Music in 2024 has once again proven itself to be both a fossil of what has been and an exciting look into the future. As our team submitted their own lists this year, a common theme quickly surfaced. As a whole, this year’s most loved albums embody profound expansion — not just in a band’s evolving sound or in a genre’s footprint, but in what music can and should mean to its listeners. This year, we’ve seen artists boldly adventure into new sonic territories and we’ve seen others say what was previously unspoken. We’ve watched bands revisit and reimagine their roots, and we’ve cheered on the growth and evolution that makes music the living organism that it is.
All in all, the releases on this list reflect a year defined by bold exploration and thoughtful reflection.
A survey of our little corner of the music community, these records expanded our imaginations and understanding of what music can be — an even deeper exploration of emotion than we thought in 2023, a more potent medium for storytelling than we knew before, and a stronger connection to something greater than ourselves.
Quite frankly, it was a challenge to list these in any kind of order, simply because each record pushed music forward in such unique ways that to put them all on the same podium feels somewhat unjust. However, this list is not just a ranking; it’s a snapshot of this moment in music history where the artists we heard took risks, challenged conformity, and created something enduring.
With that, HM is proud to present our top 25 albums of 2024.
25
Foreign Hands
What’s Left Unsaid
Starting off the list is a fresh, but nostalgic revival of classic early aughts metalcore. In their 2024 release, Foreign Hands fused a myriad of influences. Between frontman Tyler Norris’s notable high screams and guitarist Jack Beaton’s melodic counterparts, the albums vocals boast the record’s range and depth — a perfect pairing with the raw instrumentals, relentless rhythm, and intense delivery.
24
Anberlin
Vega
This year, Anberlin ushered in the next phase of the band’s evolution with their new album, Vega. The record is bolstered with classic Anberlin sound and songwriting, with the addition of Matty Mullins in a few pillar tracks, and all together, poses a clear step into sonic experimentation. While these changes have garnered mixed feelings amongst fans, the band’s latest album presents a mature side of the band, along with the heavy-hitting moments fans have come to crave. Sputnik Music describes Vega as “a perplexing, yet excellent, moment in Anberlin’s history,” and we couldn’t agree more.
23
Gloomchild
Midnight in Limbo
Praised by critics and fans alike, Gloomchild’s latest release — a three-year venture — is the awaited artistic conclusion to their previous work. A true testament to the band’s growth, the conceptual and musical depth in Midnight in Limbo has garnered “perfection” status for a number of listeners. On The BlackSheep Podcast, host Cullen Mack said, “It’s a level of talent that has markedly improved, and it’s easy to hear from the get go, and it’s every single person in the band.”
Hear Gloomchild on The BlackSheep Podcast »
22
Gouge Away
Deep Sage
Met with widespread acclaim, Gouge Away’s 2024 release, Deep Sage, fuses post-hardcore intensity with the more nuanced top notes of grunge and shoegaze. “You get a lot of the really fast punk beats, but then you have all the really interesting dynamic instrumentation in other songs,” stated BlackSheep Podcast host Mason Mennenga. Perhaps most profoundly, their newest record showcases their ability to balance delicacy and finesse with gritty, unrelenting passion.
21
Fit For An Autopsy
The Nothing That Is
As to be expected, Fit For An Autopsy has put out another record of immense quality. While there have been mixed reviews regarding the album’s memorability in comparison to their previous work, what is clear is that the band’s risk of incorporating more clean vocals, softer moments, and emotional depth paid off, garnering both immediate and growing praise from long-time listeners.
20
The Story So Far
I Want to Disappear
The Story So Far consistently leads with catchy hooks, unmatched energy, and a pure punk-rock spirit. What stands out most, perhaps, about their 2024 album (in addition to those unshaken truths) is vocalist Parker Cannon’s growth as a songwriter. The record features tracks that stand firmly on the same ground as some of their other timeless hits, while also pushing the band’s sound and content simultaneously back to their roots and further into innovation.
19
Gaerea
Coma
Speaking of songwriting, Gaerea’s Coma sings similar praise. New Noise Magazine described the record as “sheer audial poetry” and “emotionally breathtaking.” Between the production quality and the honed balance of instrumentation and vocal prominence, the band’s commitment to pushing the bounds of black metal is front and center in their latest release.
18
SeeYouSpaceCowboy
Coup de Grâce
A unique blend of styles unified by the raw excitement and ferocity of classic emo metalcore, SeeYouSpaceCowboy dropped an innovative and dramatic anchor in the heavy music scene with Coup de Grâce. The songwriting and delivery on the album can only be described as cinematic and captivating, amplified by the band’s deeply dynamic personalities, who collectively bring it to life.
17
Convictions
The Fear of God
If there’s a band that embodies perseverance and grit, it’s Convictions. From album to album, the band’s discography tells a poignant story of what it means to be human, and their 2024 release delves even deeper into the vulnerability it takes to face the world with faith. The Fear of God matches the devastating, yet hopeful content with the band’s ever-growing technical prowess, leaving listeners both satisfied and hungry for more.
16
Lightworker
How the Beautiful Decay
As the genre unfolds, it becomes clearer that a successful metalcore record rests on its ability to balance harshness with melody — in both vocals and instrumentation. That balance is exactly what fuels Lightworker’s new album, How the Beautiful Decay. On The BlackSheep Podcast, Mason noted that the album, “feels very nostalgic. It brings me back to mid- to late-2000s metalcore…and I love that era of production.” Cullen also added that it’s “melodic metalcore on steroids,” and “a lot more complex than [their] last album.” The story told from track to track, capped by a closing song that rivals the greats, showcases Lightworker’s authentic love of their genre and commitment to excellence.
Hear Lightworker on The BlackSheep Podcast »
15
Project 86
Omni Pt. 2
The second installment in Project 86’s Omni project, Part 2 delivers a cinematic narrative that is an ode of Andrew Schwab’s larger-than-life imagination and corresponding talent. As noted on The BlackSheep Podcast, between the two albums, “there’s not a single drop in quality.” The record’s thick story, eerie atmosphere, and crushing brutality creates an immersive listening experience no Project 86 fan can resist.
Hear Project 86 on The BlackSheep Podcast »
14
Being As An Ocean
Death Can Wait
Pulling from the band’s roots, but with undeniable momentum toward their future, Being As An Ocean’s 2024 record, Death Can Wait, is exceptional portrait of life and death. The thematically powerful message, delivered in Joel Quartuccio’s potent spoken word style, offers fans an up close and personal look into a deeply human experience, creating a shared space of chemistry and a sonic celebration between artist and listeners.
13
Erra
Cure
Erra’s new record broke into 2024 with the same fury the band has led with in every release to date. With a shift toward rhythm and away from the more technical riffs their previous albums were known for, the band sinks deeper into the atmospheric elements of their artillery in Cure. Kerrang! stated that Cure showcases the “sonic power of metalcore when the genre is executed with due care and craft,” and we couldn’t agree more.
12
Imminence
The Black
“From Sweden, with love,” Imminence has permeated the metalcore scene with their eclectic and timeless personas, immersive and consuming experience, and a heaviness that’s sewn together in each track with passionate strings. Vocalist Eddie Berg will wield the same instrument to weave gorgeous melodies in between the perfected guitar tones, and also scream into its pickups for a visceral crescendo of emotion. Since the band started gaining momentum, it was clear they had an artistic flair no one had seen before, and The Black only intensifies it.
11
Kublai Khan
Exhibition of Prowess
As unyielding and brutal as ever, Kublai Khan does not disappoint with their 2024 album, Exhibition of Prowess. True to its name, the album brandishes the band’s full scope of musical strengths and personal style in a mere 24 minutes. The filthy tones, powerhouse vocals, and relentless energy rounds out their discography while unapologetically carving its own place in the metal landscape.
10
Better Lovers
Highly Irresponsible
Better Lovers’s music can only be described as turned-up metalcore dripping with hardcore punk attitude. For as loud and aggressive as they are, the supergroup’s debut full-length shows just how tasteful and nuanced the heavy music kingpins are. Like a right hook to the face, Highly Irresponsible delivers a cacophony of chaos, an animalistic rage, and a proper, rowdy party.
9
Knocked Loose
You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
A potentially controversial pick for us this year is Knocked Loose’s You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To. With its bold themes of self-reflection, oppression, blind optimism, death, and even religious hypocrisy, Knocked Loose unleashes their honest doubts and wrestlings with the world, delivered with vehement force and vicious instrumentation. While some may get tangled in what the album appears to be on the surface, its uncomfortable invitation to reflect remains part of its creative power. And while its content leaves an unresolved aftertaste, its raw delivery and groundbreaking reach is certainly something to celebrate within heavy music.
8
Tigerwine
Toil & Spin
Tigerwine’s masterful record, Toil & Spin, has garnered attention from both the metalcore and alternative rock corners of the music community. The BlackSheep Podcast notes that “the riffs on this record are insane. It’s one after another after another. They’re so expertly and musically crafted.” Between its pristine musicianship, its full low-end, and its thoughtful production, the record reflects the band’s unstoppable growth and each members’ vibrant individual creativity.
Hear Tigerwine on The BlackSheep Podcast »
7
Mt. Onsra
Sacred Time
Mt. Onsra is an unexpected pillar of sonic discovery, and their 2024 album’s intricate composition and unconventional beauty make it a standout for the year. The duo’s use of texture, intellect, and dynamic storytelling throughout Sacred Time evoke a spirit of exploration that transcends the tangible music and carries listeners to a higher experience. On The BlackSheep Podcast, Mason described the duo as “immensely talented,” and Cullen added, “It’s like if Radiohead, a post-rock band, Slint, and Tool were one band melded together. It is such an interesting sound and it is done so well, and it’s only a two-piece. I’m blown away with the talent in these two guys.”
Hear Mt. Onsra on The BlackSheep Podcast »
6
State Faults
Children of the Moon
Another bold release that undoubtedly earned its spot in our top 25 is State Faults’s Children of the Moon. The BlackSheep Podcast describes the band’s sound as a very “artsy version of hardcore.” The album is, indeed, one of the most artistic choices in this year’s lineup, painting an expansive landscape through which to be consumed. In their latest release, the band weaves together layers of poetic music and lyrics that electrify on our instinct to be drawn in and astonished.
5
Dead Poet Society
Fission
Just when we think Dead Poet Society has peaked, they release an album like Fission. Between the absolutely electric chemistry between these bandmates — evident in their tasteful dance of riffs and groove — and the songs’ dynamic impact, Fission, from beginning to end, has listeners at its beck and call. In his review of the album, HM contributor Tom Lamm stated, “If the band’s goal was to ‘leave them with the truth,’ as singer Jack Underkofler stated upon the record’s release, it’s safe to say Fission is a respectable and shining notch in their belt.”
4
Touché Amoré
Spiral In A Straight Line
Touché Amoré’s sixth studio album is a brief, but definite flex in their discography. A continuation of their last record, Lament, Spiral in a Straight Line’s energy carries the same adventurous swagger with an extra dose of refreshing candor. On The BlackSheep Podcast, Cullen describes it as “the kind of writing that makes [you] feel like [you’re] a teen again — feeling things very very deeply.” Featuring collaborations with Lou Barlow and Julien Baker, the band continues to shine in their originality and vulnerability in their latest release, while allowing the music and world around them influence their momentum in the most authentic way possible.
3
Meadows
Familiar With Pain
Anyone familiar with the current Facedown lineup will know of the fast success Meadows found in the last few years, and will likely share in the collective respect of their music and their character. A potent concept album, Familiar With Pain explores the thoughts and themes chronologically from Palm Sunday through the flogging of Christ that took place on that fateful Good Friday. With musical prowess and radiating conviction, the band’s raw emotion and resolve lead the album through its journey, and their extraordinary fortitude through personal loss this year only elevates its potency.
Hear Meadows on The BlackSheep Podcast »
2
My Epic
Loriella
Five years after their last release — five years of life, growth, and evolution — and My Epic returns with one of the most comforting, poignant, and resonant albums of the year. Loriella reaches back in time, pulling from the band’s early sound while creating an entirely new space to explore in their repertoire. The masterful use of instruments and clear understanding of emotional storytelling set the stage for a journey well worth the wait. “And what a journey Loriella really is,” said HM contributor Walter Lyle. “Both musically and lyrically, it showcases the maturity and growth of the band when compared to My Epic’s other phenomenal work. Listeners are treated to the same introspective and poetic writing style that they’ve come to know and love from this band.”
Hear My Epic on The BlackSheep Podcast »
1
Foxing
Foxing
HM’s top album of 2024 is unexpected, but not in the sense of the band’s capacity or talent, simply in the choices they made on their 2024 release. Foxing’s self-titled record “is everything I love about not just heavy music, but music,” stated Cullen on The BlackSheep Podcast. A departure from their indie rock roots, its ambition and weight are undeniable and the experience of hearing it is deeply cerebral, visceral, and somatic. While the record is a deviation from their previous sound in many ways, in others — and in a more true sense — it’s just a level deeper into what has always been there. Laying their souls bare in this release, Foxing humbly offers their listeners “lyrics that hit you like a freight train, great riffs, experimental textures, everything…”
EP Notable Mentions
Northlane
Mirror’s Edge
Hear Northlane on The BlackSheep Podcast »
Greyhaven
Stereo Grief
Bloodlines
Holiness Cries
