The Top 5 Metal Albums of 2024

The Top 5 Metal Albums of 2024

I had a great year in 2024! Even when you don’t, you have to be grateful for and take a moment to reflect on the year’s quality metal releases. So before diving into the next year, let’s make sure that’s been covered!

5. Morbid Saint - Swallowed By Hell
www.youtube.com/watch
What Morbid Saint fan wasn’t excited about original vocalist Pat Lind returning to the band in 2022? Those six years away were too long! That said, Pat’s vocals are a bit dry nowadays, and he doesn’t sound as much like Kreator’s Mille Petrozza as he did in his younger days. Besides the difference in the approach to the vocals, the guitar solos are much more melodic. Then, there’s a song called “F**k Them All”, and while it’s very good, it’s more tongue-in-cheek than what you’d normally expect from a band named Morbid Saint. As a result, it can sound like you’re listening to some other thrash band at times and it doesn’t quite have the same level of viciousness as “Spectrum of Death”. Nevertheless, the album oozes with loads and loads of strong riffs, and for that, it absolutely deserves a spot on this list! To be fair, many of them will take you back to that aforementioned cult classic debut of theirs. The intro riff to the title track is a perfect example!

4. Bewitcher - Spell Shock
www.youtube.com/watch
For those who have not gotten familiar with them yet, I’ll just say that, first of all, you’re missing out. Secondly, the best way to describe them is blackened rock n’ roll that’s often played a thrash tempo. “Starfire Maelstrom” steals the show, but don’t skip the title track either!

3. Traveler - Prequel to Madness
www.youtube.com/watch
I was really impressed with their first album, but not so much with the second release. However, I wasn’t ready to give up on them and I’m glad I didn’t, because their third release is awesome, especially the second half of it! “Rebels of Earth”, “Heavy Hearts”, and “No Fate” are among the highlights.

2. Lucifer - Lucifer V
www.youtube.com/watch
Solid, catchy traditional/doom metal in the vein of Witchfinder General that I just got into earlier this year. Like Bewitcher, I should have started listening sooner and am looking forward to catching them live someday. The vocals of Johanna Platow Andersson carry the melodies of the songs so well. They’re definitely the kind of band that would never be the same with a different singer. Many would argue that’s true of every band, but it’s especially true of Lucifer! “Slow Dance in a Crypt” is an excellent metal ballad that you might just want to play at your wedding. “Strange Sister” might just stay in your head more than any other song released this year, and “The Dead Don’t Speak” more than deserves your attention as well. I originally had this record ranked in third place and Traveler’s new release in the No. 2 spot, and while I still have some doubt because both albums are close, I ultimately decided to give “Lucifer V” a bump. This record is as memorable as it gets!

1. Atrophy - Asylum
www.youtube.com/watch
Now this is a comeback album that exceeded my expectations! Even with 34 years between releases and one original member left, listening to one tune from “Asylum” will give you the assurance that its the right record to follow up their first two efforts. And who could disagree that this is the best album cover we’ve seen from these Arizona thrashers so far? The first three songs and last two songs make up the better half of the album. “Seeds of Sorrow”, in particular, is a dramatic thrasher that absolutely needs to be in their set the next time I see them live!

What was your favorite metal album of 2024? What upcoming releases are you excited about hearing next year?

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Tags:  Lucifer, Traveler, Atrophy, Bewitcher, Morbid Saint

Nick Statuto    December 22, 2024