This year as a tough one, as there were a lot of solid albums. The top three were figured out fairly early on in the past month, but after that, it took some serious consideration to round out the rest. Judas Priest's Invincible Shield had a decent shot of making it, as well as Nightbound by Find Me, which started to grow on me, despite the production. I also really enjoyed Lovebites's EP II, but decided that I shouldn't really compare it to a full album. In the end, I was able to whittle it down to these five albums of 2024 that stood out from the rest!
This was definitely the toughest spot to fill. As I relistened to this year's albums, I started to wonder if I could pick one from the list at all. However, I found Paragon's new slab of chunky riffs to be what helped it squeeze in. It's not as good as Controlled Demolition was, as these songs are a little sillier, but it's a pretty consistent album across the board, and that counts for a lot.
I know there were some power metal albums I never got around to this past year, so it might be a bit cheeky to say Firewind's latest is the best one of 2024, especially as I wasn't expecting too much after their self-titled album from a few years ago. However, once I recognized that they had slipped into more of a heavy/power blend, I found Stand United to be a solid album, and Herbie Langhans's vocals have really settled in well for the band.
It took more than a few listens, but I was finally able to really assess this album on its own. While it's certainly aping the classic sound of my favorite band, and I do think the songs in the middle drag it down, it can't be denied that Jon has found something pretty magical with these Geeks. "Once Upon a Dream" alone put this album in the Top Five!
This year's surprise! When their last album felt lukewarm, a let down from my winner of 2020, I wasn't sure what to make of this band. So when I was treated to a pleasant kick-in-the-head in the form of some very 70s prog that was played with energy, I knew this was going to be a contender for the Top 5 list. "From Ashes" still puts a smile on my face!
DGM might have taken the year if it weren't for this one. While I do think that Sphere was a better album, I can't deny this groups infectious tone and energy. Giving their psychedelic rock a slight mechanical feel helped to shake things up, but otherwise, it was business as usual, as this band continues to impress with their dynamic song-writing and dense atmosphere.
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