Rising Texas heavy shoegazers Trauma Ray followed up a promising string of EPs with their debut album Chameleon (via Dais Records) this year, and with the year winding down, the four members of the band have told us about their favorite albums (and more) of 2024. It includes albums/EPs by Jessica Pratt, Prize Horse, Sour Widows, Chat Pile, Mammoth Grinder, and more, plus a comedy special, a movie, and a video game. Read on to see their full list and what they had to say about each one.
**
Trauma Ray’s Favorite Albums (and more) of 2024
Darren Braun’s (bass) picks:
Rap World
The hardest I’ve laughed in several years was watching this after a show in Birmingham, AL. Conner O’Malley has a a better understanding of a uniquely American brain rot than anyone on earth. He’s a genius who simply does not miss.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Playing this gave me the same feeling I had playing Legend of Zelda: Mojora’s Mask as a kid. Exploring a world where everything felt familiar but just a little bit stranger than you remember. A fitting follow-up to the best game ever made.
Nick Bobotas’ (drums) picks:
Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch
A perfect album from start to finish. Been a huge fan for years, but I think this might be her best work. The lyrics, the songwriting, her seemingly innate ability to paint a picture in your mind with sound, all make for an entrancing listen. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer.
Torture Hammer – Dormant Horror
This entire EP has been in my regular rotation since it came out in February. Perfect for cranking the car stereo with the windows down and drumming on the steering wheel like your life depends on it. One of those tapes that makes you want to get on the kit and play. Love it.
Jonathan Perez’s (guitar) picks:
Prize Horse – Under Sound
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Corey Coffman of Gleemer who is truly one of the best of this generation at what he does. This is an incredible record, one of a kind. I could listen to the song “Know Better” everyday for the rest of my life. Jake, Jon, and Olivia are one of the greatest three-piece bands to exist and their live show is something you just have to see for yourself. Phenomenal tone on record and live.
Sour Widows – Revival of a Friend
I saw Sour Widows open for Duster at the Texas Theater in Dallas (where Oswald hid after he allegedly shot Kennedy) and I hadn’t heard of them before. Afterwards I became obsessed with their guitar playing, singing, songwriting, and lyricism, and then this album dropped and I’ve listened to it every single week since. They quickly became one of my favorite bands and this is my favorite record of year without a doubt. “Cherish” is a masterpiece of a song.
Coleman Pruitt’s (guitar) picks:
Chat Pile – Cool World
The sophomore LP from these OKC sludge freaks sounds like if Sun Kil Moon and Neurosis gave birth to an hyper-intelligent radioactive zombie demon (in the most tasteful way possible). Perfect instrumentation and witty lyricism that deals with themes of the end-times and the trivialities of the present. Easily my favorite heavy music release of the year.
Conner O’Malley – Stand Up Solutions
We (Trauma Ray) are all huge fans of everything Mr. O’Malley does. We all watched this special on a delirious overnight drive in our van making it especially funny. Conner if you’re reading this, we would love to collaborate on some epic rock and roll inspired weird ideas.
Uri Avila’s (vocals, guitar) picks:
Blood Rave – Determinate Bias
This shit makes me feel like I’m Neo walking around the club at the beginning of The Matrix, but instead of looking for Morpheus, I’m looking for molly. I usually listen to this on our late night drives when it’s just the headlights and the road. Digital goth perfection. James Rogers really is a master at his craft.
Mammoth Grinder – Undying Spectral Resonance
Evil music for maniacs, exactly how it should be. 15 minutes of brutal riffs and tone. Getting to see them live this past September in Austin was one of the highlights of my year. No one does it better than Texas.