Seven Steps to The Green Door are an interesting band from Germany active since 2006 and producing an innovative musical mix ranging from neo-prog to hard rock and from melodic ballads to intricate long tracks. This song comes from their 2019 album titled “The ? Lie”, a concept work dealing with religious fanaticism and its tragic outcomes. “Hear My Voice Tonight” is a ten minutes track with strong melodic roots and including unpredictable, strategically placed mood changes. 

Jazzy passages, dreamy landscapes, intense progressions grace this track and made it a treat for the prog ears. I especially like the wind instruments that enrich this track providing a warm and rippled finale. The instrumental skills of the band members and their guest musicians are the final touch to this beautiful piece of music.

John Densmore and Robby Krieger speak exclusively to MOJO about the stories behind some of the photographs in new book, Night Divides The Day: The Doors Anthology. Read the full article at Mojo4Music.com.

In the summer of 1965, a chance meeting on Venice Beach between a young poet, Jim Morrison, and keyboardist Ray Manzarek sparked the creation of a band that would forever change music and culture. With Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums, The Doors were born.

Interview with Rene Benton | Omaha´s Guitar Wizard

From Omaha’s heartland emerges a unique musical personality: Rene Benton, who transforms metal’s intensity through funk’s engagins lens. Starting on guitar at age 6 and going pro by 11, Benton crafts a sound that channels both progressive and funk elements. His new live album 2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha captures this marine-turned-musician’s singular vision – a demonstration to decades spent perfecting his craft across 38 states and 50 countries. Here’s an artist who rises at 5 AM to hone his art, bringing discipline and musical innovation.

Introduction: Who is behind the release ‘2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha’ ?

In 2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha, Rene Benton channels his hometown’s spirit through masterful guitar work. Each track builds on his metal-funk fusion while capturing the electric energy of live performance. Born and shaped in Omaha, Benton’s approach serve a deeper purpose – turning a live album into a reflection of his roots. The result is both a hometown tribute and a demonstration of his evolution as an artist.

"As for my students: don't only listen to Metal. I intentionally make them listen to and learn from other genres. I try to prepare them to be well-rounded players instead of just one-dimensional."

Full Interview

In this interview with Rene Benton, we explore Omaha’s funk innovator. With roots in Nebraska and a guitar style forged across global stages, Benton crosses genre lines with natural finesse. Fresh off his live album, he shares the story behind his distinctive sound and hometown musical return.

Career and Influences

Your music blends various metal and rock subgenres. How would you describe your unique sound, and which artists have influenced your style the most?

Well, I don’t consider what I do as unique. It all feels natural to me. I think what it is is that; my influences do not come from the Rock/Metal world except one but, I have been inspired by many Rock/Metal players and bands. My main influences are George Benson, Roy Clark , Anthony Lockett, Charlie Singleton , Jesse Johnson and Tony MacAlpine.

Can you walk us through your journey from your early days in music to becoming an established guitarist?

I started out in the R&B and Funk realm playing in bands in clubs, then I started playing with Variety Bands ( Top 40 ) , then Oldies bands playing music from the 1940- 1960 . All the while I was studying guitarist in the Rock and Metal world either in magazines, music videos or instructional videos so , all of that and a healthy dose of open minded expression is sort of helped me to be where I am today. Thanks for saying I am established. I still as if I am finding my footing so to speak.

Music Creation Process

Your latest album, 2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha shows eclectic guitar work. Could you describe your songwriting and recording process?

My songwriting process in short is ; my best ideas come to me when I am doing non musical things. I think if I ever had to sit around and come with some type of musical ideas in a proper setting it would not go well!

How do you balance your roles as a solo artist and a session musician? Does this duality influence your creative approach?

For me it all ties together . It is a matter of supply and demand. If I am not getting a lot of calls to work for others in some capacity I nurture my solo efforts . When it gets busy I put whatever it is I have going on to pause.

Live Performances and Fan Engagement

Your live performances are known for their energy. How do you prepare for shows, and what’s your favorite part about performing live?

My prep is very one on one and then I bring the band together. I am not sure who else does that but, it works for me. It increases my comfort level. When an artist gets a chance to take their studio recording and turn it into a live experience it is truly special . That is my favorite part about performing live. Whether it is me or playing with another artist.

Industry Insights

As someone who’s been in the metal and rock scene for years, how have you seen the genre evolve, especially in terms of digital distribution and promotion?

Digital was bound to happen. You have to find a way to coexist with it. For me it is a matter of trying to find the perfect blend between new school and old school methods across the board.

What challenges do you think up-and-coming artists face today, and how can they overcome them?

Overexposure. That is the kiss of death. You can cheapen yourself with that. Stay present without being present. A complicated feat I know but, artist nowadays have to leave a sense of mystique to themselves. Or they should.

Future Projects

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about that you can share with your fans?

A few things are up in the air right now so; until they get closer to hitting the ground I can not say much at this time.

If you could organize a dream metal festival lineup, which five bands or artists would you include alongside yourself?

Oh man that is tough but, I will try. Killswitch Engage , Meshuggah, Tony MacAlpine, Bad Brains, Fishbone. I have more in my head but, you put me on the spot!! Ha!!

Technical Aspects

Your guitar tone is distinctive. Can you share your current gear setup and any favorite effects or techniques you use to achieve your sound? (if it is not a master’s secret…)

Well, I use a combination of digital and tube gear. Without giving a long boring list of things that is the long and short it. I use ADA, Mesa Boogie and Madison heads and preamps. Rocktron Effects and Noise Gates and I do direct signal as well using Mesa Boogie, Marshall and Palmer products.

As a guitar instructor, what’s the most crucial advice you give to aspiring metal guitarists?

Don’t only listen to Metal. I would intentional make them listen and learn from other genres. I try to prepare them to be all around players instead of just one dimensional

Final Thoughts

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you want to share with our audience?

Only thank you and everyone for listening and go to renebenton.net to see the concert video. And other streaming platforms where you can also hear the music in Dolby Atmos.

Conclusion

Haven’t you listened to ‘2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha’  yet? If not, you can find it in our Rock Playlist.

Rene Benton References and Links of Interest

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Spotify
• Buy links
• Youtube

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Best Underground Metal and Rock Albums 2024

The Best Underground Metal and Rock Albums 2024 remain vital ground zero for innovation, even as mainstream attention drifts elsewhere. The year’s most compelling narratives emerge from rehearsal rooms and small clubs rather than algorithm-approved playlists—proof that true evolution happens in the shadows. It’s a bitter reality that some of the most ambitious releases will reach only a fraction of their deserved audience, while lesser works flood commercial channels. The path from local hero to sustainable career grows thornier by the year, yet this pressure forge deeper creative commitments rather than safe compromises.

These dynamics shape this list of 2024’s essential metal releases. Each entry represents not just musical achievement, but survival against mounting odds. Some break new ground while others refine established forms, but all remind us why underground metal remains crucial territory for those seeking something beyond the sanitized and safe.

Let’s dive into the albums that defined metal’s cutting edge in 2024!

Underground Albums of 2024

The following list of albums is not ordered, so feel free to set yourself your own ranking!

Ravenstine – 2024 review

Despite its uninspired title, their 2024 release transcends its commercial leanings through sheer infectious energy. The album’s genius lies in its masterful fusion of hard rock muscle with irresistible funk grooves, creating a rare crossover triumph that sacrifices neither authenticity nor accessibility. Where many bands stumble trying to bridge the commercial-artistic divide, they’ve crafted something that resonates with both die-hard rock fans and casual listeners, proving that mass appeal and musical integrity aren’t mutually exclusive.

Link to Website

Million Moons – I May Be Some Time review:

Million Moons craft a compelling instrumental journey on I May Be Some Time. Their seven-track exploration of post-metal terrain shines in standouts like “Terra Nova” and “Voice of the Wild”, where intricate piano work weaves through textured guitars with natural grace. While certain passages tread familiar ground, the band’s gift for atmosphere—particularly in “Unchartered Waters”—lifts this beyond genre convention. Their measured approach to tension and release creates something both contemplative and visceral.

Bandcamp Link

Inverted Cross – Eternal Flames of Hell review:

Inverted Cross wields lo-fi production like a weapon on Eternal Flames of Hell, channeling black metal’s first-wave ferocity with lethal precision. The raw recording amplifies rather than obscures the band’s savage marriage of black metal atmospherics and speed metal’s propulsive drive. This is studied primitivism—beneath the deliberate grit, these riffs are engineered for maximum impact, each track a masterclass in sustained intensity. While modern extreme metal often drowns in polish, Inverted Cross proves that sometimes the dirtiest paths lead to the most visceral truths.

Bandcamp Link

Decoy – re:selection (EP) review

Decoy returns with re:selection, a compact yet explosive three-track EP that makes every second count. The 2024 release hits hardest on “smg”, where vocalist Jonah demonstrates commanding range—effortlessly shifting from guttural depths to piercing black metal shrieks. While brief, this EP delivers a concentrated blast of pure aggression and technical precision that leaves you craving more.

Read the interview we had with Decoy here.

Bandcamp Link

Rene Benton – ‘2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha’ review:

In his 2024 live album 2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha, Marine Corps veteran Rene Benton transforms concert pieces into a full studio puzzle. His virtuosic guitar work serves as both spotlight and scaffold for a deeper exploration of Omaha’s evolving identity, city in which he was born. This isn’t just live music: it is a demonstration of how live music hits different because the listener is able to connect with the artist and the public more. Benton’s unconventional technique impresses throughout, but it’s his ability to channel a city’s pulse through six strings that gives this record its lasting power. The result lands like a love letter to Omaha written in power chords and personal history.

Youtube Link

Lost Citadel – Watcher´s Spire review

Lost Citadel deliver serious ambition on The Watcher’s Spire, a three-track power metal debut that punches well above its weight. The London quintet’s strength lies in their grasp of dynamics—where lesser bands might drown in genre excess, they craft lean arrangements that hit hard when it counts. “Embers of Conquest” best captures their vision, its twin-lead architecture and Leons-Marder’s vocals creating genuine tension before the perfect release. Michael Kew’s production at Rogue Studios brings crucial clarity to the mix, allowing the fantasy-driven material to breathe without losing its edge. While brief, this EP suggests a band that understands the crucial difference between power metal’s possibilities and its clichés.

Youtube Link

Oceans & Omens – II: Aether review:

Oceans & Omens forge their own path through metalcore’s well-trodden ground on II: Aether. Trading generic aggression for textured storytelling, the band weaves The Survivor’s journey through desolate soundscapes, particularly in the haunting “Limbo” and “Desolation”. Their fusion of old-school intensity and modern production creates a dark atmosphere that elevates the narrative beyond typical genre fare. While firmly rooted in metalcore’s framework, the band’s commitment to thematic depth and sonic intricacy makes this more than just another entry in the genre’s canon.

Bandcamp Link

Fallen Letters – Forlorn Pages (EP) review:

Fallen Letters emerge from Bangalore’s fertile music scene with Forlorn Pages, a 2024 EP that commands attention through masterful restraint. The duo’s blend of post-metal atmosphere and progressive structures feels natural rather than forced, while production from Mike Langford and Jens Bogren adds crucial dynamics to the mix. “Remain A Memory” best captures their vision. While the emotional landscape they explore isn’t new, their sophisticated approach to familiar territory marks them as a band worth tracking. This is thoughtful, ambitious music that prioritizes substance over flash.

Read the interview we had with Fallen Letters here.

Bandcamp Link

Sykofant – Sykofant review:

Sykofant demolish genre boundaries on their audacious self-titled debut, where prog’s technical ambition collides with surf rock swagger and jazz fusion fluidity. The Oslo outfit’s restless creativity peaks on “Pavement of Colors”, where their rhythm section navigates hairpin turns between funk grooves and progressive complexity. “Between Air and Water” further showcases their gift for making the intricate accessible—these are compositions that reward close listening while remaining immediately engaging. This is prog that remembers how to move, proof that virtuosity and raw energy aren’t mutually exclusive.

Bandcamp Link

Discernment – To Leave review

Discernment’s To Leave is atmospheric metal mixed with progressive features. The eight-track album moves confidently between crushing intensity and measured restraint, spanning compact openers to the ambitious ten-minute “Harmony in Silence.” The production serves the material perfectly – detailed enough to highlight the intricacies, but never at the expense of raw power. Orlando’s songwriting demonstrates a keen understanding of dynamics, while Ice’s mix brings clarity to even the densest passages. For fans of atmospheric, progressive, or post-metal, To Leave delivers substance beneath its style, marking Discernment as a band that respects both heaviness and nuance.

Bandcamp Link

Final List of the Best Underground Albums 2024:

• Ravenstine – 2024
• Million Moons – I May Be Some Time
• Inverted Cross – Eternal Flames of Hell
• Decoy – re:selection (EP)
• Rene Benton – ‘2 Live in O-Ma-Haw; Lyvv in Omaha’
• Lost Citadel – Watcher´s Spire
• Oceans & Omens – II: Aether
• Fallen Letters – Forlorn Pages
• Sykofant – Sykofant
• Discernment – To Leave

Remember that all of the albums which are listed in our rankings are featured in our official Spotify playlists!

And if you would want to apply to be featured among these great albums, you can apply via Musosoup or Sound Campaign and let us discover your material!

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Well it’s 2025 now and I’m very behind on my 2024 best albums stuff so I thought I’d get a jump start on my best albums of 2025. This isn’t some lame list of my most anticipated albums of 2025, no this beefy list the best albums that are already released in 2025 as of January 1st. If you’re looking for fresh new tunes to ring in 2025 I got you!

Beatrix – Deathsent Ceremony
High energy blackened thrash EP from Finland that is over almost as quickly as it starts. Start the new year off with something fun!

World Eaters – Hounds of Blood
This album is re-recorded versions of this Canadian Bolt Thrower worship band’s best songs.

Vosh – Vault Vol. 1
Repulsion’s drummer and his wife started a goth band here in DC and their cover of Ozzy’s Shot in the Dark is worth the price of admission alone!

Estuarine – Corporeal Furnace
Bass driven tech/proggy death metal from Tampa that reminds me of some unholy cross between Primus and Beyond Creation, and it’s just a buck for the digital album!

Trollskogen – Sn​ø​en Kommer
This Norwegian black metal band’s debut full length is raw and chilling but with strong song writing, like a lo-fi version of Paysage d’Hiver.

Honorable mention:
Spectral Lore – IV (Part 1)
Technically this anti-fascist black metal band dropped their album in the evening of December 31st but I’m unsure if it was already past midnight in their time zone, so I’m listing it here. Massive, epic songs with a decent modern recording, a surprise release that won’t have shown up on any 2024 end of year lists but should have!

Every year I sit down to pen this article and every year I’m reminded of just how robust and diverse the music scene is on our little corner of the world. Connecticut may be home to a lot of tiny scenes scattered across the state, but when put together the massive amount of talent that exists within its borders is astounding.

Below you will find my top 20 favorite CT albums of 2024. This isn’t a “best of” list necessarily, but one guy’s opinion on the albums you should start with if you’re looking for something new to listen to (or revisit), listed in pseudo-alphabetical order by artist. I hope you find your new favorite album on this list. I’ve also included a bunch of honorable mentions as well.

In years past when I put this list together, both for this site and formerly for the Hartford Courant, I would hold myself to only including full-length albums, mostly as a way to keep the list from becoming unruly. However 2024 saw so many acts releasing absolutely jaw-dropping EPs that I decided to expand the list this year to include some of them. (Minimum 5 songs and/or 25 minutes in length.) Will that be the norm going forward? I guess that depends on next year’s releases.

Thank you, Connecticut musicians for providing so many countless hours of entertainment and sharing your talents with the rest of us. On to the list…

American Thrills – Milestone
One export Connecticut has excelled at for a long time is punk rock in all of its various forms, including the pop-punk/emo variety. American Thrills has been continuing that tradition for a hot minute now, and their newest release Milestone continues building on an already solid and growing discography. Filled with catchy hooks, memorable riffs, and enough sing-a-long sections to fill a car ride across the entire state, American Thrills truly did create a milestone in their recorded output.
https://americanthrills.bandcamp.com/album/milestone

Audio Jane – We Always Make a Mess of Things
There are few bands I have such an unabashed love for than Audio Jane. Their brand of dreamy, atmospheric rock has always reminded me of so many bands I gravitated to in my youth, and yet each release feels so fresh and different from the last. Their newest EP feels lighter and more airy than their most recent output, giving their sound an even more atmospheric vibe, which I honestly didn’t think was possible, but also love without question. I’ve had the privilege of seeing some of these songs played live in 2024 and they are perfect fits for an already memorable live set.
https://audiojane.bandcamp.com/album/we-always-make-a-mess-of-things

Bap Pack – First I Heard…
Bap Pack is not the first local hip-hop super group to emerge from CT, but they are absolutely one of the best. Featuring four of Hartford’s best MCs – Hydro 8Sixty, Klokwize, RapOet, and Tang Sauce – Bap Pack came together not just out of a love of hip-hop but out of a desire to celebrate hip-hop culture and both their home city and state. The end result is an album that feels like its got one foot firmly planted in hip-hop’s golden past and another in its platinum future. Hip-hop might not be the first genre I personally grab for off the shelves, but I spent a lot of time with this record which should speak to its accessibility and messaging.
https://bappack.bandcamp.com/album/first-i-heard-dirty-version

Ceschi – Bring Us The Head of Francisco False (Vol. 1 & 2)
There are few names as recognizable in the history of Connecticut hip-hop as Ceschi Ramos. The double album Bring Us The Head of Francisco False marks the end of an era for Ceschi as he announced that these will be the last of his solo recordings. He honestly could not have picked a better way to go out. This is a roughly 70-minute love letter to hip-hop, the scene, his influences, and at the end of the day himself. (Which is a lesson we should all take, that sometimes we need our own love letters, even one that just recognizes how far we’ve come and how much we struggled to get here.) Wherever the journey takes Ceschi next I’m sure it’s going to be amazing, but for now we have 20 years of phenomenal material to celebrate him and his art, this album being one of the best of the lot.
https://fakefour.bandcamp.com/album/bring-us-the-head-of-francisco-false-part-1

Curse the Son – Delirium
How good is the new album from stoner/doom merchants Curse the Son? Good enough that it made the Top 20 in my annual metal albums list on this very site. Here’s what I had to say on that post: This year saw the return of one of CT’s absolute best metal acts, Curse the Son. For almost two solid decades Curse the Son has been delivering crushing stoner/doom metal of the highest order. Truly one of the most underrated bands in the entirety of the genre, Curse the Son dropped one of their best efforts yet back in September. Delirium contains some of their most memorable riffs and songs, and continues to add to a growing legacy of doom and gloom classics.
https://cursetheson.bandcamp.com/album/delirium

Ginger Bug – My Magnolia
I love when a band can seamlessly blend indie rock with folk rock/Americana aesthetics. Enter Ellington’s Ginger Bug to the conversation. Taking cues from a wide array of influences My Magnolia is a record firmly rooted in the indie rock template, but has enough dirt road beneath the tires to pique the interests of those who care to partake in the Americana pantheon. It’s an album not afraid to wander a little too far only to make it back home with wondrous stories to tell. I made the mistake of missing last year’s album, but the music gods smiled upon me this year when this one showed up in my social media feeds. Definitely a band I’ll be keeping an eye on moving forward.
https://gingerbug.bandcamp.com/album/my-magnolia

Heather McLarney – There To Be Found
Hartford-based songwriter Heather McLarney started teasing her new full-length album at the beginning of the year with the release of a couple stand out singles. By the time the dust had settled in May, McLarney had delivered arguably her best album from a discography that continues to grow more and more impressive. Pulling from indie and alt-rock catalogues, and weaving in a distinct predisposition for pop sensibilities, McLarney has created an album filled with memorable songs you’ll be humming to yourself hours after the record has stopped spinning.
https://heathermclarney.bandcamp.com/album/there-to-be-found

Hell Fairy – Don’t Thank Us, Thank God
Sometimes you just have to look skyward and do what this album title is telling you – thank the music gods you’ve been gifted a new band you hadn’t heard before. Earlier this year some live footage of New Haven’s Hell Fairy obliterating a local stage popped up in my Instagram feed and I honestly couldn’t believe what I was watching. (How had I not seen this band live yet?!?) Hell Fairy are a garage rock band, with extra emphasis on the ‘garage’. They make music that’s a little dirty, a little unkempt, a little cold, and filled with hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered. Not the heaviest album on this year’s list but also not for the faint of heart either.
https://hellfairy.bandcamp.com/album/dont-thank-us-thank-god

Manners – Heavenly Violence
When I first came to CT in the mid-90s one of the styles of music this state was most known for was hardcore. One of the bands that kept me interested in the scene into the 2010s was Manners. Thankfully after an elongated absence Manners has returned with newest full-length Heavenly Violence. Manners plays hardcore the way I like it best – metallic and overtly dark in nature with a mean streak ten miles wide. This is a gritty, violent album that will have you thinking a ‘wall of death’ is about to break out in your living room. Get enough people together to listen to this album and it just might.
https://mannersct.bandcamp.com/album/heavenly-violence

Mercy Choir – Pea Shoots and Prayer Cards
If you’re a regular reader of this year-end list and it seems to you like there’s a Mercy Choir album on here every year…I think that might actually be true. It would be a drastic understatement to say that Mercy Choir mastermind Paul Belbusti is a prolific musician. 2024 alone saw Mercy Choir release two full-length albums, Pea Shoots and Prayer Cards being the second, dropping in May. Filled with Mercy Choir’s patented psychedelic-tinged alt-rock, this album waxes and wanes from lo-fi acoustic odes to material that’s full to the brim in production values and back again. This album also shows off Belbusti’s prowess as a top-notch lyricist, weaving stories of the human condition with aplomb.
https://mercychoir.bandcamp.com/album/pea-shoots-and-prayer-cards

Pat Stone – Between Apathy & Opposition
Americana artist Pat Stone emerged in 2024 without his “Dirty Boots” and with his first solo album. For fans of his previous project there’s a lot to like here, but this record is also less twangy and anyone expecting status quo is going to be left in the dust. Stone deftly spreads his wings on Between Apathy & Opposition, allowing his rock, indie rock, and even pop influences to shine. The end result is one of the better rock n’ roll records to come out of Connecticut in some time.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1XimRkUjMwRSnkeU9a9Hgm

Riley Cotton – The Falling of the Fervor
If asked at the beginning of the year what my most anticipated album from a CT artist was in 2024 the first name that would come to mind was Riley Cotton. Between my love of her last record, knowing some of the exceptional players she was recording with, and seeing the beginnings of some of these songs in the live setting, I had a deep-seated feeling this record was going to be top notch. My intuition was rewarded. Every now and then you hear a record from an artist and think, ‘this is the record that’s going to put them on the map’. That’s the kind of potential harnessed on The Falling of the Fervor. Cotton writes songs that not only tell stories but they relate back to the human experience in a way that tap dances along the very heart strings of humanity. Powerful, introspective lyrics are woven through a patchwork quilt of Americana and alt-country giving this record a simultaneous fresh and familiar feeling. Riley Cotton is an old soul and thankfully for us shares that soul through her music.
https://rileycotton.bandcamp.com/album/falling-of-the-fervor

Rusty Things – Body
One of my favorite developments of 2024 was the full return of New Haven’s Rusty Things. For years this band ruled stages and stereos across the state with their blend of punk and Americana. Body marks their first full album in eight years and that’s a damn long time to wait, but the juice was worth the squeeze. Taking those punk and Americana roots and stretching the definitions of both Rusty Things’ return was not just some re-hash of previous material. This album almost felt like a brand new band had emerged on the scene, and for a band doing it so well for as long as they have that’s a massive compliment to hand out.
https://rustythings.bandcamp.com/album/body-2 

Still Rivers – Our Little Life
Still Rivers is husband and wife duo Muddy and Chandra Rivers, the former of which happens to be one-third of one of Connecticut’s best folk/Americana outfits, The Bargain. Filled with stories of ‘their little life’ and the observations of the world spinning (sometimes out of control) around us, Our Little Life is an emotive folk record. Featuring guest appearances from some of Connecticut’s best folk players, including Seth Adam, Stephen Peter Rodgers, and fellow The Bargain members Frank Critelli and Shandy Lawson, Still Rivers has pieced together an album that hits on all folk cylinders.
https://stillrivers.bandcamp.com/album/our-little-life

Tessa Brown – Alchemy, Undone
One of my favorite musical things in life is when an artist I’ve never heard of releases a debut album that completely blows my doors off. A close second would be when that same artist gets on stage and proceeds to blow everyone’s doors off. This year that artist was Tessa Brown. When you listen to Alchemy, Undone you’d swear this was the work of a seasoned vet of both the music business and life itself, yet Brown is not long in the tooth professionally or personally, belying a certain songwriting maturity that’s usually reserved for people old enough to be her parents (or at least much older siblings). Brown’s songwriting is exceptional but her delivery is even better. Armed with a voice that can only be described as angelic, Brown works absolute magic on these six songs. Tessa Brown has a very bright future as a songwriter and a musician and this album is bedrock solid foundation to build off of.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7BwaK7TJDfHlSoQBcCibKZ

The Midnight Anthem – Here’s To The Dreamers
Too many artists shy away from using the country moniker because there are too many pop acts calling themselves “country” today. So I get a little giddy when a country act puts out a record and isn’t afraid to lean into the country label. Family band The Midnight Anthem released their debut album in 2024 after spending several years honing their sound and songs across stages all over the state. Sisters Cat and Sophia Malli and their cousin Grace Cuccia can pull together harmonies the way that only blood relatives can, and each one has their own moment to shine on this record as well. This record is for people who like their jeans ripped, their boots scuffed, and hats with a mesh back.
https://themidnightanthem.bandcamp.com/album/heres-to-the-dreamers

The Moon Shells – Throwing Sparks
I have no idea how, but I almost missed that New Haven’s The Moon Shells released another stellar full-length album in July. The fact that I’ve been a huge fan of this band for several years made my discovery a couple months after its release date sting even more. Better late than never has always been my musical discovery motto (and always will be). Once again drawing from various traditional musical wells from all over the world – Appalachia, the deep south, west Africa, etc. – The Moon Shells have created another album that’s entirely infectious. Whether it’s writing toe-tapping ditties or more introspective folk tunes, this band has the ability to inspire with each release.
https://themoonshells.bandcamp.com/album/throwing-sparks

The Problem With Kids Today – Born To Rock
I love when rock bands just don’t give a shit – not about how they are classified, how they are written about, how their live shows are unabashed parties, and how their recordings are completely unhinged. That kind of punk rock aesthetic is on full-blown display on the debut album from The Problem With Kids Today. This record is as loud, as abrasive, and as fun as their live sets and I would expect nothing less from this band. Released back in February this was one of the first truly great records to come out of Connecticut this year and almost a year after its release it still sounds fresh as ever and warrants multiple return visits.
https://theproblemwithkidstoday.bandcamp.com/album/born-to-rock

The UnAvailables – The UnAvailables
New Haven’s The UnAvailables have been making music together since 1981 and have the photos to prove it. Being a transplant to the state in the mid-90s I’m not going to pretend I know the history of this band, so instead I’ll look to the future with them. In June The UnAvailables dropped a full-length album that perfectly wed punk, indie rock, and college/alt rock. Equal parts catchy and powerful, this album is a perfect bridge from the music of their past to the sounds of the present. Fantastic production and musicianship from start to finish. This is a band I’m hoping to hear more from in the future.
https://theunavailables1.bandcamp.com/album/the-unavailables

VRSA – Saltwater Circadian
The name of this blog probably belies how much I love heavy metal in all its forms. Connecticut has a rich and diverse metal scene, and one band that’s been making waves for quite a while now is stoner/sludge/doom act VRSA. Saltwater Circadian was their first full-length album in nine years and it was fantastic to have them releasing new music again in 2024. As outstanding as their first three releases were it’s not out of the question to state that this may be their strongest effort to date. Firing off progressive doom and stoned out sludge metal, while not afraid to stretch the boundaries of their chosen genres, VRSA delivered one of the heaviest and most unique albums to emerge from Connecticut this year.
https://vrsa.bandcamp.com/album/saltwater-circadian

Honorable Mentions:

Alora Crucible – Oak Lace Apparition
Apathy – Connecticut Casual: Chapter 2
Asher Kai – Eyes of the Lamb
Autumns Eyes – Grimoire of Oak & Shadow
Functional Mushrooms – Sol
Kevin MF King – Hello From The Gutter
Kidnapped – Disgust
Legalized – Stoppin’ By
Mile Marker Zero – Coming of Age
Mister Council – Better Man Chronciles Vol. 2
North County Band – Lay It On The Line
Shirese – Hardly Cricket
The Simulators – The Simulators

Best Metalcore Albums 2024

This year, The Best Metalcore Albums of 2024 remember that evolution doesn’t mean abandonment. While the genre keeps mutating, this year’s standouts prove there’s still blood pumping through its mainstream stereotype. Boundaries turns Death Is Little More into Dante’s personal pit, while 156/Silence finds new shadows to explore in People Watching. These aren’t just heavy records – they’re weight with emotion and fury.

Make Them Suffer’s self-titled rebirth shows what happens when you add new colors to the palette without washing out the old ones. Meanwhile, Within the Ruins returns to familiar ground with Phenomena II, proving technical ability can still draw blood when wielded with conviction. Darkest Hour’s Perpetual | Terminal demonstrates why they’ve survived every trend – they know exactly which roots to keep and which to reshape.

The year’s some of the most intriguing turns come from the edges: CANDY’s It’s Inside You corrupts hardcore’s DNA with industrial virus, while Profiler makes nu-metal’s revival feel like prophecy rather than nostalgia in A Digital Nowhere. Each release finds its own path through metalcore’s evolving landscape, reminding us that sometimes the heaviest impact comes from knowing exactly when to mutate.

Metalcore Albums Tier List 2024

2024’s metalcore cuts deep and clean. From industrial corruption to melodic evolution, these albums don’t just repeat formulas – they rewrite them. Some drag machinery into the pit, others find new paths to explore, but they all remember why this fusion of hardcore and metal still matters.

If your favorite’s missing, it might be demolishing other rankings. But these are the ones that don’t just play metalcore.

Metalcore Albums of 2024 Ranked

The mosh pits are done. Here’s what defined the best metalcore albums of 2024.

Sylosis – The Path (EP) review

Sylosis‘ The Path EP is a lean, muscular statement from a band that’s mastered their craft without letting it calcify. Following 2023’s A Sign of Things to Come, these tracks – originally album cuts that apparently didn’t make the sequence – shows why Sylosis remains one of modern metal’s most consistent bands. The title track, featuring Heriot, hits with particular savagery, driven by the notable precision of Josh Middleton’s fretwork and that signature blend of melodic death metal complexity with metalcore aggressive sound. While it doesn’t radically reimagine their formula, The Path demonstrates why evolution isn’t always about reinvention – sometimes it’s about refining what you already do better than most. For a band whose towering Edge of the Earth set such a high bar, this EP proves they’re still finding new angles of attack within their established framework. It’s a signal to their consistency that even their cutting-room-floor material hits harder than most bands’ marquee releases.

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Profiler – A Digital Nowhere review:

In A Digital Nowhere, Profiler isn’t just updating nu-metalcore’s firmware – they’re rewriting its entire operating system. Their debut full-length hits like a glitch in the matrix where Limp Bizkit’s swagger collides with modern metalcore’s technical precision, creating something that feels both instantly familiar and startlingly fresh. The band weaves rap sections through their metallic assault with the confidence of veterans, while progressive elements add unexpected depth to what could have been pure nostalgia bait. All In Forever exemplifies their approach – hard-hitting yet accessible, complex without losing its swagger. By threading spiritual and philosophical themes through their pop culture nature, Profiler crafts an album that works both in the pit and on headphones.This isn’t just another revival act – it’s proof that nu-metalcore still has untapped potential when wielded by hands that understand both its history and its future. In an age of endless throwbacks, A Digital Nowhere actually remembers to bring something new to the party.

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Cyborg Octopus – Bottom Feeder review:

Deep in the prog-metalcore journey, Cyborg Octopus has found an unexpected path – restraint. Bottom Feeder strips away the manic genre-hopping of their past, revealing something more potent beneath the technical pyrotechnics. Here, Patrick Corona’s saxophone doesn’t just decorate but haunts, weaving through the mathematical precision like a ghost in the machine. Ian Forsythe’s cleaned-up vocals cut new channels through the band’s dense instrumental display, while tracks like “Dreamkiller” prove they can still compress a universe of ideas into sub-three-minute bursts. The real revelation isn’t in what they’ve added, but what they’ve dared to subtract. Each composition feels less like a frantic sprint through their record collection and more like a deliberate excavation of their own DNA. There’s something compelling about watching a band this technically gifted learn to wrestle with two different genres. In an era where progressive metal often mistakes complexity for content, “Bottom Feeder” suggests that true progression might mean knowing exactly when to experiment and launch the refined final product.

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Make Them Suffer – Make Them Suffer review

Make Them Suffer’s self-titled release isn’t just a statement of identity – it’s a complete rewiring of their DNA. With Alex Reade’s arrival as co-lead vocalist and keyboardist, the band hasn’t just added new colors to their palette; they’ve fundamentally reimagined what those colors can do. The djent elements that punctuate Make Them Suffer feel like evolutionary steps rather than trend-chasing, each rhythmic stutter landing with seismic impact while preserving the melodic complexity that’s always set them apart. This is electronic integration done right – no cheap synthetic flourishes or formulaic beat drops, but carefully crafted layers that enhance the songs’ architecture. The vocal interplay between Reade’s crystalline cleans and Sean Harmanis’s animal growls creates emotional dynamics that elevate rather than interrupt the flow. In threading the needle between accessibility and ambition, Make Them Suffer proves that metalcore’s boundaries are still elastic when stretched with purpose and vision. It’s that rarest of self-titled albums – one that actually earns its claim to redefinition.

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Boundaries – Death Is Little More review:

Death Is Little More finds Boundaries turning Dante’s rings of hell into sonic form. Drawing from the infernal source material, the band crafts their most suffocating atmosphere yet – a 40-minute descent where metalcore collides with hardcore raw nerve endings. “Turning Hate Into Rage” sets the infernal template early, but it’s tracks like “A Pale Light Lingers” where Boundaries truly excels, building ethereal melodies into crushing breakdowns that feel less like cheap catharsis and more like narrative purpose. The compact brutality of “Blood Soaked Salvation” proves they can still deliver concentrated violence, while “Darkness Shared” weaves melodeath influences through their metallic hardcore foundation with surprising grace. When “Inhale The Grief” brings the journey to its close, Death Is Little More reveals itself as more than just another heavy record – it’s grief and rage channeled through technical creativity, where every breakdown and melody serves the descent. In a genre drowning in empty brutality, Boundaries remembers that the heaviest moments hit hardest when they’re carrying actual weight.

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CANDY – It´s Inside You review

CANDY’s It’s Inside You is a digital virus masquerading as a hardcore / metalcore record. Working with Uniform’s Ben Greenberg and mixed by Kurt Ballou, the band has crafted a mutant strain of aggressive music where industrial machinery collides with hardcore’s raw nerve endings. This isn’t just genre fusion – it’s genre warfare. The cyberpunk-tinged “eXistenZ” sets the template, but it’s tracks like “Dancing to the Infinite Beat” – possibly hardcore’s first legitimate flirtation with trance – that prove CANDY isn’t just experimenting for shock value. Guest spots from Integrity’s Aaron Melnick and Justice Tripp ground the album in hardcore lineage, while the digital elements feel less like accessories and more like necessary evolution. When the title track drops record scratches and nu-metal swagger into the mix, it feels earned rather than ironic. It’s Inside You is what happens when hardcore stops trying to preserve its purity and starts embracing its mutations. While their contemporaries chase hooks, CANDY chases the pure rawness- and that rawness sounds gloriously unhinged.

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156Silence – People Watching review:

In People Watching, 156/Silence plunges into the darkest corners of their sound and emerges with something beautifully grotesque. The Pittsburgh outfit crafts a suffocating atmosphere where sludge-thick riffs and post-hardcore experimenation mixed with metalcore collide, creating a soundscape as unsettling as the funhouse-mirror horror of its album art. Jack Murray’s vocal performance is a masterclass in dynamic contrast – his feral growls tear through the mix like barbed wire, while his clean passages add ghostly depth to the band’s increasingly complex arrangements. Drawing from the mathematical chaos of Botch and the ethereal weight of Deftones, while nodding to modern heavyweights like Alpha Wolf, People Watching stretches hardcore’s DNA into new shapes across its 14-track runtime. This isn’t just heavy for heavy’s sake – it’s weight with purpose, where every ambient passage and noise experiment feels earned. In a genre often stuck between tradition and repeated formulas, 156/Silence finds power in the shadows between.

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Poppy- Negative Spaces review:

On Negative Spaces, Poppy finally writes her own rulebook. Under Jordan Fish’s pristine production, she crafts 42 minutes of chaotic contradiction – industrial metal’s mechanical heart beating beneath layers of ghostly synth-pop. It’s her most focused work yet, trading the shock-value genre shifts of earlier albums for something more nuanced: the raw scream of “The Center’s Falling Out” doesn’t feel like a metal cosplay anymore, but a natural evolution of her increasingly notable musical taste. Fish’s production fingerprints are all over this – that same clinically precise edge he brought to Bring Me The Horizon – but Poppy twists it into darker, more personal territory. “Crystallized” proves she can still conjure perfect pop phantoms when she wants to, but it’s the moments of genuine heaviness that hit hardest, finally matching the weight of her themes of digital-age alienation and deferred growth. This isn’t just Poppy’s best since I Disagree – it’s the first time her music feels less like performance art and more like pure performance, where every genre blend serves the song rather than the concept. In a time filled with countless stereotypes and baseless criticism, Negativer Space acts as a bridge between the mainstream and high-quality accesible music.

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Within the Ruins – Phenoma II review:

Ten years after Phenomena, Within the Ruins returns to its conceptual playground with Phenomena II, a tech-metal fever dream where comic book mythology meets video game virtuosity. Joe Cocchi’s guitar work remains the star – his signature digital-precision leads carve through tracks like “Castle in the Sky” with the calculated fury of a speedrunner breaking world records. The album’s 50-minute runtime weaves through 11 tracks, including three instrumentals that showcase the band’s progressive evolution beyond their metalcore foundations. “Demon Killer” exemplifies their modern approach, where djent’s mechanical groove provides the framework for melodic experimentation. While some might find the pristine production almost too clinical, it serves the material’s cybernetic nature – this is metal programmed for maximum technical impact. Phenomena II proves Within the Ruins hasn’t lost their hunger for perfectionism, even as they lean harder into their conceptual strengths. It’s the rare sequel that understands what made the original work – precision, power, and just enough pixelated nostalgia to keep the combo counter rising!

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Darkest Hour – Perpetual | Terminal review

On Perpetual | Terminal, Darkest Hour proves that ten albums in, they can still find new wrinkles in melodic metalcore weathered face. This isn’t just another entry in their catalog – it’s a masterclass in tension between preservation and progression, where Swedish-style guitar harmonies dance with modern metalcore’s muscular production. The title track sets the template early, building from crystalline clean passages into thrash-fueled fury with the kind of confidence that comes from decades of refinement. When they stretch into more atmospheric territory on “One With the Void,” it feels earned rather than obligatory. Again, I must say the title track might be their most ambitious composition since years, even if some purists might I am overrating it. Perpetual | Terminal is what happens when a band stops trying to recapture past glories and starts building on their foundation instead. In 40 minutes of melancholic aggression, Darkest Hour reminds us why they’ve outlasted so many of their peers – they’ve mastered the art of evolution without abandonment.

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Which is the Best Metalcore Album of 2024?

In 2024’s metalcore panorama, Darkest Hour’s Perpetual | Terminal strikes the perfect balance between preservation and progress. By sharpening their melodic death metal roots into modern metalcore, they’ve crafted something that hits both emotionally and powerfully – deserving the prize for the best metalcore album of 2024.

Final Ranking of the Best of Metalcore 2024:

• Sylosis – The Path (EP) | 10º
• Profiler – A Digital Nowhere | 9º
• Cyborg Octopus – Bottom Feeder | 8º
• Make Them Suffer – Make Them Suffer | 7º
• Boundaries – Death Is Little More | 6º
• CANDY – It´s Inside You | 5º
• 156Silence – People Watching | 4º
• Poppy- Negative Spaces | 3º
• Within the Ruins – Phenoma II | 2º
• Darkest Hour – Perpetual | Terminal | 1º

Remember that all of the albums which are listed in our rankings are featured in our official Spotify playlists!

And if you would want to apply to be featured among these great albums, you can apply via Musosoup or Sound Campaign and let us discover your material!

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Welcome to part two of our annual year-end metal list, where we count down our Top 20 favorite metal albums of 2024. As I mentioned in the previous post this top 40 list culls together my personal favorite albums of the year. In no world would I pretend to have listened to enough new music over the last twelve months to say I could create a definitive “best of” list. With that said, I highly recommend every album listed below and suggest you spend as much time with each as you can afford. I hope you find one of your new favorite records as well.

For those who’d like to hear tracks off each record outside of the provided links make sure you check out the two year-end episodes of The Metal Dad Radio Show on Cygnus Radio.

20. Aptorian Demon – Liv tar slutt
I love, love, love Second Wave black metal, and while admittedly some of that love is the consistent tug of nostalgia, there were always musical elements that made the music so alluring (even despite low production values and occasionally low talent levels as well).  So when a band puts out a record that sounds like it could have been lifted from the vaults of early ’90s Scandinavia my attention has been grabbed. When they can hearken back to that mighty scene and add their own personal touches to it? Sold. This record is steep in atmosphere, razor-sharp in its delivery, and holds some of the more captivating vocals in black metal today. Aptorian Demon hadn’t put out a full length album in 12 years prior to Liv tar slutt dropping last month, and I’m not going to pretend to know what was keeping their members busy over that time. By the sounds of this record it probably had a lot to do with worshiping Satan.
https://aptoriandemon.bandcamp.com/album/liv-tar-slutt   

19. Black Pyramid – The Paths of Time Are Vast
I stated in our previous post that 2024 wound up being an exceptional year for stoner/doom metal. Part of what made it so great was the number of bands who returned to the fold with full-length albums after long hiatuses. One such band was Massachusetts-based Black Pyramid. Outside of one single and a split release in 2020 this album was the first new Black Pyramid material in eleven years, and it has quickly become one of their best. Taking the stoner rock blueprint they perfected on their 2009 debut album and infusing it with even more psych rock and trad doom elements, this album finds Black Pyramid stretching their aural limits to new and exciting places. Filled with Sabbath-worthy riffs and songs that aren’t afraid to explore the nether regions of stoner doom, we may be calling this album Black Pyramid’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath before its all said and done.
https://blackpyramid.bandcamp.com/album/the-paths-of-time-are-vast

18. Perchta – D’Muata
Some time ago their record label, Prophecy Productions, shared live footage of Austrian black/folk metal act Perchta and it wound up as a suggested post on my Instagram feed. I’ve been slightly obsessed with this band ever since. Built around the Perchta persona from Germanic/Slavic/alpine folklore, this band deftly combines black metal with various folk metal elements to create a theatrical brand of black metal. It’s a style and level of musicality that many have tried and miserably failed at attaining, yet Perchta has now come to perfect on two exceptional records, with D’Muata being the best thus far. Vocals wax and wane between tortured screams and gorgeous clean singing, with the occasional spoken word passage thrown in. The music often follows suit, going from traditional black metal brutality to atmospheric folk metal and back again. This album is an absolute journey and best played from start to finish when possible.
https://perchta-official.bandcamp.com/album/d-muata

17. Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – Sisyphean Cruelty
For the second year in a row Massachusetts-based blackened sludge/doom act Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean dropped an album I was not expecting at all, and for the second year in a row they completely blew my doors off. (Resulting in a second year in a row in the Top 20 on this list.) This band writes music that’s meant to pummel the listener into submission and this album could be listed as Example A. Sisyphean Cruelty continues and seemingly perfects their absolutely sadistic blend of sludgy, heavy riffs, unholy vocals, and overall unsettling vibes. As the title suggests there is an element of cruelty here culled from the darkest recesses of humanity’s crumbling existence. There is no hope for those who attempt to pass through here.
https://chainedtothebottomoftheocean.bandcamp.com/album/sisyphean-cruelty

16. Curse the Son – Delirium
I love when a band from my home state of Connecticut is able to make this list. This year saw the return of one of CT’s absolute best metal acts, Curse the Son. For almost two solid decades Curse the Son has been delivering crushing stoner/doom metal of the highest order. Truly one of the most underrated bands in the entirety of the genre, Curse the Son dropped one of their best efforts yet back in September. Delirium contains some of their most memorable riffs and songs, and continues to add to a growing legacy of doom and gloom classics.
https://cursetheson.bandcamp.com/album/delirium

15. Ischemic – Condemned to the Breaking Wheel
I won’t pretend I was super familiar with Canada’s Ischemic prior to the release of this year’s Condemned to the Breaking Wheel. But after sitting with this record through multiple listens I certainly wish I was. Taking sludgy doom metal and running it through a blackened prism, Ischemic write music that just feels entirely suffocating. This record weighs on you and just stifles out any sense of hope the way few others did this year. Gritty riffing, a pummeling rhythm section, and dire vocals combine to send you on trip to a dark corner of the metal world where doom and black metal conspire to burn their dead and bury the ashes.
https://ischemic.bandcamp.com/album/condemned-to-the-breaking-wheel

14. Brume – Marten
This is easily one of the more interesting and unique albums I came across this year. How interesting and unique? So much so I was convinced I wouldn’t find them on Metal Archives because they most certainly would have been deemed not “metal enough” for the admins. (To my pleasant surprise they are indeed listed on the site.) Mixing doom metal with goth and even indie rock aesthetics Brume writes songs that are not only monolithic in nature but wholly accessible for fans who don’t necessarily partake in the extreme corners of the metal pantheon. On this album their sound expanded further with the addition of a full-time cello player, giving them even more ammo for the metal purists to get uptight about. Make no mistake, there are sections (and sometimes entire songs) on this album that will make you question what genre you’ve actually wandered into, like someone lost in a city they’ve never visited before. But when you do touch familiar ground it makes the entire journey all the more rewarding.
https://brumesf.bandcamp.com/album/marten

13. Winterfylleth – The Imperious Horizon
Now on their eighth full-length album, British black metal act Winterfylleth continue to make the case for ‘legendary’ status within the genre with newest offering The Imperious Horizon. Once again focused on being as atmospheric as they are heavy, Winterfylleth have delivered another set of tracks that transports the listener. Where and when they are transported to matters less than the actual trip itself. Few black metal bands seethe atmosphere and mysticism in their music the way Winterfylleth does and this album is another astounding testament to that fact.
https://winterfylleth.bandcamp.com/album/the-imperious-horizon-standard-edition

12. Unholy Altar – Veil of Death! Shroud of Night
Easily one of the best debut albums of 2024 came from Philadelphia-based black metal horde Unholy Altar. This is a raw, unrelenting album that fans of black metal’s storied second wave should be all over. The entire record is just beastly and unforgiving, yet there’s enough atmospherics here to make it feel like you’ve accidentally stumbled upon some secret, evil ritual. It’s a sonic ritual you have no right beholding, yet are gloriously welcomed to with cloven-hoofed arms. Frankly, I’m a little obsessed with this record and just how completely depraved it all sounds. I cannot wait for the follow up. Unholy Altar is a force to be reckoned with.
https://unholyaltar666.bandcamp.com/album/veil-of-death-shroud-of-nite

11. Hulder – Verses in Oath
No band over the last five years has risen up the ranks of the USBM scene the way Washington’s Hulder has. Prior to the plague times Hulder was a little known one-woman project who had grabbed the attention of the metal underground with a run of killer demos and a two-song EP. Fast forward to 2024 and when USBM bands are discussed one of the first names to cross many lips is Hulder. Second full-length album Verses in Oath is a huge reason why. Hulder is an act that continues to evolve with each release, and this album continues to see their sound move away from the lo-fi machinations of second wave black metal into something more atmospheric and all-around epic in its presentation. Released at the beginning of February this was one of the first truly great albums of 2024 and one that remains a perfect listen as we drift back into the cold embrace of winter.
https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/verses-in-oath

10. Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire
If you were to ask me to name the greatest black metal scenes in the world today at some point early in the discussion I’d say Canada. If you were to in turn ask me about Canadian black metal one of the first bands to cross my lips would be Spectral Wound. Since 2015 this band has delivered majestic album after majestic album every three years like some ancient beast being summoned from the darkened abyss. And every three years I sit in awe of their songwriting prowess and ability to create some of the most crushing and unique black metal the world around. So when I say that Songs of Blood and Mire might be their best album yet you should take heed. Unafraid to mix in shots of melodic black metal, blackened death metal, and even the occasional black n’ roll aesthetic, Spectral Wound delivered an album that not only will appease long time fans, but should find them bringing even more followers into the cult. A majestic black metal triumph from start to finish.
https://spectralwound.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-blood-and-mire

9. Neon Nightmare – Faded Dream
I’m fairly certain that Nate Garrett, mastermind of the outstanding Spirit Adrift, created Neon Nightmare as an homage for his love of all things Type O Negative. Yet why do I feel guilty for being the roughly one millionth person to liken this project to one of my all-time favorite metal acts? Probably because whether Garrett intended for this album to be a direct homage or not he actually wound up creating one of the best metal albums of 2024. Fans of goth and doom-infused trad metal should have this record on constant repeat. From the heavier, dreamier aspects that run throughout like a gloomy current to the downright catchy hooks of a track like “They Look Like Shadows” this is easily one of the most memorable releases of 2024 and one that I’ll personally be revisiting for a long time to come.
https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/faded-dream

8. Tribulation – Sub Rosa in Aeternum
I’ve been completely infatuated with Tribulation since their inception, and even more so when their sound shifted to a more gothic black n’ roll style. There just aren’t any other bands in the world that sound like Tribulation and in the underground metal world that’s possibly the highest compliment I can offer. This is another album that I wish had released earlier in the year so I could have spent more time with it. Fans of previous efforts will agree that this record continues to add to an amazing legacy. Best listened to in the dead of night, possibly while trolling through town looking for haunted buildings or old cemeteries.
https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/sub-rosa-in-ternum-24-bit-hd-audio

7. Slimelord – Chytridiomycosis Relinquished
If you’ve ever listened to The Metal Dad Radio Show on CygnusRadio.com you know that my co-host The Candyman prefers his death metal to be technical and somewhat progressive (think Human and Individual Thought Patterns era Death). While I’m a fan, I personally prefer my death metal to be sludgy and doom-crusted (think Slowly We Rot era Obituary). When I played a track from the new Slimelord album on our show we agreed that their debut full length may actually be the perfect record for us to meet halfway on. While Slimelord wade neck deep in the primordial pools of death doom there is a layer of technicality to this record almost unseen in these darkened corners of the death metal pantheon. At times the guitar work is completely unsettling as they bend and twist notes in interesting and often discordant ways, and you’ll be hard-pressed to ever find bass lines on a death doom record that dance up and down the fret board the way these do. Highly recommended for fans of death metal that refuses to paint by the numbers.
https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/chytridiomycosis-relinquished

6. My Dying Bride – A Mortal Binding
I’ve been a My Dying Bride fan since the early ’90s and will freely admit that this was my most highly anticipated album of 2024 (especially after previous album The Ghost of Orion topped this very year-end list in 2020). Unfortunately, shortly after its release in April the band put themselves on indefinite hiatus. What? While they’ve announced a return to the live stage (with a guest vocalist?!?) I can’t help but think this might be the final My Dying Bride record. If so, they leave this mortal coil gifting us one of their better releases, which after 15 full-length albums over 30+ years is pretty damn impressive. I won’t bore you with trying to describe the gloomy beauty held within this release, especially if you’re a longtime fan like myself. Just go listen to this record post haste.
https://mydyingbrideofficial.bandcamp.com/album/a-mortal-binding

5. Apes – Penitence
I’ve been listening to hardcore music for more decades than I care to admit out loud but I’ll freely admit that my favorite hardcore bands have always been the heaviest, darkest, nastiest bands on the scene. (i.e. Integrity, Coalesce, Bloodlet, Acme, etc.) Quebec City’s Apes are exactly the type of hardcore band I still keep one eye on the scene for. Mixing in elements of grind and even some black metal aesthetics, Apes are the type of band that would be at home playing shows on almost any type of bill. While their 2017 debut album slipped entirely under my radar, Penitence is the type of album that will keep them firmly planted in my mind’s eye for as long as they are releasing new music. Gritty, violent, and with a nasty streak ten miles wide, this record will get you ready to run through whatever brick wall you need/want to.
https://apesqc.bandcamp.com/album/penitence

4. Iotunn – Kinship
I have to admit that sometimes I even surprise myself with certain albums that make this list and how high some of them climb. I think those who know me well know that the more progressive a band or an album get the less likely I am to tune in. Yet, every so often there’s an album that tap dances along progressive lines while incorporating other musical elements I value more and something really clicks. This years example is Kinship by Denmark’s Iotunn. Taking queues from melodic death and black metal and melding it with progressive, trad, and even doom puzzle pieces, Iotunn created an album that quite literally presents something new on every repeat listen. It’s an overall captivating experience and one that feels almost cinematic in scope and execution. Some of the best soaring clean vocals of the year, absolutely electric riffing, and enough melody to really dig its hooks in you make this album worthy of as much time as you are willing to give it.
https://iotunn.bandcamp.com/album/kinship

3. High On Fire – Cometh The Storm
It’s been six years and one Matt Pike solo record since the last High On Fire long-player and frankly that’s about five years too long for me. Now on their ninth full-length album High On Fire still don’t pull any punches and still don’t give a shit about simply pummeling their fans into sonic oblivion. Cometh The Storm is the type of record that comes out of the gates firing and doesn’t stop until the needle hits the end of the line. Matt Pike and the boys sound refreshed and ready for battle on this record and at the end of the day may have delivered one of their absolute best. For my money it’s the most engaging High On Fire record since 2012’s De Vermis Mysteriis, and one that I’ll continue to revisit.
https://highonfire.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-storm

2. Diabolic Oath – Oracular Hexations
Through the first half of 2024 this was hands down my most listened to record. We played multiple tracks on The Metal Dad Radio Show and every time we did it stood out from everything else we played and just hammered home how absolutely crushing this record is. Diabolic Oath play a brand of death metal with blackened and doomy elements and this record is pure, unadulterated death metal alchemy. It’s as captivating as it is brutal, just absolutely unrelenting in both its sheer heaviness and its ability to transfix you. On multiple occasions I found myself just stopping whatever it was I was doing and allowing this record to wash over me one vile wave after another. It would not be hyperbole to state that Oracular Hexations has vaulted Diabolic Oath to damn near the top of the current death metal pinnacle.
https://diabolicoath.bandcamp.com/album/oracular-hexations 

1. Mother of Graves – The Periapt of Absence
My radio show co-host likes to try and guess what my top 20 albums are before the list is revealed and honestly he should have had his sights set on this one, not only because I’m a sucker for melodic/gothic death doom, but because I’ve been listening to this album practically non-stop since its release in October. Mother of Graves is the type of band that has no shame in hearkening back to their influences, but is also able to make something fresh and exciting out of the recipe. After the success of their 2021 EP and 2022 full-length it was really only a matter of time before this band took their rightful place atop the US melodic death doom scene and The Periapt of Absence announced their coming in mighty fashion. It’s as gorgeous as it is heavy and one of the few albums I will happily attach the sometimes overused “epic” moniker to. A truly magnificent record from start to finish.
https://motherofgraves.bandcamp.com/album/the-periapt-of-absence