The Shits - Diet of Worms (2026)

The Shits' music is often described as a very convincing mix of The Stooges and Brainbombs. That's definitely relevant and their new album Diet of Worms is another blatant proof. But we could also just say that they are among the very best at channeling the darkest energy of rock'n'roll (crafting riffs like these must imply some Robert Johnson kind of deal).

 

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Buñuel - Mansuetude (2024)

Buñuel, the other band with Eugene S. Robinson, seems to be more than a one shot, since there is now (well, I'm a bit late here, it's been released two years ago, sorry) a second album called Mansuetude (I also recommend the first one Killers Like Us). No big surprise we're into noise rock territory, and as expected we get great screamed/spoken vocals. But maybe more diverse than Oxbow, sometimes heavier, sometimes more melodic, sometimes groovier, more rocking, sometimes a post-punk feel, a touch of math rock. Maybe progressive noise rock would fit. In any case great songwriting, a formidable singer backed by really talented musicians. Awesome!

 

 The BC page. 

 

Deadguy - Near-Death Travel Service (2025)

I'm discovering Deadguy with Near-Death Travel Service, their first album after their classics of the nineties. I won't compare it with their older stuff, in any case Near-Death Travel Service is definitely great on its own. It's an extremely strong piece of hardcore/noise rock hybrid, reminding both Black Flag and Unsane and Today is The Day. With excellent songs and especially good spoken/screamed vocals. Yes, most reunion of bands inactive during 30 years doesn't end up very exciting, but don't make the error of thinking it would be the same here, it's a really impressive reunion album. A total success.

 

The BC page. 

 

 

Today Is The Day - Never Give In (2025)

The new Today Is The Day starts with a big metal riff, but actually Never Give In leans a lot more on the bleak noise rock side. And it does it very well, a great noise rock album and a great Today Is The Day album, full of memorable moments. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

US Christmas - Cannibals of Unaka (2025)

Seems good things also can happen in 2025. Like a new US Christmas album, fourteen years after the previous one. Cannibals of Unaka is another masterpiece in psychedelic drone rock. Somewhere Earth, Neil Young (think the original Soundtrack of Dead Man) and Neurosis could meet. Not sure I'll do a best of year list, but if I do, this one will be in it. Highly recommended.

 

The BC page. 

 

Easy Prey - Unrest (2022)

Unrest, released three years ago and Easy Prey first album, is an excellent piece of noise-rock, with a hardcore somewhat emo feel. Let's hope they come up with new music soon!

 

The BC page. 

 

Eunoia - Psyop Of The Year (2022)

Since two of them have been sent to different states, Psyop Of The Year probably was Eunoia's last operation. Which is a pity because it was an excellent album, from an interesting band. They played a nice blend of noise rock and screamo, with also elements of math rock and extreme metal thrown in. Nicely surprising at the first listen, and even better when you knew the songs more. 

 

The BC page. 

 

The Shits - You're a Mess (2023)

We had The Stooges, and needless to say they were awesome, then came Brainbombs, and they are still awesome, and now we also have The Shits, who are awesome as well. Thank the mad deities of wild and twisted rock'n'roll, listen to You're a Mess, and rejoice!

 The BC page. 

 

Ramleh - Hyper Vigilance (2025)

Hyper Vigilance, the new Ramleh album keeps the psychedelic noise rock formula of the two previous albums, but is also enriching it with new elements and more diversity overall. The main new thing is the use in several songs of acoustic guitars, bringing a somewhat neofolk feel at times, with also more vocals, and on the other hand there are some harsher industrial/noise moments, making it maybe the most interesting of recent Ramleh albums. In any case, it's another awesome addition to their fantastic discography. One of my favourite album for this first half of the year. Totally recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

YOUFF - Heydays (2023)

I saw YOUFF play at Les Passagers du Zinc, a café-concert where I live, and it confirmed the good impression I had from listening to their latest album Heydays. YOUFF, from Belgium, is an excellent band! Their music is a noise rock that is especially noisy, but not without groove, a special kind of groove. They sound somewhere between a less technical Pneu and a more frenetic and harsher The Ex. Plus crazy and weird vocals. Recommended !

 

The BC page. 

 

Bad Breeding - Contempt (2024)

Contempt is the fifth album from UK band Bad Breeding. Raw hadcore including noise rock, sludge and post-punk elements, evoking bands like Black Flag, Unsane, Eyehategod or Idles. If you like your hardcore dirty and noisy this is definitely for you. I also recommend you check their more recent release, the Blood Manifest Ep, showcasing in four tracks both their more aggressive and slower and noisier sides. Recommended!

 

The BC page. 

 

Coilguns - Odd Love (2024)

Coilguns is a band from Switzerland, playing a noise/post-metal/emo kind of hardcore, sounding a bit like a collide of At The Drive-in and Neurosis. I discovered them with their new album Odd Love and it's an awesome one with great songwriting, a gripping atmosphere, memorable melodies and emotional vocals. And I went to see them live, and I definitely wasn't disappointed, they delivered. Highly recommended band and album !

The BC page.

Drugs of Faith - Asymmetrical (2025)

Asymmetrical is the third album from Drugs of Faith, and another excellent piece of noise-rock flavoured hardcore punk, evoking both Black Flag and Unsane. Great songs, and an excellent vocalist. Recommended stuff!

 

The BC page.

Erection House - Feels of Correction (2023)

Sounding like a mix of The Stooges at their most psych/noise and Brainbombs, Feels of Correction, released in 2023, is Erection House (from Copenhagen) excellent first album. Time for a second one guys, I'm looking forward to it! 

The BC page.

 

Chat Pile - Cool World (2024)

With this second album, Cool World, Chat pile confirms that they belong to the top noise rock/metal bands. One thing I noticed with this new one is that they often sound nearly as much related to Korn that they are to Unsane, which, believe it or not, is actually pretty cool. And doesn't matter if you agree with this or not, you'll probably enjoy how it is raw, bleak and crawling with a sneaky groove, and will agree it's a great album.

 

The BC page. 

 

Today is the Day - No Good to Anyone (2020)

No Good to Anyone? This latest album from Today is the Day is probably good for you, and for sure I do enjoy listening to it. It's a finely crafted mix of all TITD have done in its career, from the Am Rep twisted noise rock to the more recent extreme metal elements, and there's also a large dose of doom metal as well, showing it can fit very well Today is the Day. Interesting songs, interesting album. And a good way to enter the world of Today is the Day if you don't know it yet. Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Bitter Branches - Your Neighbors Are Failures (2022)

I just discovered with their Bandcamp bio that "Bitter Branches consists of veterans from the 90’s punk hardcore scene, having served time in Calvary, Deadguy, Lifetime, Lighten Up, Kiss It Goodbye, No Escape, Paint It Black and Walleye." Well, I'm not surprised, this band sounds like the musicians knows what they are doing, for sure. On their first album Your Neighbors Are Failures they are excellent at doing their Am Rep noise flavoured noise rock thing. And the more ambient parts with somewhat spoken words reminding strongly Oxbow are nice as well. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

Blacklisters - Fantastic Man (2020)

Hardcore? Yes, kind of. Noise rock and post-punk, definitely. Blacklisters from Leeds (UK) is all that. But maybe the best way to describe their latest album Fantasic Man (released in 2020, due time for another one guys!) is that the band it reminds me the most is Nirvana, not bad isn't it? Check it!

The BC page.

 

Pissed Jeans - Half Divorced (2024)

Seven years after their previous one, Pissed Jeans are back with their sixth one, Half Divorced. This time the songs are shorter, faster, more straightforward and punkier, even bordering to oi! at times. Probably won't be my favourite Pissed Jeans to be frank, but I really enjoy it anyway, and good point to them for not doing the same thing over and over. And fortunately they kept their usual noise rock guitar play, the smart, fun and acerbic lyrics and the excellent vocals going from spoken words to screaming. So, while quite different from the rest of their discography, it still definitely sounds like Pissed Jeans. Recommended!

The Bandcamp page.

Sister Fucker - God's Work (2010)

Sister Fucker were active in Oakland, CA, in the beginning of the 2010'. It's a duo with Vanessa Harris playing guitar and singing/screaming and Erin Allen playing drums. On their 2010 cassette God's Work they delivered some savage, raw and primitive punkish noise rock. I love it!

The BC page.