This year has been very busy with Metal releases of every genre, proving that Metal is well and alive! As selecting a top 10 list is mission impossible, I focused my attention on those releases I reviewed this year for Metal Temple. Enjoy my selection of the best Metal albums in 2024.

Number Ten:

Band Name: Lutharo

Album Name: Chasing Euphoria

General Information:

Genre: melodic Death Metal, Power Metal

Year of Formation: 2013

Record Label: Atomic Fire Records

 Canada’s LUTHARO delivered an excellent melodic Power Metal album in 2024. “Chasing Euphoria” was a great mixture of Power Metal, melodic Metal, and melodic Death Metal, where every band member was able to shine. Focal points were the guitars, with many cool riffs and excellent lead guitar solos. Vocalist Krista Shipperbottom always found a perfect balance between growling and clean vocals. LUTHARO showed that they were not afraid to experiment with their sound “Chasing Euphoria” established a signature sound of LUTHARO and will help them to become a serious Power Metal force with a unique sound in the future.

Number Nine:

Band Name: Gatecreeper

Album Name: Dark Superstition

General Information:

Genre: Death Metal

Year of Formation: 2013

Record Label: Nuclear Blast

“Dark Superstition” was the most melodic album of the GATECREEPER catalogue so far. It was a mixture of traditional Swedish Death Metal, melodic Death Metal, and Gothic and Doom Metal elements. The album sound was alternating and often switched from more traditional Death Metal towards more modern and catchier tracks. All was kept together by a very versatile vocalist, who was able to adapt to the different styles of the album. The GATECREEPER release of 2024 has surely been one of the best Death Metal albums of this year.

Number Eight:

Band Name: Crystal Viper

Album Name: The Silver Key

General Information:

Genre: Power Metal, Heavy Metal

Year of Formation: 2003

Record Label: Listenable Records

CRYSTAL VIPER is part of the Metal scene for a long time, and they delivered one of their best albums in 2024. The concept album “The Silver Key” was a mixture of traditional Power Metal and Heavy Metal, with the Power Metal elements defining the CRYSTAL VIPER sound. Overall, it is one of the fastest albums of the Polish Heavy and Power Metal outfit. The guitars were excellent in both the riffing and the solos, while the drums added an extra dimension to the sound. The songwriting was tailored towards the strengths of vocalist Marta Gabriel. Her vocal versatility was an extra asset to the sound. “The Silver Key” has been one of the Metal highlights of this year.

Number Seven:

Band Name: Suicidal Angels

Album Name: Profane Prayer

General Information:

Genre: Thrash Metal

Year of Formation: 2001

Record Label: Nuclear Blast

While many of the big guns of Thrash Metal have been quiet with new releases in 2024, SUICIDAL ANGELS delivered an excellent old school Thrash Metal album. “Profane Prayer” contained all the elements that Thrash Metal fans love so much: the pace, the aggression, the classical Thrash Metal riffing, the melodies, and the lead guitars. SUICIDAL ANGELS did not re-invent the Thrash Metal wheel, but they spun it with excellence. Good songwriting and good production made sure, that the listeners were kept on their toes. “Profane Prayer” was one of the Thrash Metal highlights of this year.

Number Six:

Band Name: Valfreya

Album Name: Dawn Of Reckoning

General Information:

Genre: symphonic Black Metal, Folk Metal

Year of Formation: 2009

Record Label: Independent

“Dawn Of Reckoning” is a concept album in 10 acts, where each individual song is a mini opera. The album had a spine-chilling melodic framework and was led by an amazing vocalist, who kept all tracks together with her versatility, her enormous vocal skillset, and vocal range. Equally impressive were the drum and violin contributions, whereas the guitars and bass provided an excellent backbone to the tracks. VALFREYA’s third album was an excellent symbiosis of symphonic Black Metal and Folk Metal.

Number Five:

Band Name: Disbelief

Album Name: Killing Karma

General Information:

Genre: Death Metal

Year of Formation: 1990

Record Label: Listenable Records

Death Metal had a good year, and the album of Germany’s DISBELIEF was among the best ones! “Killing Karma” was a deadly delivery of all the elements, modern Death Metal can offer. The album was a smart mixture of aggressive hammering, spine-chilling atmosphere, and a grim melodic framework with melancholic elements at times. Highlights of the album were the excellent drumming and the versatile vocals, which keep the sound perfectly together. “Killing Karma” was one of the best Death Metal albums, I listened to during this year, and the album should be part of the collection of every Death Metal fan.

Number Four:

Band Name: Escuela Grind

Album Name: Dreams On Algorithms

General Information:

Genre: Hardcore, Grindcore, Powerviolence

Year of Formation: 2016

Record Label: MNRK Heavy

There are not many bands with two releases within one year. After their iconic EP “Ddeeaatthhmmeettaall”, ESCUELA GRIND delivered excellence with a combination of Grindcore, Power Violence, Death Metal, and Deathcore. “Dreams On Algorithms” was more than a relentless pummeling, it was an experimental mixture of various Metal and Core elements, fusing together into a unique sonic experience. Katerina Economou had an outstanding vocal performance and the album’s sound very well together. “Dreams On Algorithms” is the best ESCUELA GRIND album so far and they proved in 2024 that they are ready to become a serious force in Grindcore and beyond.

Number Three:

Band Name: Spit On Your Grave

Album Name: Arkanum

General Information:

Genre: Death Metal

Year of Formation: 2012

Record Label: Concreto Records

The release of the SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE’s (S.O.Y.G.) album is my red-hot traditional Death Metal favorite of 2024! “Arkanum” was a mixture of aggressive pummeling, punishing riffing, crushing basslines, and hammering blast-beats, kept together by an overarching grim melodic framework. The versatile vocals were very impressive throughout the album. The Mexican Death Metal outfit improved their songwriting very much and moved away from a sluggish, doom-laden towards a faster and more aggressive sound. In my point of view, “Arkanum” is the best S.O.Y.G. album so far and belongs to the album collection of every Death Metal fan.

Number Two:

Band Name: Fleshgod Apocalypse

Album Name: Opera

General Information:

Genre: symphonic Death Metal

Year of Formation: 2007

Record Label: Nuclear Blast

Italy’s FLESHGOD APOCAPLYPSE delivered an excellent symphonic Death Metal album in 2024. “Opera” is crushing, devastating, and bombastic. The orchestral parts including the choir were perfectly arranged and always provide extra dimensions to all tracks. The Death Metal parts on the album were brutal and frantic. “Opera” is symphonic Death Metal at its best and one of the highlights in 2024.

Number One:

Band Name: Synlakross

Album Name: Mental Parasites

General Information:

Genre: melodic Death Metal, Metalcore

Year of Formation: 2008

Record Label: Independent

My number one award of the best Metal album in 2024 goes to Spain and to SYNLAKROSS! “Mental Parasites” was a nine-track journey across genres and styles including Deathcore, Punk, Alt-Metal, and Cyberpunk, but by staying true to their Metalcore and melodic Death Metal roots. The album followed the unorthodox and experimental sound patterns of recent SYNLAKROSS albums. The central element of the trademark SYNLAKROSS sound is vocalist Patricia Pons, who had an excellent performance throughout and is currently one of the best growling and clean female vocalists in Metal. An incredibly unique cover artwork and two outstanding visual video releases sum up the album. If you listen to “Mental Parasites once, it will never let you go!