Top 10 Best Metal Albums of 2024

2024 has been a fantastic year for metal, with legendary bands returning and new acts making their mark. From progressive masterpieces to crushing death metal, here are the Top 10 Best Metal Albums of 2024 that stood out for their impact, musicianship, and innovation.

((Credit: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images)

10. High on Fire – Cometh the Storm

High on Fire returned with Cometh the Storm, a thunderous blend of sludge, stoner, and Middle Eastern influences. The album marks their first with Coady Willis on drums and delivers raw, unrelenting energy.

9. Nightwish – Yesterwynde

Symphonic metal giants Nightwish completed their trilogy with Yesterwynde, an album full of cinematic orchestrations and soaring vocals. This is their first release without Marco Hietala, with Jukka Koskinen taking over bass duties.

8. Kerry King – From Hell I Rise

The legendary Kerry King (Slayer) made his solo debut with From Hell I Rise, featuring a lineup of metal veterans. The album delivers pure thrash aggression, proving that King’s riffing is as sharp as ever.

7. Wintersun – Time II

After years of anticipation, Wintersun finally released Time II, continuing the epic journey started in Time I. With symphonic elements and traditional instruments like the erhu, this album showcases Jari Mäenpää’s grand vision.

6. Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God

New Zealand’s Ulcerate delivered a masterpiece of dissonant, atmospheric death metal with Cutting the Throat of God. The band continues to push the genre’s boundaries with crushing intensity and technical brilliance.

5. Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project

The iconic Bruce Dickinson returned with The Mandrake Project, his first solo album in nearly 20 years. Exploring themes of science and magic, the album features powerful vocals and dynamic compositions.

4. Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To

Metalcore heavyweights Knocked Loose brought raw intensity with You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To, showcasing their heaviest sound yet.

3. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield

British metal legends Judas Priest delivered Invincible Shield, an album packed with classic heavy metal anthems and soaring vocals from Rob Halford.

2. Opeth – The Last Will and Testament

Swedish progressive metal icons Opeth returned with The Last Will and Testament, their fourteenth studio album. Initially slated for an October 11, 2024, release via Reigning Phoenix Music, delays pushed it to November 22, 2024. This album marks the debut of drummer Valtteri Väyrynen, replacing longtime member Martin Axenrot.

With The Last Will and Testament, Opeth brings back their signature death metal elements, including Mikael Åkerfeldt’s signature growls, which had been absent since Watershed (2008). Fans were thrilled by the album’s complex compositions, blending heavy, progressive, and melodic passages that harken back to the band’s classic sound.

1. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere

Blood Incantation continued their journey of pushing genre boundaries with Absolute Elsewhere, their fourth studio album, released on October 4, 2024, via Century Media. Blending death metal, progressive metal, and progressive rock, this album showcases the band’s ability to craft immersive, otherworldly soundscapes.

The album consists of just two massive tracks, each exceeding 20 minutes in length, divided into three sections known as "tablets." This structure allows the band to explore deep, intricate compositions, making Absolute Elsewhere their longest studio release at over 43 minutes.

With its experimental nature, the album was met with critical acclaim, praised for its atmospheric depth, cosmic themes, and the band’s continued evolution in sound.

10. High on Fire – Cometh the Storm

9. Nightwish – Yesterwynde

8. Kerry King – From Hell I Rise

7. Wintersun – Time II

6. Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God

5. Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project

4. Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To

3. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield

2. Opeth – The Last Will and Testament

1. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere

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10. High on Fire – Cometh the Storm

9. Nightwish – Yesterwynde

8. Kerry King – From Hell I Rise

7. Wintersun – Time II

6. Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God

5. Bruce Dickinson – The Mandrake Project

4. Knocked Loose – You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To

3. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield

2. Opeth – The Last Will and Testament

1. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

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