The Best Music Albums of 2024
Another year in the books and one with a lot of big albums that I had been anticipating the previous year. It certainly was packed. It was hard too choose only ten albums and on top of that I had almost forgot a few when going through the list. Now that the dust has settled these are the albums that I enjoyed the most to make the list of best music albums of 2024.
Honorable Mentions
I normally don’t do three honorable mentions but I also sort of do (if you include special awards). In any case there were three albums that didn’t quite make the cut that still deserve to be known.
Suldusk – Anthesis
One of many black metal albums on the list. This one stands apart as a folky, atmospheric take on black metal with a female vocalist. Haunting would be a good word for it. This is another band from Australia making this type of music. Something good going on down there.
Denzel Curry – King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2
Denzel Curry is a southern rap artist and he’s getting better and better with each album this one standing as the best. Curry goes hard from the jump but I think some of that energy tapers off towards the end when the style gets a bit more laid back. Still a fun album to listen to. Perhaps we can get him to do the half time show of “The Big Game” next year!
SCANDAL – LUMINOUS
Scandal is an all girl Japanese rock group that have been doing it for for nearly 20 years. They are a band I’ve certainly given some time to listening to but their albums never stood out too much for me. But this album was actually pretty good. It’s varied and certainly leans more into the rock side more than the pop side. It’s always nice to recognize a band’s great effort after 11 albums!
Top Ten
10.
High on Fire – Cometh the Storm
High on Fire enjoy making very heavy (sludge) metal albums and this one is no different. This was a long time coming after their previous album, Electric Messiah in 2018, but perhaps a slight step above those previous albums as well. My only complaint is that it starts off on such a high note it’s hard to come back down to earth for the rest of the songs.
High on Fire – Cometh the Storm
09.
Firtan – Ethos
Firtan is another one of those black metal bands that add a little extra something to the music. Fast paced, complex but also atmospheric. They are certainly a band getting better as time goes on. Keep your ears open for a special appearance from J. J. (from Harakiri for the Sky) as well.
08.
Yuki – Slits
YUKI (Isoya Yuki) has been releasing solo albums since 2002, however, last year was the first time I had heard anything from her. I think the main thing I enjoy from this album is the music arrangement. It’s got a big band sound to it. The kind of music that elevates it beyond just simple pop music. Then the other half is somewhat complex energetic electronic songs. They also do the thing where the music matches the cadence of the singer’s voice, you gotta love that kind of stuff.
07.
Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals
Dark Tranquillity is one of my favorite bands and this album was greatly anticipated after their previous album, Moment. I give this one a slight edge over that album on stronger guitar work and some extra emotional punch. One of Us Is Gone dedicated to the late former band member Frederik Johansson and False Reflection also adds some weight to the end of the album. In any case another solid effort, one that shouldn’t be forgotten (yet somehow I almost did, oops).
Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals
06.
Borknagar – Fall
Borknagar has been on a roll lately. They generally put together their own special kind of black / folk metal. As long as ICS Vortex is on the vocals you can find something to love. Fall continues the formula and is at least as good as Urd was. Not a lot to say here, it’s Borknagar, it’s good.
05.
Saidan – Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity
The next great black metal band is here and they hail from the icy tundra of, Tennessee? These guys have been around for a few years but this album is really hitting on all cylinders. It’s not pure black metal, it’s got some extra flair to it, kind of like Asunojokei (明日の叙景) A Japanese black metal / blackgaze band. So perhaps it is no coincidence that their visual style and musical style seems to be Japanese themed.
Saidan – Visual Kill: The Blossoming of Psychotic Depravity
04.
Chelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She
My past experience with Chelsea Wolfe has been brief but enjoyable. However, there wasn’t anything that totally captured my attention. This album ended up hooking me. It sounds like if Nine Inch Nails and Portishead had a baby. Heavy atmospheric electronic rock type music. Music that words can’t do justice so just give it a listen.
Chelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She
03.
Wintersun – Time II
After a twelve year wait and equipment upgrade Time II finally arrived. While the manner in which this album ties into Time I is up for debate, what isn’t up for debate is that this is a very good album. The sound / theme changes up a bit on this album (in comparison to the first album) with a bit of an Asian motif. If you like to hear beautiful and technical guitar melodies then this album might just be right up your alley. Also, if you missed out on the crowdfunding of this album be sure to check all the goodies they released, a re-recording of Time I, The Forest Seasons (which might even be better than Time II), and a bunch of other extra stuff.
02.
Alcest – Les Chants de l’Aurore
Alcest very rarely miss and this album is no exception. I would consider this a lighter effort than their previous work but still has that Alcest sauce. Something like an immersive experience or something like that. There’s not much more to say, you should already know Alcest by now but if you haven’t this is a good jumping on point.
Alcest – Les Chants de l’Aurore
01.
Illyria – Wanderlust
I had a brief interaction with Ilija (founder, frontman, vocalist, guitarist, etc of Illyria) earlier in the year but that has no bearing on the ranking of this album. This album has a certain momentum to it, and it’s not the first time they have done it. Very much a long continuous song (or at least a few) for the whole runtime. Aggression and beautiful interludes throughout. Overall very impressive and my pick for album of the year.
With that the best music albums of 2024 is officially in the rear view mirror. This is a great top ten but there were some tough cuts even beyond the honorable mentions at the beginning. It is perhaps not in the spirit of the list to mention other albums but for fun check out – Peggy Gou: I Hear You, Caligula’s Horse: Charcoal Grace, Tyler, The Creator: Chromakopia, Rotting Christ: Pro Xristou, Charli XCX: Brat. The list overflows in 2024 and if you wanted more hopefully that sates your hunger.
As always if you missed it: The Best Music Albums of 2023
