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30 Albums That Shaped 2024 Sound - Part II (1-15)
ElektroSpank's favorite albums for 2024. This is the second and final part going from 15 to 1!
One thing that is certain for me is the thing that this list, like every year's list, is a collection of albums that I listened the most along with many others that are not included here but are equally good, loved and could definitely be in such a list, as well.
But this is the magic of music. It can always surprise you. It can always make you feel different and take you to emotions that, perhaps you wouldn't had sensed until you listen a song a melody, an album.
2024 has been, again one of the most productive years in music and in the genres that here, in ElektroSpank we love the most. Amazing records unique ideas nostalgia, and modern cutting-edge music inspirations. All these thing made this task, of selecting 30 albums, a sweet headache. In the past few days I revisited all these albums, just to confirm all these emotions I felt the first time I listened to them.
The second part completes the list. There will be a separate blog post for some releases from 2024 that someone should take with him/her in 2025
You can read the first part here!
15. GOLDEN APES - Our Ashes At The End Of The Day
Berlin based goth rockers Golden Apes released their 11th fill length album early in 2024 and since then it kept ιts position, high on my list. And that happend becaus "Our Ashes At The End Of The Day" is one of the best albums released in the 25 years history of Golden Apes. Dark, deep, emotional, with gothic melodies filling the room and the voice of Peer Lebrecht creating the somber soundscapes and the moody sonic experience. Lyricism, nostalgia, dark poetry contrasts with stunning and wondrous gothic rock melodies that balances onto post-punk sharp guitars and synth melodies, creating a solid dark album.
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenApes
https://www.instagram.com/golden_apes/
14. DUCTAPE - Echo Drama
Turkish duo, Ductape, released their higly anticipated album "Echo Drama" on February 29th. After the success of the previous releases "Labirent" and "Ruh" I was eaering for this one. And the result was a beautiful blend of gothic rock melodies sitting in between catchy and modern post-punk riffs. "Echo Drama" is one of those albums that delivers strong emotions through high energy making every moment of the album an intense sound experience.
https://www.facebook.com/ductapeofficial
https://www.instagram.com/ductape_official
13. KALTE NACHT - URGE
Kalte Nacht worked hard those last two years and after their S/T successful debut album and the signing to one of Germany's best, Cold Transmission, Nikos and Myrto focused on what was meant to be one of the best dark wave albums of the year. "URGE" combines some exceptional vocal abilities and beautiful songwriting, making it an album that has only good moments. Emotional, balancing between strength, dark dance and melancholy guiding the listener from darkness to light and the opposite.
https://www.facebook.com/KalteNachtDuo/
http://www.instagram.com/kaltenacht_/
12. SWEET ERMENGARDE - Sacrifice
Sweet Ermengarde returned after 8 years with "Sacrifice" and after a number of line-up changes and the signing to Solar Lodge. Bochum based 5-piece band offers high quality gothic rock, built on strong roots and influenced by the pioneers of the genre. Sweet Ermengarde, in "Sacrifice" focus on heavy dark riffs, haunting vocals and gothic atmosphere making it distinguish among other dark rock, gothic albums. Drew Freeman unfolds every side of his vocal spectrum in an album which also features some great collaborations, like the ones of Nino Sable and Caroline Blind, while the closing track unveils the love of Sweet Ermengarde's only founding member Lars Kappeler to dark ambient music.
https://www.sweet-ermengarde.de/
https://www.facebook.com/sweetermengarde
https://www.instagram.com/sweetermengarde
11. CARDINAL NOIRE - Vitriol
One of the best industrial music albums comes from the southern part of Finland and Cardinal Noire. The third full length album, "Vitriol", of the duo, consisting of Kalle Lindberg and Lasse Alander could be your guide to your dark nightmares and horror soundscapes. Going from raw and strong industrial to haunted and poignant dark electro, Cardinal Noire, delivers a solid and intense collection of songs that comes straight out from the coldest and hardest parts of the duo's soul. Brappin' out like its 1984.
https://www.facebook.com/CardinalNoire
https://www.instagram.com/cardinalnoire/
10. CHELSEA WOLFE - She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
The latest offering by Chelsea Wolfe is a dark, gothic album that delivers sentimental industrial textures including emotional, vocal and sound explosions. With a variety of sounds that complete "She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She" there are transitions from power and distortions to melodic gloominess and industrial elegance.
https://www.facebook.com/cchelseawwolfe
https://www.instagram.com/cchelseawwolfe
9. THIEF - Bleed Memory
"Bleed Memory" can perfectly show the progress that its creator has make in delivering dark ambience through a metallic industrial album. Thief is the solo project of Dylan Neal hailing from Los Angeles, California and his new album is a sound exploration into the origins of industrial, blended with ambient tones, surrounded by dark electronica and sitting next to trip hop and electro pop. Masterfully layered and produced, Dylan Neal delivers forceful atmosphere exploring dementia via aggressive and melodic post-industrial.
http://facebook.com/thiefsounds
https://www.instagram.com/thief_sounds
8. ABU NEIN - III - Dark Faith
The third full length album of Swedish dark wave act ABU NEIN is a mesmerizing, dark album which establishes their music amongst the most interesting in the genre. ABU NEIN has been attractive since day 1 and this is because of their dark atmosphere that intertwines with cold melodies, unique vocals and moments of intense desire to shout and dance, exactly when you need them. "III - Dark Faith" is one of these albums that takes you into a deep mind journey which seems familiar, sad and complex. "III - Dark Faith" is the swan song of Andreas Catjar-Danielsson (Covenant, ABU NEIN etc.) that unfortunately recently passed away.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063707343343
https://www.instagram.com/abunein/
7. RENDEZ VOUS - Downcast
Rendez-Vous returned with the all new "Downcast" this year. I was really eager for this album since the French post-punkers has been one of my favorite modern acts in the genre with their raw aggression and the punk tones in their dark, synth, post-punk. The case with "Downcast" it is quite different though since, in here the French quartet focuses on the noisy guitar riffs leaving the synths aside and creates a modern grunge, industrial, noise rock album. Without renouncing their post-punk past, Francis Mallari, Elliot Berthault, Maxime Gendre, and Simon Dubourg adds elements of noise delivering a gritty dark alternative album.
https://www.facebook.com/rendezvousrendezvous
https://www.instagram.com/rendezvousrendezvous
6. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS - Synthesizer
Another entry that comes from the noisy sides of post-punk is the seventh album of the mighty A Place To Bury Strangers. "Synthesizer" comes with a physical entity, a synthesizer made specifically for A Place to Bury Strangers’ seventh album. The sound of A Place To Bury Strangers in their seventh chapter goes from noise rock to gothic atmosphere and post-punk sharpness to industrial touches. "Synthesier" is an emotional shock, aggressive and gloomy delivering shoegaze enriched with lo-fi distortion and a psychedelic experimentation which makes it even greater!
https://www.aplacetoburystrangers.com/
http://www.facebook.com/aplacetoburystrangers/
http://www.instagram.com/aptbs
5. THEN COMES SILENCCE: "Trickery"
"Trickery" is a mesmerizing, seductive collection of songs and sounds, blending together elements of beauty and darkness. Then Comes Silence are one of these acts that never disappoints, either it is a release or a live show. A band that deserves to be widely listened to and seen. Three musicians and artists that truly enjoy the moments of creativity and friendship they share, with a strong will to evolve even in their seventh album and move forward to unexplored sonic journeys. "Trickery" is one of the albums that you can't stop listening to, in any mood.
http://www.thencomessilence.com/
http://www.facebook.com/thencomessilence
http://www.instagram.com/thencomessilence
4. MARILYN MANSON - One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1
"You gave us what we wished for" says Marilyn Manson in the first vocal line of "One Assassination Under God" 's S/T opening track, and perhaps many of his fans thought the same when they listened to the new chapter of Manson. "One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1" is a deafening, stunning return of Marilyn Manson, offering the grit that everyone wants and expects out of a Manson's album, with nagging bass lines, all constructing the new sound of Marilyn Manson, which is, clearly coming straight out from the old-school arrangements that everyone loves and the nostalgia.
https://www.facebook.com/MarilynManson
https://www.instagram.com/marilynmanson
3. SOROR DOLOROSA - Mond
A powerful comeback for the beloved French band Soror Dolorosa, who are dynamically returning to the spotlight with their latest work titled “Mond", managing to captivate the listener into a dark musical journey. Soror Dolorosa expands their sonic palette adding more synths, blending their reknown emotional gothic rock and post-punk melodies with catchy but sad and melancholic synth lines, offering a new dimension to what we previously knew as emotional, gothic rock. Six years after their previous release the Toulouse-Paris based quartet returns with a really striking release, full of dark romanticism, nostalgia, neon glow and electrifying drum machine delivering intense melancholia.
https://www.facebook.com/sorordolorosaofficial
https://www.instagram.com/sorordolorosa
2. TWIN TRIBES - Pendulum
"Pendulum" is one of these albums that can be characterized as 10 out of ten from the very first note and the atmospheric intro. Twin Tribes has been always one of my favorites and I was confident that these guys will become big really soon. It is their third album that confirmed my thoughts and "Pendulum" is the music gigantism of the Texas based duo of Luis Navarro and Joel Niño, Jr. Don't be fooled, this is a dark wave, post-punk album in all aspects. Sad synth melodies, deep vocals, pulsating beats stories for love, death and ghosts and an inspired strong bass line constructs what can be described as the dark, goth, romantic sound of our time.
http://facebook.com/TwinTribes
http://instagram.com/Twin_Tribes
1. IST IST: "Light A Bigger Fire"
“Light A Bigger Fire” is a genious modern post-punk album! IST IST releases a collection of tracks that balance between darkness and light so perfectly and in a way that, in the end, this addictive bittersweet taste remains while making you, unexpectedly, feel emotionally complete. A powerful, melancholic journey with moments of optimism but also introspection that highlights IST IST’s power to combine dark atmospheres with catchy rhythms.
https://www.facebook.com/ististmusic
https://www.instagram.com/ististmusic
