It’s hard to believe that 2024 is at an end and 2025 is right around the corner!
Looking back, there were a lot of awesome rock and metal albums to dive into over the last 12 months, including ones from Knocked Loose, Erra, High on Fire, Judas Priest, Pallbearer, Charlotte Wessels, Linkin Park, Dool, Devin Townsend, Leprous, Chelsea Wolfe, and Wheel (to name just a few of the many superb collections from this year).
That said, I’m a progressive metal and rock fan above all else, so all my top picks fall within that realm. While some of those aforementioned artists would’ve made my list if I were writing about 10 or more releases, they didn’t make the cut because the five records listed below (unranked) are my absolute favorites.
So, keep on scrolling to see which ones are my absolute favorites from this year, and let me know if you agree, disagree, and/or feel that I may’ve missed out on some essentials!
Ihsahn – Ihsahn
The full-length follow-up to 2018’s Ámr, Ihsahn found its titular creator pushing himself further by combining his trademark progressive black/folk metal specialties with extra doss of symphonic decorations and alluringly soothing melodies. Unsurprisingly, that approach was fueled by Ihsahn’s love of film scores – specifically, those of John Carpenter, John Williams, and Bernard Hermann – and it works brilliantly from beginning to end.
For one thing, he includes multiple instrumental respites (including opener “Cervus Venator” and closer “Sonata Profana”) that add cinematic weight and classical tastefulness to the experience. Along the way, gems such as “The Promethean Spark” and “A Taste of the Ambrosia” demonstrate how well Ihsahn can still merge hellish and heavenly personalities, too, solidifying Ihsahn as a triumphant return that was well worth the wait.
Anciients – Beyonce the Reach of the Sun
I discovered Canadian quartet Anciients this year – shocking, I know – and they’ve already become one of my favorite modern prog metal bands due largely to the magnificence of Beyond the Reach of the Sun. Even more than on its two predecessors, the album nails the reworked band’s knack for tech-death vehemence and easygoing yet vibrant stoner/psychedelic metal vibes.
Obviously, opener “Forbidden Sanctuary” and “Beyond Our Minds” are great demonstrations of that since it offers plenty of catchy melodies and complexly chaotic paths. In contrast, “Melt the Crown” is mostly calming, affective, and trippy, layering luscious keyboard atmospheres over warm acoustic guitarwork. Without a doubt, Anciients have never been better, and if you’re also new to them, Beyond the Reach of the Sun is an excellent place to start.
Caligula’s Horse – Charcoal Grace
Led by the unmistakably commanding yet vulnerable vocals of Jim Grey, Caligula’s Horse have been blowing listeners away since their debut LP, Moments from Ephemeral City, emerged in 2011. Gratefully, their pristine and theatrical fusion of outrage and sensitivity works wonders here, too, as they explore “the static hopelessness” and “catharsis” of the COVID-19 pandemic with some of their greatest compositions.
Chief among them is “The World Breathes With Me,” Charcoal Grace’s overwhelmingly enticing and operatic kickoff, as well as the four-part title track (which might rank as the group’s most ambitious and multifaceted statement to date). Of course, “Mute” is incredibly intense, with Grey stretching his voice further than ever to hit high notes as the rest of the troupe masterfully interweave frantic and fragile passages. Honestly, the whole record is virtually flawless.
Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere
Like Anciients, I didn’t dive into Blood Incantation’s work until I saw Absolute Elsewhere getting praise absolutely everywhere earlier this year. I’m still kicking myself for that, as their whole catalog is fantastic, and Absolute Elsewhere definitely earns its accolades as not only the prog/tech-death/ambient foursome’s magnum opus but arguably the best metal album of 2024.
Essentially, Absolute Elsewhere sees the band retaining their mind-bendingly intricate belligerence amidst celebrating their love for Pink Floyd-esque psychedelic overtones and Camel-esque gentle segues. Broken into two side-long sections (“The Stargate” and “The Message”), it’s less ambient and more focused and developed than Blood Incantation’s prior outings, ensuring that every moment is as purposeful, striving, and enticing as possible.
Opeth – The Last Will and Testament
This might be the biggest metal surprise of 2024, not because of its quality (Opeth have never lost their magic, and I refuse to hear otherwise), but because The Last Will and Testament is their first album with growls since 2008’s Watershed and their first dedicated concept album since 1999’s Still Life.
Framed around “the reading of one recently deceased man’s will to . . . his surviving family members,” it’s an outstanding amalgamation of their present-day retro prog rock/jazz fusion flamboyances and their classic progressive death metal ethos. Plus, it makes great use of Jethro Tull mastermind Ian Anderson’s flute playing and authoritative narration.
Although it unfolds almost seamlessly as a unified journey, “§2” shines as the LP’s shining segment. Bookends “§1” and “A Story Never Told” are standouts, too, and despite being overhyped a bit due to the return of Opeth’s demonic demeanor, The Last Will and Testament proves that Mikael Åkerfeldt and company remain capable of satisfying fan expectations while taking themselves to new places.