There were some brilliant singles this year; whether they were promoting the latest release or an upcoming one, here are my top ten singles of the year.
10. The Picturebooks – Masquerade
The vast sounds from Home Is A Heartache in 2017 drew me to THE PICTUREBOOKS. Their latest album The Major, Minor Collective made my top ten in 2021 so I was very pleased when I heard they announced a new single. The thing I admire about THE PICTUREBOOKS sound is that it has this simplicity to it and it has a grand impact. Their latest single Masquerade is a great example of this and if the rest of the album sounds as good as this, 2024 could easily be their year.
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9. Amaranthe – Insatiable
AMARANTHE have gone through several line up changes and they continue to push the boundaries with their sound. They have released a few single releases in time for their upcoming album Catalyst and the one that caught my attention was Insatiable. It’s empowering, it’s bouncy and it’s sexy; the combination of the three vocalists along to pumping music arrangements is brilliantly well done.
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8. All For Metal – Hear The Drum
It’s been hard to miss the name ALL FOR METAL in the Power Metal circuit and their music lets you know they are here. They released their debut album this year and the singles they released to promote it have understandably drawn people in. My personal favourite is Hear The Drum; like the rest of their singles, it’s empowering and makes every task seem like an epic quest.
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7. Warlock A.D. – The Valley Of Vagene
I was first introduced to the WARLOCK A.D. verse last year through their debut album Book I: The Reserrection. It took me a little while to get into their sound as it seemed all over the place and hard to follow; I came to the conclusion that they are a talented band with room for development. Their latest single The Valley Of Vagene made me feel glad I stuck around as this shows a huge growth in their sound and what the band can offer up. Bring on the next quest.
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6. Peyton Parrish – Son Of Man
I came across Peyton Parrish’s album of Disney covers this year and this single stood out to me. Disney’s Tarzan was the first film I saw at the cinema and Son Of Man stood out to me then. So to hear a rock version of this song was refreshing and it gave me that same feeling of empowerment from when I was a child. It’s about learning lessons along the way as you grow.
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5. Versengold – Tod Und Trommeln
This song came up on my recommendations on Spotify; the authentic folk sounds of this tune drew me in hook, line and sinker. The vocals draw you right in and the melody in this song is incredibly infectious. It helps you forget your troubles for those few minutes. It lead me to checking out the rest of their music and I can’t wait to see more from this band. It also took me back to my teenage years when I was first discovering songs sung in their mother tongues so there was some nostalgia within this song too.
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4. Bloodbound – Drink With The Gods
Ever since catching BLOODBOUND on tour with SABATON and ALESTORM several years ago, I have been a fan of the band since. They released a new album this year and this was the song that stood out the most. It makes you want to gather your friends for a party and drink with the gods. The melody is celebratory and empowering; one piece of advice, have a tankard, horn or whatever you like to drink your tipple of choice out of when experiencing this track.
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3. D’Artagnan – Hey Brother
D’ARTAGNAN have been one of my favourite discoveries over the last couple of years and this cover of AVICII track Hey Brother only reaffirms this. This is truly a great cover; it takes the best parts of the original track and D’ARTAGNAN add their wonderfully heroic spin on it. This track was done to honour the memory of AVICII; his music is incredibly uplifting and D’ARTAGNAN do a great job capturing this important element.
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2. Lord Of The Lost – noituLOVEr
To celebrate Pride Month, LORD OF THE LOST released noituLOVEr as a single; the message in the song is to acknowledge that whilst more needs to be done, it encourages you to be proud of who you are. I came out as bisexual on my social media earlier this year after being in the closet for fifteen years and this song spoke to me. This song has been a great soundtrack for when it comes to embracing the queer aspects of my identity and being my true authentic self.
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NUMBER ONE: Exit Eden feat. Marko Hietala – Run!
I was pleased to hear that EXIT EDEN are making a return with new covers and their own material. This year they released their first original song; from the first listen, Run! spoke to me.
Before I delve into the song in further detail, I would like to note that it was great to hear Marko Hietala sing again after a long time. Whether it’s the intricate vocal style of Clementine Delauney or the fiery power in Ana Braun’s voice, his powerful vocal worked alongside each member of EXIT EDEN.
It’s the first song I have across that encapsulates each part of my personality through music and vocals, let me explain. The verses and chorus sound very carefree and curiosity inducing; you picture your happy place of solitude when experiencing these. There are one part of the song in that’s split in two; there is a heavy part of the song that allows us to express that fierce side we all have, this transitions to a delicate piano melody as it brings your vulnerability out. All of these work together to create an empowering experience; to me, this song says that all these very different emotions are part of you and there is something so uplifting about this message.
Ever since this song was released, I have played it repeatedly. Especially when I need to remind myself how far I have come, being why this is my single of the year.
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What singles have made your year? Let us know in the comments below.
