As the holiday season winds down and Christmas becomes a fond memory, we set our sights on an exciting new year of music in 2025. If the teasers and announcements are any indication, it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable ride! But before diving into the thrilling releases and events that lie ahead, let’s take a moment to reflect on 2024—a year filled with incredible music and electrifying live performances. Here’s our tribute to the standout artists that truly defined this year for us.
Before we dive in, a quick reminder: if your band isn’t mentioned, it doesn’t mean we didn’t love your music or performance. With so many incredible artists to cover over the past 12 months, choosing the recipients for these awards was no easy task. So please don’t be disheartened—we appreciate and celebrate all the amazing talent we’ve had the privilege to witness this year!
Rockabye Reaper’s debut single, "Betrayal," dropped on June 21, 2024, and left us completely floored. The track exudes a level of sophistication and polish that feels like the work of a seasoned chart-topping artist. With this electrifying debut, Rockabye Reaper are undoubtedly on a meteoric rise, and we’re eagerly anticipating what they’ll deliver in 2025!
Check out our review here: www.novacaine.co.uk/post/rockabye-reaper-betrayal
Fate’s Hollow’s debut album, "The Heir Apparition Part 1: Broken Crowns," is nothing short of a masterpiece. This album weaves an intricate tale of a young prince’s journey through death, rebirth, and revenge against his murderer, while also drawing deeply from the band’s own personal experiences. It’s not just a story—it’s a sonic triumph, with breathtaking compositions that shine both in the studio and on stage. And it doesn’t end there—this is only the first half of an ambitious double concept album. Yes, you read that right: a concept album as their debut. It’s no surprise that we’ve crowned Fate’s Hollow’s groundbreaking release as our Debut Album of the Year!
Read our review here: www.novacaine.co.uk/post/fates-hollow-debut-album-review
Fates Hollow will be performing at Novacaine Festival 2025!
Glass Bridges are well on their way to becoming iconic, as highlighted in our recent review. They proved their potential with the release of their debut EP, Myria, back in September. This four-track powerhouse is not just a collection of great songs—it’s a bold statement of purpose. The band emphasizes themes of self-actualization and the relentless pursuit of authenticity, urging listeners to embrace their true selves.
Myria is a triumphant and inspiring release that resonates deeply, transcending genre boundaries. Whether you're a die-hard rock fan or simply a lover of impactful music, this EP is a must-listen. Glass Bridges delivers empowerment and energy in equal measure, making Myria a standout debut that you won't want to miss.
Read our review: www.novacaine.co.uk/post/glass-bridges-myria
Although Download Festival 2024 wasn’t our best experience overall, VUKOVI was a standout act that made me think, “This was worth it!” Despite being stuck near the stage entrance, we could still hear and feel the raw power of their performance. The fact that we couldn’t even make it fully inside the tent speaks volumes about the immense draw and energy that VUKOVI brings to the stage. From what we witnessed this year, they deserve to be on a much bigger stage the next time they perform at Download.
If you ever get the chance to witness VUKOVI perform live, I urge you to go and see them!
Read our review of Download Festival 2024: https://www.novacaine.co.uk/post/download-festival-2024-review
The Five Hundred dropped their single "In The Dark" on 13th September 2024, and it was this track that made me absolutely certain I had to book these legends as headliners for Novacaine Festival. As I mentioned in my review of the song, The Five Hundred are rapidly climbing the ranks to claim the top spot as my all-time favourite artists—a title currently held by I Prevail who have reigned over my playlist since the release of "True Power".
"In The Dark" has become a staple of my daily commute, played almost every day alongside other standout tracks like "Dragged Out," "Rainmaker," and, of course, "Black Dogs." There’s something about these songs that hits just the right spot, delivering a deeply satisfying experience. I can’t wait to dive into their new album coming out next year!
If you've not heard of The Five Hundred before, now is the time to do so. The band are set to release their third studio album "GHOSTWRITER" on 28th February 2025, featuring special guests such as Charlie Rolfe, Aaron Matts and many more.
Read the full review:
The Five Hundred are headlining Novacaine Festival on Saturday 4th October 2025, you do not want to miss out!
Secure your tickets today: https://www.novacaine.co.uk/event-details/novacaine-festival-2025
While we didn’t publish a full review of this album, After Smoke Clears made an unforgettable impact with their November release, Intentions. Tracks like “Animal,” “Serenity,” "Unintelligent" and “Fractures” stand out as explosive highlights, cementing its place as our Album of the Year. Remarkably, this is only the band’s second studio album, showcasing their meteoric growth and immense potential. We’ll be keeping a close watch on After Smoke Clears—something tells us they’re on the verge of breaking through in a big way next year. Keep your ears open.
Night Thieves’ EP Polarity, released in early 2024, has become a staple of my daily commute, with every single track earning a near-daily spot on my playlist. As I noted in my review, “Joss Moyles’ vocals are nothing short of captivating—simply f*cking epic”—a statement I wholeheartedly stand by to this day. It’s no surprise we reached out to Night Thieves to perform at the Novacaine Festival 2025. We’re confident they’ll deliver an electrifying performance, and we can’t wait to experience their live show next year!
I almost forgot to mention—Polarity is actually Night Thieves' debut EP, making this achievement even more remarkable. This is precisely why I've named it the best EP of the year!
Read our full review:
Night Thieves will be performing at Novacaine Festival 2025! You do not want to miss out!
Secure your tickets today!
The Rattlebacks have been an unstoppable powerhouse throughout 2024, dominating the scene with sheer force. Their release of their album Sidewinder and their incredible 18-date UK tour kicking off in October—with support from standout acts like Night Thieves, The Wicked Jackals, Kodama, Badmouth, Raised By Wolves, Coral Snake, Proven Rivals, and more—solidified their meteoric rise. Add to that the media buzz they've garnered from major outlets like Fireworks Magazine, BBC Introducing, Classic Rock Magazine, Kerrang! Radio, and Total Rock, and it's clear they're a force to be reckoned with!
We proudly awarded The Rattlebacks 'Debut EP of the Year' for their phenomenal release of Kink in November '23, they were also in consideration in each of the categories this year and it’s just two of many reasons why they’ve earned our 'Band of the Year' title. They continue to exceed all expectations, leaving us in awe with every step forward. It’s hard not to wonder—are we witnessing the rise of a future Novacaine Festival headliner?
Read our review of Sidewinder:
As we wrap up this year’s awards, we want to take a moment to highlight some honourable mentions—bands that were seriously considered for the awards. This year’s decisions were incredibly tough, and if your band wasn’t mentioned, it’s not a reflection of how much we value your music or performances. Over the past 12 months, we’ve been blown away by an overwhelming amount of talent, making these final choices no easy task. So, please don’t feel disheartened—we deeply appreciate and celebrate all the incredible artists who’ve made this year unforgettable!
These are just some of the artists that truly blew our minds this year:
(No particular order)
Nomination Category: Debut Single Of The Year
Fangslinger - Welcome To The Lost Souls Saloon
Cairo Station - Menace
Fates Messenger - Scars and Bonechapel
Fates Hollow - The End Of Summer
Hellblind - Hitched
Nomination Category: Debut Album Of The Year
Smoking Snakes - Danger Zone
Drip Fed Empire - Revolutionist
The Rattlebacks - Sidewinder
Nomination Category: Debut EP Of The Year
Paradis - Self Titled EP
Revenant - What A Time To Be Alive
Twin Skeletons - Did You Get What You Wanted?
The Fires Below - Masquerade
Collected - Say When
Nomination Category: Best Live Performance Of The Year
Sleep Token - Manchester Co-Op Live Arena
Shadow Smile - Manchester Retro
Fates Hollow - Manchester Lock 91
Karnivool - Download Festival 2024
Imminence - Download Festival 2024
Hanabie - Download Festival 2024
Nomination Category: Best Single Of The Year
VUKOVI - Sno
Luna Kills - Sugar Rush
Saints Among Us - Hunger
Broken Empire - Will You Wake Me?
Bury Tomorrow - What If I Burn
Asleep At The Helm - Tarnished
Bleed The Fifth - Psychosis
Crostpaths - Shapeshifter
Vicious Rain - Hysteria
Tetrarch - Live Not Fantasize
Nymphic - Peony
Seek Harbour - Skin VS Chrome
Twin Skeletons - Make Me
The Rattlebacks - Dementia Lounge and Please Me!
Sworn Amongst - Tyrant
Cavekiller - Awake In The Nightmare
Raised By Owls - The Dark and Twisted World In Which Fred Durst Resides
Alien Ant Farm - Fade
Linkin Park - The Emptiness Machine
Nomination Category: Best Album Of The Year
The Rattlebacks - Sidewinder
Doedsmaghird - Omniverse Conciousness
Evergrey - Theories Of Emptiness
Elvellon - Ascending in Synergy
Gomad & Monster - Sickness
DOOL - The Shape of Fluidity
Cadet Carter - Self-Maintenance
Trifecta - The New Normal
Amigo The Devil - Yours Until The War Is Over
Infected Rain - Time
The Odd-Even - Darkness
Nomination Category: Best EP Of The Year
Black Lesion - The Human Essence
Seek Harbour - Versus
The Fires Below - Thorns
Electron - Hollow
We know that not everyone was mentioned in our 2024 New Music Awards, but please know that this in no way diminishes the impact of your music or live performances this year. The decision-making process was incredibly tough—so much so that I almost considered not proceeding with it at all. The sheer volume of outstanding talent made it impossible to include everyone, even with honourable mentions. If we listed every remarkable artist and release, the article would easily feature over 150 names and 200 works.
To all the artists who shared their music with us—whether before or after release—thank you. It’s truly an honour to experience and support the incredible creativity and passion you bring to the world. Your work inspires us every day, and we are deeply grateful to play a small role in amplifying your voice.
Keep creating, and know that your contributions are valued and celebrated.
Explore the best new music of the year! Dive into our New Music Discovery '24 Spotify playlist and discover all the releases we've featured so far. Who knows? Your next favorite artist might just be a click away!
Ready to experience these incredible artists live? Join us at Novacaine Festival 2025 on Saturday, October 4th, at Corporation, Sheffield.
Ten amazing bands for just £15—don’t miss out!
Applications for Novacaine Festival 2026 will be opening next year.
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