BEST OF 2024 – Rich “The Meister” Dillon (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)
And so the close of another year is now upon us once again. I personally faced some very tough trials and tribulations throughout 2024 but there were also many highlights. Through it all of course was the music that drives my life every day. For this best of 2024 article, I considered nearly 700 albums released over the 52 weeks. Albums spanning genres such as Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Glam, Sleaze, Melodic, AOR…..
I’m sure many will discount my list simply because a certain album doesn’t appear in the top 10. Music makes the world go around. And we all have different tastes, different things that speak to us. And that’s ok! How boring would it be if we all liked exactly the same thing?
On my radio show (RIOT RADIO) I counted down my top 50 albums of 2024 over a 2-part show. The first is now up on MixCloud for stream-on-demand listening and the second containing placements #25 through to #1 will broadcast on CGCM Rock Radio on Sunday, January 5th at 9am est. with MixCloud publishing to follow.
My plans for 2025? Well, I’m still a cranky old “Get Off My Lawn” bastard and I will forever despise Ballads! So status quo as they say. Here’s “MY” 10 favourites of 2024:
10 🇧🇪
SCAVENGER – Beyond the Bells
This one was, similar to what’s coming next in placement #9 as well, a surprise as they were little known to me. Apparently an old band from the 80s, recently reformed, however, at this time no original members are present. Frankly, that doesn’t bother me at all.
This album is everything I love, engaging vocals, thumping rhythms and tasty guitar soloing. Hats off to the PR firm that forwarded this one to CGCM Rock Radio! My choice for top of the heap is “Streetfighter” which you can listen to below.
9 🇺🇸
MEAN MISTREATER – Razor Wire
Who? What? This is EXACTLY why I go through a list of this year, 700 albums, in consideration of my top 10 favourite albums. I fully expected that this would be a 3 or 4 song listen and move on. Why did I think that? I have heard not one person mention the band. I’ve not seen any posts or web articles. I’ve not received any PR…..they basically didn’t exist and I don’t even know how I stumbled onto this album!
Fantastic heavy metal coming out of Austin Texas, USA and research shows me that they have already announced a 2025 release! Top track for me is “Let ‘Em Roll“, but solid metal all through.
8 🇸🇪
MINDLESS SINNER – Metal Merchants
Mindless Sinner is yet another band that’s been on my radar for some time now (there are always bands that have incredible potential on my radar!). I have enjoyed everything they’ve released to date and catching them at Sweden Rock Festival 2023 was one of those magical concert moments for me. All that adds up to a fair anticipation awaiting Metal Merchants. And they did not disappoint in creating this blistering metal assault!
“Let’s Go Crazy” is simply a phenomenal listening experience for my ears.
7 🇺🇸
HAUNT – Dreamers
USA traditional styled metallers Haunt have long been a bankable band for me. I’ve seen them several times at different events and they kick ass in a live setting as well. The band is the brainchild of main man Trevor William Church and may take the prize for the most prolific band.
Check out the track “Locked Out“.
6 🇸🇪
VELVETEEN QUEEN – Consequence Of The City
These young Swedes have captured my attention right out of the gate. It seems like forever that I’ve been waiting for the full album since singles began dropping all the way back in 2022! I discovered them thanks to the Cylinda/Elon tent at Sweden Rock in 2022. I actually got to party with these dudes where I was living at SRF in 2023, great guys and then capturing them from the photo pit at SRF 2024 all added to the magic.
Never mind any of that, the album was certainly worth the wait! As I’m sure mentioned by many, this band is the embodiment of classic GnR! The album itself is a little longer than needs to be at 14 tracks with the bonus and alt. versions of songs. “Bad Reputation” is one of the songs that really rocks things for ye old Meister.
5 🇩🇪
ACCEPT – Humanoid
German heavy metal force Accept experienced a rejuvenation when Mark Tornillo stepped into the vocal department on 2010’s Blood Of The Nations. Since then the band has consistently issued enjoyable listening plates, albeit some more so for my ears than others.
Humanoid is no different, solid throughout with the exception of one ballad track….lol. Probably the top cut and likely most accessible for me is “Straight Up Jack“.
4 🇬🇧
THE DEAD CAN WAIT – In Lumine
This album brought me out of my review hibernation. I hadn’t written an album review in quite some time until I crossed paths with In Lumine and I was simply compelled to. You can read all about my incessant ramblings here in this post: DEAD CAN WAIT – In Lumine (Album Review).
For a quicker assessment, this album really embodies the NWOBHM essence for me. Aside from the two slower tracks that are not my style preference, the rest absolutely rocks. Two more belters and it would prob be higher up on the list. Fave track is absolutely “Paranoia” with “No One Knows Your Name” and “Scorn” closely behind.
3 🇸🇪
KNIGHTS OF THE REALM – Darker Than Leather
From the creative musical hotbed that is Sweden, I introduce Knights Of The Realm. Well, ok I’m late to the party my own damn self. Apparently Darker Than Leather is the second album from the Swedes behind the self-titled in 2021.
The band boasting members’ pedigree of such luminaries as Eclipse, Abramis Brama, Tank and Tiamat serve up a fantastically enticing slab of traditional metal. Wailing guitars, thundering rhythms and welcoming vocals can all be found here. With only one track over 4 minutes of playing time, an album total of less than 40 minutes, this album hits you fast and furious with punch after punch. My top cut would be “Another Kind Of Thunder“, which they didn’t release a video for so I give you “Hell Can Wait” another great representation.
2 🇬🇧
SAXON – Hell, Fire And Damnation
Once again, whether they place at #2 or #50, it’s great to see the “old guys” still issuing high quality music and albums throughout 2024. And Saxon has done just that in a career that just seems to keep reviving itself. Back in 2013 I loved the Sacrifice album, but since then they have not resonated with me until Carpe Diem (2022). I thought surely the gas tank must be near empty after that ripper.
But with guitarist Paul Quinn sadly stepping away, they recruited Brian Tatler of fellow NWOBHM brethren Diamond Head. The result is Hell, Fire & Damnation. I’m sure I can hear the Tatler/Diamond Head influence throughout, or maybe I just think I do. In any case, with 9 great songs (and one useless intro…I hate those album intros), it’s 45 minutes of awesome updated NWOBHM. “Madame Guillotine” is my absolute top choice.
1 🇬🇧
MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel
I must admit, apprehension was the meal of the day prior to listening to the lead single from MOGGS MOTEL. I love UFO, one of my top bands. I did not resonate well with their last couple of studio outputs in Salentino Cuts (2017) and A Conspiracy Of Stars (2015). I was a little trepidacious on how Phil would be with this solo non-UFO effort.
Upon hearing “Apple Pie” all fears were abolished and the track quickly became a staple on my radio shows. What a barnstormer of an album cover to cover. And with a runtime of 53 minutes, it doesn’t outstay it’s welcome either. Basketfuls of riffs, hooks, and melodies all over this release with the charismatic engaging vocals of Phil Mogg leading the charge. Loaded with enticing inflection, he ranges from velvety smooth tones to spitting nails the next minute. I can’t stop listening. “Princess Bride“, “Tinker Tailor” and “Apple Pie” are among my faves.
OFFICIAL UFO WEBSITE / UFO FACEBOOK
Cheers,
The Meister
Meister Music Radio Shows (MM Live/Riot Radio): Facebook / MIXCLOUD
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THE ENTIRE TOP 50 AS CHOSEN BY MEISTER
#50: ISSA (2024)-Another World
#49: NOTORIOUS – Marching On
#48: NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION, THE (2024)-Goodnight My Children
#47: GOTUS (2024)-Gotus
#46: STORACE (2024)-Crossfire
#45: SISTER SWITCHBLADE (2024)-Don’t Try This At Home
#44: PLEASURELAND (2024)-Pleasureland
#43: CRUZH (2024)-The Jungle Revolution
#42: NO FAVORS (2024)-The Eleventh Hour
#41: SOUTH OF SALEM (2024)-Death Of The Party
#40: BLACK DIAMONDS (2024)-Destination Paradise
#39: CLOVEN HOOF (2024)-Heathen Cross
#38: RUSSELL-GUNS (2024)-Medusa
#37: REMEDY (2024)-Pleasure Beats The Pain
#36: NATIONWIDE (2024)-Echoes
#35: KICKIN VALENTINA (2024)-Star Spangled Fist Fight
#34: CONSTANCIA (2024)-IV Evermore
#33: DREAM EVIL (2024)-Metal Gods
#32: WHITECROSS (2024)-Fear No Evil
#31: SMOKING SNAKES (2024)-Danger Zone
#30: STONE COLD KILLER (2024)-Lick Your Teeth
#29: DAN DARK (2024)-Dark Avenger
#28: DIRTY DENIMS, THE (2024)-Party On!
#27: KING ZEBRA (2024)-Between The Shadows
#26: RIMBACHER (2024)-High Hopes On The Rock
#25: FREEWAYS (2024)-Dark Sky Sanctuary
#24: PECTORA (2024)-Twilight Knights
#23: SEASONS OF THE WOLF (2024)-Orna Verum
#22: TRAVELER (2024)-Prequel To Madness
#21: BULLETPROOF (2024)-No Compromise
#20: STRIKER (2024)-Ultrapower
#19: RIOT V (2024)-Mean Streets
#18: STROM (2024)-En Orkan På Vår Sida
#17: ECLIPSE (2024)-Megalomanium II
#16: HOUSE OF LORDS (2024)-Full Tilt Overdrive
#15: DANGER ZONE (2024)-Shut Up!
#14: RHABSTALLION (2024)-Bat Shit Crazy
#13: SUICIDE BOMBERS (2024)-All For The Candy
#12: JUDAS PRIEST (2024)-Invincible Shield
#11: HUMAN ZOO (2024)-Echoes Beyond
#10: SCAVENGER (2024)-Beyond the Bells
#9: MEAN MISTREATER (2024)-Razor Wire
#8: MINDLESS SINNER (2024)-Metal Merchants
#7: HAUNT (2024)-Dreamers
#6: VELVETEEN QUEEN (2024)-Consequence Of The City
#5: ACCEPT – Humanoid
#4: DEAD CAN WAIT, THE (2024)-In Lumine
#3: KNIGHTS OF THE REALM (2024)-Darker Than Leather
#2: SAXON (2024)-Hell, Fire And Damnation
#1: PHIL MOGG (2024)-Moggs Motel
