Time to show some love to the little things in life! All EPs must have been released after 1/1/24 to be eligible, and only one entry is allowed per artist
10. False Thoughts – You Speak to Me As Though I Wasn’t Living
It’s hard to believe that Merseyside’s False Thoughts only formed back in February; the band have immediately made a major impact in the exploding Merseyside heavy scene, partly thanks to incendiary live performances, and partly thanks to a gripping debut EP. It’s a visceral, intense, and sometimes uncomfortable listen that deals with mental illness, cycles of abuse, and generational trauma, yet ultimately serves as a reminder that through it all, hope and love persists. A vital emerging band.
9. Lynskey – here, this is for you
Weirder sometimes is not just better, but the best, and punk duo Lynskey prove that on their incredible third EP. This blistering experience is a wittily composed rollercoaster of genres, styles, and ideas, as the band declare their love for Keanu Reeves one moment, and tear down conservative outrage culture the next. A band primed to be cult favourites.
8. unpeople – unpeople
unpeople took the UK rock scene by storm this year, with a fantastic debut EP that is modern alternative rock at its very finest. Recently, bassist Meg Mash departed the band due to a battle with long COVID, but to have left such an incredible legacy with a single EP is something that speaks volumes to their talent. If any record is deserving of a cheeky little vinyl pressing, it’s this one.
7. LOVELETTER – A Place That Doesn’t Exist
It doesn’t matter how good your Nan’s Christmas dinner is, throw on this EP, and you’ll be spin-kicking her into next door’s living room. LOVELETTER’s debut EP is an obscene display of crushing nu-metalcore brutality, sitting at the very front of the pack of the new wave of UK heavy acts. A pure shot of sonic adrenaline that, despite the pure aggression, is intelligently and creatively constructed.
6. danger dog – From the Comfort of a Yellow Tent
danger dog’s debut EP was a long time coming, but it certainly did not disappoint. The emo four-piece flexed their sonic palette on this brilliantly fun and free-spirited collection of tracks that brought some of their best live set pieces to life, including the wonderfully anthemic ‘Three Nights in Worm City’. With a 2025 already packed full of exciting ideas, and plenty more brilliant tracks to unveil, these west midlands folks may well put the midwest scene to shame.
5. Brooke Ellen – Haunted
Brooke Ellen’s rumination on the female experience and abuse survivorship through the lens of the mythical and spiritual made ‘Haunted’ a shockingly powerful listen. The subtle yet theatrical stylistic choices make for a bristling and cinematic listening experience, as Ellen demonstrates a sense of artistry far beyond anything you may anticipate from a grassroots artist.
4. cartoonhead – Moving to the Same Groove
cartoonhead’s sound is not easily defined. Part indie-rock, part lounge-pop, their effortlessly cool and undeniably catchy sound comes to life on their gorgeous EP, ‘Moving to the Same Groove’. From the jangly upbeat energy of ‘You Don’t Dance’, to the understated and tender ‘Rodney’, cartoonhead offer a sound that nobody else comes close to accomplishing. Indie rock has rarely sounded so beautiful.
3. Liar – Cruel Lights
Liar’s second EP sees the band introducing a brand new guitarist to their line-up, and their sound expands accordingly. ‘Cruel Lights’ is a ferocious, emotive, and compelling work of art that flows perfectly from start to finish, seeing the band’s post-hardcore sound manage to push the limits of their brutality, whilst also weaving in plenty of moments of surprising catchiness. The finest hidden gem of France’s explosive heavy scene.
2. House of Protection – GALORE
’GALORE’ represents more than just a collection of absolute bangers; it’s the start of something that feels truly special, like a movement to take alternative music to new creative heights. It is wildly impressive how the band have take elements of punk, post-hardcore, hip-hop, dubstep, and many more energetic genres, and merged them into a unifying sound that sounds familiar yet totally unique. You only need to hear it once, and you’ll never mistake House of Protection for anyone.
- The Throwaway Scene – On Death & Dying
All the way back in January of this year, The Throwaway Scene dropped their debut EP, ‘On Death & Dying’, and since that very moment, that project has never shifted from the number one spot of this list.
An exploration of grief through the lens of the Kübler-Ross five stages, the band maintain their shadowy and conceptual nature as they allude to some grander narrative whilst also managing to craft viscerally emotional alternative and post-hardcore anthems. From the vicious aggression of ‘Who Else is in the Room’, to the buoyant emo anthem ‘Bury Me’, this project only gets better with repeated, complete listens; it is almost closer to an album than an EP in that regard, and so the concept of a The Throwaway Scene LP is one of the most exciting prospects in the UK alternative scene right now. Get on board now.
The Vinyl Fantasy Reviews EP of the Year 2024 is ‘On Death & Dying’, by The Throwaway Scene.
VINYL FANTASY REVIEW EP OF THE YEAR
2021: Bouquet – Cardinal
2022: nightlife – fallback
2023: the great nothing – no one.
2024: The Throwaway Scene – On Death & Dying
Come back tomorrow, as we’ll be closing out our 2024 end of year lists with the big one: the Top 10 Albums of 2024!
VINYL FANTASY REVIEWS 
Leave a comment