2024 was yet another massive music year! In addition to old favourites returning with strongly anticipated releases, I was also happy to make quite a few new acquaintances along the way. I still get a thrill from discovering a new artist that manages to pull on my heartstrings. My hope is that as someone interested in this list, you might look for new discoveries too. I can guarantee that you will find something interesting that you weren’t aware of.
My shortlist for ‘album of the year’ had nearly 200 titles on it this year, but it wasn’t too hard to narrow it down to 100, or even to rank titles within those 100. This year, they all just neatly fell into place, which is a nice change from last year’s horribly painstaking exercise. It’s supposed to be more fun, and this year it has been.
As usual, the list is a genuine hodge-podge of genres and styles, which in the end represents my own tastes quite well. Metal is obviously very well represented, and it looks like symphonic power metal wins the year in terms of representation, but there’s also plenty of progressive rock, folk, synth pop, indie rock, and even some pure mainstream radio hit moments. I don’t restrain what I listen to as long as I like it. Neither should you.
Over time, an album’s standing will change. I am not trying to guess how an album holds up ten years from now. The list is meant to summarise the here and now, representing the music that rocked my world in 2024 through whatever subjective criteria I apply. Most of said criteria says something about the amount of attention an album got, both quantitatively (how much did I play it?) and qualitatively (what moved me the most?). I try to think of the biggest mainstays. Things I didn’t get tired of even with some roadwear. Things that felt like immense discoveries. Albums that hit the sweet spot. Albums that provided earworms. Music that really gave me chills. Things that I kept going back to. That kind of stuff. These arer factors that would contributes to a higher ranking.
When I look back on lists from previous years, I do not always agree with that ranking now, but that list is always going to be an accurate representation of what that music year was like for me there and then. The time capsule element is important. This is what I hope to capture for myself this year as well. Thanks for your interest and I hope you make some new discoveries, too!
On to the first 20 on the list!
100) Dream Evil – Metal Gods
Dream Evil from Sweden released their seventh album in 2024. The title Metal Gods is meant as a tribute and/or reference to all the classic albums and musicians that have populated the genre since the heyday of metal in the 1980s. The music is similarly steeped in the classics, but brought up to date soundwise with a modern, beefy crunch.
The title track sees singer Nikolas Isfeldt recounting the classic metal albums that influenced their musical journey. Yes, this is very, very cheesy, but also very charming and even heartening. No genre is better at celebrating itself than metal, and a perfect example of said celebration is exactly what we’re seeing here.
99 Bones UK – Soft
Bones UK come from Camden Town, London, where they formed in 2014. They have since relocated to Los Angeles, California, and evidently found themselves in need of adding a “UK” to their band name in the progress.
Led by vocalist/guitarist Rosie Bones, the band plays a type of alternative rock with electronic/synthpop elements. I often see them described as edgy, and they do experiment with raw, gritty guitar riffs, loud vocals and more atypical ambient electronic elements, but I’m not sure that makes them edgy. Personally I find them rather catchy and even charming, albeit in a quirky and interesting way. I was pulled in by that catchy schmoose but kept listening because of the imaginative variations in their expression. There’s something about them.
98) Bon Jovi – Forever
While we keep waiting for Richie Sambora to be allowed to reunite with his former bandmates (Richie is open, Jon is dragging his feet), it is nice to see Bon Jovi release an album that isn’t half bad. While it doesn’t bowl me over, there’s something genuinely nice about seeing the band acknowledging the band they used to be. But they are smart about it. Instead of trying to sound like they did back in the late 1980s (which they couldn’t have managed if they tried), they bring a mature perspective on their old glories rather than trying to recreate them. The album’s strength lies in its restraint against that very temptation, without the fear of falling prey to it anyway.
97) Valkyrie’s Fire – Ascension
You don’t expect symphonic power metal bands to emerge from the southern states of the United States, but when you least expect it they they appear out of nowhere – like Valkyrie’s Fire from Nashville, Tennessee! They released their debut album Ascension in 2024, and song lyrics as well as their music videos reveal a passion for Norse viking imagery. It may be the gimmick that gets them noticed in their homeland, as viking-imaged female-fronted symphonic power metal does not have too much competition in the States. That’s why it’s so nice to see them emerge – bless them!
Musically they stay well within the genre and do not colour too much outside of the lines, but I am glad American metal fans have gotten a band in this genre of their own. They have good songs, and with a bit more experience, they will no doubt gain the confidence and bravado which I ultimately feel this album lacks a little of. That still does not prevent this from being enjoyable.
96) Scott Stapp – Higher Power
Scott Stapp is best known as the frontman of Creed, for his solo career, and for having a tumultuous private life. He has been sober since 2014 and has openly discussed his struggles with addiction and mental health, emphasizing the importance of sobriety in his life. This theme crops up in his music as well, and perhaps more so than ever on the new album Higher Power, which explores redemption, faith, and resilience.
Musically, it features a blend of hard rock and post-grunge styles. It has driving guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, but also emotional ballads, such as the stand-out track If These Walls Could Talk (featuring Dorothy Martin) which describes the turning point of acknowledging past struggles and committing to moving forward towards healing. If the album is mostly good, that song is definitely great.
95) Peter Garrett – The True North
Peter Garrett is the former frontman of Australia’s own Midnight Oil, and The True North is his second solo album. The album does not break massively with the music he is known for making with Midnight Oil. As anyone familiar with Garrett would expect, The True North explores themes of environmentalism and inner guidance, as exemplified on tracks like The True North and Permaglow.
The album blends rock, folk, country and pop into its own style on this album. Lyrically it is quite reflective, focusing on the natural world as well as the internal compass which guides us through life. Tracks like Paddo and Currowan highlights this approach with their strong storytelling lyrics, delivered with Garrett’s trademark raw, unpolished, expressive voice which is in fine and familiar form on this album.
94) Hawkwind – Stories From Time And Space
The sonic attack continues, as it has done with remarkable consistency and quality for quite a few years now, with a particularly productive and inspiring streak of albums the past decade which continues on the new album. Who knows how long the 55-year old band will continue, but there’s no indication that they are running out of steam quite yet.
Stories From Time And Space sees the band in a reflective and nostalgic mood. The album is a laid-back, nocturnal affair, mixing longer tracks with shorter interludes. Those interludes add a lot to the overall impression, adding moments of reflection throughout the journey. Because that is what this album represents – a journey set to exuberant space-rock with an epic feel, containing poignant reflections on human mortality and the universe, particularly in tracks like Our Lives Can’t Last Forever. I also want to call out The Night Sky with its wonderful choral and cinematic elements, but it all comes together on space-rock tracks like The Starship (One Love One Life).
93) Portrait – The Host
The swedish dark metal band Portrait have been going for nearly two decades. The Host is their sixth album, and their first attempt at making a concept album. Christian Lindell (guitars) has described it as a hidden sword & sorcery story, based in 17th Century Sweden about a man who has experienced a lot of injustice and hykleri, who decides to seek truth and strength through resistance.
This tale of revenge is set to searing King Diamond/Merciful Fate-influenced heavy metal, with theatricality, screeching falsettos, and a biting lower voice showcasing the roller coaster of events. The album is hard-hitting, ambitious, and shows a diversity which supports the story while never losing sight of the familiar doomy and extreme sounds of Portrait.
92) Nightwish – Yesterwynde
Yesterwynde is Nightwish’s tenth album, and their third with Floor Jansen as their vocalist. It is also the first release since key member and fan favourite Marko Hietala (vocals/bass) left the band. Their response to that has been to soldier on with an album that sees them keen to continue their signature symphonic metal sound, this time extra bolstered by an orchestra and huge choir arrangements. The band’s songwriter Tuomas Holopainen is a huge fan of movie soundtracks, and has said he might one day leave the rock format behind to venture into that field. There’s no need to do that yet, as Nightwish music continues to embrace large-scale, cinematic atmospheres.
There is something different this time around, though. Normally, orchestras and choirs would have been used to create bombast. This time, they are frequently used to create a simmering ambience, which suits the album thematically. The lyrics on Yesterwynde are personal and reflective, contributing to an introspective and more intimate vibe. The focus is on inner experiences and personal journeys rather than grand, external narratives.
While this is fine in and of itself, the album is less concise as a result. I can’t shake the feeling that the songs continually dwell too long on certain passages; that some sections manage to just about outstay their welcome before the song moves on. Some will no doubt say this perfectly builds up the ambience like it should. I feel the songs are continually a minute or two too long, and that tighter editing would have made this into a better album. Long songs are not a problem in itself (most of the ones on the album are between 5-10 minutes), but if they feel too long, they probably are. At the same time, funnily enough, this is their shortest album since Once (2004) at a mere 71 minutes. That might be part of Nightwish’s problem, and personally I think it might be time for the band to embrace brevity again.
There is still much to enjoy here, but when viewed through the lenses of what might have been, it leaves you with some things to wish for as well. A nightwish, perhaps?
91) Myles Kennedy – The Art of Letting Go
Myles Kennedy has become one of the hardest working man in rock. He is still the lead vocalist and guitarist for Alter Bridge, and is still the lead vocalist in his long-standing collaboration with Slash, and has collaborated on other projects as time allows. Whenever there’s nothing else going on, he records solo albums and embarks on tours, because heaven forbid you should end up having time off.
The Art of Letting Go is his third solo release, and it does not disappoint. It’s much more of an ‘in your face’ offering than his previous two albums, representing the hard-hitting rocker aspects of his musical arsenal with equal amounts of groove and melody rolled into it for diversity. Kennedy is of fine voice too, and even though he’s a proven commodity at this point it is still impressive to hear him using every vocal stretch to perfection. Then he rolls out the most sublime guitar solo imaginable, which shows a side of him that he does not get to show when working alongside Slash and Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge’s amazing lead guitarist).
For all its hard-hitting power, the album offers more. There’s always room for poignant ballads, melodic gems, and acoustic elements on a Myles Kennedy album. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
90) April Art – Rodeo
April Art could be described as a modern metal band from Germany, in the way that they may carry the power and intensity of classic metal bands, but at the same time this is not classic metal in any way. Some would not even call it metal, but they are certainly a wild ride, featuring a mix of pure rock songs turned up to 11, dressed up in heavy metal sensibilities and (at times) percussive electro elements.
Rodeo is their third album. In these ears it is without question their best effort by some distance, and a huge leap forward for the band. Their sound is powerful – emotionally as well as musically, while also showing some versatility. It’s never full-tilt for the sake of energy alone, and tracks about starting anew, self-empowerment and encouragement give the messages the needed space to shine. Vocalist Lisa-Marie Watz contributes a lot to this with her powerful voice, striking presence, and positive energy.
89) Lords of Black – Mechanics of Predacity
The Lords stand for powerful melodic metal, with touches of prog and power. The voice of Ronnie Romero is a huge part of their sound, with the well-known journeyman vocalist being joined by Tony Hermando on guitars, Dani Criado on bass, and Jo Nunez on drums.
Their sixth album blends power, epic grandeur, and intense musicality with interesting lyrics. This time, the band are exploring themes of retribution, standing for truth, and resisting the onslaught of lies and intimidation.
It is easy to like Lords of Black if you like your metal to be melodic and powerful. Compared to previous efforts, the album might perhaps lack some of the standout tracks that immediately grab attention, but the music on offer is consistent and of good quality throughout.
88) Visions of Atlantis – Pirates II: Armada
Visions of Atlantis is an Austrian symphonic power metal band that draws inspiration from the myth of Atlantis and the symphonic metal genre, particularly influenced by bands like Nightwish.
The new album Pirates II: Armada continues the pirate-themed saga that started on Pirates (2022), focusing on themes of heroism, freedom, and mystical legends. It combines symphonic elements with folk influences, creating a grand cinematic atmosphere that enhances the storytelling. An album I wish I had been able to spend more time with, which would no doubt have given it a better ranking.
87) Rhapsody of Fire – Challenge the Wind
For more than thirty years, Rhapsody of Fire from Italy have been one of the biggest symphonic power metal bands on the scene. They brand themselves as the creators of the ‘film score metal’ genre, which emphasises the larger than life and epic soundscapes which builds towards crescendos and peaks, and keep bulding even higher peaks when they have reached the top.
The first albums are stone cold classics, but I must admit that at some point along the way I lost the ability to separate the new albums from each other. That goes for the new album too – I know I have listened to it, and I know I’ve enjoyed it, but it blends together with other recent albums. This could mean that it all sounds the same (not entirely untrue), but it would also mean that there is a solid and strong consistency in quality to their output. Primarily, though, there are just so many albums at this point (especially if you also count off-shoot bands like Luca Tirelli’s Rhapsody and others). I have over 30, and know I miss several. With the band faithfully releasing albums quite frequently it is simply speaking hard to stay on top of them all. But it’s not a bad problem to have. You can kind of always depend on Rhapsody of Fire.
86) La Luz – News of the Universe
Incredibly, La Luz are back, and they sound very much like themselves (i.e. a highly psychedelic and ambient blend of surf and garage rock). The reason this is noteworthy is that this album was made by a new version of La Luz. One by one, the previous band members left until Shana Cleveland was standing alone, faced with the task of either rebuilding the band from scratch or calling it a day.
It’s a good thing she continued, because the band has pretty much picked up from where the previous version of the band left off. They haven’t lost a beat, which shows how important Shana continues to be for the band’s overall direction – not just as the songwriter, but evidently also as far as the arrangements and guiding how the band should sound. This goes down to the contributions from each band members. The new musicians are doing a tremendous job of sounding like their predecessors, as well as how they slot in on a band sound level. This is great from the perspective of continuity.
As a starting point for La Luz v2, it is fine for them to show that they can still be the band pretty much as it used to be. The bigger question is how and where it will grow from here. I am excited to find out, but for now, News of the Universe shows that at least as long as Shana is on point, there’s no stopping La Luz.
85) Mother Feather – KICK3R
Mother Feather is an American rock band from New York City, formed by vocalist Ann Courtney in 2009. The group also includes keyboardist and vocalist Elizabeth Carena, guitarist Chris Foley, and drummer Gunnar Olsen. The new album continues to build on their signature blend of glam rock and punk influences, but with a more refined and mature approach than earlier. They are still energetic and theatrical, with Courtney still insisting that their music should be seen as “pop cock rock catharsis”.
84) Wind Rose – Trollslayer
Have you ever heard of Dwarf Metal? You have now! What is it, you ask? Why, it is classic, pounding, anthemic metal played by Dwarfs, of course! We are now talking in the fantasy race sense – whether it’s Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, Dungeons & Dragons, or other fantastic settings where Dwarfs are a powerful, fierce, and proud (and stubborn) race, excelling at whatever they do (as long as it’s mining for gold or slaying their enemies – or playing heavy metal!).
Wind Rose do a tremendous job in their presentation and it is easy to be charmed by the wholeheartedness of their approach. “If you don’t Rock and Stone, You ain’t coming home!”
83) Earth Tongue – Great Haunting
How about some music from Wellongton, New Zealand? Earth Tongue is a heavy psychedelic rock duo (and couple) consisting of Gussie Larkin on guitar/vocals and Ezra Simons on drums/vocals. Their second album Great Haunting is somewhat more energetic than their first, filled with heavy, relentless riffs and dark, eerie atmospheres. A lot of the songs deal with isolation and have a haunting vibe, which is reflected in the videos from the album.
82) Nocturna – Of Sorcery And Darkness
Nocturna is a band founded by the formidable frontwomen Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight, with the Frozen Crown/Volturian mastermind Federico Mondelli as the songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist.
Their second album continues where the first one (2022’s Daughters of the Night) left off, mixing gothic-symphonic and power metal elements, alternating between fast & heavy neck breaking episodes and intense, piano-oriented ballads. Their sonic approach is very sophisticated, with the voices of Darkling and Stillnight painting mysterious and sensual portraits of an ancestral time. It’s solemn, sinister, seductive, and powerful.
81) Hinds – Viva Hinds
I know it looks like it sometimes, but we do not just listen to metal and obscurica around here! Case in point: Hinds from Spain! They were a band, but when their bassist and drummer departed after their previous album (2020’s The Prettiest Curse), Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote decided to continue as a duo.
On the new album they continue to deliver playful pop-rock with jangly guitars and a lovely retro vibe. Viva Hinds is chock-full of catchy tunes, quirky turns, and playful sass. This may be one of the reasons they got along so well with Beck, whom they met at a film screening in Los Angeles and he ended up contributing on a song from the new album.
Thanks for following me to the end of part 1 – see you in part 2!
Top 100 Album Countdown 2024 – Part 2: 80-61: COMING SOON
Top 100 Album Countdown 2024 – Part 3: 60-41: COMING SOONISH
Top 100 Album Countdown 2024 – Part 4: 40-21: COMING A BIT LATER
Top 100 Album Countdown 2024 – Part 5: 20-1: COMING AT SOME POINT
While you are waiting, why not revisit last year’s countdown? Start here: The Top 100 Album Countdown of 2023 – Part 1: 100-76
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