2023 was an incredible year in music, and our final end of year list is for the bands that are about to have an incredible 2024. This could be through the release of their breakthrough material, supremacy in live performances, or simply in having the year where their hard work comes to fruition. At Boolin Tunes, we’re proud of our past lists (2022/2023) which have highlighted acts that have demonstrably outgrown themselves multiple times over. This time around we’ve dug even deeper. If you love the experience of seeing a band blossom, these are the ones to start streaming right now. And if you want to experience the gems scattered across music scenes that aren’t local to you, you can find their flag bearers below.
Timelost (Church Road)
Many of the artists in this list are on their debuts or even earlier, but not Timelost – in fact, this rock-ish three piece is a safe bet. They’re backed by a small discography already, and with the experience from very different bands each member has been in (Failure, Woe, and Set and Setting to name a few). After a spell of inactivity, they return with exactly the opposite energy, and a full length, Drained, drops in February. This incoming material hints at influence from the modern emo and slacker rock scene, and should begin a successful year as they get back on the road.
FFO: Early Weezer, Wavves & Dinosaur Jr.
Swarmed (Independent)
After a busy year with the release of their stellar debut EP, alongside countless live shows across the country, London metalcore unit Swarmed look to have even more planned for 2024. One of the most exciting up and coming bands in the scene at the minute in my eyes, the prospect of more live appearances and even more new music is an exciting one, and it seems that we may not be waiting long to hear more.
FFO: Northlane, God Complex & Loathe
Recall the Remains (Independent)
Death influenced metal/core is always in the throes of revival, yet the lights have gone out on a few UK acts in the past year just as their momentum was gathering (In Fear and Monasteries). There’s a need for some new blood, and Recall the Remains are more than ready to provide fresh veins. This recommendation comes from the strength of their live act, as they perform with uncommon confidence and camaraderie. They choose not to play the “heaviness” arms race, happy to take melodic or even proggy breaks with their striking vocals that are uncommon in the genre. They have extensive tour plans and a substantial amount of new material on the way. Here’s hoping they stick the landing in 2024.
FFO: Bleed From Within, Thy Art Is Murder & In Flames
Wristmeetrazor (Prosthetic Records)
It seems a short time ago since Wristmeetrazor dropped Replica of a Strange Love, which followed on the superb Misery Never Forgets. The screamo unit look to once again channel chaos and emotion on their return in 2024 after a busy year on the tour circuit. Looking set to pack more crunching riffs and brutality of emotions, Wristmeetrazor look to remind everyone what makes them special.
FFO: SeeYouSpaceCowboy…, Omerta & Vein.fm
The Throwaway Scene (Independent)
Sheffield unit The Throwaway Scene will be early out of the gates of 2024 with their upcoming EP On Death & Dying, out this coming January. Channelling post-hardcore and emo influences blended with juicy hooks and an emotive grief, The Throwaway Scene look set to release one of the most provoking releases of the coming year.
FFO: Holding Absence, Static Dress & the great nothing
ZOMBIESHARK! (Theoria Records)
Cybergrind luminary ZombieShark has had a fantastic year this year, with the latest singles being some of the best yet to come out from this project. With the announcement of a new album in early 2024, Cory seems set to take the CyberGrind and more broadly, the metalcore world by storm. What we have already heard has been incredible, and knowing Cory, there is bound to be more surprises on the full length when it drops.
FFO: Blind Equation, Soulkeeper & DEATHTRIPPA
Gore. (Independent)
Rearing their heads out of nowhere late into the year, Arizona’s Gore. are a newcomer that immediately turned heads over here at Boolin. While not much is known yet about Gore., or their plans for the future given their debut occurred just under a week ago, their first single “Pray” left a remarkable impact for a debut. They combine a gorgeous sense of melody with a keen blend of dissonance and beauty that proves enrapturing. “Pray” showcases a band that will no doubt see great success in the years to come, feeling more akin to a seasoned unit that are multiple records in, than a young artist finding their footing.
FFO: Loathe, Moodring & Sleep Token
False Reality (Independent)
Making their single debut in April of this year on “Bite the Bullet”, False Reality put forward a track brimming with hooks. Follow ups “Cause for Chaos” and “L.O.V.E. (Law of Vindictive Enemies” have further impressed. These outings have earned them a slot supporting Madball and performing at the upcoming Reality Unfolds at New Cross Inn. False Reality could see themselves being the next champions of London Hardcore.
FFO: GOD AWFUL, J.O.Y & No Relief
Church Tongue (Independent)
For many, Church Tongue may not be a well known band, however you may know some of the members – namely Mike Sugars (PSYCHO-FRAME) and Nicko Calderon (Knocked Loose). One of the scenes most promising metalcore acts, this project appeared to have been left to one side following the bands 2021 release The Hubris Of Gods Departed, there have been hints that maybe something is coming. With the likelihood being that Knocked Loose will release new material in 2024, as well as PSYCHO FRAME already showing that they do not know what a break is, we know that members will likely be very busy, however, we truly hope that 2024 is the year of the return of Church Tongue.
FFO: Cauldron, Chamber & Serration
BIND. (Independent)
With 2023 marking their first ever releases and appearances, Norfolk’s BIND. have made quite the impact already. Budding fans of blisteringly aggressive hardcore need look no further, for one of the youngest prospects in the UK heavy music world may just have the potential to be one of its brightest and most promising. With a new split EP with Born In Dissonance on the way before the year’s end, and more music and live shows planned for 2024, it seems that much of 2023 represented a proverbial dipping of toes in the water, before the oncoming splash that is to be the coming year for BIND..
FFO: Harms Way, Jesus Piece & Incendiary
Spaced (Revelations Records)
The energy that Spaced put forward in both their records and live performances looks set to move up a notch in the coming months. After superb dual single “Boomerang | Cycle Killer”, Spaced look set to roll out their refined sound on their upcoming sophomore record, which will hopefully see them cement themselves as a name of note in the wider hardcore scene.
FFO: JIVEBOMB, End It & Primitive Blast
Roman Candle (Second Born Sound)
There is something to be said about a debut EP being so good that it lands you on line-ups alongside Dying Wish, Better Lovers, Militarie Gun, Pool Kids and Omerta. On Discount Fireworks, Las Vegas hardcore unit Roman Candle pulled this off and more. Now set to release fresh material next year, 2024 could even see them become a headline act in and of themselves.
FFO: Blind Girls, Gillian Carter & Vein.fm
Split Chain (Independent)
Gazecore unit Split Chain have had quite the debut year, with four singles including the standout “Future”, amassing them a respectable following. Importing the sound from America that saw the likes of Bleed and Fleshwater boom in popularity, the quartet have wedged themselves as an upcoming group in the UK and will undoubtedly go from strength to strength as new material emerges.
FFO: Slow Crush, Soul Blind & Kraus
No Relief (Rest Assured)
Most recently dropping the single “Day By Day”, this proudly Brighton based unit rolled out their first material that follows the 2022 EP Ritual Oppressor. Performing alongside Pest Control, Nothin But Enemies and Grove Street, what No Relief have lined up will see them more than cement themselves on hardcore line-ups to come.
FFO: Going Off, World Of Joy & Negative Frame
Këkht Aräkh (Independent)
An artist who should say “underground” but whose following is anything but. Crying Orc’s unique blend of tragic dungeon synth and depressive black metal is a somehow unique mix in the sea of bedroom projects. The Pale Swordsman recently graced us with a new track that interpolates his old material, and a video to go with it. There’s no indication that this release is anything more than just a single, but we’re keeping our hopes up for a more substantial release for his now rabid fanbase to devour.
FFO: Lifelover, Xasthur & Dead Can Dance
Starved (Independent)
It’s seems impossible to say a bad word about the unit that is Starved. We’re passionate about their sound, most notably highlighted on Collective Vol. I and that has moved many crowds across the UK since. It seems like whatever is coming next will be equally special. Taking the highs of nu-core, along with a sprinkling of jungle here and there, we hope to hear more from Starved sooner rather than later.
FFO: Pincer+, Break Fifty & Graphic Nature
Identity Error (Independent)
Melbourne has been a boiling point for some of Australia’s best bands in recent memory; Terminal Sleep, Vengeance and Born Free. Metallic hardcore unit Identity Error look to add themselves to this impressive list, with dual singles under Retribution Awaits that show a ruthlessness in sound and craftsmanship that, if continued, will see them make their mark on the South East coast and beyond.
FFO: Gaijin, Trauma Bonds & Trenchknife
Life’s Question (Independent)
After dropping the sublime record World Full Off.. in 2022, Life’s Question are finally ready to drop their follow-up this coming year. Another band with a busy year under their belts, a record and more has been in the works for some time. 2024 will see them further establish a foothold in what is an ever growing and impressive stateside hardcore scene.
FFO: Anklebiter, Mindforce & SPY
EGO (Independent)
Alongside the aforementioned False Reality, Leeds unit EGO is one of the many UK hardcore bands who are proving that the scene is more than up to the standard of its international counterparts.Their no-holds-barred sound on debut Demo displayed noteworthy ruthlessness. What will hopefully follow will match this and more, and hopefully see EGO become a frontrunner of UKHC.
FFO: Bitewound, Ordeal & Rough Justice
Crippling Alcoholism (Independent)
The nihilism present on Crippling Alcoholism is one that takes the mind to the place beyond redemption. Their esoteric noise-meets-post rock/punk sound delves into the deepest moments of the human psyche. It will rear its head once again in 2024 to ruminate on darker thoughts and moments that life has to offer.
FFO: Have A Nice Life, Death Goals & Pale Ache
Shooting Daggers (New Heavy Sounds)
2023 was already a great year for Shooting Daggers, and now in 2024, the three-piece will release their defining album. Love And Rage drops in February and already sounds great from the single “Not My Rival”. In the era where hardcore is burgeoning, they inject some classic punk-isms to their catchy songs. They are confirmed to support Spaced (listed above) for select dates, and that’s probably the tip of the iceberg for their touring plans.
FFO: Screaming Females, Witch Fever & NOBRO
Body Farm (Independent)
Impassioned and empowered Body Farm already have plenty of righteous music under their belts. Their ridiculous take on hardcore is unapologetically their own, incorporating furious movements that would make tech metal bands wince. The vocals are produced as if trapped inside a lighthouse’s search beam, yet land like a shin against teeth. Their pride in local political struggles is exactly the sort of inspirational work we like to see at work in modern punk scenes. For their rumoured upcoming material, we hope it remains as sonically irreverent as their existing EPs.
FFO: Melt Banana, Slut Bomb & Death Goals
Writhe (Independent)
Making a remarkable impact with their debut EP, In Filth, last month, one of the UK’s heaviest exports in Writhe have certainly set the bar high, seemingly emerging from nowhere, and dropping one of the best debuts we’ve heard in some time. Having released one of the most oppressively heavy, gloomy, atmospheric, and outwardly impressive deathcore releases of the year, the UK unit have further made appearances across the country, including at this year’s Techabilitation weekender in Derby. With any luck, and thankfully with the prospect of even more material on the horizon, 2024 will hopefully see the group truly break out and gain more recognition for the raw talent that they hold.
FFO: Humanity’s Last Breath, Vildhjarta & Black Tongue
Eschalon (Independent)
Eschalon features one of our editors (Maximo David), so, needless to say, we’re all really excited to see where they go, particularly following their impressive single “Helios”.
FFO: Silent Planet, Volumes & Veil of Maya
Indevth (Independent)
After appearances at both of this year’s Tech-Fest events in both the main event, and the sister-show Techabilitation, as well as appearances across the country with the likes of Spitting Teeth and BIND., it seems UK metalcore newcomers INDEVTH (formerly Dream Eater) have had a busy back half of 2023. It seems, too, that 2024 is looking even busier, as the group have at last started rolling out new material for the first time since 2021. Recent single “LURK” has proven to be one of my favourite tracks in recent months, providing a masterful combination of hardcore and nu-metalcore stylings to make for one of the most electrifying and utterly pissed tracks I’ve heard all year. We can only hope it’s a sign of more to come in 2024, as “LURK” has me yearning for more.
FFO: Alpha Wolf, thrown & Varials