After diving back into the writing groove in the second half of 2023 after a little sabbatical, 2024 was all about branching out. Something that occurred in both my personal and musical life, meeting my amazing partner Amber at the beginning of the year and really taking some time to dig into some music that I likely wouldn’t have found otherwise. It’s been a fantastic year, with some big highlights (such as return in-person chats with HANABIE. and Isiliel), concerts, and lively anime conventions. It should make for an even bigger 2025.
There seemed to be a theme to my music picks this year. Mostly, it seems that bands that were doing something fresh were more likely to catch my ear than those who more or less meander in the same soundspace that they have been occupying. Likewise, there’s a lot of fresh picks in a massively packed year that really seemed to blow up in the fall. While it’s not the ‘tr00est’ list out there, hopefully people can find a new group to discover among the variety below.
20. Saiseiga – The Black Hole (Self-Released)
Groove metal act Saiseiga bring a stronger sense of aggression and heaviness to their latest release. The augmented darkness meshes well with their sense of melody. Lots of dynamic riffing, and Regan’s vocal delivery is bound to impress.
19. Avralize – Freaks (Arising Empire)
An impressive debut that manages to pull elements from all across the modern metal spectrum, Avralize makes metal fun. The songs have genuine hooks, but provide enough heaviness to satiate – it’s a tightrope but it seems they already have a great grasp of it.
18. Cognitive – Abhorrence (Metal Blade)
Cognitive have been nothing if not consistent in their ability to up the ante. Abhorrence is every bit as oppressively heavy as you’d like it to be, but done in such a way that each track seems memorable. A trait that’s hard to come by in extreme metal, making Cognitive worthy of some major kudos.
17. Visions of Atlantis – Pirates II: Armada (Napalm)
VoA have seemingly struck the perfect balance between their symphonic elements and bombast with their metallic side, and Armada champions a cinematic effort that few in the genre could match this year. This band has really blossomed, and this is easily their finest effort to date.
16. Nemophila – Evolve (Masterworks)
Japanese modern metal act Nemophila effectively stepped up with their last full-length. Variety all over the place, weaving between metal, rock, pop, and more in their quest to write catchy, endearing songs that really resonate. Even with Saki parting ways afterwards, it seems Nemophila is still poised to make bigger international waves.
15. Ad Infinitum – Abyss (Napalm)
Interestingly, Abyss sees Ad Infinitum moving away from more traditional symphonic metal beats and moving towards something that’s not as easily definable. It’s a great move for the band, who always felt a bit outside the symphonic norms to begin with. This keeps all of the band’s thrilling hooks and cinematic appeal (not to mention Melissa Bonny’s incredible range) and gives it an even stronger flavor.
14. Swallow the Sun – Shining (Century Media)
Integrating some new colors into the long-standing doomy, gloomy act, Shining is a glorious example of a veteran act stepping outside their comfort zone and throwing caution to the wind. It’s a beautiful record that keeps all of the band’s traditional elements but plays with them in different sonic landscapes that are just as poignant, just speckled with just enough warmth within the darkness to make something really impressive.
13. Cemetery Skyline – Nordic Gothic (Century Media)
A dark rock and gothic metal combo with high profile members from some of melodic death metal’s greatest acts? Yes please! Nordic Gothic is first and foremost a passion project about friends making music inspired by their gothic heroes, and it comes across as such. There’s such a care put into the melodies and soundscapes of each track, each one coming across as urgent and hook-filled. A great album to sit down with in the fall and winter seasons for sure.
12. Amiensus – Reclamation part I and II (M Theory Audio)
An astonishing double-album that seems to invoke all of the best parts of Amiensus’ ever-evolving sound. Do yourself a favor and give both parts a listen back to back, as originally intended. It’s a riveting achievement that will take you through 90-minutes of thrilling soundscapes that all but take you away on a journey. Those seeking extreme metal at it’s finest should already have their eyes and ears on this one, but a fantastic trip for those who haven’t dug into this underrated act.
11. Alleviate – DMNS (Arising Empire)
A new metalcore act that managed to dig into the extremes in both directions. Some vicious, deathcore-inspired heaviness at times trades blows with some fantastic melodic parts that soothe. The added dynamic gives the band much more space to play in that the usual bands of the style, and gives it a much more inspired take that should convince fans of this sound to give them a chance.
10. Red Handed Denial – A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia (Self-Released)
The perpetually underrated modern act Red Handed Denial took some creative risks in jettisoning some of their more ‘Nintendocore’ elements for more melodic ones, but A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia comes across as their strongest album to date. Some songs still pack quite a wallop (“Eat Glass”), and when you sit them next to beautiful cuts like “One More Night,” it makes for a powerful experience.
9. Aina Suzuki – initium (Lantis)
The first of the Love Live seiyuu on this list, Aina Suzuki brought all the heaviness she could muster for this latest EP. Switching it up between serene gothic-y tracks and utter shredfests, it’s a unique listen that Suzuki elevates with her elegant yet powerful vocal performance. It’s hard to walk away from this one without feeling a little spellbound by its energy. Those blast beats on “Diluculum,” are some of the exhilarating of the year.
8. HANABIE. – Bucchigiri Tokyo (Sony Music)
HANABIE. have been going nonstop since last year, but that ethic has allowed them a meteoric rise internationally. This latest EP goes a bit heavier with riffing, but never loses an ounce of the fun, energetic, and unique spirit that the band possesses. There’s just something exciting that the band has, be it in the live setting or on disc, and it’s clear with evidence like this EP that they are only on the way to bigger and better things.
7. Unto Others – Never, Neverland (Century Media)
Continuing to catch absolute magic in musical form, Unto Others keep smashing through boundaries and trying new things that one would think wouldn’t work, but it just keeps working in their favor. It would be all too easy to keep making their unique take on heavy metal meets gothic meets new wave, and it’d be cool. But the urge to expand into new sonic spaces, without compromising their unique vision, is what makes Unto Others such a compelling act.
6. Fit for an Autopsy – The Nothing That Is (Nuclear Blast)
Another band set on pushing through musical genre barriers, Fit for an Autopsy have come a LONG way from their purely deathcore beginnings. The Nothing That Is maintains the high bar of quality extreme metal that fuses even heavier and darker moments together with slick grooves or melodies that only serve to make it stronger. It’s an addictive mix that serves up a visceral high, but has the hooks that will latch onto you and bring you back time and time again.
5. Arctis – Arctis (Napalm)
Easily the most fun you are going to have in the genre this year, Arctis goes all in on their particular fusion of metal and pop. While some may snuff at the mere notion of it, the way that Arctis embraces this sonic collision makes it endlessly entertaining. The hooks sink their teeth in upon first listen and simply won’t let go. “Tell Me Why” should be storming up the charts in a more ‘metal accepting’ society. Don’t miss out on this one if you like the catchier side of metal.
4. Future Palace – Distortion (Arising Empire)
Coming back with an even heavier and varied approach than the already fantastic Run, Future Palace really hit this one out of the park. Heavy, hook-y, and full of outside influences that give the band a solid foothold even outside metal spaces. Distortion also tackles its share of serious issues, with the band wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Above all else though, it’s an album that’s bound to stick with you for an insane number of listens due to its massive hooks from beginning to end.
3. Poppy – Negative Spaces (Sumerian)
If I Disagree first made some turn their heads in Poppy’s direction with its notably heavy directions, Negative Spaces should be the one to really lock those fans in. Surprisingly diverse, with songs raging with metallic fury to insidiously catchy electro-pop, there’s so much to indulge in. Never does it feel too eclectic or out of place, instead the songs simply do their very best to stick with you, and never seem to fail at it. It’s full of quirky charm, and deeper lyrical content than one might have expected. A perfect album for any particular mood you happen to be in.
2. LustQueen – LustQueen (StarRise)
I’ve been championing Yuina’s vocals since I first heard her a few years back in Love Live Superstar!! and her hard rock project LustQueen happily fits the bill of putting her voice behind some more guitar-centered music. All five songs in this EP serve to showcase how impressive her voice is, offering a variety to which she can elevate them to greater heights. With any luck, she’ll continue to release more songs with LustQueen on a regular basis, as there’s much potential to unearth.
1. Togenashi Togeari – Togenashi (Universal)
Probably not much of a surprise to anyone that speaks to me about music regularly, as TogeToge have been perpetually on repeat all year. It’s been great to see the group’s numbers skyrocket after the equally excellent Girls Band Cry anime (of which they are from). This particular album showcases the songs from the anime itself (with 2 new songs), and is a testament to how incredibly hook-y and memorable their music is. Musically intricate without being showy, heartfelt melodies, and incredible vocals by Rina. It’s a hard combination to beat.
Honorable Mention (alphabetical order)
Amaranthe – The Catalyst
Band-Maid – Epic Narratives
Bridear – Born Again
Dark Tranquillity – Endtime Signals
Entheos – An End to Everything
Exit Eden – Femmes Fatales
Gore. – A Bud that Never Blooms
icontinew – First Impact
Make Them Suffer – Make Them Suffer
MakeMake – We Are One
Mellows – alloy
Setyoursails – Bad Blood
Vulvodynia – Entabeni