HeavyHarmonies.Com | BrutalMetal.Com | HeavensMetal.Com |
This site contains Ebay and Amazon affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. |
eBay and Amazon affiliate links may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
View Bands by Genre:
Pop AOR / Westcoast (451)
Melodic Rock / AOR (2249)
80s Hard Rock (5024)
Modern Hard Rock (273)
Sleaze Glam (820)
Melodic Metal (848)
Prog Rock (322)
Southern or Blues Rock (181)
Instrumental Wizards (198)
THE Hard Rock and AOR Reference on the Internet!
Bands: 10368 CDS: 25129 Songs: 299014
Feb. 3, 2025: Best of 2024 Lists Posted!Come see who made the top 10 (yes, expanded starting this year) albums of 2024 from Mike and myself. -Dan |
#s
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Compilations
Soundtracks
Tributes
It's down to just Mike (whiplash1972) and myself doing "Best of" lists, so we decided to expand them to a Top 10 list starting this year.
After much whining from people having to wade through the "Rest of the Field" section, I've changed the page up a bit. That section is still there if people want to reference it, but it is collapsed by default.
For both of us, the listing contains 3 parts:
1349 — The Wolf and the King
A Circus — Self-titled
A Day in Venice — A Man Without a Name
A Neverending Johns Dream — Coming Back to Paradise
Accept — Humanoid
Ace Frehley — 10,000 Volts
Ad Infinitum — Abyss
After Infinity — Self-titled
After Lapse — Pathways
Akstatik — Baptized In Metal
Alcest — Les Chants de l'Aurore
Alicate — Heaven Tonight
All For Metal — Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
Allos & Sonasterio — Self-titledrong Delusion
Alterium — Of War and Flames
Amerikan Kaos — Armageddon Boogie
Anberlin — Vega
Ancient Trail — The Ancient Force
Anette Olzon — Rapture
Angels of Babylon — Aquarius
Anialator — Death Is Calling
Antisect — In Darkness, There Is No Choice
Anubis — The Unforgivable
Anvil — One and Only
Any Given Day — Limitless
Apocalyptica — Plays Metallica Vol. 2
Arctis — Self-titled
Aries Descendent — From the Ashes of Deceit
Arkado — Open Sea
Armagelion — Self-titled EP
As I Lay Dying — Through Self-titledorms Ahead
Astral Doors — The End Of It All
At 1980 — Forget to Remember
Athena XIX — Everflow Pt 1 Frames of Humanity
Atlantic — Another World
Atlantis Drive — Self-titled
Atomis — The Void Box Set
Atrophy — Asylum
Austrian Death Machine — Quad Brutal
Autumns Child — Tellus Timeline
Avenger — Self-titledeel On Self-titledeel — The Complete Avenger Recordings
Avralize — Freaks
Axel Rudi Pell — Risen Symbol
Axxis — Coming Home
Babylon A.D. — Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
Backbone Slide — Self-titled
Bad Boy — Private Party
Bad Omens — Concrete Jungle Soundtrack
Badhoven — Rock Thru Ages
Balance of Power — Fresh from the Abyss
Beardfish — Songs For Beating Hearts
Benjamin Croft — We Are Here to Help
Big Big Train — The Likes of Us
Black Country Communion — V
Black Denim Rage — Chaos of War
Black Diamonds — Destination Paradise
Black Sun — Self-titled
Black Tiger — Alive
BlackRain — Hot Rock Time Machine
Blaze Bayley — Circle of Self-titledone
Blind Channel — Exit Emotions
Blind Guardian — Somewhere Far Beyond (Revisited)
Blitz — Kicking Up a Self-titledorm
Bloodbound — The Tales of Nosferatu — Two Decades of Blood (LIVE)
Blue Oyster Cult — Ghost Self-titledories
Bobbie Dazzle — Fandabidozi
Bombus — Your Blood
Bon Jovi — Forever
BornBroken — Am I Invisible
Bruce Dickinson — The Mandrake Project
CAB — Melodic Ministry
CRUZH — The Jungle Revolution
CWF — III
Cactus — Temple of Blues
Caffeine — The Threshold
Caligula's Horse — Charcoal Grace
Candy — It's Inside You
Category 7 — Self-titled
Cats In Space — Time Machine
Chain Code — Synthetic Outcomes
Charlotte Wessels — The Obsession
Chrysalid — Breaking the Chains
Cobra the Impaler — Karma Collision
CobraKill — Serpent's Kiss
Collateral — Should've Known Better
Constancia — IV Evermore
Corvus — Immortals
Cory Marks — Sorry For Nothing
Crazy Lixx — Two Shots at Glory
Crownshift — Self-titled
Crystal Viper — The Silver Key
D-A-D — Greatest Hits
D-A-D — Speed of Darkness
DGM — Endless
Dan Dark — Dark Avenger
Dance With the Dead — Dark Matter
Dark Mile — Self-titled
Dark Tranquillity — Endtime Signals
Darkness — Blood on Canvas
Dawn After Dark — First Take (Live)
Daytona — Garder La Flamme
DeWolff — Muscle Shoals
Deafcon5 — Exit To Insight
Death League — Inferno
Decrowned — Persona Non Grata
Deep Purple — =1
Defocus — There Is a Place for Me on Earth
Demon — Invincible
Dendera — Mask of Lies
Devin Townsend — PowerNerd
Dharma Guns — Ex-Generation Superstars
Diamond Alice — Self-titled
Distant — Tsukuyomi — The Origin
Distant Past — Solaris
Dragonforce — Warp Speed Warriors
Dragony — Hic Svnt Dracones
Dream Evil — Metal Gods
Drungi — Hamfarir Hugans
Drunkelweizen — Pioneers of Alcohol
Dug Pinnick — Thingamajigger
Durbin — Screaming Self-titledeel
Dust Bolt — Sound & Fury
Dymytry — Five Angry Men
Eden on Fire — Unresolved
Ektomorf — Vivid Black
Electric Temple — High Voltage Salvation
Electric_Wizard — Black Magic Rituals and Perversions, Vol 1
Elvellon — Ascending in Synergy
Emerald Eye — Night Without Day
Empires of Eden — Guardians of Time
Entering Polaris — Myths In Motion + Songs Of Ivory And Obsidian
Equus — Self-titled
Evergrey — Theories of Emptiness
Exit Eden — Femmes Fatales
Extinct — Incitement of Violence
Eyes (SE) — Auto-Magic
Eynomia — Sea Of Tears
FM — Old Habits Die Hard
FOLKRIM — Embers
Fabulae Dramatis — Violenta
Falcon Trails — Coming Home
Fall Of Serenity — Open Wide O Hell
Fall of Earth — From The Ashes
Fans of the Dark — Video
Fast Train Union — Analog Outliers
Fatal Fire — Arson
Fatal Vision — Three Times Lucky
Fate — Reconnect 'N Ignite
Feline Melinda — Seven
Feuerschwanz — Warriors
Find Me — Nightbound
Fire Action — Until The Heat Dies
Fish on Mars — Music for the Martians
Flavien — Alcara
Flotsam and Jetsam — I am the Weapon
Fractal Gates — One With Dawn
Frank Turner — Undefeated
Freak Kitchen — Everyone Gets Bloody
Freeways — Dark Sky Sanctuary
Frost — Life In The Wires
Frust — New Moon
Gatecreeper — Dark Superstition
Gauntlet Rule — After the Kill
Ghostkid — Hollywood Suicide
Gigantum — Self-titled
Gloria Perpetua — The Darkside We Wanna Hide
Glorious Bankrobbers — RocknRoll Church
Gothminister — Pandemonium II — Battle of the Underworlds
Gothminister — Tonight EP
Gotus — Self-titled
Grand — Second To None
Grand Magus — Sunraven
Grand Slam — Wheel Of Fortune
Green Day — Saviors
Greyhawk — Thunderheart
Gun — Hombres
HIM — When Love and Death Embrace — The Best of HIM
HYPERSONIC — Kaosmogonia
Hammer King — Konig und Kaiser
Hammerfall — Avenge The Fallen
Hartlight — As Above
Heart 2 Heart — Alley of Dreams
Heartwind — Heartwind III
Hellfire 76 — Rags to Rage
Helloween — Live At Budokan
Helsinki Horizon — Sirens
Helvetets Port — Warlords
Heriot — Devoured by the Mouth of Hell
Heteromorphic Zoo — New World EP
Hiraes — Dormant
Hirsh Gardner — Third Time's A Charm
Holy Mother — Rise
Honeymoon Suite — Alive
Human Zoo — Echoes Beyond
Hunter — Rock 'n' Roll V.I.P
Hydra — ReHydration
ILLUMISHADE — Another Side of You
IOTUNN — Kinship
ISSA — Another World
IZZ — Collapse The Wave
Illdisposed — In Chambers of Sonic Disgust
Illusion Force — Halfana
Imagine Dragons — LOOM
Impellitteri — War Machine
Imperia — Dark Paradise
In Vain — Back to Nowhere
Infected Rain — Time
Infected Rain — Time
Inner Axis — Midnight Forces
Innuendo — Jigsaw Sunset
Intranced — Muerte y Metal
Ironflame — Kingdom Torn Asunder
Isle of the Cross — Faustus the Musical
Ivanhoe — Healed By The Sun
Jenner — Prove Them Wrong
Jim Peterik & World Self-titledage — Roots & Shoots Vol 1
Jugulator — Imperator Insector
Jupiter Cyclops — Age of the UFOnaut
KMFDM — Let Go
Kaipa — Sommargryningsljus
Kaisas — Ieria
Kelevra — Oneiric
Keys — The Grand Seduction
Kickin Valentina — Self-titledar Spangled Fist Fight (FLAC)
KingCrown — Nova Atlantis
Kittie — Fire
Klone — The Unseen
Knights of the Realm — Darker Than Leather
Kryptos — Decimator
LIPZ — Changing the Melody
LK — Reverberate
Lankester Merrin — Dark Mother's Child
Lansdowne — Bury Me Reimagined EP
Last In Time — Too Late
LastWorld — Beautiful Illusion
Lay of the Autumn — Of Love and Sorrow
Lazarus Dream — Imaginary Life
Lazer Club — A Summer Self-titledory
Leah — The Glory and the Fallen
Leaves Eyes — Myths of Fate
Lee Aaron — Tattoo Me
Legacy Pilots — Thru the Lens
Legions of the Night — Darkness
Liar Thief Bandit — ICON
Lindsey Self-titledirling — Duality
Lodestar — Polaris
Loic J Tuckey — Beyond the Sun Road
Lonerider — Down In The Dust
Long the Night — Shadows of Discretion and Unspoken Truths
Lords of Black — Mechanics of Predacity
Lords of the Trident — V.G.E.P
Loudblast — Altering Fates and Destinies
Lucifer — Lucifer V
Lynx — Claws Out
Magic Kingdom — Blaze of Rage
Magnum — Here Comes The Rain
Maitreya — Auxesis EP
Mallevs — The Hammer
ManDoki Soulmates — A Memory Of Our Future
Manuel Barbara — Whisper in a Self-titledorm
Marilyn Manson — One Assassination Under God — Chapter 1
Masterplan — Self-titled (Anniversary Edition)
Matney — The Redneck and The Red Man
Maverick — Silver Tongue
Metal de Facto — Land Of The Rising Sun Part. 1
Metalite — Expedition One
Metro Society — The London Conspiracy Chapter I 1898
Mexican Self-titledandoff — Raiders of the Dutch Rudder
Michael Schenker Group — My Years with UFO
Mick Mars — The Other Side of Mars
Midnight — Hellish Expectations
Mike Della Bella Project — The Man With The Red Shoes
Mike Tramp — Mand Af En Tid
Mike Tramp — Songs of White Lion Vol II
Mike Zito — Life Is Hard
Millennial Reign — World on Fire
Mindless Sinner — Metal Merchants
Ministry — HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Miseria Ultima — Arctic Esotericism
Mister Misery — Self-titled
Mob Rules — Celebration Day- 30 Years Of Mob Rules
Monkey3 — Welcome To The Machine
Moonpark — Good Spirit
Moonshine Blast — Realm of Possibilities
Morbid Saint — Swallowed by Hell
Mother Resides — Self-titled
Mr. Big — Ten
My Diligence — DEATH.HORSES.BLACK
My Dying Bride — A Mortal Binding
Myles Kennedy — The Art Of Letting Go
Mystery Moon — Shine
NOTSM — Only Death Brings Silence
NZM — The Best of NZM
Nasty Savage — Jeopardy Room
Nate Silva — The Chase
Nationwide — Echoes
Neon Nightmare — Faded Dream
Neon Rider — Destination Unknown
Neptune — End of Time
Nestor — Teenage Rebel
New Horizon — Conquerors
Newman — Colour In Sound
Night Pleasure Hotel — Portraits
Night Wilds — All That Should Have Been
Nighthawk — Vampire Blues
Nightmare — Encrypted
Nightwish — Yesterwynde
Nine Self-titledones Close — Diurnal
No Favors — The Eleventh Hour
North Sea Echoes — Really Good Terrible Things
Nothing More — CARNAL
Notorious — Marching On
OMNIVIDE — A Tale of Fire
OU — Frailty
Oeste — Tiempo de Fingir
Ominum — War For Peace EP
Orden Ogan — The Order Of Fear
Oz Hawe Peterssons Rendezvous — Self-titled
PAIN — I Am
Pallbearer — Mind Burns Alive
Palooka — Save Yourself EP
Paradise In Flames — Blindness
Paragon — Metalation
Paralydium — Universe Calls
Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse — Self-titled
Pearl Jam — Dark Matter
Pectora — Twilight Knights
Perseus — Into the Silence
Pixies — The Night the Zombies Came
Plastique Noir — Dead Pop
Polar — Five Arrows
Poppy — Negative Spaces
Porcelain Shards — Halcyon's Dream
Pounder — Thunderforged
Powell-Payne — Voila
Powerwolf — Wake Up the Wicked
Praying Mantis — Defiance
Prisoner — House of Cards EP
Project Arcadia — Of Sins And Other Tales
Prophets of Addiction — Face the Music
Radioactive — Reset
Rage — Afterlifelines
Ravenstine — Self-titled
Reaper's Scythe — Shielded, Abandoned, Rearranged
Revolution Saints — Against the Winds
Rhapsody of Fire — Challenge the Wind
Rhett Forrester & Rob Robbins — The Complete Dr. Dirty Sessions 1992-1993
Rifforia — Axeorcism
Riot V — Mean Self-titledreets
Ritchie Newton — Moments
Rizen — Ex Cinere
Robert Hart — Circus Life
Robert Jon & The Wreck — Red Moon Rising
Ron Keel — Keelworld
Royal Republic — LoveCop
Rubi Ate the Fig — Gilgamesh
Russell-Guns — Medusa
Ruthless — The Fallen
Ryujin — Self-titled
SJS — A Sequence of Mistakes
Sabire — Jatt
Sacred Night — Demo-Lishan Project 30 Years Later
Salem UK — Outer Limits
Saltatio Mortis — Finsterwacht
Sandveiss — Self-titledanding in the Fire
Sanity — The Beast EP
Saturnalia Temple — Paradigm Call
Savaged — Night Self-titledealer
Saxon — Hell, Fire and Damnation
Scanner — The Cosmic Race
Scott Self-titledapp — Higher Power
Sebastian Bach — Child Within The Man
Sentry — Self-titled
Serious Black — Rise of Akhenaton
Seventh Crystal — Entity
Seventh Dimension — Of Hope & Ordeals
Severed Angel — Skyward
Shadowdance — Ageless
Shotgun Mistress — Kings of the Revolution
Show N Tell — The Ritual Has Begun
Siege Perilous — Creation's Call
Silvera — World Behind Doors
Simone Simons — Vermillion
Sinner's Blood — Dark Horizons
Six Feet Under — Killing for Revenge
Six by Six — Beyond Shadowland
Skid Row — Live in London
Skillet — Revolution
Slash — Orgy of the Damned
Sleazy Town — Unfinished Business
Smash Atoms — Self-titled
Smoking Snakes — Danger Zone
Snakebite — Cobra Crew
Social Disorder — Time to Rise
Sonata Arctica — Clear Cold Beyond
Sonic Universe — It Is What It Is
Sotory — Unspoken
Soulbound — obsYdian
South Of Salem — Death Of The Party
Speed Limit — The Broken Record — Chorus Sound Tapes
Spektra — Hypnotized
Starchaser — Into the Great Unknown
Starcrazy — Self-titled
Static-X — Project Regeneration, Vol. 2
Steelcity — Reverence
Steve Emm — Framework
Steve Hackett — The Circus and the Nightwhale
Stones Close — Adventures in Anhedonia
Storace — Crossfire
Storace — Live and Let Live + Live
Stormborn — Zenith
Stormhunter — Best Before Death
Strangers — Whispers EP
Striker — Ultrapower
Stryper — When We Were Kings
Subway To Sally — Post Mortem
Suicide Bombers — All For The Candy
Suldusk — Anthesis
Sunbomb — Light Up the Sky
Sunburst — Manifesto
Sunstorm — Restless Fight
Super Monster Party — Rage Quit
Swallow the Sun — Shining
Tak Matsumoto Group — TMG II
Texas Hippie Coalition — Gunsmoke
Thalia — The River of Books
The Angels — Ninety Nine
The Aphelion — Nascence
The Black Crowes — Happiness Bastards
The Black Dahlia Murder — Servitude
The Brave — Carnival of Sins
The Chris Slade Timeline — Timescape
The Crown — Crown of Thorns
The Dead Daisies — Light 'Em Up
The Deathtones — Universal Monsters
The Dirty Denims — Party On!
The Effect — Self-titled
The Gems — Phoenix
The Ghost Inside — Searching for Solace
The Grand Master — Black Sun
The Human Edition — Karma Connected Casualties
The Mercury Riots — In Solstice
The Mourning — Hush
The Nail — Self-titled
The New Roses — Attracted To Danger
The Offspring — Supercharged
The Outfit — Go
The Rods — Rattle the Cage
The Tangent — To Follow Polaris
The Treatment — Wake Up the Neighborhood
The Warning — Keep Me Fed
The Wizards — The Exit Garden
The Wring — Nemesis
Theigns & Thralls — The Keep and the Spire
Thornbridge — Daydream Illusion
Three of Me — Silence in the Attic
Thunder — Live at Islington Academy
Thunder — Live at Leeds
Torch — Leaving Me Behind
Torchlight Parade — Children of the Night
Toxikull — Under The Southern Light
Transport League — We Are Satan's People
Tribulation — Sub Rosa In ’ternum
Truism — Insanitarium EP
TumbleTown — On The Highwire
Turbo — Broke & Ugly
Turbokill — Champion
Turbulence — Binary Dream
Turmion Katilot — Reset
Twenty One Pilots — Clancy
Tyr — Battle Ballads
Tzimani — I Feel Fine
UFO — Seven Deadly
Universe III — Self-titled
Unto Others — Never Neverland
VOLA — Friend of a Phantom
Vain — Disintegrate Together
Valfreya — Dawn of Reckoning
Vampire Weekend — Only God Was Above Us
Van Zant — Always Look Up
Vanden Plas — The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things
Vella La Vella — Revolution
Vhaldemar — Sanctuary of Death
Vicinity — VIII
Victory — Circle of Life
Violet Eternal — Reload The Violet
Vision Divine — Blood And Angels' Tears
Visions Of Atlantis — Pirates II Armada
Vlad in Tears — Relapse
Voltstorm — Break the Silence
Voodoo Circle — Hail To the King
Voodoo Kiss — Feel The Curse
War Dogs — Only the Self-titledars Are Left
Warlock A.D. — Book II - The Valley of Vagene
Warlord — Free Spirit Soar
Waysted — Self-titled (Expanded Edition)
Whaledog — Self-titled
Wheel — Charismatic Leaders
Whisky of Blood — Diablesse Of Revolution
Whiteabbey — Words That Form the Key
Whitecross — Fear No Evil
Whom Gods Destroy — Insanium
Wind Rose — Trollslayer
Winding Road — Fill My Sails
Within Silence — The Eclipse of Worlds
Within Temptation — The Artone Sessions EP
Within Temptation — Worlds Collide Tour (Live in Amsterdam)
Wizard Tattoo — Living Just for Dying EP
Xeneris — Eternal Rising
Yesterday's Hero — Ways To Hate
Zetra — Self-titled
Zombeast — Heart of Darkness
Zombi — Direct Inject
About Us — Take a Piece. Sophomore album from this band from India. A slightly harder edge than the debut, yet still very melodic. If it were a bit more cohesive and not as all over the place, it would have made my top 10. Standout track: Fortitude.
Amaranthe — The Catalyst. These follks just never disappoint. Nothing new here at all, just reliable and consistent.The perfect blend of electronica, pop, hard rock, and metal. Extremely infectious with great choruses.
Blind Ego — The Hunting Party. This one is extremely interesting, a solo project from RPWL guitarist Kalle Wallner. Part modern melodic rock, part prog. The songs are a bit on the long side (shortest one is almost 5 minutes), so the album is only 7 tracks. Standout track: The Stranger.
Brothers of Metal — Fimbulvinter. Vikings? Check. Campy? Check. Well-executed symphonic metal with mixed female and male lead vocals. Mostly "epic" metal, but some decent ballad material as well.
Casandra's Crossing — Garden Of Earthly Delights. Probably the best stuff that George Lynch has done in quite some time (although The End Machine is quite solid), and Casandra Carson is one heck of a vocalist! Straight ahead hard rock, but extremely well executed. Even the presence of ADV doesn't detract. ;) Standout track: Impatient.
Crossbone Skully — Evil World Machine. Another album that easily could have made it into my top 10. A modern-day take on the classic AC/DC sound, but with some cool gang vocals in the mix. P.S. The guitarist is tasty AF. Standout track: I'm Unbreakable.
Delain — Dance with the Devil EP. It's marketed as an EP, but it's 15 freaking tracks! In addition to a few new studio tracks, it's chuck full of live tracks and instrumental versions. You definitely get your money's worth. The pop-focused vocals of the new vocalist are right up my alley; I prefer it to the older material, as much as I liked that era. The title track perfectly showcases both the pop and metal characteristics of the band.
Eclipse — Megalomanium II. Definitely an improvement over Part 1. Solid Svedish hard rock as one would expect. A bit more crunch this time around. Standout track: The Spark.
Falling In Reverse — Popular Monster. Not everyone's cup of tea, given the rap and nu-metal influences, not to mention the wide-ranging musical styles here, but impeccably executed. The videos themselves are works of art. The album is a showcase to Ronnie Radke's musicianship. The incredible reimaging of Papa Roach's Last Resort is just epic, especially in light of the lyrical content. It is completely unlike the original... and that's the point.
Ghost — Rite Here Rite Now Soundtrack. Wonderful concert film (also available on blu-ray and 4K UHD), this has all of their hits. Their newer releases are more "in-genre" for HH than their earlier works, and some won't "get" the imagery or story, but it's catchy and fun nonetheless. It's all good, but the intro Imperium + Kaisarion really sets the tone.
HARPAZO — The Crucible. Proggy rock opera with a star-studded cast, ala Avantasia. I tend not to enjoy most albums in this vein as I prefer a consistent lead vocalist on an album, not a different one with each song. This one is a bit different, as many of the songs have DC Cooper (Royal Hunt) on lead vocals, and those tend to be my favorites. Very well done overall. Standout track: The Crucible.
House of Lords — Full Tilt Overdrive. This one was unexpected! After the last few lacklustre HoL releases, I was expecting "grandpa's House of Lords" yet again... not so fast, my friend! This is muck more rocking and crunchier than the last few, a return to form. The title track epitomizes the shift in energy from previous efforts.
Judas Priest — Invincible Shield. "When Septagenarians Attack!" It's amazing that Rob Halford and co. are still putting out headbanging material after all these years. 50 years from the release of Rocka Rolla in 1974. Best cuts, although very different in tone, are the title track and Crown of Horns.
Kings of Mercia — Battle Scars. It's good to hear Steve Overland on some heavier material, although I would have never imagined him in a group with Jim Matheos and Joey Vera.., or on Metal Blade Records. Very catchy stuff! Standout track: Don't Ask.
League of Distortion — Galvanize. Another banger from Napalm Records! A bit frenetic, with all sorts of musical styles in the mix, from metal, to hard rock, to some electronica elements. Lead vocalist reminds me at times of Halestorm or Beyond the Black, but heavier than both IMO. Standout track: My Hate Will Go On.
Leprous — Melodies Of Atonement. Definitely one for prog fans, although this has a very modern approach, including the occasional mix of harsh vocals juxtaposed against very light high-pitched vocals... hard to describe. At times very melodic and at others very heavy. It won't be for everyone, but I dig it. Take a listen to Like a Sunken Ship and Atonement.
Linkin Park — From Zero. A controversial return after a 7-year absence in the wake of the suicide of Chester Benington, as the band opted for a female lead vocalist (Emily Armstrong, formerly with Dead Sara)... but it works. And it works well. This first album covers virtually all of the styles of their previous catalogue. Emily can not only perform Chester's early material well, but she brings her own flair to the band. The only thing keeping this album out of my top 10 was that it's TOO varies stylistically; it doesn't have a cohesive identity, which we hopefully will see with the next album. Regardless, there's some good stuff here, such as Two Faced and The Emptiness Machine.
Lionheart — The Grace of a Dragonfly. Where the fuck have I been? I was only familiar with their superb 1984 album Hot Tonight, and had no idea they returned with albums in 2017 and 2020. Well, that has been fixed with this year's release... and a wonderful effort it is! It sounds like it could have been released right after Hot Tonight. Standout track: Flight 19.
Lionville — Supernatural. Whoah! Art Nation's Alexander Strandell joining Lionville? Sounds absolutely superb... a great fit. Good use of keys, solid melodic rock. The title track is representative of the album.
Myrath — Karma. The Indian/Mideast visual vibe belies what is "under the hood", which is just well-executed melodic hard rock, with an epic feel and rich orchestration/arrangements. I've read some complaints about this new album compared to previous efforts, but as this is my first exposure to the band, I fail to hear what the complaints are about. Standout track: Heroes.
Rydholm Safsund — Kaleidoscope. Some of the best westcoast AOR over the last several years. Some may find it too light or not like the jazz elements, but to me it sounds like a mix of vintage Chicago and Toto... the modern term "yacht rock" applies. The mix and production is impeccable! Standout track: Sara's Dream.
Teramaze — Eli — A Wonderful Fall from Grace. Extremely melodic prog metal/rock from Australia, the band around since the late 1990s. Instrumentally, it is prog metal more than anything else, but the vocals make it come across more as melodic rock; they make it more accessible. I love the lead vocals on this. Standout track: Sinister.
Unleash the Archers — Phantoma (Napalm Records).
Brittney & Co. are back once again with an AI-themed album, seemingly becoming more melodic with every release. The heaviness is certainly still there, but there is an extra layer of polish this time around. My favorite tracks are actually ones that have not been released as videos/singles, especially the seemingly out-of-character ballad Give It Up or Give It All which proves that should Brittney ever decide to hang it up as a headbanger, she has a promising future as a stand-in for Nancy Wilson.
|
Onlap — Waves (AFM Records).
This French band describes themselves as "alternative metal"... but the word "alternative" must mean something very different today than it did when I first heard it applied to rock and metal, as this is very melodic stuff! Heavy? Yes, in places, but the choruses are quite catchy. I would call it "modern melodic metal", and it is quite varied. In addition to the two songs shown below, Neverending Winter is also a standout.
|
Takida — The Agony Flame (Napalm Records).
This Swedish band was a complete revelation to me with this release. I'd never heard a single song from them, despite this being their 10th album since 1999. After listening to this album, I went down the rabbit hole of their discography. Somewhat on the dark and melancholy side, yet all the while extremely melodic. Their earliest material is a bit rough around the edges, but the last several albums have become more polished and lushly produced. Very memorable choruses with hooks (makes for excellent driving music).
|
Adecence — Postalgia (Self-Released).
The second debut album on this year's list, Adecence was formed in 2023 in Sweden. I can't even recall how I found out about the band. Take the musical stylings of Ghost, leaning towards the melodic side of their catalogue, and without all of the macabre theatre. Their physical media release of 100 units is now sold out, but you can still support the band by ordering the digital download via their Bandcamp page. One of the songs with greater Ghost-esque stylings is Someone Slightly Buried, but the two tracks below really show off their melodic chops, as does the live cover of Nestor's 1989. This album has been constantly in my rotation since acquisition, and I really look forward to their next work!
|
415 — Area Code 415
415 — Boys Night Out
A Rising Force — Truth
American Jetset — 1987
April Fool — Playin' To Win
Babylon A.D. — Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
Bad Attitude — Right From the Start
The Brave — Carnival of Sins
Casandra's Crossing — Garden of Earthly Delights
Category 7 — Category 7
Cats In Space — Fire in the Night (Live)
Cats In Space — Time Machine
Child's Play — Rat Races and Reunions: The Lost Tapes
Cold Sweat — Unburied Alive
Collective Soul — Here to Eternity
Compilations — Rock Of Norway Presents: Melodic Hard Rock and AOR Volume 1
Compilations — Rock Of Norway Presents: Melodic Hard Rock and AOR Volume 2
Crazy Lixx — Two Shots at Glory
Crobot — Obsidian
Cruzh — The Jungle Revolution
D.A.D. — Greatest Hits 1984–2024
D.A.D. — Speed of Darkness
Dark Mile — Dark Mile
The Dead Daisies — Light 'Em Up
Deep Purple — = 1
Def Leppard — One Night Only: Live at the Leadmill
Def Leppard — Pyromania 40 (Super Deluxe Edition)
Rik Emmett — Diamonds — The Best of the Hard Rock Years 1990-1995
Enuff Z'Nuff — The 1987 Demos
Falcon Trails — Coming Home
Fate — Reconnect 'N Ignite
FKM — Broken Dreams
Flotsam and Jetsam — I Am the Weapon
Framing the Red — Three to Get Ready
Hall Aflame — Amplifire
Daryl Hall — D
Ghost — Rite Here Rite Now (Soundtrack)
Todd Michael Hall — Off the Rails
Honeymoon Suite — Alive
Human Zoo — Echoes Beyond
Jimi Jamison — Jimmy Wayne Jamison
Ron Keel — KeelWorld
Myles Kennedy — The Art of Letting Go
Kickin' Valentina — Star Spangled Fist Fight
Kings of Mercia — Battle Scars
King Zebra — Between The Shadows
Lazy X — Sonic Revolt
Linkin Park — Papercuts
Lonerider — Down in the Dust
Loverboy — Live in '82
Matney — The Redneck & the Red Man
Metal Church — The Final Sermon (Live in Japan 2019)
Phil Mogg — Moggs Motel
Billy Morrison — The Morrison Project
Motley Crue — Cancelled
Mr. Big — Ten
Mr. Big — The BIG Finish Live
Nestor — Teenage Rebel
Nickelback — Live From Nashville
Notorious — Marching On
Palace — Reckless Heart
Axel Rudi Pell — Risen Symbol
Persia — The Complete Collection
Pete's Diary — Keep On Rockin'
Dug Pinnick — Thingamajigger
Steve Plunkett — Straight Up
Quade — The Anthology
REO Classics Band — Recorded Live at Shock City Studios 2024
Ratt — Rarities
Revolution Saints — Against the Winds
Riley's L.A. Guns — The Dark Horse
Rock City Angels — Young Man's Blues (The Original Jim Dickinson Mix)
Michael Schenker — My Years with UFO (50th Anniversary Celebration) 1972-1978
Seven Year Witch — Vampire Calamity
Shark Island — Memento Mori — Live on the Strip
Slash — Orgy of the Damned
Sonic Universe — It Is What It Is
Steelcity — Reverence
Storace — Live and Let Live Special Edition
Stryper — To Hell With the Amps
Stryper — When We Were Kings
The Sugarfix — The Sugarfix
Sunstorm — Restless Fight
TMG — TMG II
Tora Tora — The Best of the Rest
Twisted Sister — Stay Hungry 40th Anniversary Edition
Victory — Circle of Life
War Babies — Vault
White Trash — C.O.C.K. In a Box
Whitecross — Fear No Evil (2024)
Dwight Yoakam — Brighter Days
Blackberry Smoke — Be Right Here. Blackberry Smoke return with an album full of the southern/country rock sound that has become their trademark. If you've enjoyed their past efforts, this one should be right up your alley as well. Standout track: Dig a Hole
The Black Crowes — Happiness Bastards. A nice return to form from the Robinson brothers; I played this one quite a bit when it came out. Standout tracks: Wanting and Waiting and Wilted Rose which features a duet with Lainey Wilson are standouts, but there's good stuff throughout!
Bon Jovi — Forever. While nowhere near the Bon Jovi of the past, this is probably their best effort since 2002's Bounce, and features Living Proof, their best song since Have a Nice Day. An extremely pleasant surprise when I was expecting very little from this release.
Collateral — Should've Known Better. While not quite as "twangy" as their debut, you do still get just a touch of country sound at times here, which is fine, as it works for them. Original Criminal is one of my favorite songs of 2024.
Crossbone Skully — Evil World Machine. Solid debut from Alice Cooper/Hollywood Vampires alum Tommy Henriksen and company. Straight ahead, AC/DC style hard rock, that I find quite enjoyable. Interestingly enough, it's the non AC/DC-ish I'm Unbreakable that is my favorite cut.
Bruce Dickinson — The Mandrake Project. I prefer the lighter side of Bruce's solo work (Tattooed Millionaire being my favorite) so this was a nice surprise for me! Enjoyable from start to finish, with the epic Rain on the Graves being my favorite track.
Ace Frehley — 10,000 Volts. After a string of fairly unimpressive releases dating all the way back to 2009's Anomaly, Ace is finally back on track here. Bringing in Steve Brown of Trixter fame to help write the album has paid off with a collection of the catchiest tracks Ace has put out since 1989's Trouble Walkin'. The third single Cherry Medicine is fairly representative of what you'll hear on this release.
House of Lords — Full Tilt Overdrive. One of my favorite bands of the last 20 years, and this album is another great addition to their discography. As with 2022's Saints & Sinners, I don't find it to be on par with some of their previous efforts, but still, well worth checking out. Standout track: Bad Karma
The End Machine — The Quantum Phase. While I was disappointed to hear that Robert Mason would be out as vocalist on this album, that quickly faded once I heard Girish at the helm. Excellent hard rocking release that should appeal to most Dokken fans and/or fans of great hard rock in general. Check out Killer of the Night or my personal fave Shattered Glass Heart to hear how good this one is!
Jack Russell / Tracii Guns — Medusa. Even though Jack and Tracii didn't actually write the songs found on this album, they infused the project with their signature vocal and guitar sounds, and put out a VERY worthwhile release. Tell Me Why, Living a Lie, and Give Me the Night are all personal faves. R.I.P. Jack and thank you for all the wonderful music.
Linkin Park — From Zero. If someone had told me back in January of last year that I'd wind up buying my first ever Linkin Park disc in 2024, I'd have laughed at them, but here we are. I must say, I'm quite impressed with Emily Armstrong's vocals, and they are mostly what drew me in. The track Over Each Other is one of the year's best songs. Check this one out if you haven't already; you might be surprised at just how accesible it is!
Mick Mars — The Other Side of Mars. Debut solo album from the former Motley Crue guitarist, but don't expect this one to sound like the Crue, as it modern hard rock / metal through and through, and well done at that. The 3 singles that have been released are all a good representation of what you will hear, with Right Side of Wrong being my personal fave. Hopefully we'll finally get a Mars/Corabi collaboration somewhere down the road!
The New Roses — Attracted to Danger. While I had heard the stray song from The New Roses here and there over the years, I was never really impressed enough to actually pick up one of their albums. Attracted to Danger has finally changed that with its wonderful slate of melodic hard rockers. While I enjoy the entire disc, it's the opener When You Fall in Love and the country-tinged ballad Hold Me Up that kept me returning to this one over and over at year's end. Gonna have to investigate that back catalog a bit now to hear what I've potentially been missing out on!
Oz Hawe Petersson's Rendezvous — Oz Hawe Petersson's Rendezvous. A great debut disc, and probably the best "classic" AOR album of 2024 in my opinion. The singles Sacred Land and Essence of Love exemplify what this one is all about, with the latter showcasing the wonderful female lead vocals of Jane Gould.
Riot V — Mean Streets. 2024 was a great year for the harder edged rock and melodic metal found here on HH and over on BM, with this excellent release from Riot V barely missing a Top 10 spot. Todd Michael Hall kills it on vocals here, along with a band that is hitting on all cylinders! Check out High Noon, Feel the Fire, and the amazing Love Beyond the Grave for yourself!
Skid Row — Live in London. Amazing live set from Erik and the Skids; you can hear just how happy he is to be a part of the band on this release. It's a damn shame they couldn't find some way to make things work for everyone involved.
Scott Stapp — Higher Power. Although it's probably taboo to admit around these parts, I've always liked Creed. In the vast sea of late 90s alternacrap and souless nu metal, they were melodic, catchy, and just heavy enough to hold my interests. With all that said, I find myself enjoying Scott's latest release just as much, if not more than any of Creed's. Check out the title track, Deadman's Trigger, and his wonderful duet with Dorothy If These Walls Could Talk to hear what he's capable of solo.
Storace — Crossfire. The follow-up to 2021's Live and Let Live is another disc full of hard rock goodness from Krokus frontman Marc Storace, and to be quite honest, I prefer both Storace releases to the last few Krokus studio efforts. They're a bit more melodic, and the songs are simply more memorable for me. The first single Rock This City and the ballad Only Love Can Hurt Like This are my faves, but I enjoy the entire disc.
Striker — Ultrapower. My first foray into Canada's melodic metallers Striker, and I'm VERY glad I checked them out. While they started out as basically a speed metal band, over the years, they've morphed into a much more melodic group, while still walking that line between straight hard rock and metal at various times. Check out Circle of Evil and Live to Fight Another Day to hear what Striker is all about. This one didn't miss my Top 10 by much.
The Sweet — Full Circle. I picked this one up very late in the year, and to be honest, if I could live with it a bit longer, it may very well be a top 10 effort. While it doesn't really sound like the Sweet of old, it is a damn fine, hard rocking record. Check out Rising Up and Burning Like a Falling Star to hear for yourself how good this one is.
Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts — Rogue To Redemption. Very nice collection of melodic pop rock from Tuk Smith and crew, with Glorybound and Little Renegade being standouts. Super catchy!
Royal Republic — LoveCop (Odyssey Music Network).
Alternative/Dance/Pop/Hard Rock... whatever you wanna classify Royal Republic as, they do it all very well. I've come back to this one over and over this year, with
the title track and "LazerLove" being two of 2024's best songs in my opinion.
A fun, catchy as hell album! Gonna need to investigate their back catalog now.
|
The Mercury Riots — In Solstice (SAOL Records).
This year's big surprise comes in the form of In Solstice! Take some AC/DC, a dash of Cinderella, and maybe some Dirty Honey, throw em in a blender, and out comes The Mercury Riots!
I've returned to this one over and over in 2024, with Be Yours, L.A. Girls, Sweet Melody, and Save Me a Drink all being quite excellent. Do yourself a favor and check these guys out; you will NOT be disappointed!
|
The Treatment — Wake Up The Neighbourhood (Frontiers Records).
Much like the New Roses, The Treatment are a band who've been around awhile, and although I'd heard the occasional track which I thought was pretty decent, I'd never pulled the trigger on picking up one of their releases. Back in early 2024, Back to the 1970's got my attention, and then after hearing Let's Wake Up This Town, and Thunder and Lightning Strikes, I decided to pick up Wake Up the Neighbourhood, and I'm VERY glad I did. While these guys aren't reinventing the wheel or anything, what you'll find here is loads of ultra catchy hard rock that is extremely well done, and sometimes that's all you need! Fire Me Up and This Fire Still Burns are also faves. It goes without saying that I highly recommend checking this one out! I'm currently in the process of picking up some of their prior releases. |
Fans of the Dark — Video (Frontiers Records).
Okay, there seems to be a running theme from last year; Fans of the Dark are yet another band whose previous work had somehow managed to fly under my radar. Upon hearing Let's Go Rent a Video, I immediately picked
up their previous two releases (2022's Suburbia is excellent too!), and then picked up Video once it was released in October. This is simply amazing melodic rock, with the songs having a horror or 80s movie theme in
their lyrical content. While the entire band already excels at what they're doing, it's the vocal prowess of Alex Falk that really steals the show here. In a just world, this man would be a household name. Christine,
and Find Your Love are favorites, along with the two featured songs below. I can not recommend this one enough! If you enjoy melodic rock, you should enjoy this one!
|
Saxon — Hell, Fire and Damnation (Silver Lining Music Ltd).
NWOBHM legends Saxon have been releasing albums for over 45 years now, with many classics along the way. One might think that the creative fires may be nearly extinguished after all these years, but not only is that not the case with Biff Byford and company, they've actually released one of their finest albums here in the latter days of their career! Simply put, this one is a melodic metal monster, with nary a bad song included. If at this point you haven't already checked this one out, I recommend There's Something In Roswell, the title track, Hell, Fire, and Damnation, Witches of Salem, and 1066 as a starter before listening to the entire album. I'll be honest, I considered making Saxon my number one for 2024, and most years it would have been, but they ran into an even bigger monster from a group who's been around even longer...
|
Judas Priest — Invincible Shield (Epic Records).
Not gonna lie, when Firepower came out in 2018, I was surprised by just how good it is, and I dare say I wasn't alone in feeling like that would probably be the best new material we'd ever get from Priest again as they entered into the twilight of their career. I am damn happy to say that I was VERY wrong! Invincible Shield picks up where Firepower left off, and actually takes the band back to heights last heard in the Painkiller days.
As the band began releasing singles from the new album in late 2023, I wasn't immediately impressed, BUT, when The Serpent and the King was unleashed in February of last year, it immediately clicked, and then when I
picked up the full album in March, it all came together. Everything merged into a cohesive listening experience, and I was blown away! The album starts off with an amazing trio of Panic Attack, The Serpent and the King, and Invincible Shield, and then midway you get another killer trio of Crown of Horns, As God is My Witness, and Trial By Fire, and the standard release finishes up with Sons of Thunder, and Giants in the Sky which are both excellent tracks! If you picked up the Deluxe Edition, the three bonus tracks are all actually quite good as well! So, at the end of the day, not only did the mighty Priest manage to better their previous release, Firepower, they also released the best album of 2024. For a band that has been around for over 55 years, that is nothing short of astounding! I won't underestimate Halford and company again, and I look forward to hearing anything else they may bless us with in the future! |
From: 123charpenay | Date: February 3, 2025 at 12:41 |
2024 h like 2023 |
From: 123charpenay | Date: February 3, 2025 at 12:50 |
sorry.....2024 has been like 2023.a small year for our music.nevertheless there some beautiful lights in a dark sky.my top 9. 1 COBRA SPELL "666" 2 KING ZEBRA "between the shadows" 3 DANGER ZONE"shut up" 4 GOTUS "same" 5 FIGHTER V "heart of the young" 6 MOGGS MOTEL "same" 7 BLACK DIAMONDS"destination paradise" 8 LIPZ "changing the melody3 9 CIRCLE OF FRIENDS "cherokee moon". note: except circle of friends wich is international in my top 9 there is only european bands.four from switzerland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!congratulations and hats off for my neighbours.i live in lyon at only 120 kms from genova. best song of the year "s e x" from cobra spell. |
You cannot leave comments for this list because you are not currently logged in. Please click here to log in or create a Username for leaving comments.