Top 5 EPs of 2024

In the music industry today, it feels like there are more EPs being released than full-length albums — while I’ll always prefer the full-length format, simply because it provides more music, EPs have been a great way for bands and artists of all levels to either introduce themselves to the masses, experiment with their sound or release extra material between full-length releases, or to simply compile the singles they’ve released over a certain amount of time under one collective release.

I typically cover full-length releases because they’re much easier for me to come up with, but there have been plenty of noteworthy EPs in 2024 — from the powerful debut of Boston metalcore act Renesans, Born From the End, to The Plot in You’s trilogy that spanned throughout the entire year, it just feels right to shout out some of my personal favorites. It was a challenge trying to narrow it down to just five releases, but it was accomplished nonetheless. Given how musically diverse this handful is, the ranking is honestly interchangeable depending on the day, but regardless, these are some of my personal favorite EPs of 2024.

5. Nxxses – Antimatter (October 26)

For the trap-metal fans here, the one release from that genre that I can confidently recommend with my whole chest is the latest release from South Carolina multi-genre musician Nxxses. With his signature deep, gravelly vocals supported by suspenseful and ominous instrumentals, this 10-minute collective effort provides a perfect soundtrack for an indie horror short like no other. This EP allowed him to experiment with his sound in the sense of trying new things with his vocal cadence, which is particularly prominent in the track “Die Twice.” As a musician with a wealth of different influences that span many different genres, Nxxses found a way to cultivate a very cohesive and cinematic sound with this release. Each track stands on their own, and they also work equally well together as if they’re all part of the same song. If you want something for a night drive, this is the EP for you.

Favorite Track: “Die Twice”

Read the full reaction to Antimatter here.

Stream Antimatter here.

4. We’re Wolves – Transformation (October 25)

An early Halloween treat came in the form of We’re Wolves’ Transformation EP. The South Floridian lycan-core quintet has kept themselves busy in the years that followed their 2021 debut full-length Evil Things — between their consistent releases of cover songs (with some recent examples being Good Charlotte’s “The Anthem” and Demi Lovato’s “Cool for the Summer”), the group has also had a fair amount of original singles released over the past two years, from the empowering “Titanium” to the apocalyptic “Darkest Hour.” The Transformation EP is composed of these previously-released originals from late 2022 to late 2024, with the final single being the wicked catchy vampiric banger “Fallen Sun.” As a huge horror fan, it’s easy to appreciate the Company of Wolves (1984)-inspired cover art, and this EP as a whole was a great highlight of this past Halloween season.

Favorite Track: “Fallen Sun”

Stream Transformation here.

3. Defile the Crown – Razormouth (September 13)

With the departure of founding vocalist John E. Kennedy in early 2023, the future of the eastern North Carolina metal band Defile the Crown was under a microscope from fans eager to learn what their next moves would be. Triumphantly returning to the stage later that year with frontman Aaron Johnson, the band’s first studio effort under the current lineup came this past fall in the form of the Razormouth EP, a hard-hitting mix of hardcore and deathcore that’s sure to quench any listener’s thirst for sonically violent tones. Not only does the EP kick off this new chapter for the band as far as the lineup goes, but it’s the beginning of a complete sonic reinvention for them, one that’s more aggressive and mosh-inducing than their previous sound. Overall, it’s a great return statement for the band, and it’s hard to not be even more excited for whatever comes next after the first listen.

Favorite Track: “The Heavy Toll of Self Reflection”

Read the full reaction to Razormouth here.

Stream Razormouth here.

2. Gore. – A Bud That Never Blooms (October 24)

The debut of Gore. was a triumphant one — with an aesthetic that separates them from the rest of their alternative metal colleagues and a sound that instantly captures the listener’s attention, their introduction to the masses was one that easily left a strong impression. From the wildly dynamic opener “Pray” to the hard-hitting cut “Doomsday” to the ethereal track “Angels Like You,” listeners will instantly gravitate to the impressive musical diversity that’s heard in this small collection of material. It’s difficult to pick a favorite track because of how different each song is from each other, but all five songs are incredibly solid and make for an excellent introduction from such a talented group of people.

Favorite Track: “Angels Like You”

Stream A Bud That Never Blooms here.

1. Mirrorcell – Reflecting the Inner Self (October 25)

Taking inspiration from many different forms of media, Mirrorcell has established themselves as a band that doesn’t leave anything off-limits in terms of musicianship. With just the handful of singles they’ve released to this point that make up their debut EP Reflecting the Inner Self, the band has found a way to seamlessly weave their influences together to craft a sound that’s hard to compartmentalize, even under the alternative metal umbrella. There’s a clear 90s sci-fi aesthetic, which is sonically amplified by tracks that will occasionally remind listeners of groups like Nine Inch Nails and Deftones, but with a modern twist. It’s immensely impressive just how well the band is able to incorporate elements from different genres, particularly those that are miles apart from each other, from shoegaze to deathcore. Much like with Gore.’s EP, Mirrorcell’s debut was a terrific introduction that showed listeners what they’re all about, and it’s very easy to be excited about what the future holds for them.

Favorite Track: “Bleach”

Read the full reaction to Reflecting the Inner Self here.

Stream Reflecting the Inner Self here.

All in all, while it does tend to be more difficult for me to keep up with EP releases in comparison to full-lengths, I’ve been well aware of the amount of bangers that have come out this past year. 2024 was one of the best years for music in recent memory, and I’m happy to have had these releases as part of the soundtrack to my year last year. If you haven’t heard these EPs already, I highly recommend checking them out, and feel free to comment your favorite EPs of 2024 as well!

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