Noizze Presents: The Best 20 EPs of 2024

We do love a good little EP.

Often overshadowed by its long play counterpart, the extended play is a crucial format always worth championing. It’s on EPs where young artists first make forays into the scene and where established acts can experiment with new sounds. An EP release may not always make the same impact as a full-length, but as proven time and time again, some of an act’s best work can be found on this humble little format. And with that in mind, here are the top 20 EPs of the year.

20. Beyond Grace – Welcome To The New Dark Ages Pt. 2

The follow up to the band’s last EP and the second in a trilogy, Welcome To The New Dark Ages Pt. 2 only amplifies everything that made their last effort so blistering. However, this is more than just a standard death onslaught though. With a focus on creativity, grove and experimentation that may of their peers may shy away from, this is easily one of the finest releases in the genre this year. No one may have a clue what 2025 is set to bring, but if this is anything to go by, at least we’re due another brilliant EP from Beyond Grace with Pt. 3. – Dan Hillier

19. Worn Out – Low

Unleashing a sentient buzzsaw loose upon the world with an arsenal of frenzied hardcore tearing us all to shreds. Corks finest hardcore collective Worn Out’s 4 track EP Low is a white hot reminder of their ability to pummel with meat grinding riffs and stride with endless potential into the big leagues. – Andy Calderbank

18. Death Goals / Dreamwell – Split

Death Goals and Dreamwell may live on opposite sides of Atlantic, but here on this split they prove to be the best names within their respective national queercore scenes. A violent, lashing and downright chaotic experience that celebrates queer existence whilst also addressing how no one can be truly free until everyone is free from oppression worldwide. – Dan Hillier

17. Gender Warfare – New Wave Of British Transphobia

Less of a kick back and more of a blazing full frontal assault, New Wave Of British Transphobia is a chemical-tipped, hyperpop inspired barrage of noise and rebellion from Gender Warfare. This is the sound of hardcore, punk and dance chemically fused together; the sound of a band that could easily commandeer stages at both Outbreak and Bang Face. – Dan Hillier

16. Cainhurst – A Sacrifice

Bringing South West Violence Cainhurst deliver a tortuous confessional with A Sacrifice. Setting fire to their own flesh with an intense and divine injection of frantic math and metallic hardcore, they give that celebrated screamo sound a fresh and enticing identity with room to grow in 2025. – Andy Calderbank

15. No Cure – I Hope I Die Here

I Hope I Die Here is bruising, brutalising metallic hardcore with a strong undercurrent of death metal and a take no prisoners attitude. Less snarling and more rampaging its way through 20 minutes of fury, along with some of the hardest track names of the year, No Cure bring pure sonic obliteration. – Will Marshall

14. Soot Sprite & Muttering – For Joy

A product of an absolute dream pairing, For Joy see’s Soot Sprite and Muttering collaborating to brilliantly channel the nature of sentimentalism in it’s purest form. Rich with unbridled chemistry and simultaneously heartbreaking and life-affirming, this is a joint endeavour that just feels irresistibly organic. An EP that must be heard by anyone with an interest in the UK emo and adjacent scene. – Dan Hillier

13. Mallavora – Echoes

Delivering some unceasing sonic vibrations for their first signed exploration into their lived experience of neurodiversity and chronic illness; the Bristolian Alternative Metal quartet Mallavora, not only held space for some much needed accessibility advocacy, but also conjured major awe and heightened allure among listeners with their invigorating debut extended play. – Bennie Osborne

12. Knives – What We See In Their Eyes

Built from the frustrations seen in their community, Knives are here to hold the mirror up to your face, asking you to look deeper for the truth before putting a fist right through that reflection. This their second EP is five tracks of gritty, high paced energy. Opening tracks ‘Happiness’ and ‘Doppelganger’ are hook laden, saxophone laced bangers and mash. Overlaid are the vocals of Jay Schottlander, angry, venomous and loud demanding your attention, which should be duly paid. – Adam Vallely

11. Dream State – Still Dreaming

With a mark to make and something to prove Dream State dropped this mini-album chocked full of banger after banger. Any doubt that this reinvigorated lineup could carry the mantle was put to bed after the likes of ‘Chin Up Princess’ and ‘Day Seeker’ hit their ears. Still Dreaming cements the band as a solid rising force in rock and metal. – Jac Holloway

10. Long Goodbye – i used to dream of drowning

Distilling the fight or flight response into four chaotic pieces of music, Newcastle’s Long Goodbye burst onto the scene this year with the stunningly violent i used to dream of drowning EP. Taking cues from bands like Norma Jean and On Broken Wings, this is a modern slab of mosh metal replete with a bug eyed vocal performance and a desire to see members of the audience draw blood. With 2024 being a fantastic launching pad for the band and containing some ferocious sets, 2025 looks to give the band even bigger stages to cause mayhem on and this EP has cemented themselves as ones to watch in the UK ‘core scene. One of the more glistening jewels in the already sparkling crown of The Coming Strife. – Chris Earl

9. The None – Matter

The creative juices of various four well regarded minds have stitched together The None, a patchwork of each individual’s talents. Born from the desire to create art that does not rest on past endeavors, the quartet have cooked up four intriguing slabs of delicious noise, served up with a side of urgency and power. This quartet have chef’d something quite remarkable already in their short history and let’s hope for a larger portion going forward. – Adam Vallely

8. Holy Blade – Holy Blade

AFI, but make it for people who wear cargo pants and 90’s punk band t-shirts exclusively. Another band from the hardest working man in hardcore, Colin Young, this blend of autumn tinged punk and misfits-esque goth came out of nowhere to the delight of many. Alec Faber’s voice is one of many highlights of the self titled record, which fills the void that AFI left behind. Soaring, euphoric and frankly criminally catchy in parts, it’s not the usual brooding or brutal tracks you expect from the Twitching Tongues frontman, but if you’re missing Davey Havok and co, you’ll find some solance in this. – Chris Earl

7. FOXCULT – The Amethyst Drift

Somewhat of a bittersweet release for FOXCULT as it’s the last record to have the amazingly talented Audrey Lane on vocals but she goes out in glorious style. More of the ambitious, sprawling post-hardcore that the band are known for, The Amethyst Drift sees more strings added to the bands bow, with heavier moments making an appearance and some incredibly memorable guest features, particularly Tom Weaver from Casey’s first ever guest vocal spot. The end of an era it may be, but with the talents of the rest of the band so wonderful, their future is as bright as a star in the dark of space. – Chris Earl

6. Ikhras – Jahanam Btistana

Blunt, aggressive hardcore with a potent political message. The first release from Brighton and London based hardcore punks, IKHRAS (“Shut up” in Arabic), is an intense assault in just 5 tracks, sung in English and Arabic. Musically, the record is bouncy, it’s antagonistic, but the message behind the music holds the most power, especially in closing track /Al Nahr’. Free Palenstine. – Amy Bowles

5. Love Rarely – Lonely People

6 songs, 16 minutes; sounds like it will be an intense, chaotic ride and it pleasurably is so. Leeds based Love Rarely manage to capture lighting in a bottle with their varied sounding approach. From the melodies on ‘And You Know It’, the pounding math riffs of ‘Entropy’ to the Frank Carter-esque belter of ‘P.A.F. (Outro I)’, they have firmly planted their foot in the door and are ready to boot down 2025. – Adam Vallely

4. Pest Control – Year Of The Pest

10 minutes. That’s all the time Pest Control need to show you they mean business with new EP Year of the Pest. Their debut album was already great, but here they’ve honed their craft again, with scorching leads, frantic drumming and a sense it could all come off the rails any moment. There’s a sense of urgency and danger throughout, and it’s simply some of the best crossover thrash the UK has to offer. – Will Marshall

3. Vower – Apricity

Bring together some of the UK underground’s most talented musicians and you are sure to spit out something primo. The former members of Black Peaks and Palm Reader alongside guitarist Rabea Massaad & bassist Rory Mclean have promptly become a solid unit. Joe and Rabea’s guitars intertwine forming a cacophony of sound whilst drummer Liam feeds the beast with insane chops underpinned by Rory’s basslines. Vocalist Josh is ever the centrepiece with his beautiful yet brutal delivery, creating singalong lines such as ‘Take it all away, make it all ok’ in Shroud. Four tracks, four bangers. Bring on a full length album. – Adam Vallely

2. House of Protection – Galore

House Of Protection were an instant hit right from when the duo’s opening single ‘Its Supposed to Hurt’ dropped earlier in the year. Made up of Aric Improta and Stephen Harrison, both of whom are former members of Fever 333 and carry a wealth of experience, the duo have finally placed their stamp on a project that is their own creative vision. It feels like Galore was destined for greatness with infectious hooks, beautifully woven experimentation and a fresh sound full of authenticity and conviction. With former BMTH member Jordan Fish to man production on this debut, he ensured that this was as electrically charged as it is oozing with angst, heft and melody. Galore is very much just the beginning and what a statement to open with. – Jac Holloway

The EP of The Year: unpeople – unpeople

Few bands hit the ground running like unpeople do. Support slots with Better Lovers, Hot Milk and some band called Metallica, a stellar festival run and positive reviews across the board, it is definitely time to buy stock in this quartet as their value will only skyrocket. Their debut EP (plus their latest single ‘The Garden’) set the bar high with riffs that sink their claws, venomous beats, and the cosmic earworms when it comes to vocal melodies and lyrics. Almost immediately you’ll be pumping your fist chanting ‘HEY!’ to waste or ‘Woahing’ to ‘Smother’. This is up there with one of the best debuts in modern rock music history. – Adam Vallely