2024 Best of Metal: #10 Oceans of Slumber-Where Gods Fear To Speak

Release date: 9/9/2024
Origin: Houston, TX
Personnel: Cammie Gilbert-vox, Alex Davis-guiar, Chris Kritikos-guitar/vox, Semir Ozerkan-bass, Dobber Beverly-drums

Opening up the Top 10 is Houston’s Oceans of Slumber. This is basically a joint project of husband and wife team of singer Cammie Gilbert and drummer Dobber Beverly. It kind of feels like this band has been searching for a concrete identity over the course of their career. They are heavily influenced by traditional doom metal, but they have made some forays into a more melodic southern gothic sound. This latest album sees the band fully embracing the fact that they are a metal band and the album really soars as a result. The spotlight once again is on Gilbert’s stunning vocals, but they really let the guitars shine. This is probably the heaviest album they have put out.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
10. Oceans of Slumber-Where Gods Fear To Speak
11. Haunted-Stare At Nothing
12. Blood Incantation-Absolute Elsewhere
13. Huntsmen-The Dry Land
14. God Is An Astronaut-Embers
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #11 Haunted-Stare at Nothing

Release date: 4/19/2024
Origin: Catania, Sicily, Italy
Personnel: Cristina Chimirri-vox, Kim Crowley-guitar, Frank Tudisco-bass, Luca Strano-drums

Hell yes! First of all, this is probably the doom metal album of the year. Deep, droning, fuzzy guitar and bass. Haunting (haunted?) female vocals overtop. Definitely one for fans of Windhand. Second, let’s hear it for Southern Europe starting to become a hotbed of metal. Used to be that metal was primarily the province of England and Northern Europe. But it really feels like France and Italy are starting to ramp up a whole batch of really creative bands with entirely different takes on the metal sound. I am totally here for it.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
11. Haunted-Stare at Nothing
12. Blood Incantation-Absolute Elsewhere
13. Haunted-The Dry Land
14. God Is an Astronaut-Embers
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #12 Blood Incantation-Absolute Elsewhere

Release date: 10/4/2024
Origin: Denver, CO
Personnel: Paul Riedl-vox/guitar/mellotron/synths, Morris Kolontyrsky-guitar/synths, Jeff Barrett-bass/synths, Isaac Faulk-drums

It feels like this album is every metal critic’s darling this year. And, yes, it most definitely feels like a cool blending of death metal and Pink Floyd. Blood Incantation has always had a very spacey bent to their sound. Hell, they even released an album that was nothing but ambient music. These guys are definitely working on a different plane of existence that a lot of the other death metal bands out there (i.e. Colorado has a lot of really good drugs). The result is a non-linear musical journey that will keep you on your toes.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
12. Blood Incantation-Absolute Elsewhere
13. Huntsmen-The Dry Land
14. God Is An Astronatu-Embers
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #13 Huntsmen-The Dry Land

Release date: 6/7/2024
Origin: Chicago, IL
Personnel: Chris Kang-vox/guitar, Aimee Bueno-vox, Gavin Cushman III-guitar, Marc Stranger-Najjar-bass, Ray Knipe-drums

Everyone has little bands that they kind of feel like are theirs and theirs alone. I kind of feel that way about Huntsmen. They are a band that I’ve had really high hopes for ever since their debut album came out. It feels like they are also a band that got hit pretty hard by the pandemic. Every time we get music out of these guys is a cause for celebration. Their schtick is kind of a blending of Americana music/themes and metal. I’ve always gotten a vibe as if they are a metal band that came about during the Great Depression. There’s a very Grapes of Wrath feel going on with their music. The Dry Lands encapsulates this vibe.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
13. Huntsmen-The Dry Land
14. God Is An Astronaut-Embers
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #14 God Is An Astronaut-Embers

Release date: 6/19/2024
Origin: County Wicklow, Ireland
Personnel: Torsten Kinsella-guitar/keys, Niels Kinsella-bass/guitar, Lloyd Hanney-drums

I’m starting to realize that this year’s list is a little more mellow than in year’s past. God Is An Astronaut is another band that is just kind skirting into actual metal, but I feel like there are enough heavy portions on this one that this selection shouldn’t be all that controversial. Every year it seems that an instrumental album makes it onto the list. This one is a mellow atmospheric masterpiece in which most of the songs are slow burns. This one is for a relaxing introspective kind of mood.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
14. God Is An Astronaut-Embers
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #15 Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore

Release date: 6/21/2024
Origin: Paris, France
Personnel: Neige-vox/guitar/bass/keys, Winterhalter-drums

France making its second appearance on this list this year with an album that pairs nicely as a counterweight to The Cure album. Alcest and Neige just make very beautiful and introspective music. The title of this latest release translates to Songs of Dawn and take a fairly positive spin on the prospects of life. The main message being that each dawn present us with new opportunities and different paths. Definitely an album of possibilities. Hope is generally not a theme found much in metal and it’s kind of a nice change of pace in light of everything in the world turning to shit.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
15. Alcest-Les Chants de l’Aurore
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #16 The Cure-Songs of a Lost World

Release date: 11/1/2024
Origin: Crawley, England
Personnel: Robert Smith-vox/guitar/bass/keys, Reeves Gabriel-guitar, Simon Gallup-bass, Jason Cooper-drums, Roger O’Donnell-keys

You’ve got two types of folks in the world: Are you a happy Robert Smith or a sad Robert Smith? Around these parts, we are most definitely a sad Robert Smith. No Friday I’m In Love bullshit here! Songs of a Lost World most definitely finds Mr. Smith in his most sad of sads.

Yeah, I know. Not a metal record. I don’t care. This album fucking kicks serious ass. For a band that has been around this long to create something that feels this engaged and creative is a testament to Mr. Smith. This is a classic gothic sounding The Cure album and it was seriously one of the brightest surprises of the year. This thing should honestly be further up the list and was only held back a bit due to its non-metal nature. Put this one on and break out the eyeliner cuz we’re gonna get moody!

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
16. The Cure-Songs of a Lost World
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #17 LizZard-Mesh

Release date: 9/27/2024
Origin: France
Personnel: Mathieu Ricou-vox/guitar, William Knox-bass, Katy Elwell-drums

For #17 on the list, we’re going for something a little bit different than your traditional metal sound. LizZard is a French power trio than has a very modern sounding prog rock sound. When I first stumbled across these guys a few years back, one critic described them as having a very King’s X kind of sound. Obviously, that piqued my interest. I’m not really sure that description is totally on point other than both bands being proggy trios. LizZard doesn’t really have the gospel influence of King’s X. Their sound reminds me more of a late 90’s sort of emotive rock. This latest release is full of captivating melodies, inventive guitar licks and a wonderfully rhythmic bass/drum foundation. I will caution you as you dive into this album to give it a full shake. This is one that gets better and better as you make your way through the album.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
17. LizZard-Mesh
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #18 Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow

Release date: 4/2/2024
Origin: Orange County, CA
Personnel: Scott Hill-vox/guitar, Bob Balch-guitar, Brad Davis-bass, Scott Reeder-drums

You want to go out into the desert and party? Yeah? Cool. Cuz so does Fu Manchu. I have a weird soft spot for these guys and every time they put out a new album is a good day in my world. I think these guys are so much better than their more well known stoner desert rock brethren, Kyuss. Their fuzzy guitar sound is just so warm and inviting that you can’t help buy want to snuggle up to a nice fire and just let the waves of stoner rock wash over you. Nothing too complicated on here but catchy riffs for days.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
18. Fu Manchu-The Return of Tomorrow
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose

2024 Best of Metal: #19 Borknagar-Fall

Release date: 2/23/2024
Origin: Bergen, Norway
Personnel: ICS Vortex-vox/bass, Oystein G. Brun-guitar, Jostein Thomasson-guitar, Bjorn Dugstad Ronnow-drums and Lazare-keyboards/vox

Borknagar just makes me feel cold. These Vikings from Norway always manage to capture the essence of the harsh winters of their homeland. And for some weird reason, they seem to revel in the fact that they are from a frozen wasteland. I mean, look at that damn album cover. Shit, I can barely handle it when it gets down to 60 degrees. No way in hell am I writing songs about celebrating the icy conditions outside. Anyway, knock yourself out, dudes, and go play in the snow. This latest release is a bit more up-tempo for these guys and they seem to be working in a little more of the death growls. Overall, it is kind of what you expect from a Borknagar album: lots of atmosphere and very grandiose sounds.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
19. Borknagar-Fall
20. Crypt Sermon-The Stygian Rose