My favourite albums from 2024

50

Yesterwynde

Nightwish
Symphonic metal | Progressive metal
1. Yesterwynde
2. An Ocean of Strange Islands
3. The Antikythera Mechanism
4. The Day of ...
5. Perfume of the Timeless
6. Sway
7. The Children of 'Ata
8. Something Whispered Follow Me
9. Spider Silk
10. Hiraeth ●
11. The Weave
12. Lanternlight
A grand, theatrical swirl of symphonic metal that leans hard into fantasy and folklore.
49

Son of a Broken Man

Fantastic Negrito
Blues rock | Soul 'n' roll
1. First to Betray Me
2. Runaway from You
3. I Hope Somebody's Loving You
4. Skirty
5. Goddamn Biscuit
6. Living with Strangers
7. Zollifer Files
8. Devil in My Pocket
9. California Loner
10. My Only Friend Is You
11. Crooked Road
12. The Children Are Waiting
13. This Little Light of Mine
14. Son of a Broken Man ●
Fantastic Negrito leans into swampy blues and gospel-soul to unpack family damage and survival.
48

Madra

NewDad
Shoegaze | Indie pop
1. Angel
2. Sickly Sweet ●
3. Where I Go
4. Change My Mind
5. In My Head
6. Nosebleed
7. Let Go
8. Dream of Me
9. Nightmares
10. White Ribbons
11. Madra
A sultry shoegaze-tinged alt-rock that is emotionally raw and atmospherically rich.
47

Hex

Crimson Veil
Progressive metal | Alternative metal
1. Hex
2. Ribbons
3. Flinch
4. Shift ●
5. Illuminate
6. Opulence
7. Joyless
8. Awake
9. Task
A dark, theatrical blend of symphonic metal, progressive rock, and gothic storytelling, Hex is the debut album from Crimson Veil. And it's a bold introduction, with heavy riffs, sweeping strings, and haunting vocals that create a richly layered atmosphere. The album's drama and visual imagery brings to mind early Within Temptation or even touches of Kate Bush. There's a strong sense of narrative throughout, with occult and mystical themes woven into both lyrics and sound. Hex is immersive, ambitious, and confident.
46

The Art of Letting Go

Myles Kennedy
Hard rock
1. The Art of Letting Go
2. Say What You Will
3. Mr. Downside ●
4. Miss You When You're Gone
5. Behind the Veil
6. Saving Face
7. Eternal Lullaby
8. Nothing More to Gain
9. Dead to Rights
10. How the Story Ends
A grounded and personal album, The Art of Letting Go is Myles Kennedy at his most reflective. It's leaning into a bluesy, roots-rock sound with songs like “Say What You Will” and “Mr. Downside” touching on themes of vulnerability, regret, and resilience. As expected, his voice carries real emotional weight throughout and there's a warm, analogue feel to the production that suits the introspective mood. It's a mature, nuanced and soulful album.
45

Science, Not Fiction

Orange Goblin
Stoner metal
1. The Fire at the Centre of the Earth Is Mine
2. (Not) Rocket Science
3. Ascend the Negative
4. False Hope Diet ●
5. Cemetary Rats
6. The Fury of a Patient Man
7. Gemini (Twins of Evil)
8. The Justice Knife
9. End of Transmission
Science, Not Fiction is a fuzzed-out, riff-heavy assault that's as gritty and thunderous as any Orange Goblin album. While rooted in their signature sound, this leans harder into classic heavy metal and punk influences, bringing a sharper edge to tracks like “(Not) Rocket Science” and “False Hope Diet.” Jumping through themes of dystopia, defiance, and cosmic absurdity, this is loud, fast, spaced, and gloriously unpolished — just the way it should be.
44

Duck Face Killings

Fulci
Death metal | Horror synth
1. Vile Butchery
2. A Blade in the Dark
3. Fucked with a Broken Bottle
4. Morbid Lust ●
5. Maniac Unleashed
6. Knife
7. Slashereality
8. Human Scalp Collection
9. Duck Face Killings
10. Rotten Apple
11. Sadistic Murder
12. Lo Squartore
13. Stabbed, Gutted, and Loved
14. Il Miele del Diavolo
Duck Face Killings is a brutal, blood-soaked slab of death metal from Italian horror-metal masters Fulci, merging cinematic gore with blastbeats. Inspired by giallo and slasher aesthetics, the album blends guttural vocals, grinding riffs, and eerie synth interludes. And rap verses. The cavernous sound adds to the overall aesthetic it's going for. It's grim, clever, and completely committed to its concept.
43

Prequel to Madness

Traveler
Speed metal | Power metal
1. Mayday
2. Take the Wheel
3. Dark Skull
4. The Law
5. Rebels of Earth
6. Heavy Hearts
7. No Fate
8. Vagrants of Time
9. Prequel to Madness ●
A glorious, horns-in-the-air tribute to NWOBHM, Prequel to Madness doubles down on everything from twin guitar leads, soaring vocals, and high-speed riffing straight from the genre's playbook. There's an unmistakably raw energy to tracks like “Prequel to Madness” and “Vagrants of Time,” with Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, and early Iron Maiden peeking behind every song. Every song is urgent and dramatic, without tipping into excess. Traveler expertly balance speed metal ferocity with melodic sensibility on this album. It's a thunderous, no-frills ride that feels nostalgic but also fresh.
42

Dark Matter

Pearl Jam
Alternative rock | Hard rock
1. Scared of Fear
2. React, Respond
3. Wreckage
4. Dark Matter
5. Won't Tell
6. Waiting for Stevie ●
7. Running
8. Something Special
9. Got to Give
10. Setting Sun
Dark Matter sees Pearl Jam channeling the raw spirit of their early '90s work while sounding sharp and current. Songs like the title track and “React, Respond” are built on tight riffs and driving rhythms that recall 1994's Vitalogy, while psychedelia rules in "Waiting for Stevie". Eddie Vedder still sounds great, swinging between fury and reflection with ease. There's still space for atmosphere and introspection, but the overall tone is leaner, louder, and more direct. Dark Matter doesn't rewrite the Pearl Jam formula, but it just reminds you how powerful they can still be.
41

Birthday

Blues Pills
Blues rock
1. Birthday
2. Don't You Love It
3. Bad Choices ●
4. Top of the Sky
5. Like a Drug
6. Piggyback Ride
7. Holding Me Back
8. Somebody Better
9. Shadows
10. I Don't Wanna Get Back on That Horse Again
11. What Has This Life Done to You
Birthday sees Blues Pills stepping into a sleeker, more groove-driven sound while keeping their retro soul-rock roots intact. Elin Larsson's vocals are as commanding as ever—rich, raspy, and full of fire, especially on tracks like “Birthday” and “Piggyback Ride.” There's a playful, almost glam-rock energy running through parts of the album, with fuzzy riffs and tight rhythms that feel both vintage and refreshingly modern. Unmitskably more polished and pop-conscious than their previous LPs, Birthday still hits with the band's signature swagger. It's vibrant, stylish and packed with attitude.
40

The Underworld Awaits Us All

Nile
Technical death metal | Brutal death-metal
1. Stelae of Vultures
2. Chapter for Not Being Hung Upside Down on a Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes
3. To Strike with Secret Fang
4. Naqada II Enter the Golden Age
5. The Pentagrammation of Nephren-Ka
6. Overlords of the Black Earth
7. Under the Curse of the One God ●
8. Doctrine of Last Things
9. True Gods of the Desert
10. The Underworld Awaits Us All
11. Lament for the Destruction of Time
The Underworld Awaits Us All marks Nile's is a relentless attack on the senses. From the opening track, "Stelae of Vultures," the band unleashes a whirlwind of complex riffs and blistering tempos, setting an unyielding pace. Even when dropping down to a doom-laden tempo, the album's unyielding, chaotic energy never dissipates. As usual, the Egyptian themes and instrumentation adds to to a dense, immersive soundscape. While it doesn't drastically depart from their established style, it delivers everything that you would expect (and more) from a Nile album.
39

Luck and Strange

David Gilmour
Art rock | Progressive rock
1. Black Cat
2. Luck and Strange
3. The Piper's Call ●
4. A Single Spark
5. Vita Brevis
6. Between Two points
7. Dark and Velvet Nights
8. Sings
9. Scattered
10. Yes, I Have Ghosts
Luck and Strange is David Gilmour's first solo album in nearly a decade, and it carries the weight of time with quiet grace and introspection. Packed with the his unimstakable guitar sound, the album leans more into atmosphere and subtle textures than grand solos. Aging, memory, and mortality are common themes throughout. The album features Romany Gilmour and the late Richard Wright, further enhancing its intimate and emotional nature. "The Piper's Call" is the highlight of this gentle, meditative album from one of the true all-time greats.
38

The Head & the Habit

Greenleaf
Stoner rock | Heavy psych
1. Breathe, Breathe out ●
2. Avalanche
3. Different Horses
4. A Wolf in My Mind
5. That Obsidian Grin
6. The Sirens Sound
7. Oh Dandelion
8. The Tricking Tree
9. An Alabastine Smile
The Head & The Habit is Greenleaf's ninth studio album, delivering the usual blend of stoner rock infused with blues and psychedelic elements. Tracks like "Breathe, Breathe Out" kick off with energetic rhythms and fuzz-laden riffs, setting an infectious and invigorating tone. There is a hypnotic energy to the proceedings and Greenleaf don't shy away from some introspective moments as well, which is not surprising coming from a band that has been around for nearly 3 decades. As always, they are on top form.
37

Shining

Swallow the Sun
Doom metal | Gothic metal
1. Innocence Was Long Forgotten
2. What I Have Become
3. MelanCholy
4. Under the Moon & the Sun ●
5. Kold
6. November Dust
7. Velvet Chains
8. Tonight Pain Believes
9. Charcoal Sky
10. Shining
Album blurb pending
36

Keep Me Fed

The Warning
Hard rock | Alternative rock
1. Six Feet Deep
2. S!CK ●
3. Apologize
4. Qué más quieres
5. MORE
6. Escapism
7. Satisfed
8. Burnout
9. Sharks
10. Hell You Call a Dream
11. Consume
12. Automatic Sun
Album blurb pending
35

Kinship

Iotunn
Progressive metal | Melodic death metal
1. Kinship Elegiac
2. Mistland
3. Twilight
4. I Feel the Night
5. The Coming End
6. Iridescent Way
7. Earth to Sky
8. The Anguished Ethereal ●
Album blurb pending
34

Your Blood

Bombus
Stoner metal | Heavy metal
1. Killer
2. The One
3. No Rules
4. Take You Down
5. Your Blood
6. The Beast
7. Leave and Let Die ●
8. Carmina
9. Lo and Behold
10. Alone
Album blurb pending
33

The Mother

Verwoed
Black metal | Post-metal
1. A Prayer of Blood and Fire
2. The Mother
3. Seven Trumpets
4. The Child ●
5. The Madman's Dance
6. A Choir of Null and Void
7. Death in a Rosary
Album blurb pending
32

Melodies of Atonement

Leprous
Progressive rock | Progressive metal | Art rock
1. Silently Walking Alone
2. Atonement
3. My Specter
4. I Hear the Sirens
5. Like a Sunken Ship ●
6. Limbo
7. Faceless
8. Starlight
9. Self-Satisfied Lullaby
10. Unfree My Soul
Album blurb pending
31

Direct Inject

Zombi
Space rock | Progressive rock | Electronica
1. Direct Inject
2. So Mote It Be
3. Bodies in the Flotsam
4. Kamichi & Sandy
5. Sessuale II
6. Improvise Adapt Overcome ●
7. The Post-Atomic Horror
8. Insurmountable Odds
9. Sassuale I
Album blurb pending
30

Beyond the Reach of the Sun

Anciients
Progressive metal | Atmospheric sludge metal
1. Forbidden Sanctuary
2. Despoiled
3. Is It Your God
4. Melt the Crown
5. Cloak of the Vast and Black
6. Celestial Tyrant
7. Beyond Our Minds ●
8. The Torch
9. Candescence
10. In the Absence of Wisdom
Album blurb pending
29

All Parts Diverge

delving
Post-rock | Progressive rock
1. Sentinel
2. Omnipresence
3. Chain of Mind
4. New Meridian ●
5. Zodiak
6. The Ascetic
7. Vanish with Grace
Album blurb pending
28

Sunraven

Grand Magus
Heavy metal
1. Skybound ●
2. The Wheel of Pain
3. Sunraven
4. Winter Storms
5. The Black Lake
6. Hour of the Wolf
7. Grendel
8. To Heorot
9. The End Belongs to You
Album blurb pending
27

Lovecop

Royal Republic
Glam rock | Power pop
1. Into My House
2. My House ●
3. Lovecop
4. Wow! Wow! Wow!
5. Freakshow
6. Lazerlove
7. Boots
8. Love Somebody
9. Ain't Got Time
10. Electra
11. Sha-La-La Lady
Album blurb pending
26

From the Other Side of the Mirror

Glassing
Post-metal | Blackgaze
1. Anything You Want
2. Nothing Touches You
3. Defacer ●
4. Sallow
5. Nominal Will
6. Ritualist
7. As My Heart Rots
8. Circle Down
9. The Kestrel Goes
10. Wake
Album blurb pending
25

Coming up to Consciousness

Pure Reason Revolution
Progressive rock | Art rock
1. Prelude: Coming up to Consciousness
2. Dig Till You Die
3. Interlude 1
4. Betrayal ●
5. The Gallows
6. Interlude 2
7. Useless Animal
8. Interlude 3
9. Worship
10. Interlude 4
11. Bend the Earth
12. Lifeless Creature
13. Interlude 5
14. As We Disappear
Album blurb pending
24

Facing the End

Apocryphal
Melodic death metal | Progressive metal
1. Smells Like the End of the World
2. All Is Empty ●
3. He Forgot You
4. It Wasn't So Complicated
5. Plague Doctor
6. My Hero Inside
7. Just Behind
8. Swallow My Lies
9. Taste My Hate
10. Stella
11. From Depths
Album blurb pending
23

Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night

Night Verses
Progressive metal | Math rock
1. 8 Gates of Pleasure
2. Arrival ●
3. Rose Wire
4. Karma Wheel
5. Love in a Liminal Space
6. Bound to You
7. Séance
8. Plague Dancer
9. Åska
10. Glitching Prisms
11. Desire to Feel Nothing
12. Crystal X
13. Slow Dose
14. Phoenix V Invocation
Album blurb pending
22

Les Chants de l'Aurore

Alcest
Post-metal | Blackgaze
1. Komorebi
2. L'Envol
3. Améthyste ●
4. Flamme Jumelle
5. Réminiscence
6. L'Enfant de la Lune
7. L'Adieu
Album blurb pending
21

Mind Burns Alive

Pallbearer
Doom metal
1. Where the Light Fades ●
2. Mind Burns Alive
3. Signals
4. Endless Place
5. Daybreak
6. With Disease
Album blurb pending
20

Muuntautuja

Oranssi Pazuzu
Avant-garde metal | Industrial metal
1. Bioalkemisti
2. Muuntautuja ●
3. Voitelu
4. Hautautuuli
5. •
6. Valotus
7. Ikikäärme
8. Vierivä usva
Album blurb pending
19

Invincible Shield

Judas Priest
Heavy metal
1. Panic Attack
2. The Serpent and the King
3. Invincible Shield
4. Devil in Disguise
5. Gates of Hell
6. Crown of Horns
7. As God Is My Witness
8. Trial by Fire ●
9. Escape from Reality
10. Sons of Thunder
11. Giants in the Sky
Album blurb pending
18

Nocturnal Will

Dödsrit
Melodic black metal
1. Irjala ●
2. Nocturnal Fire
3. Ember and Ash
4. Utmed Gyllbergens Stig
5. As Death Comes Reaping
6. Celestial Will
Album blurb pending
17

Cometh the Storm

High on Fire
Stoner metal | Sludge metal
1. Lambsbread
2. Burning Down ●
3. Trismegistus
4. Cometh the Storm
5. Karanlık Yol
6. Sol's Golden Curse
7. The Beating
8. Tough Guy
9. Lightning Beard
10. Hunting Shadows
11. Darker Fleece
Album blurb pending
16

Ihsahn

Ihsahn
Progressive metal | Avant-garde metal
1. Cervis Venator
2. The Promethean Spark
3. Pilgrimage to Oblivion
4. Twice Born
5. A Taste of the Ambrosia
6. Anima Extraneae
7. Blood Trails to Love
8. Hubris and Blue Devils
9. The Distance Between Us ●
10. At the Heart of All Things Broken
11. Sonata Profana
Album blurb pending
15

The Dry Land

Huntsmen
Post-metal | Gothic Americana
1. This, Our Gospel ●
2. Cruelly Dawns
3. Lean Times
4. In Time, All Things
5. Rain
6. The Herbsight
Album blurb pending
14

Umbilical

Thou
Sludge metal | Doom metal
1. Narcissist's Prayer
2. Emotional Terrorist ●
3. Lonely Vigil
4. House of Ideas
5. I Feel Nothing When You Cry
6. Unbidden Guest
7. I Return as Chained and Bound to You
8. The Promise
9. Panic Stricken, I Flee
10. Siege Perilous
Album blurb pending
13

Wild God

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Art rock | Baroque pop
1. Song of the Lake
2. Wild God ●
3. Frogs
4. Joy
5. Final Rescue Attempt
6. Conversion
7. Cinnamon Horses
8. Lond Dark Night
9. O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)
10. As the Waters Cover the Sea
Album blurb pending
12

One Deep River

Mark Knopfler
Roots rock | Blues rock
1. Two Pairs of Hands ●
2. Ahead of the Game
3. Smart Money
4. Scavengers Yard
5. Black Tie Jobs
6. Tunnel 13
7. Janine
8. Watch Me Gone
9. Sweeter Than the Rain
10. Before My Train Comes
11. This One's Not Going to End Well
12. One Deep River
Album blurb pending
11

Dreaming the Strife for Love

Bedsore
Progressive metal | Jazz fusion
1. Mierva's Obelisque
2. Scars of Light
3. A Colossus, an Elephant, A Winged Horse; the Dragon Rendezvous ●
4. Realm of Eleuterillide
5. Fanfare for a Heartfelt Love
6. Fountain of Venus
Album blurb pending
10

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

The Decemberists
Folk rock | Progressive folk
1. Burial Ground
2. Oh No!
3. The Reapers
4. Long White Veil ●
5. William Fitzwilliam
6. Don't Go to the Woods
7. The Black Maria
8. All I Want Is You
9. Born to the Morning
10. America Made Me
11. Tell Me What's on Your Mind
12. Never Satisfied
13. Joan in the Garden
Album blurb pending
9

I Want Blood

Jerry Cantrell
Alternative metal | Sludge metal
1. Villified ●
2. Off the Rails
3. Afterglow
4. I Want Blood
5. Echoes of Laughter
6. Throw Me a Line
7. Let It Lie
8. Held Your Tongue
9. It Comes
Album blurb pending
8

Die Urkatastrophe

Kanonenfieber
Melodic death metal | Melodic black metal
1. Grossmachtfantasie
2. Menschenmühle
3. Sturmtrupp
4. Der Maulwurf ●
5. Lviv zu Lemberg
6. Waffenbrüder
7. Gott mit der Kavallerie
8. Panzerhenker
9. Ritter der Lüfte
10. Verdun
11. Ausblutungsschlacht
12. Als die Waffen kamen
Album blurb pending
7

=1

Deep Purple
Hard rock | Progressive rock
1. Show Me
2. A Bit on the Side
3. Sharp Shooter
4. Portable Door ●
5. Old-Fangled Thing
6. If I Were You
7. Pictures of You
8. I'm Saying Nothing
9. Lazy Sod
10. Now You're Talkin'
11. No Money to Burn
12. I'll Catch You
13. Bleeding Obvious
Album blurb pending
6

Liminal Animals

Ulver
Synth-pop | Art pop | Ambient
1. Ghost Entry
2. A City in the Skies
3. Forgive Us
4. Nocturne #1
5. Locusts
6. Hollywood Babylon
7. The Red Light
8. Nocturne #2
9. Helian (Trakl) ●
Album blurb pending
5

XII: A gyönyörű álmok ezután jönnek

Thy Catafalque
Progressive metal | Folk metal | Avant-garde metal
1. Piros kocsi, fekete éj ●
2. Mindenevő
3. Vasgyár
4. Világnak világa
5. Nyárfa, nyírfa
6. Lydiához
7. Vakond
8. Ködkirály
9. Aláhullás
10. A gyönyörű álmok ezután jönnek
11. Babylon
Album blurb pending
4

Friend of a Phantom

VOLA
Progressive metal | Alternative metal
1. Cannibal ●
2. Break My Lying Tongue
3. We Will not Disband
4. Glass Mannequin
5. Bleed out
6. Paper Wolf
7. I Don't Kow How We Got Here
8. Hollow Kid
9. Tray
Album blurb pending
3

Absolute Elsewhere

Blood Incantation
Technical death metal | Progressive metal
1. The Stargate ●
2. The Message
Album blurb pending
2

The Last Will and Testament

Opeth
Progressive death metal
1. §1
2. §2
3. §3
4. §4
5. §5
6. §6
7. §7 ●
8. A Story Never Told
Album blurb pending
1

Múr

Múr
Post-metal | Progressive death metal
1. Eldhaf ●
2. Múr
3. Frelsari
4. Vitrun
5. Messa
6. Heimsslit
7. Holskefla
Album blurb pending

My favourite albums from 2024

Yesterwynde

Tracks:

Son of a Broken Man

Tracks:

Madra

Tracks:

Hex

Tracks:

The Art of Letting Go

Tracks:

Science, Not Fiction

Tracks:

Duck Face Killings

Tracks:

Prequel to Madness

Tracks:

Dark Matter

Tracks:

Birthday

Tracks:

The Underworld Awaits Us All

Tracks:

Luck and Strange

Tracks:

The Head & the Habit

Tracks:

Shining

Tracks:

Keep Me Fed

Tracks:

Kinship

Tracks:

Your Blood

Tracks:

The Mother

Tracks:

Melodies of Atonement

Tracks:

Direct Inject

Tracks:

Beyond the Reach of the Sun

Tracks:

All Parts Diverge

Tracks:

Sunraven

Tracks:

Lovecop

Tracks:

From the Other Side of the Mirror

Tracks:

Coming up to Consciousness

Tracks:

Facing the End

Tracks:

Every Sound Has a Color in the Valley of Night

Tracks:

Les Chants de l'Aurore

Tracks:

Mind Burns Alive

Tracks:

Muuntautuja

Tracks:

Invincible Shield

Tracks:

Nocturnal Will

Tracks:

Cometh the Storm

Tracks:

Ihsahn

Tracks:

The Dry Land

Tracks:

Umbilical

Tracks:

Wild God

Tracks:

One Deep River

Tracks:

Dreaming the Strife for Love