My Top 10 Music Albums of 2024

By tradition, I continue to publish musical newcomings that impressed me in the past year. For me, the past year brought almost no new original bands. My list of the best albums of 2024 includes bands I've listened to before.

Weather Systems — Ocean Without a Shore#

The reincarnation of the band Anathema. Sounds like a sequel to their 2012 album “Weather Systems”. By the way my favorite of all Anathema's works.

Favorite tracks:

• Synaesthesia
• Untouchable, Part 3
• Ghost in the Machine

Ulver — The Red Light#

Norwegian team that plays experimental electronica released 7 albums and EPs this year, and they contained the same tracks with the addition of one two tracks. It's a very strange approach. Added this particular variant to my collection. Their music as always - atmospheric and dark with interesting lyrics.

Favorite tracks:

• Hollywood Babylon
• Forgive Us
• A City in the Skies
• Ghost Entry

Nightwish — Yesterwynde#

Finnish epic symphonic metal with beautiful vocals by Floor Jansen. Symphonic arrangements are as always on top of their game.

Favorite tracks:

• The Antikythera Mechanism
• Perfume of the Timeless
• Spider Silk

Rendezvous Point — Dream Chaser#

Good old-school melodic progressive metal with plenty of synthesizers and modern production. The album has a lot of great catchy melodies, cool vocals.

Favorite tracks:

• Don't Look Up
• Utopia
• Fireflies

Frost* — Life in the Wires#

British supergroup that plays very atmospheric progressive rock. Frost* is the case when it's hard to choose your favorite tracks.

Favorite tracks:

• Life in the Wires, Part 1
• Evaporator
• School (Introducing the All Seeing Eye)
• Life in the Wires, Part 2

Caligula's Horse — Charcoal Grace#

Australian progressive metal band with a modern atmospheric sound and production. The album has 2 progressive epics over 10 minutes long and one at 20 minutes.

Favorite tracks:

• The World Breathes with Me
• Golem
• Mute

Amarok — Hope#

Polish band that plays atmospheric prog rock with plenty of electronics. Very cool work. This album has been on my playlist for a long time.

Favorite tracks:

• Stay Human
• Trail
• Perfect Run

Reliqa — Secrets of the Future#

The only band on this list that I heard for the first time in 2024. Interesting modern metal with female vocals. At times I was reminded of Guano Apes, but weighted with 8-string guitars and plenty of synthesizers.

Favorite tracks:

• Dying Light
• Keep Yourself Awake
• A Spark

Kingcrow — Hopium#

An old progressive metal band that I remember from 2010. This album is characterized by Kingcrow's original and recognizable sound. Great work.

Favorite tracks:

• Kintsugi
• Glitch
• Parallel Lines

Vola — Friend of a Phantom#

Danish progressive metal band. Powerful and dense guitar sound, modern production, catchy melodies.

Favorite tracks:

• Cannibal
• Break My Lying Tongue
• Bleed Out
• Hollow Kid

There are a few more releases in 2024 that I could point out:

• Intervals — memory palace
• Inventing Decibels — Visions
• Pleximents — Tales of Deception
• Paralydium — Universe Calls

See also my top 10 best albums of 2023