BEST OF 2024 – Ivan Galesic (Radio Host/Writer) 🇨🇦
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)
Well, it’s that time of year again when I cram all the albums that came out during the year trying to pick my favourite 10. This year there were so many new releases.
Like always I went with the albums that I kept going back to the most. There were so many great releases this year and it made it hard to pick just ten.
At the end, after revealing my top pick I will list some honorable mentions.
Let’s get on to the picks.
#10 🇨🇭
STORACE – Crossfire
I loved the Krokus release Headhunter back in the day. I always liked Marc Storace’s voice and when this album came out I was expecting it to be an alright album but it caught me off guard, I liked it a lot. It was released in November but I keep going back to it. Maybe it’s because Tommy Henriksen is involved in the production. This has a classic Krokus feel as well as a bit of Def Leppard in some cases. This just snuck into my number ten spot. Standout tracks are “Rock This City”, “We All Need The Money” and “Let’s Get Nuts”
#9 🇦🇺
THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND – D.I.Y.
This is a fantastic record from Australia’s The Southern River Band. it’s clear from the opening of the first song how much fun it is. It’s lively and just has a positive vibe from the first to the last note. The album duration is far too short, which is the main drawback. It’s the perfect music to wake you up and to listen to in the evening after a hard day. Fantastic record and an amazing band! This is the band’s third album I now need to go and look up the rest. Standout tracks are “Stan Qualen”, “Do You Miss Me When I’m Gone?”, ”Chasin’ After Love” and “Chimney”.
#8 🇸🇪
VELVETEEN QUEEN – Consequence Of The City
If you are waiting for a reunion Guns and Roses release take a listen to this album. It reminds me so much of the classic GNR sound. It’s not a total rip-off of Appetite for Destruction but it’s in the same vein. When I first saw the video for “Take Me Higher” GNR came to mind right away and I was wanting to hear more. Stand-out tracks are “Barrel of a Gun”, “Take Me Higher”, “Trauma” and “Bad Reputation”.
#7 🇸🇪
ECLIPSE – Megalomanium II
Almost a year has passed since Megalomanium I, and here we are with Megalomanium II. “Apocalypse Blues”, “The Spark”, “Divide and Conquer”, and “One in a Million” are some of my favourite tunes on this album, which is a great continuation of the first. There are always those who claim that things were better on past albums, but I believe that the quality of these albums is great. I continue to want more.
#6 🇨🇭
BLACK DIAMONDS – Destination Paradise
Black Diamonds have lifted the bar with Destination Paradise. I loved their past output and this is 13 great songs full of great hooks and choruses that will have you singing the songs all day. It has fantastic, very polished production and mixing. This album fits right up there with the likes of H.E.A.T., Crazy Lixx and Eclipse. Destination Paradise is superb and does not disappoint. The first track sets the pace for the album and it just gets better. Stand-out tracks are “Everyday Heroes”, “Through Hell and Back”, and their version of Belinda Carlisle‘s “Leave a Light On”
#5 🇸🇪
NEW HORIZON – Conquerors
A few years ago their debut was in my Top 10 that year it featured Erik Gronwall on vocals. Well, this time Jona Tee has gone out and tapped Nils Molin from Amaranthe and Dynazty as the new vocalist. Nils does not disappoint. The album is a powerful power metal album that will appeal to both new and seasoned fans. Bombastic production, epic lyrics, and a blend of classic and modern metal components make this a remarkable musical journey. Standout tracks are “King Of Kings”, “Daimyo”, “Apollo” and “Before The Dawn” which features Elize Ryd from Amaranthe.
#4 🇺🇸
CROSSBONE SKULLY – Evil World Machine
Crossbone Skully is the band formed by Alice Cooper and Hollywood Vampires guitarist Tommy Henriksen. This album features Johnny Depp, Nikki Sixx, Def Leppard’s Phil Collen and Alice Cooper as well. Mutt Lange came out of retirement to executive produce this album. The album’s story focuses on Crossbone Skully who is an avenging superhero from outer space, returning to Earth to save the world and reconnect with his lost love Piper and Kyd, the son he never knew he had. The music is kind of a cross between AC/DC and Airbourne. Stand-out tracks are “Boom Went The Boom”, “Evil World Machine” and “The Sin Eater”.
#3 🇩🇪
ORDEN OGAN – The Order of Fear
The story of the album The Order of Fear by Orden Ogan is about Alister Vale, a member of a sinister aristocratic circle that pretends to be the government. When Vale breaks the circle, he is cursed. In the album’s story, Vale meets the Order of Fear, who betray him in an attempt to break the curse. However, the monks actually involve Vale in an ancient ritual that intensifies his curse.
Vale realizes that the monks are evil creatures who want to use his curse to destroy humanity. They trick him into killing his friend Abel. I became a fan of Orden Ogan back when they released Ravenhead. I love how each album has a theme and underlying story. Their last album Final Days made my top ten that year as well. This one is just as good if not better than that release. Standout tracks are “The Order of Fear”, “Blindman”, “Prince of Sorrow” and “Moon Fire”.
#2 🇬🇧
JUDAS PRIEST – Invincible Shield
Judas priest deliver the goods again with Invincible Shield. I loved Firepower and was hoping they would be able to match that album. Well they did, this is a masterpiece. I haven’t stopped listening to this album since it was released. I thought of Firepower as one of the best priest albums and now they have another one right up there. Great guitar work and production as well as a great vocal performance form one of the greatest. The highlights are “Panic Attack”, “The Serpent And The King”, “Invincible Shield”, “Gates Of Hell”, “Crown Of Thorns”, “As God Is My Witness”, “Fight Of Your Life” and “Vicious Circle”
#1 🇩🇪
DOMINUM – Hey Living People
Dominum released Hey Living People on December 29, 2023, and I haven’t stopped listening to it since. I first stumbled onto them via their first single/video “Patient Zero” in August of last year. I was intrigued and then I saw the second video “Danger Danger” and I was hooked. There is a theme running through the album and actually the band as well. They are led by Dr. Dead, he is trying to perfect what Dr. Frankenstein started years ago.
Dr. Dead creates a virus that turns people into zombies and it starts off with Patient Zero who also is the Bass player in the band. The theme runs through all of the songs and there is a specific order to the videos. I am planning on writing a review for this album even though it’s been out for a year so stay tuned for that. This would have been my number one last year if it was released earlier. When I got the album and put it on the first time I didn’t skip a song. It was just a smile on my face song after song.
The songs are so catchy and man can they write some great hooks. I was bopping around listening to this. I can’t really point out three or four songs as standouts since they all are but I will try and list a few I think would appeal to everyone checking them out for the first time. Standout tracks are “Immortalis Dominum”, “Cannibal Corpses”, “Patient Zero” and “Hey Living People”.
Here are some honourable mentions: The New Roses, Victory, Visions Of Atlantis, Kissin’ Dynamite, Evergrey, Phil Mogg, Knights of the Realm, Sebastian Bach, Dirtbag Republic, Riot V, The Mercury Riots and the Commoners to name a few, there were a lot more.
Man, I love the state that the music scene is in right now. I wish there were this many choices available back when I was growing up in the ’80s. Check out my radio show and my CGCM reviews here: Ivan Galesic.
