Top 10 Favorite 2024 Albums

These are the records that I enjoyed most last year...

Better late than never, or so they say. If I am going to keep this up, I’ll have to get a head start on next year’s list. I like to hold out, in case a late release makes a strong case, but 2024 was over before I even started on this one, so that left every bit of the year for those releases to get some attention.

While I had assumed, based on the strength of the singles, that Marilyn Manson’s One Assassination Under God, Part 1 would make a strong push, the album tracks were a bit more ethereal instead of the hard-edged, angry songs I had hoped it would contain. Likewise, I struggled with whether or not to include Linkin Park’s From Zero, which was deserving. It is an outstanding comeback record, but it will get plenty of attention from the mainstream, so I elected to give its spot to another deserving record.

Like every year, this list is about my favorites. They are the records that I kept returning to and listening to again. That said, there were several tough cuts, as many bands delivered strong efforts in 2024. In the end, these were the 10 that stood out above the others on my playlist…

10. Scarlet Rebels: Where The Colours Meet

Every year, tough cuts are required to narrow a year’s worth of records down to 10 favorites. Often, that makes picking the 10th choice far tougher than selecting the obvious options near the top of the list. This year a newcomer from the land of Chez Kane and Tigertailz — Wales — fought off the other challengers to take this slot. Combing the pop-rock sensibilities of Best of Seven with the vocal prowess of a Start From The Dark-era Joey Tempest on vocals, the Scarlet Rebels delivered a record of all-killer, no-filler hooks that kept me coming back for repeated listens.

Hidden Gem: Declining

9. Remedy: Pleasure Beats the Pain

Somewhere between the melodic majesty of One Desire and the crunchy hooks of Eclipse, you’ll find Remedy, the passion project of writer, producer, and guitarist Roland Forsman. The band’s debut album made it on my list back in 2022 despite a late-year release, and this follow-up picks up where it left off. The catchy choruses and plentiful and the songwriting is consistent throughout. From the grit of Sin for Me to the Survivor-style AOR of Angelina, there isn’t a weak track in the bunch and this record cemented the band on my bucket list of bands to see live.

Hidden Gem: Hearts on Fire

8. Nestor: Teenage Rebel

Following up a monster debut album sets the expectations impossibly high, and many bands fall victim to the sophomore jinx. That’s not the case with Nestor’s Teenage Rebel. It doesn’t quite measure up to its predecessor, but it continues the comeback of a band that never gave up on its childhood dreams and is now living them to the fullest. Looking back on happy times and heartbreaks, the tunes on this record are melodic and infectious, the musicianship is sharp, and the vocals of Tobias Gustavsson are pristine. This record feels like one that will age like a fine wine and gain more appreciation in the years to come.

Hidden Gem: Unchain My Heart

7. Maverick: Silver Tongue

After three years since its stellar Ethereality release, Maverick returned with another banger in the form of Silver Tongue. Delivering another healthy dose of riff-driven, hook-laden hard rock, the latest effort is strong from start to finish and only a by-the-numbers cover song away from placing higher on my list. The originals deliver from start to finish, with memorable choruses in Sweet Surrender and Halfway to Heaven to introspective lyrical efforts like Time. The production done in-house by the band is thick and punchy, and it is a strong farewell record for departing bassist Richie Diver.

Hidden Gem: Evenfall

6. Eclipse: Meglomanium II

For many years, Eclipse set the standard for modern hard rock songwriting and productions, which makes the bar quite high for each subsequent release. Raising the stakes was the release of a double album in two parts. Meglomanium II delivers the expected Eclipse elements but will inevitably be compared with its more consistent sister record, much like the Guns ’N Roses Illusions records became rivals amongst fans. In this case, my Use Your Illusion II is Meglomanium, but that doesn’t mean this sequel isn’t chock full of quality tracks like The Spark and Until The War Is Over. I expected a bit more from this one, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t keep revisiting and enjoying it, especially after hearing some of the tunes live.

Hidden Gem: Dive Into You

5. Vain: Disintegrate Together

One of the most underrated bands to ever emerge from the ’80s, Vain burst onto the scene with the underground classic No Respect, and promptly fell victim to the corporate machine. Delivering gritty authenticity beneath a sleazy glam veneer, the band’s lineup revolved, but it remains the love child of vocalist Davy Vain. While he and the band have released sporadic but quality records over the years, none quite ascended to the level of that historic debut. In 2024, Disintegrate Together came close to matching the quality of the early material but still managed to sound fresh. From its clever lyrics to that familiar analog production vibe, this record is everything a Vain fan could have hoped the band would deliver.

Hidden Gem: Can’t You See Me Floating

4. Kissin’ Dynamite: Back with a Bang

Talk about a band gaining momentum. Though they have been around for more than 16 years, it was the band’s 2022 effort, Not The End Of The Road, that put them on my radar. However, in 2024 they released what might be their best record yet in Back With A Bang, and it might just be a worthy successor to the epic H.e.a.t II. Combining a metallic crunch with melodic hooks, this German band continues a tradition established by Scorpions decades ago. With memorable riffs and infectious hooks from the first song to the last, this received plenty of spins in 2024 and put this band at the top of my live-show bucket list.

Hidden Gem: Queen of the Night

3. Palaye Royale: Death or Glory

An outlier on this list, Palaye Royale is a modern band that I discovered courtesy of Remington Leith’s vocals for Andy Biersack’s character in the American Satan/Paradise City film/TV franchise. Combining Emo angst and New Romantic hooks with a rock ’n roll edge, the hook-laden latest effort, Death or Glory is filled with tales of sex, drugs, and toxic relationships. Though it might not seem like a genre fit with the rest of my list, it was one of my most listened-to records of the year. And, if my constant support has you Palaye-curious, the band’s live performance might just convert you, “and if you don’t like it, go on and cancel me.”

Hidden Gem: Hot Mess

2. Sebastian Bach: Child Within The Man

Playing favorites isn’t something I enjoy, but when it comes to singers, Baz is my dude. His unique combination of grit and range brought something to Skid Row that few of the band’s peers could match. Since he left that band in 1996, his solo records have ranked higher in my listening rotation than the records the band released since then. Though I enjoyed Thickskin and The Gang’s All Here, Angel Down is my favorite Skid Row-adjacent record in the past 28 years, and in 2024, Baz came close to topping it with Child Within The Man. From the quality of the tunes and the production to a more classic vocal delivering from the Marshall Mouth himself, this record rocks from start to finish. Baz is a lifer, and his passion for the music shines through on this one.

Hidden Gem: Hard Darkness

1. South of Salem: Death of the Party

With its debut album released appropriately in 2020, South of Salem burst onto the scene with its debut record, Sinner Takes All. That one grabbed me immediately, so I anticipated the sophomore release. This one didn’t take hold until I gave it a few spins, but soon, those hooks dug into my Hellbound Heart and never let go. Imagine that Hardcore Superstar, the Murderdolls, and Sevendust all joined forces to write a modern horror film soundtrack, and that’s what Death of the Party delivers. Like a classic horror movie that won’t turn off when it comes on, I just kept coming back to this record: “No sequels or prequels, no secret post-credit scene, ’cause blood always shows up black on the silver screen.” Like a horror villain, this one won’t give up until you finish it, so give it a few spins if you dare.

Hidden Gem: Death of the Party

Of course, these are just my humble opinions and a modest attempt to spread the word about bands I love. You might not agree, but I always enjoy learning about bands from other people’s lists, so feel free to share some of your favorites.

Honorable Mentions: Black Diamonds: Destination Paradise, Babylon A.D.: Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day, Collateral: Should’ve Known Better, Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution, Junkyard Drive: Look at Me Now, Judas Priest: Invincible Shield, Linkin Park: From Zero, Marilyn Manson: One Assassination Under God, Pt. 1, Mick Mars: The Other Side of Mars, Notorious: Marching On, Poppy: Negative Spaces, Michael Schenker: My Years With UFO, Smokin’ Snakes: Danger Zone, Striker: Ultra Power, Skid Row: Live In London, Stryper: When We Were Kings, The New Roses: Attracted To Danger, and Tuk Smith: Rogue to Redemption