BEST OF 2024 – MetalMike71 (Mikael Norstedt) (Website 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 released a lot of great albums and some that I have listened to a lot are not in my top ten but worth mentioning.
Massive Wagons, Powerwolf, Magnum, Collateral, Nestor, Demon, Unleash The Archers, Deep Purple and many more. It has been a great year for Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. I hope 2025 can deliver some great music as well.
Happy New Year!!
#10 🇸🇪
ARKADO – Open Sea
This is excellent AOR/ Melodic Hard Rock that has its own trademarks.
Great musicians and a great voice binds it together with some dramatic feel to the songs that you can’t hear in other AOR bands.
The stand-out track for me is “Rising High“.
#9 🇸🇪
SMOKING SNAKES – Danger Zone
Hardrock like in the 80’s.
With raw but yet great vocals they rip through an album with powerful songs and heavy riffs. For fans of W.A.S.P and CrashDiet.
The stand-out track for me is “There Is No Tomorrow“.
#8 🇨🇭
KING ZEBRA – Between The Shadows
Swiss melodic hard rock with great songs and heavy production. The guitar sound on this album is awesome and the songs are all killers no fillers.
Great energetic songs to listen to at the gym or when you are out for a power walk.
The stand-out track for me is “Cyanide“.
#7 🇬🇧
SAXON – Hell, Fire And Damnation
I think this is Saxon’s strongest album in years.
The change of guitar player and songwriter to Brian Tatler has given them new blood and he fits great in the band.
The stand-out track for me is “Kubla Khan And the Merchants of Venice“.
#6 🇸🇪
BROTHERS OF METAL – Fimbulvinter
Epic power metal with the Swedish Vikings. Ylva has one of my favourite voices in this genre. Great melodies, heavy guitars, raw and beautiful vocals and a fantastic production. This album has it all. Check out my album review.
The stand-out track for me is “Flight of the Ravens“.
#5 🇬🇧
JUDAS PRIEST – Invincible Shield
They continue to put out amazing heavy metal still after 50 years in the business.
Awesome power with great songs and Rob Halford sounds as good as 30 years ago.
The stand-out track for me is “Giants in the Sky“.
#4 🇹🇳
MYRATH – Karma
Prog metal masterpiece? Fantastic musicianship and great melodies that are both captivating and memorable.
The sound on this album is huge.
The stand-out track for me is “Let It Go“.
#3 🇸🇪
REMEDY – Pleasure Beats The Pain
I was lucky to see Remedy live at the new AOR festival Malmö Melodic in the summer of 2024.
Their album is full of great songs from the heavy “Caught By Death” to the melodic masterpiece “Angelina“. Love this album.
The stand-out track for me is “Angelina“.
#2 🇩🇪
KISSIN DYNAMITE – Back with a Bang
Awesome melodic hard rock from this German band.
If you like bands like Gotthard, you must hear this. I just feel happy when I listen to this album.
The stand-out track for me is “Raise Your Glass“.
#1 🇸🇪
ECLIPSE – Megalomanium II
Another amazing album by Eclipse. I can’t stop listening to this album and every song is a banger.
From the first single “Apocalypse Blues” to “Falling to My Knees” and beyond. Magnus Henriksson is a true guitar hero. Everything is great with this album.
The stand-out track for me is “Divide & Conquer“.
Read more of MetalMike71’s reviews and blogs: MetalMike71
