I really kept an eye on singles this year, devoting this on-again off-again column to it when I could this year. With streaming working the way it does, more artists are noticing that full albums and EPs aren’t the only way to go. While it doesn’t work for everyone, it’s nonetheless a new way forward for bands to reach the market and keep their names on the tip of fans tongues. Much like my top albums (which I mostly ignored here to increase the band diversity present), there’s a great variety here to dig in and enjoy.
25. Amai Dantoudai “Bloody Dress”
Gothic-flavored metal act carries plenty of bombast and shred within their sound. It’s a compelling one that is equal parts melodic and fury. This single marks a great first impression of their upcoming debut album.
24. Broken by the Scream “月光可憐ストライプ“
The brutal and chaotic Broken by the Scream returned to a four-piece early this year in style with this vicious track that successfully carries on the group’s essence with energy to spare.
23. Hagane “Tengagoken”
The power metal shredders are back with a revamped line-up, but they still maintain the same high caliber mix of incredible shredding while keeping it musically digestible and fun.
22. Blackbriar “Floriography”
The fairytale sound of Blackbriar continues to grow and impress with it’s cinematic orchestrations and haunting vibes. Their latest song is no exception to this. Epic and compelling.
21. MakeMake “Toss and Turn”
Taiwan’s MakeMake have all the ingredients necessary for an upcoming breakout. Monstrous grooves, plenty of hooks, and a strong vocalist. Catch on to them before everyone else does.
20. Gungire “Encrypted”
Japan’s ‘angriest band’ continues to pump out high quality groove metal that hits hard, but stays memorable. “Encrypted” delivers exactly what you would expect from the ever-busy act.
19. PaleNe0 “Crazy & Noisy & Cutie Magic”
Releasing their first full-length, an EP, and some singles, PaleNe0 was also quite busy this year. This song moves in both heavier and more pop-driven directions at the same time. It might sound odd, but it works splendidly.
18. Setyoursails “Lately”
A more melodic number from Setyoursails’ latest, but it’s a heartfelt track that brings in some massive hooks and a beautiful chorus, not to mention some nice, heavy moments.
17. Charlotte Wessels “Chasing Sunsets”
Charlotte Wessels triumphantly returns with a full band behind her (and some ex-Delain members at that), ready to explore new soundscapes. “Chasing Sunsets” brings the heavy, symphonic elements she was always known for and gives them a new splash of color.
16. icontinew “Error”
Merging a heavy electronics section like some of their fellow countrymates, but merging it with a harder, heavier riffing section gives icontinew a unique fusion of futuristic yet hooky sounds with just enough heaviness to back it all up. “Error” is fun yet frantic.
15. Vulvodynia “Entabeni”
Vulvodynia really stepped it up with this most recent album, and the title track, quite simply, has the most devastating slam riffs of the year. The last 45-ish seconds of this track are utter moshpit chaos. Disgustingly heavy in the best way.
14. AlmonDot “Scharlach-Weiβ”
Another young Japanese act seemingly on the cusp of a breakout, the industrial grooves of this song are explosive, and done in a way that’s incredibly catchy. The chorus is huge and uplifting, the riffs are crunchy, and the vibes are fun. Hopefully they catch their break soon.
13. Quubi “Rising”
Still going strong as 3-piece alt idol act now, the punkish Quubi bring urgent yet playful riffing, brass attitude, a strong sense of melody, and even a little rap as they move through their recent single. Hopefully a sign of the greatness to come on their full-length, as this one hits hard.
12. Deadlands “Villain”
Big hooks, big riffs, and a soaring chorus. No surprise when this act signed with Spinefarm this year. “Villain” exemplifies all of the good things that are going on in the modern metal scene. It’s a massive track that begs to be replayed again and again.
11. Knocked Loose “Suffocate”
Knocked Loose continue to gain more traction with their brutal brand of hardcore. Add in Poppy for some scathing screams and atmosphere and it’s no surprise that the track has taken off and is Grammy-nominated. The end of the song is a neckbreaker.
10. CatChu! “Distortion”
Liella subunit CatChu! provide one of the most catchy and upbeat songs of the year. Nothing heavy, nothing evil, just pure kawaii catchiness. It’s a fun, summer-cruising track that will fight to stay in your head for as long as humanly possible.
9. Entheos “A Thousand Days”
Entheos latest EP maintains the high bar of those releases before it, and “A Thousand Days’ showcases a sense of thunderous groove, eerie atmosphere, and some excellent use of clean vocals from Chaney Crabb all merging together to create an unforgettable track.
8. Band-Maid “Protect You”
Bouncing energy and basswork, playful yet intricate guitar melodies, and Saiki’s vocals have catapulted Band-Maid into quite a bit of spotlight, and for good reason. “Protect You” is a quintessential example of what works for them as a group. Good ole guitar-oriented fun!
7. Make Them Suffer “Oscillator”
Danceable, heavy fun is what “Oscillator” provides. From its downtuned guitars firing off massive grooves, to its pulsating electronics, to its dual vocal chorus, it’s more or less a playground for the band to revel in.
6. Delain “Dance with the Devil”
From the uplifting electronics and larger-than-life melodic riffing to the catchy chorus and heavy, growl-driven breakdown(?), “Dance with the Devil” is Delain at their finest. A track that shows how they can evolve while staying true to themselves.
5. Vana “Serpentine”
A seductive, industrial-laden paradise that merges a vibrant electronic section and colorful pop-ish vocals into a boisterous, metallic blender to create something that feels flirtatious yet viscerally heavy. Vana is exploring some fresh, fascinating ground for the genre.
4. Gore. “Babylon”
Another 2024 breakout band, Gore. capture an exciting combination of frantic riffing and heaviness and merge it together with a cinematic, pop-flavored catchiness that never feels anything less than epic. Expect them to grow even more next year.
3. Soilwork “Spirit of No Return”
Talk about a triumphant return! Loads of classic Soilwork vibes on this track. Blistering tempos and wild riffing, a hook-driven chorus with lovely melodies, it’s hard to think of a stronger way for the band to come back after a bit of an absence of new material. Hopefully this leads to a full album soon.
2. PassCode “Willshine”
PassCode’s return to anime OPs with an absolutely incredible song. Addictive and catchy, with lots of upbeat energy, and a solid spot in the middle for Emily to flex her low growls, it’s a song that will get you dancing and headbanging in a flash. It’s the type of song you can listen to 15 times in a row and not get bored with it.
1. Isiliel “Qliphoth”
A raging, epic track that HImari absolutely nails! Classic, galloping metal riffage leads the way on a brilliant song that gets your neck moving instantly, while the glorious melodies will have your fist raising along with Himari’s unique vocals to sing along with. Merging magical and mystical vibes along with truly metallic ones, this is easily Isiliel’s strongest song to date.