My favorite releases of 2024 – January 2025 AB

As I draw the line, I think 2024 has been a good year for me and the music I discovered and listened to. My only problem is that I don’t have enough time to listen to all the music I want and that, truth be told, there are a lot of bands out there. It’s too much music to choose from and that really annoys me. Black metal, death metal, you name it, there’s plenty of bands / records coming out every minute so to speeak. And let’s face it, most of them are just shit, so finding a good album is quite a difficult (albeit not impossible) task these days.

That’s why I decided that from this year I won’t do a top 10/20/30/100 best albums, it’s just not worth it for me anymore. I prefer quality over quantity, therefore I came up with list of the releases that caught my attention in 2024. Some I have already reviewed here, some I haven’t (yet), but they all spoke to me one way or another. Here’s the list, in no particular order:

LIDÉRC – Profán Mystérium – Sun and Moon Records – March 9th

Strong debut album of this Hungarian band, melodic yet raw and highly addictive. Excellent band to watch live as well, their performances have been very intense.

TRIBULATION – Sub Rosa In Aeternum – Century Media – November 1st

This band never ceases to reinvent itself while still being wrapped in that morbid darkness they came out from many years ago. . I like the change in the vocals and the blend of several styles has been successful, the result being an excellent album, catchy and dark, with a twist. Cannot wait to them on tour in 2025.

CASTLE – Evil Remains – Hammerheart Records – September 6th

I would say that with this record Castle have somehow returned to the sound of their first records. Occult heavy doomed metal at its best, with great riffs and a catchy atmosphere. The retro looking cover and the excellent tracks can be seen as an hommage to the old school horror movies and their spooky soundtracks.

SVOID – Neptunian – Sun and Moon Records – March 11th

The 3rd album of this Hungarian band and the first one since the change in their style. After some more or less successful experiments, this anti cosmic trio seems to have found the perfect recipe for their blackened post punk. The result is “Neptunian“, a highly enjoyable record full of melancholy and sacred magic. The more you listen to it, the more you can unveil its hidden layers which guide you on your secret journey.

TYRANNIC – Tyrannic Desolation – IBH Productions – November 22nd

This is Tyrannic‘s 3rd album and their best so far. Continuing from where they left it with “Mortuus Decadence“, Tyrannic expend even further their doomed black metal horizon. The new release is deeply rooted in the old ways, wrapped in a morbid atmosphere which brings to mind bands like Mortuary Drape, Hellhammer and Tormentor. I totally recommend this record, it’s definitely one of the best of 2024.

NIGHT SHALL DRAPE US – Lunatic Choir – Season of Mist Underground Activists – April 26th

This new band on the street is the main project of LRH, a Finnish musician best known for playing drums in a plethora of underground black/death metal bands, like Deathchain, Bythos, Horna etc. On “Lunatic Choir” LRH handles all the instruments apart the vocals, which are shared between no less than 3 vocalists, all well known figures in the black metal underground : Wraath (Darvaza, Ritual Death etc), Infection (Bexehen, Bythos etc) and Spellgoth (Horna, Sargeist etc). Very interesting debut album from one of the best discoveries of 2024. Killer stuff with a killer artwork.

SHAARIMOTH – Devildom – WTC Productions – October 31st

Seven years have passed since Shaarimoth‘s sophomore album, the excellent “Temple Of Adversarial Fire” which I have reviewed at the time. The new record sees the band perfectly mastering its craft, as “Devildom” is a monster of blakened death metal infused with atmospheric, slow passages which make it heavier and suffocating. This 3rd album is definitely a sinister homage to the chaos gods the band worships and definitely a release not to be missed.

APTORIAN DEMON – Liv Tar Slutt – Kyrsk Productions and Armour – November 15th

After 12 years of slumber, Storhetsvanviddets Mester is back with a new album. Clocking a bit over 27 minutes, it could have been more an EP than a full length, but despite its duration this is a really sinister and intense release. What we have here is Norwegian black metal at its best, with no gimmicks or any useless tricks. I truly love this album and for me it’s one of the best surprises of 2024.

With that being said, I introduce you to what I consider to be the best record released in 2024, the epitome of what black metal means for me:

LIFVSLEDA – Evangelii Hä​rold – NOEVDIA – April 30th

I reviewed this fantastic record back when it came out, if you haven’t listened to this album yet and you are curious why I picked it as my personal best, check that review. “Evangelii Hä​rold” is the perfect black metal album, as it contains everything I love and look for in a black metal release. I view it as the best record LIFVSLEDA has released so far and I am truly looking forward to their fourth one, whenever it will come out.

Now let’s take a look at the best demo tapes and EP‘s that caught my attention in 2024:

ANCIENT TORMENT – Force Me Upon Death – Old Pain Prod – December 13th

Fantastic demo tape and great musicianship. The 2 songs have everything to make you spin this material over and over again. Atmospheric black metal with a touch of evil melody.

MESFETOR – Manifest I – Spiritual Disease – July 16th

This demo has originally been released as a digital version in 2023, but in 2024 it came out on a limited edition tape via the American label Spiritual Disease. Mesfetor is a French band who plays old school black metal, raw and melodic at the same time. The keyboards add a mystical aspect to the music, reminding me a bit of the early Emperor. The last track of this demo is a dungeon synth piece of music, with aerie keys and a strong medieval vibe. Excellent debut demo, curious to hear what the band will release next.

NOIRSUAIRE – Black Flame of Unholy Tradition – Kaozophy Productions – August 25th

This is a compilation of 2 EPs put together for the CD release. Traditional black metal at its best, with a malicious and melancholic touch. A must for those who like to go back to the origins. Together with Ancient Torment and Mesfetor, Noirsuaire is one of the best discoveries from the real underground.

GOLGOTHAN REMAINS – Bearer of Light, Matriarch of Death – Dark Descent – November 22nd

I haven’t heard of GOLGOTHAN REMAINS until this EP, even though they have already released one demo and 2 full lengths. This EP hit me from the very first listen, I totally submerged into the suffocating atmosphere conjured up on the 4 songs. The Aussies play a well crafted blackened death metal, with lots of blast beats and fast passages, mixed with slower, crushing parts. I totally recommend this excellent EP, check it out if you haven’t done it yet.

VÉR – Demo 2024 – September 17th

I was totally blown away by this new Hungarian band and its debut demo. Once the very Slayer-esque intro is over, VÉR delves right into their own version of OSDM. Crunchy guitars, guttural vocals and frantic drumming make you want to really bang that head as hard as possible. I love the old school atmosphere on this demo and the slower passages remind me of the “Cause of Death” era Obituary (“Kripta“, for ex). For those who like collecting, the good news is that Me Saco Un Ojo will release this demo as a limited tape on the 2nd of February. Buy it or die!