Stormchaser 2024
A different kind of year-end list. Contains albums I either listened to for the first time this past year or revisited and gained a new passion for. List is topped off with my actual favorite 2024 releases. |
| 1 |  | Gorguts
Colored Sands
First begun to listen to Gorguts around when Ulcerate's new record came out and this one hasn't left the rotation for a week since then. The record is monumental and is quickly becoming my favorite metal album of all time. I'd love to review it one day, though I know I can't do it justice in terms of explaining the actual fucking musical genius that is contained within. Oh well, I will have to give it a go at some point. Also, now I remembered that I still haven't put in my homework for that other review a random album thread. Gotta get on that one soon too. Fingers are a bit rusty. Anywaaaaaay |
| 2 |  | Gorguts
Pleiades' Dust
Another absolute fucking masterpiece by these dudes, solidifying my absolute worship of these guys' abilities to make mind b(m?)endingly amazing metal. |
| 3 |  | Gorguts
From Wisdom to Hate
What an absolute banger by these lads. It's been less in rotation than the other two, but holy hell what a record. |
| 4 |  | Alcest
Écailles De Lune
A sublime record I didn't give enough love to in the past, even though I'm aware for for more than 10 years and have spun it two or three times in the past. Most of the stuff on here is just mezmerizingly beautiful and this is an wonderful package of forest fairy black metal songs. |
| 5 |  | Ad Nauseam
Imperative Imperceptible Impulse
Went a bit wider on the whole dissonant metal thing this year and man. This thing is so addictive, but it's too much. Too much everything. BUT GOD DOES IT SOUND AMAZING. Like there's this whole self-fellacio segment on their bandcamp explaining how much work they put in to make it sound as it does, and turns out they really weren't full of shit. every extreme metal band out there should hire these guys to set their sound up cuz this is just wacko. The bass literally melts my insides |
| 6 |  | The Antlers
Green to Gold
The amount this grew on me this year really surprised me. I gave it a couple of spins sometime in '23 and I felt a bit underwhelmed and bored. But I decided to revisit it earlier in '24 and just got it suddenly. One of my favorite albums I discovered in recent years. Sublime, magical, grounded, yet takes you places. To me it's a 1 of 1 and while I don't usually focus on lyrics, but these are just some of the simplest and most effective ones I've ever heard. Will need to 5 if I haven't done so already. |
| 7 |  | Ben Howard
Is It?
A leftover from last year's rotation, I just can't seem to stop listening to this thing. While I find it pretty flawed in places, I grew to love everything about the album, warts and all. Even though I can't rank it above Noonday Dream, it's my new favorite Ben Howard |
| 8 |  | Bill Evans
Explorations
Always in rotation, along with Undercurrent, which won't get a second entry here because I mentioned it just now. HA! |
| 9 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
Lullabies to Paralyze
Gave this another shot after a good long while and it hit differently for me, pretty enjoyable record. Definitely not in their top 3, but I'm glad it exists. |
| 10 |  | Lou Reed
Transformer
A record I've been putting off for some time, but meaning to get more into since I first heard it years back. Gave it a proper spin this year and it's very pleasant and cool. |
| 11 |  | The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground & Nico
Another record I finally decided to listen to. Pretty amazing stuff. Love the shit out of Nico's voice |
| 12 |  | Alora Crucible
Oak Lace Apparition
An honorable mention for the top 5 releases of '24. I feel like if I gave this enough time it'd make the actual list, but since I've been on such a DM binge this year, this sadly got left out. I'll make time for this baby soon, feels like the right season for it. |
| 13 |  | Opeth
The Last Will and Testament
For #5 we have ourselves a thoroughly enjoyable "return to form" in terms of the band actually trying to make music that didn't sound like plagiarized butt rock. I think with more time this will surpass #4, if it already hasn't, but I just haven't had the time lately to listen to anything (except for fucking Colored Sands and Pleiades' Dust of course). |
| 14 |  | Blood Incantation
Absolute Elsewhere
For #4 we have a record that is... FUN! Really fun. Found myself listening to it more than I thought I would. It's not anything groundbreaking though guys so keep your fucking pants on and enjoy the ride. |
| 15 |  | Ulcerate
Cutting the Throat of God
#3. New Ulcerate good. Not Stare good, but good. Really fucking good. Fantastic even? Yes. |
| 16 |  | Convulsing
Perdurance
#2. I put this thing on for the first time without reading any of the song titles. I was so fucking blown away by the entire record from the first go around. While my face was still un-melting itself, the bonus track came on and I was like... what? A Porcupine Tree cover? As soon as the vocals started, knew I was in good hands and I will allocate many of my waking hours to listening to this and future Convulsing records. A fucking Porcupine Tree cover! What the hell! This would've been my record of the year, had the pesky #1 not come around at year's end. |
| 17 |  | The Cure
Songs of a Lost World
#1. With time, this may reach or even surpass Disintegration for me. For now, let's call it album of the year by a wide margin, and an extremely strong album of the decade contender. Grabbed me by the balls from the get-go and is still clenching my sack with unreleting resolve |
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