Welcome to the 20th annual Decibel Top 40 Albums of the Year. That marks two full decades of countless “you forgots,” “it’s only Novembers” and at least one “No Belphegor? GTFO!” we have weathered from your critical keyboard strikes. Of course, some of those replies to our yearly Top 40 are from forlorn attention-seekers, but most of the responses come from an extremely (OK, alarmingly) passionate community of fanatics who care about underground metal just as much as we do. We just aren’t quite as liberal with our use of Caps Lock.
To those of you searching for grievance, please know that it doesn’t have to be like that. If a record you loved isn’t featured below, its exclusion is not a personal affront to you. Conversely, if any album you absolutely loathe appears, it doesn’t render the list an abject failure. A more likely conclusion is that arriving at consensus between nearly three dozen contributors spanning six decades of metal fandom is, to put it mildly, an imperfect exercise. But if after reading our list, you still can’t control your bodily functions, this may interest you.
Still, there is almost certainly a record in our Top 40 that you haven’t heard that is about to become one of your favorite albums of 2024. I’m sure it will feel pretty good when you tweet at us, “WTF Decibel, why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Apologies in advance. —Albert Mudrian
40 Anciients, Beyond the Reach of the Sun, Season of Mist
39 Departure Chandelier, Satan Soldier of Fortune, Nuclear War Now
38 Oranssi Pazuzu, Muuntautuja, Nuclear Blast
37 Darkthrone, It Beckons Us All ……., Peaceville
36 Yoth Iria, Blazing Inferno, Edged Circle
35 Vicious Blade, Relentless Force, Redefining Darkness
34 High on Fire, Cometh the Storm, MNRK
33 Deceased, Children of the Morgue, Hells Headbangers
32 Oxygen Destroyer, Guardian of the Universe, Redefining Darkness
31 Midnight, Hellish Expectations, Metal Blade
30 Lucifer, Lucifer V, Nuclear Blast
29 Paysage d’Hiver, Die Berge, Kunsthall Produktionen
28 Glacial Tomb, Lightless Expanse, Prosthetic
27 Chat Pile, Cool World, The Flenser
26 Apparition, Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State, Profound Lore
25 Nails, Every Bridge Burning, Nuclear Blast
24 Hellbutcher, Hellbutcher, Metal Blade
23 Black Curse, Burning in Celestial Poison, Sepulchral Voice
22 The Black Dahlia Murder, Servitude, Metal Blade
21 Full of Hell, Coagulated Bliss, Closed Casket
20 Undeath, More Insane, Prosthetic
19 Dödsrit, Nocturnal Will, Wolves of Hades
18 Opeth, The Last Will and Testament, Reigning Phoenix Music
17 Terminal Nation, Echoes from the Devil’s Den, 20 Buck Spin
16 Ulcerate, Cutting the Throat of God, Debemur Morti Productions
15 Spectral Voice, Sparagmos, Dark Descent
14 Ripped to Shreds, Sanshi, Relapse
13 200 Stab Wounds, Manual Manic Procedures, Metal Blade
12 Hulder, Verses in Oath, 20 Buck Spin
11 Mother of Graves, The Periapt of Absence, Profound Lore
10 Necrot, Lifeless Birth, Tankcrimes
9 Inter Arma, New Heaven, Relapse
8 Julie Christmas, Ridiculous and Full of Blood, Red Crk
7 Gatecreeper, Dark Superstition, Nuclear Blast
6 Tzompantli, Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force, 20 Buck Spin
5 Tribulation, Sub Rosa In Æternum, Century Media
4 Judas Priest, Invincible Shield, Sony
3 Spectral Wound, Songs of Blood and Mire, Profound Lore
2 Blood Incantation, Absolute Elsewhere, Century Media
1 Crypt Sermon, The Stygian Rose, Dark Descent
Now, if you’d actually like to read editorial on these releases (for, you know, context), interviews with the artists who rank near and at the top of the list as well as dozens of hilarious, contributor-conceived, year-end Top 5 lists, a cover story on the legendary Cirith Ungol and a Hall of Fame on Krallice’s self-titled USBM game-changer, you can grab a copy of the full issue here. It comes with an exclusive new Yoth Iria flexi disc. You’re welcome.
