2024 has really tested my mental resilience, even to the point where music couldn’t help me at times. As I start to recover from the burnout that I have endured this year, and make decisions that will be beneficial for my wellbeing in the long term, there are albums that have helped me. Whether they’ve heralded the start of recovery or been there throughout, here are my top ten albums of 2024.
10. Visions Of Atlantis – Pirates II – Armada
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have been a consistent presence in my music collection since I was sixteen years old. The past few years have seen them release solid albums both technically and musically. Their latest tale Pirates II – Armada is a magnificent release full of drama and adventure: from the poignant Underwater to the striking Hellfire, each track has its own story to tell. All these chapters come together to create this wonderful record, one I have been able to turn to time and time again for a morale boost.
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9. Grimgotts – The Time Of The Wolfrider
I have been following GRIMGOTTS since the beginning, and they get better with each release they put out. The Time of the Wolfrider is, in my opinion, their best release to date; it’s a remarkable album that will tickle those storytelling bones. By this, I mean that the structure of the songs is done in a genius way, taking whoever listens on a magnificent journey. I wouldn’t be the least surprised if this gets picked up for a metal opera or turned into a fantasy film; the songs would suit both of these perfectly.
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8. dArtagnan – Herzblut
I first came across DARTAGNAN in 2021 when I was going through quite a difficult period in my life. Their release at the time helped me through this. Fast forward to today, and Herzblut is currently helping me through burnout. From the swashbuckling Freudenhaus to the valiant Mosqueteros, their heroic melodies make you want to stand up on top of a rock and run towards whatever is standing in your way. This album also contains some amazing covers including AVICII’s Hey Brother, which was dedicated to his memory; Greensleeves – yes, you read that correctly; and my personal favourite, NIK KERSHAW’s The Riddle. Feel like a hero of your own destiny with this release.
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7. Celtian – Secretos De Amor y Muerte
While Spanish folk metal act CELTIAN have been around for a while, I only came across them at the beginning of the year, through a YouTube recommendation leading me to their single Serena. The beauty and simplicity of this melody lured me in from the get-go, so I was naturally intrigued when I saw they were releasing a new album. I was not disappointed: the magical melodies from this enchanting album pulled me through the brain fog of my burnout. On the flipside, it calmed the worries of being stuck in the fog, and allowed me to become curious of what was to come. Ultimately, the album spoke to me in many ways and helped me stay grounded.
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6. Negatory Effect – Societal Values
While I really love the albums that have boosted my morale, I also love those that match the chaos that’s going on in my head. These are cathartic releases which help reassure me that I am not alone. I first came across NEGATORY EFFECT last year through their album Never Trust a Tuesday, which made my 2023 top ten. Their latest album Societal Values has made my top ten for 2024. Their collection of weird and wonderful sounds is intricately put together to create some absolute catchy bangers – so catchy, in fact, that when you’re doing a completely unrelated task, these get stuck in your head for days. Amid all the catchy and bouncy melodies, there are some poignant messages amongst the chaos; then again, one must often endure chaos to get those important messages out there. Their message is “Headbanging not necessary, dancing compulsory”; you will certainly be doing the latter when listening to this record.
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5. Wind Rose – Trollslayer
WIND ROSE have been around for a while, and this is their first album to make one of my top ten album lists. Trollslayer came out at a poignant moment this year; it was released when I had moved back to my old day job to help with my wellbeing, and something about the opening notes of Of Ice and Blood lifted me out of the feelings of resentment and exhaustion caused by burnout. They gave me hope. My initial thought was, “Wait, what if this is the only good bit?”
Given that I am talking about it in my top ten post, I hope that indicates that I highly enjoyed the rest of the album.
I am a lover of huge-sounding melodies, and Trollslayer is full of them. While the singles To Be a Dwarf, The Great Feast Underground, and Rock and Stone provided the perfect tasters, the rest of the album offers up a smorgasbord of great tracks. Now that I really think about it, there isn’t a track on this album I like less than others; there are no fillers on here, just pure dwarven metal greatness. There is something magical about this album that drew me in and encouraged me to go back for more.
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4. Kissin’ Dynamite – Back With A Bang
For those reading one of my posts for the first time, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE are one of my go-to bands whenever I need a morale boost. Whatever mood I am in, I can put on a KISSIN’ DYNAMITE song and my spirit is instantly lifted; KISSIN’ DYNAMITE therapy needs to be a thing!
Their previous release Not the End of the Road saw the band move away from their lyrics about having a good time, and took them more towards the message that things do go wrong, but better times are coming. Their latest release Back with a Bang does this while taking a more reflective approach, the first example being first single release Raise Your Glass, which looks back at where they started and where they are now. The other singles, namely the seductive The Devil is a Woman and the poignant My Monster, increased the anticipation for this release. From the pumping first few notes in title track Back with a Bang to the reflective Not a Wise Man, this album is full of hard rock greatness. Other personal favourites include Queen of the Night, The Best is Yet to Come, and Iconic.
Back with a Bang is another solid release that proves KISSIN’ DYNAMITE’s consistency in producing great releases that boost morale and lift you out of dark places.
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3. Leah – The Glory And The Fallen
LEAH is an incredibly talented musician and her latest release The Glory and the Fallen is proof of this. This particular album was the first one to start lifting me out of my burnout. There was something in her music that spoke to me: there is a song on the album aptly named Speak to Me that has a stunning melody. Speaking of stunning melodies, The Glory and the Fallen is full of them. They are all different from one another, yet they all interlink together so beautifully and consistently. While this is an album that I can listen to from start to finish without skipping a track, I do have some personal favourites that I would like to share with you.
Sleeping Giant was one of the first single releases I heard from this album, and I was taken by the dramatic arrangements that this track featured. If this song was part of a fantasy epic, this would be the part where the heroine is trying to convince the giant either to let the quest party pass, or to join them. Mark Jansen’s growls add to the excitement this track offers up.
Unshakable is one of those tracks that encourages you to fully immerse yourself into the music. One of the best ways to do so is to close your eyes and let the music take control of your body. This track has a beautiful melody that takes you on a few twists and turns which encourage curiosity and wonder.
Revive is a beautiful song that allows you to reflect on things while keeping you on your toes, as you don’t know what’s coming next. The duet in this song is incredibly impactful and lifts you out of that hole.
There are ambient versions of the heavier tracks on this album that are definitely worth sticking around for. This is a worthy album to start my top three.
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2. Marco Pastorino – No Edit No Autotune
This was a late addition to my top ten due to it being a recent release. MARCO PASTORINO is slowly becoming a household name within the melodic metal music scene: he is best known for being in VIRTUAL SYMMETRY, FALLEN SANCTUARY, SERENITY, and of course TEMPERANCE.
No Edit No Autotune is his first solo acoustic album, and it further showcases the range of his impeccable talent. Ever since getting the album, I have had it on loop. Since this album is currently not available to stream, the whole experience of getting the physical release brought back feelings of nostalgia. The little details such as unwrapping the plastic covering, reading the lyric booklet, and putting the disc into a CD player added to this.
The first thing I noticed about this album was how incredible the songwriting is. The majority of the songs are about lifting yourself up and moving forward while acknowledging the bad things that do happen.
As you listen to these incredible songs coming to life while reading the lyrics in the booklet, you hear instantly that the title of the album matches its content. Each of the songs has a different feel, and tracks such as I Will Never Forget and We Were Not Supposed to Know bring TEMPERANCE to mind instantly due to the structure of the melodies.
You also get to hear another side to MARCO’s voice, which reminds me very much of Freddie Mercury; strong examples of this come out in the songs Far Away from Home and Wondering Where You Are.
This album is real, it’s unfiltered; it’s a lot like real life. If you’re a fan of MARCO PASTORINO or simply a music lover who is curious after reading this, this is an album you need to hear.
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NUMBER ONE: Tribe Of Ghosts – City
Since their emergence onto the alternative music scene, TRIBE OF GHOSTS have been causing a stir, and it’s clear they are not taking any prisoners. Their ingenious and innovative approach to combining an array of sounds leaves anyone who comes across them speechless, whether that’s in a live setting or listening to their music.
Their raw debut City is a cathartic experience that taps into every single emotion and feeling known or unknown to the human race. It tapped into feelings I didn’t think were possible to experience. Opening instrumental City drags the listener into the post-apocalyptic world that the band have created, whether you are ready for it or not.
City matches the chaos and pandemonium that goes on in your head perfectly well. The best examples of this include Hive, Reign, and Stargazer; with these, you have no idea what’s coming next, and that’s the beauty of their sound. It’s hard not to burst out with all the details here, as this is an album every music lover should experience for themselves, and I don’t want to give away spoilers. What I will say is that the impeccable talent of each member shines through magnificently. It’s hard to pigeon hole them into a single genre as their sound is that diverse; the single releases alone show this, and the rest of the album is solid proof.
While it’s not an album I have listened to on loop, it is one in which, no matter how many times I go back to it, I experience every emotion and feeling all over again. This album has you rooted to the spot until you have listened to every track. These reasons are why City by TRIBE OF GHOSTS is my album of 2024.
You can read more details here from when I reviewed the album earlier this year.
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What albums made your top 10 of 2024? Let us know in the comments below.
