As 2024 winds down, it was a year packed with unforgettable song releases that defined our days and soundtracked our lives. From the debut of idobi Radio Summer School Tour artists lighting up our stations to legendary acts like Thursday returning with their first new music in over a decade, this year delivered moments we won’t soon forget. Add in the groundbreaking, Grammy-nominated collaboration between Knocked Loose and Poppy, and it’s clear that 2024 was one for the books.
Here are our 20 favorite alternative, metal, and indie songs released in 2024.
K.Flay — “Carsick”
K.Flay is always upping the ante regarding electronic-infused rock ‘n’ roll. After all, this single dropped back in January 2024, and we couldn’t stop blasting it all year long. The simple yet deeply haunting melody echoes the artist’s intention of creating a “dizzying” experience. It’s beyond a song; it’s a full-body sensation tinged with “oooohs” and “ahhhhs” and we will definitely be blasting this well into 2025. —Maria Serra
The Home Team — “Brag”
Riding high on the success of their 2023 hit “Loud,” The Home Team’s “Brag” is a sugary-sweet, pop-infused, guitar-heavy earworm that demands listeners. From its infectious, guitar-driven intro to Brian Butcher’s charming vocal delivery, the track pulses with energy and has lived rent-free in our brains for nearly a year. The sheer addictiveness of the track’s pre-chorus, “I’m so sorry, I’ve been naughty/I’ve been keeping secrets/Something you’d know nothin’ about,” cements its get-stuck-deep-into-the-corners-of-your-brain status, making it impossible to forget.
The accompanying video elevates the experience, with Butcher’s magnetic charisma front and center. His playful expressions and boundless chemistry with guitarist John Baran, bassist Ryne Olson, and drummer Daniel Matson radiate pure joy. It’s this tight-knit camaraderie that fuels The Home Team’s unstoppable momentum. —Paige Owens
Microwave — “Bored Of Being Sad”
Microwave roars on their electrifying single, “Bored Of Being Sad,” accompanied by a gritty music video. The track finds Microwave at the peak of their talents, blending unguarded emotion with punchy instrumentation. Vocalist/guitarist Nathan Hardy’s songwriting cuts deeper than ever, delivering a defiant anthem against glorified melancholy. The cathartic chorus, “And I’m so bored of being sad/It’s not cool anymore/It’s old and I’m bored/Shit’s really not so bad,” transforms personal disillusionment into a rallying cry for emotional renewal. —Paige Owens
Avralize — “Higher”
Turning heads with one of the singles in the lead-up to their debut album, Freaks, back in February, a month before its release, AVRALIZE’s “Higher” brings together so many different genres and influences that simply wouldn’t make sense on paper, yet come together in a way that can only be described as heavy music magic as a standout metalcore track of 2024. Equal amounts of explosively heavy and melodic riffage throughout with some stadium-sized choruses, the infusion of it all within intricate verses that are instrumentally layered with keys, synths, and electronic elements that shift from deathcore/metalcore mosh breakdowns to jazzy groove in seconds in an innovative and exciting way, “Higher” is one hell of a rollercoaster ride and must-listen for any metalcore fan. —Patrick Walford
Roe Kapara — “Glorious Day”
Roe Kapara carved a special place for himself in the alternative music scene with folk-driven instrumentals, macabre lyricism, and bizarre visuals. Stepping into the universe he has created is reminiscent of visiting a shop of oddities—a constant admiration for the strange and unusual. However, in 2024, he expanded his sound into something a bit more whimsical. “Glorious Day” showcases his ability to craft narratives outside of his previous box. It’s a love song at its bones, with a dash of introspective nervousness, hesitancy, and going for it anyway. Roe Kapara’s craft is recognizable from miles away, even as he explores new heights. —Tate Logan
Chappell Roan — “Good Luck, Babe!”
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess transcends every expectation of the power a debut album could have to the world and probably Chappell Roan herself. The pressure to outperform on a follow-up single could have produced a diamond—and that’s exactly what “Good Luck, Babe!” is. The mainstream deserved an undoubted and unapologetic queer anthem, and we got it in the form of an ‘80s synth-infused, indie-pop masterpiece. Chappell Roan is on an upward trajectory that we may see once in a lifetime. There will be no surprise when her next release cements her artistry beyond household name status into an icon for generations to come. —Tate Logan
Thursday — “Application For Release From The Dream”
After teasing fans with their first new music in 13 years and their first independent release in 25 years, Thursday returned with the strikingly powerful “Application For Release From The Dream.” Clocking in at an impressive four minutes and 29 seconds, the atmospheric release was a monumental moment for the band as they asserted their newfound creative independence with fervor nearly three decades after their inception. With a soaring anthemic chorus that echoes their signature style as well as their growth, “Application For Release…” adds a refreshing layer to their illustrious discography. —Paige Owens
Knocked Loose feat. Poppy — “Suffocate”
This Grammy-nominated heater is, without a doubt, THE heavy track of 2024. A shining example of what makes Knocked Loose truly on a whole other level in heavy music. Whether it’s the dembow-tinged breakdowns to Poppy’s brooding and intense guest spot, “Suffocate” is the kind of song that has become a gateway into the world of metal, hardcore, and beyond. Capping the seismic effect this song has had throughout 2024, the band became one of the first in this new generation of heavy artists to appear on National TV, performing on late-night TV with Jimmy Kimmel last month in an all-time legendary performance that truly felt like something out of a movie. “Suffocate” as a song and Knocked Loose as a whole transcend heavy music genres. Hardcore, metal, metalcore, deathcore, and death metal fans can all appreciate the riffs and mosh that KL always brings. —Patrick Walford
RYLY — “Mr. Afterthought”
An up-and-coming artist who has this sound’s DMs definitely hates to see me coming! The verses of RYLY’s “Mr. Afterthought” immediately remind you of old-school ISSUES, and then the chorus takes you to the 2013 Tumblr era where The 1975 reigned supreme. Not only is the song catchy and uplifting, it’s lyrically genius. It tells an all-too-common tale of being looked at as an afterthought by someone who may have put you in the friend zone, but maybe there is more there. —Fish
DE’WAYNE — “lightweight”
There are a million reasons to choose a genre-blending, multi-instrumentalist entertainer like DE’WAYNE to have a top song of the year, but “lightweight” hit differently when it came out. The opening verse where DE’WAYNE compares the track’s individual of affection to a fighter but so quickly resolves any issue sets the tone for the near-perfect chorus. “lightweight” isn’t a part of an album… yet (?) but it’s definitely a refined sound for DE’WAYNE that overall feels like drinking a perfect, crisp and cold lemonade on a hot summer day. —Fish
HARDY — “Psycho”
Country music has exploded recently, and HARDY has been a part of that explosion for the last couple of years. His song “Psycho” was off his first harder rock-leaning album Quit!! which has a storyline that explains to a girlfriend that she fell in love with a psycho. Huge fan of how the storyline charges for a song where the male singer says he is, in fact, the “psycho” of the relationship, saying he is so madly in love with this girl, and here are all the things that will happen if the love leaves. Definitely would not recommend a round of limoncello to impress anyone, but besides that, the lyrics are amazing! —Fish
Honey Revenge — “Recipe For Disaster”
After dropping 2023’s Retrovision, we were hungry for some more sweet Honey Revenge, and they definitely delivered with “Recipe For Disaster.” (Sorry, not sorry for all the food puns.) Duo Devin Papadol and Donny Lloyd eloquently capture the 20-something experience in the energizing pop-rock track. So, the next time you’re confused about what your future looks like, know that you’re not alone… and that it’ll likely turn out just great. —Maria Serra
Bring Me The Horizon — “n/A”
Bring Me The Horizon has successfully produced a crowd-participatory-sing-along line in at least one song from every album release. 2024’s POST HUMAN: NeX GEn gave us the memorable “Hello Oli, you fucking knobhead!” in “n/A.” A more laid-back and almost 90’s grunge-inspired track shocks with an unexpected, yet perfectly placed, double-bass pedal and screams in the chorus. It’s a flawless melding of everything Bring Me The Horizon has sonically explored over their extensive catalog. Lyrically, it is self-reflective and earnest— instrumentally it simply kicksass. —Tate Logan
Four Year Strong — “Uncooked”
Four Year Strong’s analysis paralysis is a 2024 beauty that proves the band is evolving more than ever. The album takes their signature pop-punk-meets-hardcore sound and levels it up with fresh energy, dynamic twists, and experimental sounds. Tracks like “Uncooked” slam hard, blending explosive intensity with hooks that’ll stick in your head for days. It’s bold, it’s fresh, and it’s everything fans could hope for. With a massive 2025 world tour ahead, Four Year Strong is unstoppable. —Sasha
Beach Weather — “High In Low Places”
Beach Weather made their dazzling 2024 comeback with “High In Low Places,” a sultry, twangy track beginning the Melt era. Nick Santino’s voice has aged like fine wine into finer wine. From his time in A Rocket To The Moon to his solo days and into Pineapple Sunrise with Beach Weather, his voice is one to utterly swoon over. Needless to say, Pierce The Veil secured a solid opener for their 2025 tour. —Maria Serra
Daisy Grenade — “HYPOCRITE”
Daisy Grenade is the best addition to any feminine rage playlist. And “HYPOCRITE” doesn’t just apply to the people overly-entitled dates; it is the ideal song to play after your boss micromanages you at work, when a family member makes a weird comment about your body at a holiday, after a dude slides into your DMs with a “wyd?”… this punchy pop-rock track is so deeply universal. It is impossible not to spell along with the song in your own head, and why would you not want to give in to this perfect beat? —Maria Serra
Real Friends — “Waiting Room”
Ahead of the arrival of their new full-length, Blue Hour, Real Friends dropped their heartwrenching single “Waiting Room,” performing it across Sad Summer Fest this year. Opening through the evocative line delivered by frontman Cody Muraro, “After I knew there was only bad news,” this arresting ballad grapples with loss and grief in the most vulnerable way. Despite the high-energy arrangement, “Waiting Room” feels like a return to the band’s roots, blending searing candor with driving instrumentals. Its meticulously crafted intensity captures the disorienting helplessness that comes with profound loss, delivering a cathartic listening experience. —Paige Owens
Scene Queen feat. The Ready Set — “POV”
If neon was a musical sound, it would be this track! “POV” is a fizzy blend of pop-punk energy and electronic sparkle. Scene Queen’s ever-dynamic vocals go so hard, melding perfectly with The Ready Set’s knack for addictive hooks. The beat grabs you instantly and conveys clever lyrics about self-awareness in the most fun way possible. It’s punchy, polished, and impossible to sit still to. Whether you’re dancing in the twerk pit or headbanging, “POV” will have you hooked—an absolute banger! —Sasha
Whitechapel — “A Visceral Retch”
Whitechapel’s lone 2024 single is arguably one of the top songs in their entire career, and they sound absolutely pissed as fuck! “A Visceral Retch” is a true throwback to their Myspace deathcore roots of the late 2000s while still feeling fresh and new territory for the band. Whether it’s vocalist Phil Bozeman making some insane animal noises and sounding better than ever or the crushing breakdowns and riffs, this is a track for both OG and new WC fans, significantly raising the bar and hype on the potential new music down the line in 2025! —Patrick Walford
Linkin Park — “Heavy Is The Crown”
Linkin Park basically invented the nu-metal anthem as we know it, and this song carries that baton forward! As the official song for the 2024 League of Legends World Championship, it blasted through the gate with classic Linkin Park energy, impressive vocals from new frontwoman Emily Armstrong, and Mike Shinoda’s unmistakable touch. The track honors the band’s iconic sound while navigating a thoughtful evolution into a new era. LP is embarking on a huge stadium world tour in 2025, and it already looks epic! —Sasha