Best Albums 2024: 5 to 1
My top 5 albums of 2024
Here are my top 5 albums for the year. There were so many great releases this year, any of these could have been #1 in any other year. All of the releases in here are incredible and they all blend several subgenres. In case you missed the previous posts, you can get them here: 25 to 21 - 20 to 16 - 15 to 11 - 10 to 6.
I am going to start off with a couple of bonus entries for the list and then we’ll get into the top 5 for the year.
Adon by Adon
Black Metal from the United States
There are a lot of things going on in this one in addition to black metal. Thrash, death, prog with some melodies and even a little atmosphere in here. Debut release from this duo out of California. It is a fantastic album and definitely worth a listen.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
Undying Splendour by Atra Vetosus
Atmospheric Melodic Black Metal from Australia
This one came out on December 20th after my list was completed and it’s good enough I couldn’t skip it. Third album from this band and they added atmosphere into their melodic black metal and it works incredibly well.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
#5 - Grave Impressions of an Unbroken Arc by Qaalm
Doom Metal from the United States
This one is much more than just Doom. So many other things mixed in like, melodic, black, progressive, post metal and some atmosphere sprinkled in. And it does all of them extremely well.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
#4 - The Hive Mind Chronicles Part I - Parasitica by Exuvial
Progressive Technical Death Metal from Denver
Debut album from this band and it is incredible. It takes several listens to catch everything going on and the musicianship is outstanding. This one was released towards the end of the year and still came in at #4 on my list.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
#3 - Five Stages of Grief by Dark Affliction
Atmospheric Black Metal from Greece.
This album completely blew my mind the first time I listened to it and it just gets better with subsequent listens. Very atmospheric and very emotional. Each track explores the 5 stages of psychological grief; denial, hate, bargaining, depression and acceptance. And it is quite a journey.
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
#2 - Nocturnal Will by Dödsrit
Melodic Black Metal from Sweden
I was surprised by this one. It was not on my radar but I was in the mood for some black metal the day this came out so I gave it a listen. I proceeded to listen to it 4 times that day.
From the Bandcamp Page: “With six hymns, Dödsrit purveys triumphant atmosphere, archaic strength, and mournful rejoice where every note reverberates with the weight of devotion and suffering.
Restless and visceral, these unhallowed tomes beckon the mournful chants from its resonant harmonious introduction to the victorious dagger in the very core of the cosmos under the celestial will of heroic bloodshed. “
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music
#1 - Agony’s Bespoke by Blighted Eye
This album is an absolute Masterpiece. Progressive / Melodic / Blackened Death Metal. So many different elements going on and this blends them all so well. Every listen, for the first several, I was hearing new things that I missed on previous listens and it just kept getting better. From the mellow beginnings of the album to the more than 11 minute long epic title track it never has a down moment. This album is best experienced when you have time to sit and listen to it in its entirety. The way it tapers off at the end just makes me want to listen to it again. It’s truly an experience.