7/n

Old farts still got it?

There were some releases by icons of their genre:

#JudasPriest... 'nuff said. Gods.

#DeepPurple... oh hell yeah continue please!

#BruceDickinson... one of my biggest surprises this year. Better than the latest Maiden album.

#Saxon... solid album, but not as good as the last ones.

#NickCave... solid, go on then.

#TheCure... please never stop!

#Accept... strong meh. Nowehere near their late masterpiece "The Rise of Chaos"

#Anvil... I hate to break it to you but as much as I love them, their album sucked big time. I was very generous with my ranking because you can't kill Bambi, can you?

6/n

Another shout out

Lord Dying released "Clandestine Transcendence " this year and they hit all my sweet spots with that one.

They seriously don't get enough love.

According to #LastFM statistics they are factor ~20-30 less popular than Blood Incantation, but they absolutely shouldn't be.

One of my favourite songs from this year is "Facing the Incomprehensible" which sounds a bit like a best of the heavy moments from Absolute Everywhere:
https://song.link/y/8kJ6FPQK3rw

I guess if you are into nerdy prog metal from space, Blood Incantation and Lord Dying made your year a little better.

https://lorddying.bandcamp.com/album/clandestine-transcendence

5/n

Some hot takes and controversial opinions.

Blood Incantation's Absolute Everywhere is great. No controversy there.

But I found a hair in the soup and it's bugging me. @yourfutureex stated that they out-David Gilmour'd David Gilmour and this is very true.
Some parts of the album sound as if they could have been taken from the Division Bell sessions. Not inspired by, but taken from. I know they didn't, yet it annoys me.

https://bloodincantation.bandcamp.com/album/absolute-elsewhere

The album cover reminded me of an album from another band who had a great release this year...

4/n

Another shout out

Speaking of 70s influenced heavy metal with a hint of speed and a weird album cover.

One of the gems I found this year was the self titled debut album by "Hands Of Goro".

https://handsofgoro.bandcamp.com/album/hands-of-goro

It's great, listen to it! This would have had the potential fur a much higher ranking in my list if I'd listened to it more.

Tagging @plaindocs here, just because of the album art.

3/n

A shout out

One release that left me puzzled but also amazed was "Exclamation Po!nt" by Armagh from Warsaw, Poland

There's a lot of 70s prog in there but it is also black, heavy and speed metal. It's quite nerdy actually, also the album cover reflects the music quite well.

I was nicely confused by this one. It's definitely one of the most interesting reseases from this year.

https://armagh.bandcamp.com/album/exclamation-po-nt

2/n

Some findings...

There are 7 bands in my top 10 which I never listened to before and 5 of them I didn't even know before (BUS, Xion, Cloven Hoof, Coltre and Magnetar).

I knew Kanonenfieber and Kerry King, but I never listened to them before. The latter didn't have an album out before this year, so

#TomsAOTY2024

I guess this is no surprise, but my album of the year is...

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

When your favourite metal band releases an album you have high expectations, especially since their previous one was really good.

My expectations were far exceeded.

Do you know the feeling when you really dig a supporting act but then the headliner enters the stage and turns it up to 11?

Judas Priest were this year's headliner.

50 years in, and they are as strong as ever. We are blessed to have the Judas Priest.

https://album.link/at/i/1709354269

#TomsAOTY2024

Bus - We Are The Night

This was the biggest surprise of the year for me. If "all killer no filler" applies to one album, it is this one.

Bus (The Unknown Secretary) give you heavy metal, sex and rock and roll straight from their garage.

I'll Be Dead For You is actually also currently my son's favourite song. Although he thinks they sing "I'll be dad for you".

I couldn't praise this album enough and it might as well be my AOTY, but there was another one...

#FFO King Diamond, Alice Cooper, The Hives

https://bustheunknownsecretary.bandcamp.com/album/we-are-the-night-4

#TomsAOTY2024

Xion - Between Shadows And Gods

If you think early #Metallica are the best of the big 4, you will like this one.
If you think #Megadeth are the best of the big 4, you will like this one.
If you think #Anthrax are the best of the big 4, you will like this one.
If you think #Testament should be in the big 4, you will like this one.

If you love #ThrashMetal, you will love this one. Period.

This is the best thrash metal album that has been released this year. Period.

https://xiontheband.bandcamp.com/album/between-shadows-and-gods

#TomsAOTY2024

Cloven Hoof - Heathen Cross

I have written so much about this album already but I still won't shut up about it. Because this is just so good.

In a year where I put my focus on traditional heavy metal this one stood out among all the excellent released.
The thing about it: they aren't part of the new wave of traditional heavy metal, they were actually part of the original NWOBHM. I had no idea.

It is catchy as fuck, you won't regret giving this a couple of spins.

#FFO Green Lung, Screamer, Saxon, Ghost

https://clovenhoofnwobhm.bandcamp.com/album/heathen-cross

#TomsAOTY2024

Coltre - To To Watch With Hands... To Touch With Eyes

This album might be the one with the weirdest title. Nevertheless it is genuinely good. There was a time this year where I couldn't get enough of it.
Coltre delivers raw proto metal like no other. Their original 70s sound is spot on.

I recommend listening to this album when you're on a road trip.

https://coltre.bandcamp.com/album/to-watch-with-hands-to-touch-with-eyes

#TomsAOTY2024 TIME!

Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe

Menschenmühle, Massengrab
Stahlfabriken, Arbeitsplatz
Kaiser zieht und Bauer stirbt
Schachbrett Welt den Krieg erwirkt

On Die Urkatastrophe, Kanonenfieber take no prisoners. The lyrics are oppressive the atmosphere is tight, and yet the music is catchy. This album is an epic, much more so than its predecessor. It is bigger, made for a stage.

It is a bit strange shouting out "Deutschland, Deutschland" during a concert and yet I was there and yet I did it.

You absolutely have to see them live if you get the chance!

https://noisebringer-records.bandcamp.com/album/die-urkatastrophe-2
https://album.link/at/i/1749071999

#TomsAOTY2024 TIME!

Lord Dying - Clandestine Transcendence

This album is amazing, buy it. Toot over.

Seriously, this is some progressive sludgy doom that never gets boring. There's so much going on on this album, there's something for everyone. So, listen to it, I guarantee you'll find something on it which you like!

#FFO Blood Incantation, High on Fire, Slugdge, Horndal, Pallbearer

I think this might be something for @tomroberts and maybe @trendskater and @Dad_Wood (but that's a long shot).

https://lorddying.bandcamp.com/album/clandestine-transcendence

#TomsAOTY2024 TIME!

Magnetar - There Will Be no Peace in My Valley

Blackened heavy metal? Yes please!
This album is a riff heavy monster full of atmosphere and melodies.

#FFO Hellripper, Blackbraid, Immortal

This is the first of 5 albums in my top 10 from bands I never heard of before. I found all of them on #FletchsFridayReleases btw so a huge shout out to my man @HailsandAles
  
https://album.link/at/i/1759906704

5/n

#TomsAOTY2024 TIME!

Kerry King - From Hell I Rise

The much anticipated solo album of #Slayer axeman #KerryKing clinches my number 9 spot.

It continues basically where Slayer left with Repentless. Good for me, because I love Repentless.

Mr. King made the perfect choice with Death Angels Mark Osegueda who is killing it on this record.

Riffs riffs riffs, that's what you get

My statement from earlier this year still stands: Mark Osegueda and Kerry King - a match made in hell

https://album.link/y/OLAK5uy_kB-qZMUDiYM4x8Ov7YtHuMflRGeHqr27o

4/n

#TomsAOTY2024 TIME!

Good thing I haven't posted my #9 on my #AOTY2024 list yet because I am currently listening to Opeth's "The Last Will And Testament" and it hast written #10 all over it.

So because I can I'll have 3 number 10 slots:

#Opeth - The Last Will And Testament

https://album.link/y/OLAK5uy_nhQrUgiZz-tvN2aD0aLZgzbTb3g5au-yg

3/n

#TomsAOTY2024 TIME!

The #10 spot of my #AOTY2024 list is shared, so here is the 2nd album:

The Smile - Wall of Eyes

I keep thinking about Radiohead every time I listen to this wonderful album because the similarities are undeniable. And if I am being honest, I like The Smiles work better than Radiohead's last few albums.

Wall of Eyes sounds like OK Computer blended with KIDAMNESIAC. It is fantastic, if you like Radiohead. If you don't like Radiohead, you won't like this one.

The album is a grower, it gets better with every spin. The highlight is Bending Hectic, which might be my song of the year.

https://album.link/at/i/1711359135

2/n