BEST OF 2024 – Graham Spark (Writer/Contributor) 🇬🇧
You can find the Collective List as well as all our Best of 2024 content including contributors’ individual lists and radio DJ shows here: CGCM’s Best of 2024 (Year in Review)
2024 has been a curious year, with not many of the big hitters releasing worldwide smashes. Yes, we’ve had Green Day and Judas Priest with Linkin Park’s comeback album on the table, but apart from those what have rock and metal fans had to get their teeth into?
Well, I’ll tell you: great rock albums from bands flying unfairly under the radar or new bands bursting onto the scene. There is so much out there for fans to enjoy, it’s merely a case of being aware of what’s around.
So a little bit of digging can produce real gold, and checking out CGCM’s new releases and album reviews can also show you the way, not forgetting our very own CGCM Rock Radio.
So let’s get down to business and reveal my own Top 10 of 2024.
#10 🇬🇧
LIONHEART – The Grace of a Butterfly
UK AOR veterans Lionheart return with a quality concept album based on World War II. Full of melody, emotion, pathos and great storytelling this album has spent most of the year refusing to drop out of my top 10. Cracking album, fully deserved.
Check out my full review here.
#09 🇨🇦
OCCULT WITCHES – Sorrow’s Pyre
70s-inspired rock of the highest order with a touch of the baroque. Vocalist Vanessa San Martin brings the songs to life with the musicianship taking them to even higher plains. You can easily get lost in the melodies, vocals and solos. A gem.
#08 🇬🇧
RHABSTALLION – Bat Shit Crazy
Straight-up, kick-in-the-balls rock from these UK veterans. Power, rifforama, and a big big sound are the order of the day. After over 30 years of hiatus, these guys deserve every success that comes their way.
#07 🇸🇪
MINDLESS SINNER – Metal Merchants
These guys never fail to deliver and they’ve come up trumps once again. Quality metal with enough pace and power to satisfy the most demanding metalhead.
#06 🇬🇧
MASSIVE WAGONS – Earth to Grace
These UK rockers pull it out of the bag once again with their best album since Full Nelson. It’s a rock album through and through, no messing.
Check out my full review here.
#05 🇬🇧
THE DEAD CAN WAIT – In Lumine
More UK action but in this case it’s all metal. Gut-punching riffs, pointed lyrics and high-class solos. Yep, it’s metal alright.
Check out The Meister‘s full review here.
#04 🇨🇦
FREEWAYS – Dark Sky Sanctuary
This album has been a solid attendant in the Top 10 all year round and a regular listen throughout. A short but sweet rock killer with hints of NWOBHM influence.
Check out my full review here.
#03 🇸🇪
VNTER – Unfolding (EP)
A superb slice of modern metal with a healthy number of earworms to get inside your brain. Hints of Muse, QOTSA and Volbeat lift this EP to a serious level. It’s actually unlucky to be only number 3.
Check out my full review here.
#02 🇨🇭
AMETHYST – Throw Down the Gauntlet
A fantastic album bringing all the best bits of the NWOBHM to the table. This was a late entry for me but well worth its number 2 status. Strong vocals, dominating twin leads and a hefty rhythm section makes for an absolute triumph of an album.
Check out my full review here.
#01 🇺🇸
SUNFLOWER FOX AND THE CHICKEN LEG – Gypsy Queen (EP)
Lead vocalist Kaity Hart may be the powerhouse behind this album but the overall musicianship is first-class. Their mission statement is to revive the big sound of 1970s arena bands, and they certainly pull it off, but with less of a formulaic feel. There’s variety aplenty even in this short format but the underlying thread is one of quality, both musically and lyrically. This is a magnificent EP and well deserving of its top spot.
Check out my full review here.
To our many readers and listeners I would like to wish you good health and good fortune for 2025, and of course, may it be accompanied by a soundtrack of quality rock and metal.
Sparky.
Check out my other reviews and articles here. Sparky.
