Thanks for supporting Heavy Music HQ again this year, and make sure to check out our weekly reviews every Thursday and bookmark our constantly updated release calendar. Here are our choices for 2024’s best heavy metal albums.
Honorable Mention
Anciients – Beyond The Reach Of The Sun (Season Of Mist)
Bedsore – Dreaming The Strife For Love (20 Buck Spin)
The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude (Metal Blade)
Black Sites – The Promised Land? (Self)
Grand Magus – Sunraven (Nuclear Blast)
High On Fire – Cometh The Storm (MNRK Heavy)
Ingurgitating Oblivion – Ontology Of Nought (Willowtip)
Inter Arma – New Heaven (Relapse)
Magnum – Here Comes The Rain (Steamhammer/SPV)
Necrot – Lifeless Birth (Tankcrimes)
Saxon – Hell, Fire and Damnation (Silver Lining)
Slower – Rage And Ruin (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Stormborn – Zenith (Rockshots)
Ulcerate – Cutting The Throat Of God (Debemur Morti)
Zetra – Zetra (Self)
25. Ihsahn – Ihsahn (Candlelight)
Ihsahn’s self-titled eighth album aspires to be a dual extension of his passion for black metal and soundtracks, a merger that is comfortable within the symphonic arena. It isn’t enough to just go back in time and pull out what would be akin to a lost Emperor release, as anyone who has followed his solo work will know to expect something radically different. To do so, Ihsahn has released both a metal and orchestral version of the same album at once.
Basic instincts will be to gravitate towards the metal side, which still contains a great deal of orchestration, especially in the majestic back half of the album. That’s where it reaches its gratifying peak, as the story he’s telling gets to its emotional crescendo. Those that want their black metal kick will find the first half to be a sweet spot, as Ihsahn’s pristine raspy wails are the dominant vocal take. The main connection between these two versions is three instrumentals — an opener, interlude, and closer — that carry over. While the metal part is key, his passion comes out within the orchestral position.
24. Full Of Hell – Coagulated Bliss (Closed Casket Activities)
Coagulated Bliss is Full Of Hell’s sixth album and first since 2021’s Garden Of Burning Apparitions. During those almost three years the band continued to hone their craft and continue to be one of extreme music’s most varied entities. From the odd sounds used at the beginning of “Half Life Changelings” to the high-octane assault of “Transmuting Chemical Burns” or even the punk drive of the title track, all of your favorite Full Of Hell sounds are here and used to greater effect than their most recent albums.
Some of Full Of Hell’s best work comes in the form of a long track amongst the scattered pieces of bite-sized chaos. This time around that track is “Bleeding Horizon,” which starts out with hummed feedback which gives way to doomy riffs and pained vocals, taking up most of the six minute runtime before rounding itself out as a truly sludge/doom affair. “Schizoid Rupture” and “Vacuous Dose” end with a flurry of riffs that could surprise fans and is another reason that Full Of Hell feels fully realized on this new album. Coagulated Bliss is the sound of Full of Hell achieving noisy nirvana.
23. Tribulation – Sub Rosa In Aeternum (Century Media)
On their sixth album Sub Rosa In Aeternum, Tribulation continue their metamorphosis into a gothic giant. Since this is their first album recording session since the departure of Jonathan Hultén who left after their last album was recorded, it almost immediately takes on a tone in the vein of The Sisters Of Mercy, Paradise Lost and even the High Parasite album from earlier this year.
With this being the band’s fourth album since shifting away from being a death metal band, they still aren’t afraid of reinventing themselves. “Time & The Vivid Ore” is a welcome tune to the ears of the faithful, being more in line with their last few albums, showing that this iteration of the band is embedded well within their underpinnings.If a gradual maturation for these Swedes is what you are looking for, Sub Rosa In Aeturnum shows that you can maintain what got you here, but not in a way that just sees a band rest on their laurels. Tribulation have further solidified themselves as titans of the heavy music scene.
22. Spectral Wound – Songs Of Blood And Mire (Profound Lore)
Spectral Wound return with the much-anticipated follow-up to 2021’s A Diabolic Thirst with their fourth album Songs Of Blood And Mire. This Quebecois quintet are able to convey their dark imagery masterfully through their melodically driven black metal. “Fevers And Suffering” opens the attack, and it evokes sounds of the great Dissection, while making this frigid and cold attack something of its own as well, effortlessly blending chaos with savagery with splendor.
The morbidity continues on “Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal” with Jonah Campbell’s shrieks adding a ton to this already complex and visceral package. The riffs are rapid-fire and set the tone for “Twelve Moons In Hell.” Combine that with the drum kit that nearly sounds like it will explode at some point, Spectral Wound does all that they can to envelope you in the sounds of Satan. If you needed the right amount of technical mastery and melancholy, look no further than Songs Of Blood And Mire.
21. Hulder – Verses In Oath (20 Buck Spin)
Hulder are back with their second album Verses In Oath, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry, an album that caught the collective extreme metal world by storm. It is impressive how Hulder is able to write her songs that evoke the arctic blasts of their Norwegian origin all while being based in the U.S.
Verses In Oath is Hulder taking the next step towards black metal supremacy, making an album that is deeply rooted in black metal of yore. Wielding symphonic elements, vocal rasps and plenty of pure, raw musicianship, the sky’s the limit for this artist. Hulder is primed to take the extreme metal world by storm and we are all here to witness it.
20. Pallbearer – Mind Burns Alive (Nuclear Blast)
It’s hard to believe that Mind Burns Alive is Arkansas doomsters Pallbearer‘s fifth full-length. It has been 12 years since their powerful debut Sorrow and Extinction made its way into the public consciousness in 2012. Brett Campbell and crew are one of the most notable faces in American doom metal with their slow and melodic doom that becomes an all-encompassing experience throughout the course of the album. Each record sounds a bit different with this new one lacking some of the fuzzy bite of album’s past, but still feeling like an authentic Pallbearer experience.
“Mind Burns Alive” is an emotional journey full of pains and joys with Devin Holt and Campbell handling it all with their strings, Joe Rowland’s bass is evenly placed within the mix and Mark Lierly’s drums rounding out all this impassioned heft. Big riffs and big heart are what help separate Pallbearer from the pack when it comes to modern-day doom. Mind Burns Alive is the latest chapter, one in which they try some new things, but not at the expense of being who they are.
19. Hideous Divinity – Unextinct (Century Media)
“This is monstrous!” These are the words that listeners will repeat to themselves over and over again while listening to Hideous Divinity‘s new album, Unextinct, which is indeed a formidable and destructive monster. These Italians, who have always been impressive throughout their career, have gone several steps beyond what they were and left behind a mark that seems to have breathed new life into technical/brutal death metal.
Stunningly produced by Eyeconoclast’s Stefano Morabito, Hideous Divinity’s long-time studio technician, Unextinct is the band’s best and most complete album to date. They have meticulously crafted the instrumentation and orchestration in each song, creating utterly breathtaking pieces musically and visually akin to works by Italian masters of classic art. Unextinct, in its extraordinary and unattainable essence, is a macabre musical interpretation of cosmic terror developed in the most epic and terrorizing death metal frame. Regarding songwriting, performance, and production, the album stands at such a point of excellence that listeners may ask: “How did they create this?”
18. Aeons – The Ghosts Of What We Knew (Sliptrick)
The third album from Aeons, The Ghosts Of What We Knew, is intricate yet melodic progressive metal in a modern vein, loaded with superb arrangements and killer musicianship. And don’t let the singer’s name (Skippy) throw you off: this guy can belt it out.
While The Ghosts Of What We Knew does have its flaws (“Blood” is an awkward addition, almost a power ballad) these are easily overlooked by the overall quality of the album. Aeons have given us more than an hour of killer tunes that sound as amazing as they are.
17. Dvne – Voidkind (Metal Blade)
Voidkind comes to us by way of Scotland-based Dvne, a group that seamlessly blends prog, sludge, stoner, and more into a simply fascinating stew. This is the band’s third full-length, and combined with several EPs and a short live offering they’ve never failed to both deliver and grow.
Back in 2021 Etemen Ænka found its way into our top 20 prog albums of the year, and best of March. If things have changed since then it is only for the better, as Voidkind is a step up across the board – even the vocals have improved in the last three years. With nearly an hour of stellar arrangements, serpentine grooves, and hypnotic riffs, there’s something for everyone.
16. Winterfylleth – The Imperious Horizon (Candlelight)
The well-respected U.K. black metal band Winterfylleth had released a studio album every two years like clockwork starting with their 2008 debut The Ghost Of Heritage. However, there was a four year gap between The Reckoning Dawn and their eighth album The Imperious Horizon.
As on previous releases, the compositions are atmospheric and varied with a lot of dynamics and intense vocals from Chris Naughton. Short, focused songs like “The Edge Of Tyranny” and Emperor cover “The Majesty Of The Night Sky” are exceptions. Winterfylleth lean more toward epic songs that let them explore more musical territory. There are two versions of the album’s lengthiest track “In Silent Grace,” one with guest vocals from Primordial’s Alan Nemtheanga. Even the mellow instrumental “Earthen Sorrows” draws in the listener and avoids being mere filler. The Imperious Horizon was worth the wait, another in a long line of quality Winterfylleth albums.
15. Big Big Train – The Likes Of Us (InsideOut)
I wasn’t sure what to expect from stellar international prog rock group Big Big Train after the sudden passing of lead vocalist David Longdon back in 2021. Lucky for us, though, the band decided to carry on, and they have brought in a new singer in Alberto Bravin, who played keyboards and sang on the last two PFM albums (which we reviewed favorably here).
The Likes Of Us is familiar and yet fresh and vital at the same time. Bravin is a very different singer than Longdon was and this works with the all-new material, which at times is a bit more rocking and adventurous than on past albums. Opening track “Light Left in the Day” is strong but the least memorable; the album gets better and better as it carries on. From epic tracks to poignant ballads, it’s all here in spades in what just might be Big Big Train’s best album.
14. Nile – The Underworld Awaits Us All (Napalm)
The veteran South Carolina death metal band Nile have some new faces on their latest album The Underworld Awaits Us All. Morbid Angel bassist Dan Vadim Von and guitarist Zach Jeter (Imperium, Doomsday Revival) are the group’s newest members, joining founding frontman Karl Sanders and longtime members George Kollias (drums) and Brian Kingsland (guitar).
The five-year gap between Vile Nilotic Rites and the new album is the longest of Nile’s career, making anticipation especially high. The band doesn’t disappoint, delivering their trademark death metal with stellar musicianship and creativity. Their middle eastern influences are showcased on the interlude “The Pentagrammathion Of Nephren-Ka.” “Overlord Of The Black Earth” and “Naquada II Enter The Golden Age” inject a brief melodic choir, which is an interesting change of pace. Melodic singing also makes an appearance near the end of “True Gods Of The Desert.” From streamlined tracks like the two minute “To Strike With Secret Fang” to epics like the 8 plus minute title track, Nile maintain the perfect mix of extremity, groove, melody and technicality. The Underworld Awaits Us All is another potent addition to Nile’s impressive catalog and one of the year’s best death metal albums.
13. Evergrey – Theories Of Emptiness (Napalm)
Tom S. Englund has been very prolific over the past few years. His other bands Redemption and Silent Skies both released new albums in 2023. His main project Evergrey is not taking any time off either, with Theories Of Emptiness their third album since 2021, and they also issued a live album and a compilation during that time frame.
The frequency of Evergrey albums has not diminished the quality of the material. Theories Of Emptiness is a diverse effort, blending heavy aggressive tracks like “Misfortune” and “Say” with mellower numbers such as “Ghost Of My Hero.” Most of the songs have both aggressive and melancholy moments. One of the album highlights is “Cold Dreams,” blending Englund’s smooth melodic vocals with harsh vocals from Katatonia’s Jonas Renske and backing vocals from Englund’s daughter Salina. It’s easy to take Evergrey for granted, as they continually deliver albums that pack an emotional punch and are also catchy and memorable. Theories Of Emptiness follows that path, the latest in a long line of high-quality albums from Evergrey.
12. Iotunn – Kinship (Metal Blade)
If you want to know more about Iotunn, look no further than our 2021 Best of list, where the Danish band’s debut was our fifth-best album. Access All Worlds was a superb modern prog metal album, and many of us who were fans of that album have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up.
Kinship is that follow-up, an album that explores all aspects of humanity from a prehistoric tribesman’s perspective. Kinship takes everything that made Access All Worlds great (the seamless amalgamation of prog, death, and power metal, along with Jon Aldará’s outstanding vocals) and hones the product, giving us a near-perfect blend of everything prog metal fans love.
11. Borknagar – Fall (Century Media)
2024 is the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Norwegian band Borknagar, whose brand of black metal incorporates prog, Viking and folk metal. Fall is their second album with the current lineup that includes founder Oystein G. Brun and longtime members ICS Vortex (ex-Dimmu Borgir) and Lars A. Nedlund and their twelfth overall.
“Summits” sets the tone for the album, a diverse composition that embraces Borknagar’s past while still pushing forward. Intense black metal with harsh vocals shifts to melodic sections with clean singing. Though that’s the general template, the songs emphasize different elements. “Nordic Anthem” is atmospheric, while “Unraveling” is downright catchy. The epic closer “Northward” is a perfect bookend, another dynamic song that runs the gamut from extreme black metal to accessible melodies. With Fall, Borknagar have delivered another wide-ranging, well-written and compelling album.
10. Lucifer – Lucifer V (Nuclear Blast)
In case there was any doubt where their allegiance lies, just refer to their moniker. Sweden’s Lucifer continue to ride this century’s version of a “Satanic Panic,” one that thankfully, with a knowing wink and a nudge, embraces the outright ludicrousness of what happened in the early ’80s. Lucifer V finds the Swedish melodic doom-mongers at the top of their wicked game.
Lucifer bust out the bell-bottoms and tambourines for a groovy, demonic rave-up that hews closer to Green Lung than Witch Mountain – an alternate universe where Stevie Nicks fronts Vol. 4-era Black Sabbath. What makes V such a thoroughly engaging listen, besides the catchy tunes, solid riffs, and stellar musicianship, is the manner in which they pillage the best of ‘70s hard rock and metal to create a sound all their own.
9. Nails – Every Bridge Burning (Nuclear Blast)
After a long layoff from their biggest album to date, 2016’s You’ll Never Be One of Us, Nails are back with their fourth album Every Bridge Burning and the band has not lost a step in those years between. “Imposing Will” is the punch in the jaw to remind listeners what this band is capable of when firing on all cylinders. You barely get a chance to breathe during this album’s 20-minute run time, something that will make repeat visits to this aural altercation that much easier.
“Give Me The Painkiller” is another raucous anthem that adds in some high octane harmonics to the fray, giving a slight wrinkle to their bludgeoning bombardment. It’s something that adds to the overall attack without sacrificing any level of intensity. Every Bridge Burning is Nails returning after a long layoff with the same intensity to boot, breaking in a whole new generation of metallic hardcore, there will be no mercy!
8. Gatecreeper – Dark Superstition (Nuclear Blast)
Arizona’s Gatecreeper have been at this death metal caper for a decade-plus now. They’ve crammed plenty of activity into that period, issuing a series of EPs and splits in between albums. Their third full-length Dark Superstition actually arrives after a five-year gap between LPs. Their first release for heavyweight label Nuclear Blast runs for a taut less than 40 minutes. It’s aggressive, yet hook-filled – see the bruising “Masterpiece of Chaos” and “Caught in the Treads.” And it’s bustling with variety, with a more melodic bent to many of the cuts.
“Dead Star’s riffage offers a strong nod to early In Flames. On the Swedish front, Dismember are a reference point; the group’s drummer/songwriter Fred Estby flew to the U.S. to work with Gatecreeper in pre-production. Entombed’s death ‘n’ roll is also a key source of inspiration. Meanwhile, “The Black Curtain”’s intro could’ve been lifted from a mid-’90s Paradise Lost record, and there’s gothic overtones within “Flesh Habit”. The production appropriately retains some dirt under the proverbial fingernails, thanks to Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou. Gatecreeper’s self-described “stadium death metal” appears set to reach a wider audience without compromising its potent attack.
7. Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project (BMG)
Bruce Dickinson has had a successful solo career, dating back to 1990’s Tattooed Millionaire. Now, nearly two decades after his last solo album, Dickinson has teamed up with longtime collaborator Roy Z for The Mandrake Project. The whole idea of a solo project is to do something different than your main project, and while his distinctive voice will make nearly anything sound like Iron Maiden, The Mandrake Project does branch in different directions.
The songwriting on The Mandrake Project is impressive, each track painstakingly arranged with plenty of dynamics and variety. Not surprisingly, Dickinson’s vocals are also impressive. At age 65 he still has ample power and range, and his varied approach makes the songs even more compelling. The Mandrake Project is one of Dickinson’s most well-rounded solo efforts, with one of metal’s most accomplished artists showing he still has plenty left in the tank.
6. Oceans Of Slumber – Where Gods Fear To Speak (Season Of Mist)
Since appearing on the scene just over a decade ago with Aetherial, Houston’s Oceans Of Slumber have been making their mark. Their brand of prog has been embraced by both fans and critics as their popularity has increased with each album. 2022’s Starlight And Ash was especially well-received, making many year end lists, including landing on our top 10. Their latest album Where Gods Fear To Speak finds them on a new record label, Season Of Mist.
They start strong, with the dynamic title track with mellow and melodic parts contrasted by heavy, doom sections and growls from Cammie Beverly. Starlight And Ash was relatively streamlined, but this time around Oceans Of Slumber return to longer compositions, with four tracks stretching past six minutes. There are also some high-profile guests, with Moonspell’s Fernando Ribeiro and Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne adding their talents to “Prayer” and “Run From The Light.” The album wraps up with a cover of Chris Isaak’s sultry “Wicked Game,” giving it a more somber spin. The combination of creative and varied songs with Beverly’s world class vocals makes Where Gods Fear To Speak instantly engaging, but also reveals its depth with each listen.
5. Madder Mortem – Old Eyes, New Heart (Dark Essence)
We’ve waited a long time for Old Eyes, New Heart. Norway’s Madder Mortem kicked our butts with 2018’s Marrow, an album that came in sixth on that year’s Best Prog list. Family tragedy and other obstacles delayed the release of the band’s eighth album, but what a welcome return it is.
Of course the scene-stealer is once again singer Agnete Kirkevaag, whose vocals are nearly unparalleled, but the music cannot be denied its place here, either. The band delivers forty-eight minutes of incredibly diverse music here, ranging from all-out prog metal bangers to the sultry blues of “On Guard.”
4. Crypt Sermon – The Stygian Rose (Dark Descent)
Returning after a quiet period of recorded material, nearly five years in the making, The Stygian Rose brings Crypt Sermon back from the depths with plenty of new things to be excited about. Vocalist Brooks Wilson does a good job of balancing his high-flying vocal act with his delivery sounding a bit sinister at times, all while being given an air of mysteriousness by the wall of guitars; cloaking him in darkness.
Crypt Sermon have delivered their greatest work to date, with their third album showcasing that this newly minted six piece has only just started. They have trimmed the fat from some of their previous albums and that addition by subtraction has allowed for the band to reach their true potential. The Stygian Rose is Crypt Sermon fully realized.
3. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere (Century Media)
Directly from the opening sounds of Blood Incantation’s third full-length Absolute Elsewhere, you are transported back to the cosmos. The album marks a return to death metal for the Denver band after diverting to more experimental and ambient music on their Timewave Zero EP in 2022 and single “Luminescent Bridge” in 2023.
Blood Incantation are the very best at what they currently do. The moments of keyboards and particular riffs bring about a sense of 1970s progressive oddities on top of more familiar names like Pink Floyd and Rush, all without sacrificing any of their overall heaviness. In a sign of truly progressive music, the band has clearly defined movements where they display death metal sections that gallop and crush upon repeat while underscoring the progressive, melodic and unusual moments that have made the band a unique entity. This is Blood Incantation’s best work to date, one that will surely be topping many lists at the end of the year.
2. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield (Epic)
Judas Priest’s latest album Invincible Shield comes six years after Firepower. The pandemic was an obstacle in its creation, as were some health issues, but all that time gave main songwriters Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner and Rob Halford plenty of opportunity to perfect the songs on their nineteenth studio album.
Many of the songs are fairly complex. Opener “Panic Attack” has a section in 7/8 time, two bridges and two solos. “Gates Of Hell” is in a similar vein, with a lengthy intro and a killer solo. The 72 year old Metal God can still crank up the falsetto, which he displays on songs like “The Serpent And The King,” the urgent “Trial By Fire” and the title track. Judas Priest have now released albums in six different decades, an incredible feat. Through lineup changes, the ebbs and flows of the music industry and other challenges, they have proven their resilience. You can add Invincible Shield to the long line of excellent Priest albums, and let’s hope there are more in their future.
1. Opeth – The Last Will and Testament (Reigning Phoenix)
Swedish prog giants Opeth‘s fourteenth album is The Last Will and Testament. “The death growls are back” is the first thing you’ll hear when talking with Opeth fans, and folks will be fixated on that. But that doesn’t make this album a prog-death album. Sure, Mikael Åkerfeldt’s superb death growls permeate the album, but it is not accompanied by blast beats or tremolo riffing. This is a metal-infused prog rock album, and an excellent one at that. It is a concept album – the band’s first, believe it or not. It tells the tale of a rich patriarch whose will, when read to his twin children, does not bestow upon them what they were expecting.
This is a musically extravagant album, with arrangements across all eight songs feeling very grand yet cloying and dark at the same time. One can almost feel oneself sitting in the study when the will is read, and the mood and music change as each new surprise in the story is revealed. The Last Will and Testament feels like the culmination of all Åkerfeldt and Opeth have been aiming for since Watershed. Every song is immaculate, with plenty of drama, dynamics, melody, and heaviness. Opeth are no longer a progressive death metal band (they haven’t been for decades), nor are they a ’70s-era prog rock band; they are their own force now, and this album is their declaration of freedom from the shackles of expectation. It’s our pick for 2024’s best album.
Other Heavy Music HQ Annual Best Of Lists
2023 Best Heavy Metal Albums
2022 Best Heavy Metal Albums
2021 Best Heavy Metal Albums
2020 Best Heavy Metal Albums
2019 Best Heavy Metal Albums
2018 Best Heavy Metal Albums
2017 Best Heavy Metal Albums
