and with Envision and Seed of Pain members involved, it's not that suprising.
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Divine Right, Salvation Ends
(USA)
"If you’re a fan of Strife, All Out War, Sentence and even Prayer For Cleansing you’ll probably like us," Divine Right vocalist Josh exclaimed when I profiled the North Carolina outfit on No Echo earlier this year. Those influences unquestionably come through on their Salvation Ends EP.
To play this kind of style well, you better have riffs, and Divine Right sure got 'em. Edge metal lives on and with New Age Records now in the band's corner, 2025 should be interesting for the young band.
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Dynamite, Blow the Bloody Doors Off!
(UK)
The mighty Quality Control HQ (Ola rules!) described Dynamite as a "fresh take on Youth of Today meets mid-2000s Boston hardcore" and who am I to argue? No need to reinvent the wheel when you write/play hardcore like this so well.
Dynamite brought in some familiar faces from the UKHC and USHC communities to guest on Blow the Bloody Doors Off!, including Graham Sayle (High Vis, Dirty Money), Dan Mills (Cold World, Disengage), and Meg Mills (Big Cheese, Turnstile). Just some added trivia for ya.
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Echo Chamber, Echo Chamber
(Germany)
I often get asked by fellow olds for newer hardcore bands recommendations. Sometimes I miss, but one of the bands that always gets a glowing response is Echo Chamber. Ever since their 2022 demo came out, they've been in my steady listening rotation and this year's self-titled EP is a beast.
The best NYHC record this year came out of Germany. Who would have thunk it?
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Force, Force
(Belgium)
Released late last month, Force's eponymous EP follows the band's killer 2017 demo. The wait was worth it as the Belgians bring the hurt with no-bullshit-style hardcore with stomp parts galore.
Force includes players from such bands as Mindwar, Blind to Faith, and Congress. No wonder this shit rules.
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Ikhras, Jahanam Btistana
(UK)
With lyrics sung in both Arabic and English, the songs on Jahanam Btistana take listeners "on a journey of resistance against illegal occupation, religious control, western fragility and serves as an attack on ignorance rooted in liberal thinking." Talk about topical!
Musically speaking, Ikhras play it straight down the middle hardcore punk, but they manage to introduce groove elements in their rhythmic thrust that helps set them apart from most bands in their sonic lane. "From the river to the sea, for you I bleed."
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Joker, The EP
(Brazil)
Yet another Quality Control HQ release makes appearance on this list via Joker's superb The EP. If you love the Minus led-era of Merauder, dig in. Ominous metallic hardcore is rarely this tasty these days.
"Our influences include Biohazard, Life of Agony, Merauder, Bulldoze, and Cold World," said Joker guitarist Martin on No Echo back in October. I hear it, Martin. Trust me.
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Life Goes On, Life Goes On
(USA)
"I'm a big fan of the early '90s New Age roster and I like to imagine us trying to capture something close to that vibe," Life Goes On vocalist Donnie said in a New Hardcore Band Spotlight about the Alabama band's sound. Yeah, there's a definite Outspoken spirit to the songs on their self-titled EP on the Armageddon Records label.
With so many thugcore outfits out there right now, I'll never complain about newer bands who choose to take the melodic and introspective route. If you're also into this side of the hardcore spectrum, check out Bent Blue and Sunstroke, two bands that do it exceptionally well.
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The Sissy Boys, We Want to Fight
(USA)
Jake from The Sissy Boys said the following on No Echo earlier this year: "We’ve always been really into '80s hardcore and punk so I guess you could say we stay true to the old-school juvenile sound of a lot of that music."
That old-school-ness of the Michigan band's We Want to Fight EP that I enjoy the most is the catchy, singalong aspect of their songwriting.
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Spiral, You're Not In This Alone
(Germany)
I included the 1996 Anti-Matter compilation in the "FFO" section for Spiral when I featured them on No Echo over the summer. If you aren't versed on that comp, check out the tracklisting here.
Spiral knock it out of the park when it comes to that melodic, post-hardcore-ish style on their You're Not In This Alone EP. Turning Point and Shield were both mentioned as influences in my interview, so you get the picture.
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Statement of Pride, Rebirth
(USA)
Rebirth is a collection of anthemic straight edge hardcore songs done with pure class. Statement of Pride's previous EP releases were also impressive, but Rebirth is their finest work yet.
Jonesing for stuff along the lines of Magnitude and Ecostrike? Give these Floridians a shot.
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Step By Step, EP
(USA)
The new pride of Tehachapi, California, Step By Step came dancing out the gate with Keith Haring-inspired artwork on their debut EP this year. It's the cover art that initially grabbed me, but the band's bouncy hardcore is what made me a fan.
"Our influences come from mostly early 2000s Boston Hardcore as well as mid-'80s Youth Crew," drummer Nick Viterelli said on No Echo around the time of the EP's release in the summer. Step By Step dropped a 3-song promo recently, so I wouldn't be surprised if they release a proper LP or another EP sometime in the near future.
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Stiff Meds, Hell Realm
(UK)
The term "ripping hardcore" gets thrown out a lot (guilty!), but it truly is the best way to describe what Stiff Meds do. "My lyrics are not solutions they are problems, I don’t have the answers, I just see the world around me for what it is and what I see is a nightmare," frontman Seth Salih told No Echo contributor Tim Birbeck on No Echo, and that dejected view is fully expressed on Hell Realm.
But yeah, that whole "ripping" thing is evident on Stiff Meds' latest release, which never slows down in its ferocity.
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Temple Guard, Morbid Sacrament
(UK)
Metallic hardcore of the highest order was delivered once again by Temple Guard on their Morbid Sacrament EP. A dash of H8000, a touch of All Out War, and a heaping of riffs that sound like they were played on guitars with pointy headstocks, these 5 tracks are simply outstanding.
A lot of mystery (by design) surrounds Temple Guard, but a check of their Instagram page shows that they've played some shows this past year, so here's to hoping that they do more in 2025.
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Valtatyhjiö, Kuristusleikki
(Finland)
Filthy hardcore punk this way comes from Joensuu, Finland’s Valtatyhjiö. The lead guitar bursts are a nasty touch. Kuristusleikki is relentless in every fiber of its being, even when they throw in some rock 'n' roll-like swag into the stew.
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Tagged: blockage, collateral, divine right, dynamite, echo chamber, force, ikhras, joker, life goes on, spiral, statement of pride, step by step, stiff meds, temple guard, the sissy boys, valtatyhjiö
