The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2024 (Part Two)

This is part two of four. If you haven’t read part one yet, check it out here.

In 2024, we’re getting several great albums some several great bands and artists, but out of all the albums that are coming out this year, these are the ones you need to keep your eyes on. Here are the most anticipated albums of 2024, in no particular order.

Bleachers

Album: Bleachers (Dirty Hit)

Release Date: 3/8

Back in 2022, Bleachers mastermind Jack Antonoff tweeted that a new album would be dropping that year. Clearly that didn’t happen. Instead, during that time, the eight-time Grammy Award winner was doing his production work with Taylor Swift, St. Vincent, and Lana Del Rey, left Bleachers’s longtime label RCA Records (Cage The Elephant, Latto, Sleep Token) and signed to the UK’s Dirty Hit (Beabadoobee, Deaton Chris Anthony, The 1975) in August 2023. Three months later, we officially got word of the new Bleachers album, titled Bleachers. And from what’s available so far, it’s fantastic.

Too Close To Touch

Album: For Keeps EP (Epitaph)

Release Date: 3/8

I don’t put EPs in this category for reasons, those being an extended play is not an album. But for this special occasion, I’ll let it slide. In 2022, Kentucky post-hardcore trio Too Close To Touch suffered a massive tragedy with the sudden passing of frontman Keaton Pierce due to complications brought on by acute pancreatitis. Some bands would soldier on with a new member, and others would call it quits to honor their memory. TCTT are doing the latter, but are dropping this EP to honor Pierce’s legacy. The EP For Keeps takes its name from Pierce’s nickname “Keeps”. Eight songs fill this EP, featuring the former frontman’s swan song “Hopeless” with The Word Alive’s Telle Smith lending his vocals to complete the piece. Rest in peace, Pierce.

Gouge Away

Album: Deep Sage (Deathwish)

Release Date: 3/15

Six years have passed since post-hardcore troupe Gouge Away dropped an album. So with all this time passing, it has to be amazing. Deep Sage has been in the works since 2019, a whole year after their last record, Burnt Sugar. However the pandemic put their plans on hold. Years passed and the group relocated to Portland, Ore. just before 2023 began to finish what they started five years ago. Produced by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Home Is Where, Jeff Rosenstock), Deep Sage was recorded entirely on tape, which vocalist Christina Michelle told BrooklynVegan that it “…creates an intense environment where we have no choice but to feed off each other’s energy. We have to get it right in one take and if anyone messes up we all have to start over, so no one wants to be that guy. It adds an element of risk and excitement. We don’t want to sound beautifully polished or perfect anyway. We want to sound like the five of us being human, and no one is better than Jack Shirley when it comes to capturing what it feels like in the room.”

Spaced

Album: This Is All We Ever Get (Revelation)

Release Date: 3/22

Future Prenatt’s Picks band (hold me to this) Spaced are one of the newest faces in the world of hardcore. The Queen City has birthed many incredible hardcore acts like Snapcase, Every Time I Die, Better Lovers, Smash N’ Grab and Union. Now, it’s time for Spaced to shine. Signing with legendary hardcore label Revelation Records (Big Laugh, Ignite, New Found Glory) last August, Spaced wanted to show off their influences with their new album, citing bands such as Gorilla Biscuits, The Rival Mob, and Swans. In a press release they shared, “This release is our most confident work yet, and we feel stronger in what we’re doing with every facet of the band. We want the riffs and vocals to hit and impact anyone who listens—whether you’re discussing the record or a live setting—while adding reverb, flange, and delay in sections to fulfill the ‘SPACED’ sound. We’re continually shaping what that means for us, and look forward to keep developing our sound in the hardcore space.”

Carpool

Album: My Life In Subtitles (SideOneDummy)

Release Date: 3/22

Another (kinda) local band sneaks their way onto this list, this being Rochester’s very own Carpool. Joining Californian label SideOneDummy Records (Big D And The Kids Table, CLIFFDIVER, Plasma Canvas) back in November, Carpool are hoping to wow you with their sophomore album My Life In Subtitles. Recorded by Jay Zubricky (Every Time I Die, Pentimento, Save Face), My Life In Subtitles will probably be one of those emo albums that slips under everyones radars. That’s why I’m adding it to the list in hope that someone reading this will check it out. Go support your local acts and buy their EPs, tapes, demos, albums, and whatever else they drop. Show some love to the finest emo act this side of the Flower City.

Bayside

Album: There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive (Hopeless)

Release Date: 4/5

As the years have gone on, Queens punk legends Bayside have been getting darker and heavier with their sound and style. And with that, their ninth studio album There Are Worse Things Than Being Alive sounds like it’ll be their heaviest yet. Their past albums had them dipping their toes into post-hardcore, but this time they’re fully submerged. You may have heard this sound with their latest EPs Red and Blue (all six songs are on TAWTTBA), but with new songs like “The Devils” and “Castaway”, they’re highlighting how hard they can truly go. Even metalheads will embrace this album.

Owen

Album: The Falls Of Sioux (Polyvinyl)

Release Date: 4/26

Mike Kinsella is an emo legend. Whether you know him from American Football, Cap’n Jazz, Owls, Joan Of Arc, Their / They’re / There, or The One Up Downstairs, or his solo project Owen, Kinsella is a highly respectable figure in the genre. His eleventh under the Owen moniker, Kinsella teamed up with S. Carey and Zach Hanson, who helped work on his last two albums. The album, as stated in a press release, “…follows the refined, spacious musical landscapes of 2020’s The Avalanche, which shied away from Kinsellla’s trademark sarcasm and wry humour and instead offered a winking dismissal of negative thoughts, took songs into even darker places.” The three have grouped up to make the finest Owen songs to date. Do not sleep on this one when it drops late next month.

Microwave

Album: Let’s Start Degeneracy (Pure Noise)

Release Date: 4/26

Just like Bleachers, Microwave made the list last year as we were waiting for the follow-up to 2019’s Death Is A Warm Blanket. But positive news came late last month when the Atlanta trio announced their fourth album Let’s Start Degeneracy. The three songs that came out during the wait (“Circling The Drain,” “Straw Hat,” and “Ferrari”) will be featured on the album, as well as the album’s main single “Bored Of Being Sad”. As I said last year, “Maybe the grunge or post-hardcore stylings will continue on their next outing.” Seems like I was right.

The Early November

Album: TBA (Pure Noise)

Release Date: TBA

No word yet has been made on the newest TEN album, but a teaser was made two days ago prior to publishing. Alternative Press did state back in October that a new record would be dropping sometime in 2024. All we can do right now is just wait.

Yellowcard

Album: TBA (Equal Vision)

Release Date: TBA

Yellowcard’s comeback album is still in the works. Their third release with new label Equal Vision Records (House Parties, Mae, Texas In July) follows their EP Childhood Eyes and the collaborative album with Hammock A Hopeful Sign. Sometime this year, we will officially be getting the true follow-up to their “final” self-titled album, which dropped in 2016 via Hopeless Records (Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties, Hey Violet, TX2).

Part three will come out next week!

Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 10)

It’s here, the final one of 2020. After lack of motivation and Animal Crossing caused numerous delays, I can wrap up this series properly.

Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the past 10 weeks, I gave you 100 artists that you needed to tune your attention to throughout 2020. This list featured numerous acts from numerous genres.

This is part ten of ten. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.

Doja Cat

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Hot Pink (Kemosabe/RCA)

For Fans Of: Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Santigold

Meet the new Nicki Minaj. Doja Cat, real name Amalaratna Zandile Dlamini, first rose to popularity with her joke song “Mooo!” went viral in 2018. In the span of two years, she dropped her debut Amala in 2018 and her latest record Hot Pink back in November. The record is a major change in her style, trading in her dancehall vibes for pop and funk. She even appeared on the Birds Of Prey soundtrack with the killer track “Boss Bitch.” Oh, and to give her some scene cred, “Bottom Bitch” samples Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?”, so that’s something. She’s collaborated with acts like Tyga, Gucci Mane, and even  Nicki Minaj herself on the remix of her big hit “Say So.” Her Hot Pink tour was postponed due to COVID-19 and hopefully it’ll start later this year.

Song to Listen to: “Say So”

Off Road Minivan

Hometown: Red Hook, NY

Out Now: Swan Dive (Tooth & Nail)

For Fans Of: Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, Thrice

When he’s not busy kicking ass in the metalcore band Fit For A King, bassist Ryan Tuck O’Leary is throwing it old school with his other project Off Road Minivan. The alt rock quintet bounce between 90’s grunge and heartfelt emo vibes. Think Dashboard Confessional meets Thrice; that’s a good description of their sound. ORM formed in 2018 and have released one EP and one full-length album called Swan Dive which dropped earlier this month on Tooth & Nail Records (Alexander Fairchild, Hearts Like Lions, Mae.) The band have done shows with Chase Huglin, Blis., and Davey Muise & The Sons Of Zero. So if you’re a fan of FFAK, why not check out the glorious tunes of ORM.

Song to Listen to: “YOU”

NOT A TOY

Hometown: Denver, CO

Out Now: J Cash – Single (Fearless)

For Fans Of: AJR, grandson, twenty one pilots

The Denver-based collective NOT A TOY are quite mysterious. Formed from the ashes of the rock band Shatterproof, NOT A TOY are here to wow you with their charm. They don’t consider themselves a band, but as a collective of four creatives. They don’t just make music, they make their clothes, their videos, and even their artwork. Simply put, NOT A TOY are one of the most fascinating groups to appear in the scene in a very long time. You might’ve heard of them when they were announced as the newest act to join Fearless Records (Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, The Pretty Reckless, Underoath) during their Fearless At Home livestream earlier this month. As their label puts it, “If Kanye West and Pharrell joined forces to produce a rock group co-fronted by Jesse Rutherford and Lana Del Rey, it might sound something like Not a Toy.” NOT A TOY are not to be toyed with.

Song to Listen to: “J Cash”

Black Pumas 

Hometown: Austin, TX

Out Now: Black Pumas (ATO)

For Fans Of: Durand Jones & The Indications, Leon Bridges, St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Tears For Fears. The Black Keys. City Morgue. What do all of those bands have in common? They’re all duos, and so is this band: Black Pumas. The soulful R&B duo have only been around for three years and have already done so much. One of those accomplishments was being nominated for Best New Artist at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards back in January. While they didn’t win, one of them does have one under his belt. Guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada won a Grammy with his previous band Grupo Fantasma in 2010 for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. In 2019, the duo signed with Dave Matthews’s record label ATO Records (The Bronx, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Primus.) So far, they’ve done shows with Norah Jones, Toadies, and Anderson East. With COVID-19 hitting the country, the duo are using their spare time to help out various venues and record shops in their city with some fundraisers.

Song to Listen to: “Colors”

Alex Lahey

Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Out Now: Sucker For Punishment – Single (Nicky Boy/Dead Oceans)

For Fans Of: A.W., Courtney Barnett, Paramore

If Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance loves your stuff, that means you’re doing something right. He got chills when he heard her rendition of their classic hit “Welcome To The Black Parade” for Triple J’s recurring Like A Version series. That’s one of the many growing highlights in the musical career of 27-year-old singer-songwriter Alex Lahey. Influenced by The Killers and Dolly Parton, Lahey’s career skyrocketed with the success of the 2017 track “Every Day’s The Weekend,” which went gold in her native Australia. She’s even making some small waves in the pop-punk community when she appeared on a previous Prenatt’s Picks band Stand Atlantic’s reimagined song “Skinny Dipping.” She’s done shows with Liam Gallagher, The National, and Cyndi Lauper, and if COVID-19 lets up later this year, she’ll be touring with City And Colour in October. But for real, check out her MCR cover, it’s amazing.

Song to Listen to: “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself”

DRAIN

Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA

Out Now: California Cursed (Revelation)

For Fans Of: Absence Of Mine, No Option, Vamachara

“[DRAIN] could prove to be one of hardcore’s biggest names in the immediate future.” That’s what British music magazine Discovered said about the Cali hardcore punks when reviewing their new album California Cursed. Formed in 2014 and barely consisting of any original members (drummer Tim Flegal is the last one,) the quartet have hit several incredible milestones. For example, they achieved international press, did a photo shoot with Santa Cruz skateboards, and signed with the legendary hardcore label Revelation Records, the label behind Sick Of It All, Gorilla Biscuits, and Texas Is The Reason. They’ve done shows with Slapshot, Vein, Cruel Hand, Power Trip, and Gulch. Simply put, DRAIN is your friend.

Song to Listen to: “California Cursed”

Vaines

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Summer’s Over – Single (Hopeless)

For Fans Of: gnash, Lauv, Troye Sivan

Meet the most overlooked artist on Hopeless Records (The Dangerous Summer, Lil Xtra, ROAM.) Jared Gaines, the man behind Vaines, had a horrible childhood and developed an over-the-top personality to cope, thus allowing his creativity to blossom into songwriting. That’s where Vaines was born. And while his music sounds poppy, he isn’t attached to labels. “I used to make metal music, then I made rock songs, then I made pop songs, and now I make whatever I want,” he told All Access Music. “I rapped as a kid so now if I feel like it, I’ll rap on a song. I’ve grown into the artist I’ve wanted to be for years and I fully expect my sound to continue to evolve as the years go by. If you hear too much of the same thing from me, I’ve failed myself as an artist and you should burn me at the stake.” He signed with Hopeless last year. Definitely check out Vaines when you can.

Song to Listen to: “Summer’s Over”

Bob Vylan

Hometown: London, UK

Out Now: We Live Here – Single (Venn)

For Fans Of: Bad Brains, Ho99o9, Scarlxrd

Meet Bobby and Bobb13, the incredible minds behind London’s heavy-hitting hardcore-rock-rap-grime act Bob Vylan (yes they’re named after Bob Dylan.) NME described them with, “Melding the attack of grime with the bite of punk, Bob Vylan couldn’t be further from their folksy namesake; instead, they take on gentrifying yuppies, gap-yah enthusiasts and amateur film photographers with paralysing lyrical venom.” They’ve done shows with Slaves (UK) and Gallows, and if COVID-19 wasn’t fucking up everyones’ plans, they were scheduled to play 2000trees this July with The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Creeper, and Lizzy Farrall. Bob Vylan might be playing next year for the makeup dates.

Song to Listen to: “We Live Here”

Dealer

Hometown: Springbrook, Queensland, Australia

Out Now: Saint – EP (Stay Sick)

For Fans Of: Bury Your Dead, Misery Signals, Vein

What happens when you combine the former and current members of Alpha Wolf, Capture The Crown, Northlane, Iconoclast and Codeine King? You get one of Australia’s greatest supergroup. Vocalist Aidan Holmes (ex-Alpha Wolf) and his merry group of men go hard every single time, and they’re not giving you a second to catch your breath. To be quite blunt, their shit hits hard. Dealer have played with Varials and Spite, and they just had to cut their US tour with Spite and UnityTX short due to…you know. New dates will be unveiled soon. Because one thing’s for sure: nothing fucks with Dealer.

Song to Listen to: “Tourniquet”

Ash Bricky

Hometown: San Joaquin, CA

Out Now: Rats, Mice, And More… (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Jeff Rosenstock, Laura Stevenson, Neutral Milk Hotel

Sometimes you find an artist you like in the most peculiar way. I discovered singer-songwriter Ash Bricky from YouTuber Movieunleashers, well known for his Starters series, who animated his video for “Chowchilla Song.” Sounding like a crust punk version of Car Seat Headrest and Neutral Milk Hotel, Bricky might be young, but his songs sound like they were crafted from the soul of an old punk. He mixes in several genres with his style, adding in ambient, folk punk, indie, avant-garde, and emo. Give him some time before you see him at The Fest, he’ll fit in just fine.

Song to Listen to: “Chowchilla Song”

Well that’s it, 100 bands across the span of (nearly) 10 weeks. I hope you enjoyed this list as much as I did making it. If you want to read last year’s list, featuring Capstan, Year Of The Knife, Beach Bunny, shortly, and Spanish Love Songs, click the links provided underneath each band. Hope to see you all soon!