We’ve been treated to an abundance of high-quality music in 2024, a testament to the industry’s resilience in the face of numerous challenges. It’s particularly thrilling to witness unsigned artists creating music that rivals the established giants in terms of sheer brilliance. Here are our top five albums and EPs, handpicked by our team of music aficionados: Editor-In-Chief Nickie Hobbs, Gary Trueman, Mark Bestford, George Miller, and Jo Wright.
Nickie’s Top 5
Ihsahn
Ihsahn
This was the first album that I instinctively crowned as Album of the Year (AOTY), and my conviction only strengthened as we moved through 2024. Ihsahn had unleashed what I, along with countless others, regarded as the crowning achievement of his solo career. A true masterpiece that transcended genres. The album showcased an astounding array of grand experimentation, seamlessly intertwining orchestral and cinematic elements with progressive influences and a return to the raw, emotive essence of black metal. This intricate layering catapulted Ihsahn into exhilarating new realms of creativity, captivating both new listeners and devoted fans alike across the globe. The album became the profoundly dramatic gothic and metal soundtrack to my year, standing out as one of the most impressive and ambitious collections of music I’ve ever experienced. What made it even more memorable was that I reached a significant milestone at the time of its release when I had the incredible opportunity to interview Ihsahn for an in-depth cover feature in Issue 54. This encounter not only filled me with awe but also added an extra layer of significance to the album, making it an unforgettable part of my journey.
Lowen
Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran
Every now and then, an album emerges that stands as a monumental landmark in the landscape of music, while simultaneously elevating the artists behind it to new heights of significance and resonance. This is the case with Lowen, where the dynamic power couple, vocalist Nina Saeidi and guitarist Shem Lucas, along with the rhythmic mastery of percussionist Cal Constantine, had unveiled a stunning concept album deeply rooted in Persian mythology. This unique and mesmerizing creation was more than just an album; it was a captivating experience that had enchanted us all, reflecting a peak of artistic creativity through its six meticulously crafted tracks. Nina’s ethereal vocals invited listeners to embark on an epic journey through the rich tapestry of Eastern lore, effortlessly pushing the boundaries of genre and sound to reveal a vibrant, new world. The first single, ‘Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran,’ transported us into an otherworldly realm, its grandiose composition evoked imagery that felt both cinematic and magical. Each note resonated with a rich emotional undertone, making it impossible to forget. This year’s success is just the first chapter in Lowen’s story, and as they soar into new realms of creativity and achievement, we celebrate every moment of their inspiring journey. They deserve every ounce of recognition and appreciation that comes their way, and we are thrilled to witness their evolution.
High Parasite
Forever We Burn
High Parasite emerged unexpectedly, presenting a flawless debut! ‘Forever We Burn’ swiftly established itself as an indispensable and defining body of work, a dark masterpiece crafted by the Northern doom virtuoso Aaron Stainthorpe of the pioneering My Dying Bride, and a bassist/vocalist/songwriter known as Tombs. Listeners were immediately captivated. The band’s sudden rise to the Halloween/Autumn Cradle Of Filth tour was a delightful surprise, catapulting them onto stages with a promising touring schedule for 2025 already in place. With its captivating melodies, expressive gothic metal rock, explosive drums, and an expertly driven rhythm section, this album seduced you. And with the introduction of ‘Death Pop’, a unique and intriguing sound, Aaron’s vocals seemed to have found a new freedom, and ‘Forever We Burn’ was a superb one-of-a-kind creation. The band and debut were one of the most exciting discoveries of 2024.
Kittie
Fire
After a lengthy thirteen-year hiatus, the metal scene excitedly welcomed the triumphant return of Canadian powerhouse Kittie. This iconic band emerged with a fierce and uncompromising attitude, ready to reclaim their place in the industry and captivate audiences once again. Their comeback was marked by a collection of hard-hitting tracks, including the intense ‘Eyes Wide Open’ the fiercely driven ‘Vultures’ and the beautifully aggressive anthem ‘I Still Wear The Crown’. Each song showcased the Lander sisters and their talented bandmates’ undeniable prowess and depth of artistry. The album’s production was nothing short of exceptional. The clarity of the vocals combined with the heavy instrumentation created a rich and immersive listening experience, elevating the thirty-five-minute record from simply good to truly superb. This ferocious body of work illustrates the band’s unwavering focus and determination to make a powerful and impactful return to the metal scene. Fans and newcomers alike celebrated their return, revelling in the power and energy that Kittie brought back to the genre. It was a remarkable year to witness the return of these formidable musicians, who, without a doubt, crushed their comeback and reminded everyone why they are a legendary force in metal!
Falling In Reverse
Popular Monster
Several controversial albums made their way onto my Spotify Wrapped listening list this year, and while there are many strong contenders for my fifth album choice, I find myself drawn to Ronnie Radke and his band. ‘Popular Monster’ burst onto the scene in August, stirring up a mix of love and hate from the metal community. It’s a release that has undeniably divided opinions—many appreciate the music itself, while others struggle to connect with the artist behind it. I completely understand that sentiment. Ronnie has always been a divisive figure; for some, he’s like Marmite. It’s hard to ignore the powerful impact of the singles that came out ahead of the album. Each one was accompanied by striking and creative music videos, adding layers of depth to the demanding breakdown segments. The signature rap-metal crossover was front and centre, with Falling In Reverse exploring and blending genres like country, rap, and metal. The opening track, ‘Prequel,’ captured attention with its intrigue, while ‘Watch The World Burn’ truly shined as a heavy contender. Final track, ‘Last Resort – Reimagined’ was a breathtaking, rearranged piano-heavy cover of Papa Roach’s hit that ends ‘Popular Monster’ on a beautifully vulnerable note. What I love about creating a personal AOTY list is that it emphasises how art can be so subjective. For me, and for my journey this year, ‘Popular Monster’ will leave a lasting impression as we head into 2025.
Garys Top 5
Millie Manders And The Shutup
Wake Up, Shut Up, Work
The stage was set with previous album ‘Telling Truths, Breaking Ties’ and ‘Wake Up, Shut Up, Work’ made the most of it. It’s a more expansive set of songs than the previous work, a more mature outing. You get all the familiar Millie Manders And The Shutup traits plus the benefit of a few more years of experience. With lyrics that always hit home and quality in every department this is a superbly put together record. Millie Manders is hitting her peak at just the right time and looks set to become one of punk’s new big hitters.
Godeth
Path Of Destruction
Those gritty northerners Godeth don’t muck about when it comes to straight to the point metal. The Leeds crew’s latest piece of blastorama is both beauteous and terrifying in equal measures. Deathly vocals compliment doomy riffs while some seriously impressive tempo changes make the faster material mosh-tastic. You can hear some classic influences in the mix from the obvious like Slipknot to the more buried nods to acts such as early Entombed. People often ask where are the new metal heroes and with ‘Path Of Destruction’ Godeth have firmly put their hands, or should that be fists, in the air. A game changer album.
Delilah Bon
Evil, Hate Filled Female
There’s a reason why brat queen Delilah Bon has so many young female fans, they recognise themselves in her words, they identify with her lyrics and yes, they want the same change that she does. While there are other artists singing from the same book no one does it quite like Delilah Bon. Her songs are inventive and well written. Her delivery is now honed to perfection. ‘Evil, Hate Filled Female’ shows a massive upping of her game in every department. This is probably the most important set of songs you’ll hear all year.
Body Count
Merciless
There’s something uniquely visceral about a Body Count album. They have always been brutal and uncompromising, but at the same time cathartic. Here that trademark continues. We get a wonderful reimagining of Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’ which has none other than David Gilmore himself on guitar. Ice T can convey pissed off like no other. In making music the way they do Body Count could actually be helping to reduce body counts. So there we have it, a band and an album performing a public service. It just happens to be a slice of heavy heaven too.
Poppy
Negative Spaces
No one really mashes pop and metal quite like Poppy. With her there’s no holding back and any subtleties lie more within the nuances of the writing. ‘Negative Spaces’ is a brash middle finger to her critics that has rightly gained enormous praise, including from previous detractors. It oozes class from the way it punches hard musically, complimented with tight production, to the utterly on point vocals. Poppy loves keeping people guessing with which direction she’ll take next, this record ensures she’ll take the vast majority of fans with her regardless of where that might be.
Marks Top 5
Seething Akira
Cancel Estate
It won’t knock crowd pleasers Punishment Instructions and Metaphors off the band’s setlists any time soon, but it’s still chock full of songs with that distinctive Seething Akira sound. You know what you’re going to get, but it seems the band is growing in maturity with each release. They’ve pulled the best of the album out as teaser tracks as well, so by the time they’re playing live again everyone will already be singing along to Resilient and Sunflower Shadows. This is the party album of the year.
Green Day
Saviors
For a band that have been going as long as Green Day have you could forgive them having an off day with a new album. No worry here as you get a new album with a very old sound. This is Green Day back at their height, with a sound straight out of the turn of the century. Fans of American Idiot will have plenty to be pleased with as the album launches into The American Dream Is Killing Me. If you were looking for the punk album to launch 2024 then this is it.
Lauren Mayberry
Vicious Creature
With the band CHVRCHES on hiatus after their last tour Lauren spent her time working on a solo album instead of resting. What she’s produced is alt rock perfection as different to her music with CHVRCHES as it is similar. A lot of the songs bear that familiar electronic sound, but free from the constraints of her band she’s been allowed to experiment not only with the music, but also with her vocal range. Many of the songs are sung in a higher register than usual, and along with some acoustic tracks it really shows her vocals off well.
Lesbian Bed Death
Midnight Lust
Horror Goths Lesbian Bed Death are back and in what seems to be a running theme the new album has a new singer JJ on vocals. JJ’s had plenty of time to get used to touring though having joined the band in 2023. This is one of their best albums to date and has plenty of catchy tracks to sink your teeth into, you’ll soon be singing along with Satanic Suicide Sex Cult. With a sound this good hopefully this will be the start of a long lasting partnership between the current band members.
The March Violets
Crocodile Promises
When you have a musician of Tom’s calibre and a poet with Rosie’s talent there was never any doubt that this album would be something special. Long time fans have been waiting for new music for what seems like a lifetime, and they’ve got an absolute belter of an album. Every song is still firmly rooted in the old 1980’s Gothic ancestry, it still sounds like The March Violets of old, while benefitting from over 40 years of musical experience and modern recording methods. It sounds amazing. It’s also not as dark as you might expect, with some fun lyrics.
George’s Top 5
Ihsahn
Ihsahn
Usually when I hear the words symphonic black metal I brace myself for Tolkien-esque dragon-lead fantasy fodder but not so here. The irrepressible Ihsahn pulled his most ambitious move to date and worked with a full orchestra on not one but two different versions of his self titled album in the early days of this year. Ihsahn brought us what a Bond soundtrack might sound like with a blackened makeover. Wildly progressive and utterly essential. This set an abnormally high bar for 2024.
Better Lovers
Highly Irresponsible
To say expectations were high for this hybrid strike team of members of Everytime I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan and Fit For An Autopsy would be a massive downplay. After a blistering EP and several jaw dropping live performances we waited with baited breath for this long player. When it landed it was every bit as gnarly as we had hoped, alongside the sound of each of the players involved utterly raging came beautiful savvy songwriting as eloquently displayed on the album’s more tender moments. Greg Puciato puts in a career best vocal display and like all great albums this gets better on every listen.
Hidden Mothers
Erosion/Avulsion
Hidden Mothers are the band that made the most Kafka worthy transformation this year. Watching this band grow into what they’ve become is truly one of the most beautiful parts of this year for me. From the kick off Blackened Post Hardcore seems to be the sound here, that is until the band unleashes Luke Scrivens’ clean vocals into the mix and this band transcends genres with it. This album is a post-everything work of genuine genius and the sound of a band truly, “becoming.” all of the well deserved amazing reviews are right and Hidden Mothers seem to be the next band tipped to follow the likes of Heriot and Svalbard onto much much bigger stages.
Crippled Black Phoenix
The Wolf Changes It’s Fur But Not It’s Nature
This album was such a revelation to me in 2024 I went straight to this act’s lengthy discography and devoured it all. The haunting, sometimes gothic, sometimes punk all the time experimental rock of Crippled Black Phoenix is utterly flawless but this album is the jewel in their highly polished crown. The opus flows from the gutter to the stars with such grace and ease that all you can do is close your eyes and immerse yourself in it. Everything down to their customary little soundbytes and loose narrative is so well executed and and aware. This is an extremely sophisticated band that makes very bewitching music and I’m certainly under their spell for life now.
Zetra
Zetra.
2024 was the year that my world got a little more ethereal and dark, with long supressed gothic urges pulling me to the dark side. Zetra had a lot to do with this. A band I first saw supporting Author And Punisher and thought were good fun turned into an dreamy anthem lead act that would soundtrack my downtime for the rest of the year. 2024 seemed to be the year of the sharp rise and this final spot in the five AOTY list could have easily gone to about twenty other bands. Zetra clinched it as they have remained a mainstay in my daily listening habits and they make the kind of music that should be made available by doctors as a service to your health.
Jo’s Top 5
The Virginmarys
The House Beyond The Fires
‘The House Beyond The Fires’ is not only a highlight of 2024’s releases. Nope. This is an album that will dominate favourites lists for years to come. Forever. As a touchpoint, as a tribute, and as an album which, listen after listen, still gives the same thrills and chills as that very first play. The sad songs will always hurt. The faster, ferocious ones will always need turning up that bit louder. The Virginmarys have made an album that will always, always, always stay close to listeners’ hearts.
The Hot Damn!
Dancing On The Milky Way
A proper go-to record when in need of cheering up, ‘Dancing On The Milky Way’ bursts with vocals that sound as though they are sung through smiles. Guaranteed to lift moods, cause impromptu dancing, and give a bit of a kick into action if you’ve not been living life to the full, this is a record full of top notch tunes. Don’t get The Hot Damn! wrong though. Yes, they are the coolest girl gang on the planet. Yes, they appear to be having more fun than a Labrador in a ball pool. But these songs have teeth and yes, some do bite.
Defences
Shadowlight
Each track stands out on its own simply for being a stunning piece of post hardcore alt metal. But in its entirety, ‘Shadowlight’ is a journey – and an unforgettable one at that. 2024 was the year yer girl became all about the tracklisting, and ‘Shadowlight’ is one of the reasons for this. It’s a fresh sounding, big track-stuffed release that’s an inspiring listen. One of the themes Defences explore is the idea that maybe, despite best efforts and beliefs, it’s time to move on. And that friends, is a thought that will stay with you.
League Of Distortion
Galvanize
The vibe of this album is so flippin’ cool. It’s full throttle, in yer face, modern metal, fronted by classy, sassy and brassy Anna ‘Ace’ Brunner whose voice is insane. ‘Galvanize’ is completely unafraid and takes on topics with savagery, sense and slabs of attitude all underpinned by some massive music. ‘What’s Wrong With Her?’ is an absolute standout. Nothing like this track has been written in the history of music, let alone 2024. It’s brave – and it’s a banger. Which pretty much sums up ‘Galvanize’. This album leads the way.
Lowlives
Freaking Out
Hitting up rock and grunge influences and topping off the tunes with catchy choruses and musical depth, ‘Freaking Out’ goes forth full of edge, angst and passion. There’s empathy, love and some nice doses of danger across this record, which will reaffirm your love for guitar-based rock. Lowlives consist of lovely Lee Downer, formerly of The Defiled, and his new partners in crime by the way. The fact that ‘Freaking Out’ sounds so different from what you’d expect now you know this makes this record even more worthy of its spot here.
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