2024 was, just as the year before it, a banner year for traditional heavy metal. Old stalwarts continued redefining their sound and the genre itself, new warriors arose to join them at the great feast in Sovngarde. As always, what exactly is and isn’t NWOTHM is fluid, and it’s ultimately up to you, the listener. I had the pleasure of reviewing several of these great releases, and you might find that some of my higher scored albums aren’t present on this list, that’s the power of the almighty re-listen. Those omitted from the list, but in the header collage are the honorable mentions. Just as last years list, re-releases and reissues are excluded, but new for this year, albums utilizing AI-generated cover art are automatically excluded as well.
15. Elle Tea – The Past From Which I Ran
A completely DIY project with only one man behind the name, ELLE TEA is a band unlike any other in the NWOTHM realm. I can only best describe their sound as IRON MAIDEN meets RUSH (think ASHBURY, if you’re familiar with them). This second full-length is arguably even stronger than their first, with some incredible melodies and a unique mix to boot. Admittedly, this did get a bit of triceratops bonus points from me (favorite dinosaur), based on the album art. From start to finish, this is not only an exemplary part of ELLE TEA’s story, but one of the most unique trad metal albums of 2024.
Bandcamp: https://elletea.bandcamp.com/music
14. Antioch – Antioch VIII: Gates of Obliteration
A band that has rather quickly leaped its way to the very top tier of NWOTHM bands for me is ANTIOCH. Now on their seventh release, and they show no signs of staleness or slowing down. If anything, Gates of Obliteration is one of their strongest releases yet. While I’ve always thought of ANTIOCH as somewhat floating the line between straight up heavy metal and blackened heavy metal at points, at several points on this record they flirted a bit with doom metal (in particular the introductory phase of standout track “In the Throes of Arcane Lust”.
Bandcamp: https://antiochmetal.bandcamp.com/music
13. Coltre – To Watch With Hands… To Touch With Eyes
A record that has been consistently in my rotation since its release back in February, COLTRE’s debut LP certainly did not disappoint. It’s doused in retro, with the production and instruments sounding right out of the 80s, which I’ve come to find is very important to me as a listener. Throw in the uncanny vocal stylings of Marco Stamigna, and this was a certified winner. While this list is subjective, I think this one is a certified trad metal classic alongside VISIGOTH’s The Revenant King. Honestly, the guitar solo in “Oblivion” alone would’ve been enough to secure this one a spot on my Best of list.
Bandcamp: https://coltre.bandcamp.com/music
12. Vulture – Sentinels
A few years removed from their previous record and fresh off of side-project LUZIFER (one of my favorite releases in recent memory), VULTURE returned in full force with arguably their strongest release to date. Chock full of blitzing drums and guitarwork that is equal parts emotional and shredding. It’s a record that I was happy to add to my ever-growing collection, and one that I keep coming back to. I awarded this album an initial score of 10, and I stand by that, its lower placement on this list is a testament only to how strong 2024 was for NWOTHM.
Bandcamp: https://vulturekills.bandcamp.com/
11. Tonnerre – La Nuit Savage
Tonnerre’s debut release is one that grew on me the most over the course of the year. While I loved it initially, ever subsequent re-listen, or even when just one track would crop up in my playlists, made me love it even more. This brand of Québécois blues-based hard rock probably isn’t metal to a lot of people. But as the world’s foremost expert on the subject, I decree that it is. So much about this record just works for me, the atmosphere, the mixing, and the overall groove, everything comes together to create a perfect good ole rock ‘n’ roll record, and I’ll never say no to that.
Bandcamp: https://tonnerrehardrock.bandcamp.com/album/la-nuit-sauvage
10. Portrait – The Host
Is it a bit too long? Maybe. To me, that just means that there’s more great music to be had! Portrait’s 6th full length boasted a runtime of almost 75 minutes, but it never felt played out or like it dragged on. Their brand of Mercyful Fate worship had some steep competition this year with other great releases from Stone Fang and Attic, but I ultimately chose Portrait’s for this list as it was the one I came back to the most. It had a certain gravitas to it that I couldn’t quite pinpoint. Plus 10 additional points for the goat.
9. Sabïre – Jätt
Since 2018’s Gates Ajar, I have been yearning for more from these Aussie/Canuck/Yank acid rockers. While their quest to be based in every Anglophone country at some point isn’t quite complete, their triumphant debut record was a feat and then some. Just the right amount of sleaze thrown into a heavy metal blender, culminating in a disgustingly rich smoothie of sex and blood. Littered with infectious choruses and exceptional instrumentation, Jätt is not one that simply can’t be missed.
Bandcamp: https://sabireacid7.bandcamp.com/music
8. Nemedian Chronicles – The Savage Sword
Nemedian Chronicles is basically what you’d get if Blind Guardian sung about Conan the Barbarian instead of Lord of the Rings. Vocalist Alexandre Duffau has a voice that is a dead ringer for Hansi Kürsch. Like Portrait’s The Host, The Savage Sword is a beefy album at just over 70 minutes, but also like Portrait’s release, it never felt as long as it was. Standouts like “Monsterslayer” and “The Thing in the Crpyt” sent this release into the stratosphere for me, and it’s rested comfortably in the upper echelon of 2024 albums since it released in February.
No Remorse Records: https://www.noremorse.gr/products?searching=nemedian+chronicles
7. Ice War – Venom
The most contentious entry on this list for me, and not over its quality. Is Venom a proper EP or more of a teaser for the upcoming Feel the Steel? Ultimately, I simply had to include this one. Ice War’s incredibly growth over these last few years has been extraordinary, from the somewhat muddy dirges of their earlier work to their current blend of heavy, speed, and doom. Along with some excellent lyrics that I can relate to pretty mightily, and Ice War is fast becoming a favorite of mine within the NWOTHM sphere.
Bandcamp: https://icewar.bandcamp.com/music
6. Flamekeeper – Flamekeeper
In 2024, I ventured outside of my usual comfort zone of metal and finally explored the more extreme side of things. While the Metal Archives described this as ‘black/heavy metal’, those blackened influences weren’t as forefront as I was expecting. Instead, I was treated to an album with such a unique feel to it. Flamekeeper has its influences in every melting pot of metal there can be (minus kawaii-metal… so far). More than anything, this was a brisk blitzkrieg (a briskrieg, if you will) of sound that never stayed too long, but also had a lot to say. Well worth the listen, and I’m still stoked that Marco reached out to us directly for review.
Bandcamp: https://flamekeeper.bandcamp.com/
5. Deadly Magic – …As Nightmares Gorged the Earth
One of the final releases of the year, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. An EP that only has 4 songs and not a second wasted. This was epic speed/power/thrash that was like a strange mix of Queensryche, Helloween, and Slayer, but one that worked to perfection. The only downside of this release was its length, being only 23 minutes, I was left wanting more. They gave me a buffet, and I was still hungry. Deadly Magic secure such a high place on this list not only for the quality of their debut EP, but also for the excitement that I have for their future. Not one to be missed!
Bandcamp: https://deadlymagic.bandcamp.com/album/as-nightmares-gorged-the-earth
4. War Dogs – Only the Stars are Left
Listen if you put the words ‘epic’ and ‘metal’ together, I’m automatically giving it 5 stars. When metal is made to be the soundtrack for some sword and sorcery movie or video game, that’s when metal is at its second best (best is obviously when metal is about Satan and scares suburbanites). 10 tracks of pure excellence. From the battle-ready “Heaven’s Judgement” to the triumphant “The Vengeance of Ryosuke Taiwara”, Only the Stars are Left left no crumbs as the kids say (that means it’s good). If you’re even remotely into bands like Visigoth or Manilla Road, then this is for you.
Bandcamp: https://wardogsheavymetal.bandcamp.com/
3. Servants to the Tide – Where Time Will Come to Die
Much like the previous entry, this one was of the epic metal variety, but with doom added in. I had been somewhat sleeping on Servants to the Tide up until this album, but on first listen, this blew me away by its sheer grandiosity. With the slow and orchestral build in “Towards Zero” serving as the perfect way to bleed into the climactic title track, I was entranced throughout the entire 50 minute runtime. After going back and listening to their debut self-titled release, SttT has become one of my favorite epic doom bands.
2. Castle Rat – Into the Realm
Castle Rat was one of two occult/sword-and-sorcery themed doom metal bands with female singers this year, but the other one was an entirely AI generated project and is thusly terrible. The Rat on the other hand is everything I love about heavy metal. Yeah, they have a gimmick, but that’s such a nice change of pace from the myriad of bands who are simply just dudes. Castle Rat may have glitz and glamor, but they’ve also got rock and roll (and the Rat Reaperess). While the riff in ‘Dagger Dagger’ would’ve been enough to get them on the list to begin with, don’t let their costumes and swords and the frustratingly voluminous hair of The Rat Queen fool you, Castle Rat are anything but ‘just a gimmick’, they let their music chops do the screaming for them and that created one of the best pieces of stoner-adjacent doom in years for me. HAIL THE RAT!!
Bandcamp: https://castlerat.bandcamp.com/music
1. Catakomb – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Not one that I expect to see on many others lists, as it seems I’m the only one who knows these guys exist, but hot damn this EP is perfect. With each track titled after one of the titular Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (the Biblical ones, not the ones from Marvel Comics), Norway’s Catakomb dropped one of the best albums of the year with little fanfare. This is why it pays to take a chance on a band you’ve never heard of. Sure you might find a dud, but you also might find Catakomb, a true diamond. With a musical style that both jazzy basslines, and vocals that remind me of both Messiah Marcolin and the almighty Freddie Mercury. There’s simply so many layers to be found in an EP that barely lasts over 20 minutes, and I’m so glad to have found Catakomb. With all of that being said, that’s why I have chosen Catakomb’s The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as my 2024 NWOTHM album of the year. Well done lads!
Bandcamp: https://catakomb.bandcamp.com/album/the-four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse
The Nwothm 
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