Written by: The Administrator
This one admittedly came down to the wire, but we still got this one in before 2026 begins so all is well. If you've missed out on my long-winded justifications for why my Favorites lists habitually run a year late, you can find an explanation here. Long story short, this year-behind approach allows releases to outlast a narrow moment in time. I enjoy the process of reflection, and I like to think a shoutout 18 months later or whatever is nice for the bands involved. So! These are 24 albums from 2024 that are, in significant hindsight, still very much my favorite albums of 2024. In terms of format, this list follows my established convention, i.e. alphabetical and unranked. Genres are primarily metal and hip hop adjacent--someday I may split the list into different genre categories for the sake of covering more releases, but today is not that day. If you are at all interested, you can check out my Favorite EPs of 2024 here, and my Favorite Album Artwork of 2024 here. The trilogy is complete. Regardless of whether or not you check out anything appearing in these lists, I hope you're inspired to revisit a favorite or two from yesteryear. To the readers: thank you for reading! It means a lot and I am very grateful that you've chosen to spend time checking out what some random internet guy thinks is cool. To the artists: thank you for making music that is cool. I have very much enjoyed listening and writing. Let's dive in, shall we?
Ab-Soul - Soul Burger (November 8, 2025 via Top Dawg Entertainment)
This latest from TDE's lyrical master didn't seem critically well received, for reasons that don't entirely vibe with my understanding of what makes an album "good" or "enjoyable" or "poignant." Written as an homage to his friend and collaborator Doe Burger, this thing is loaded with the kind of sneering aggression and bombast one doesn't expect from a man know more for his pen than his delivery per se. But for all the hard-hitting beats and bars, Soul Burger is deeply personal and heartfelt. Perhaps not the best intro to Soulo, but a fantastic and highly listenable album regardless. Some great features as well, I especially love that JasonMartin (fka Problem) verse on the killer "All That."
Breaths - breaths (July 19, 2024 via Pleasure Tapes)
On this self-titled album, Breaths leans overtly into fuzzy melancholia--a move that frankly makes a lot of sense, if you're familiar with the Breaths ouvré. I stated in my premiere of closing track "embody" that while providing the same textured ethereal moments we have come to expect, "this album leans away from the more overt aggression, opting instead to deliver a masterclass in dreamy-yet-heavy shoegaze haze." The pop sensibilities here shine through quite endearingly, and the result is an airy, wavy, and otherwise beautiful listening experience. An excellent headphone album, if e'er there was.
Deserts of Mars - Dead Planet Exodus (October 18, 2024)
To quote my review: "Dead Planet Exodus is compulsively listenable. It is muscular and heavy, and fuzzy and atmospheric, and deliciously riff-centric while still maintaining a healthy adherence to hooky melody. There's enough meandering to merit a psychedelic tag, yet enough narrative structure to truly earn that 'cinematic' descriptor. Above all, the music feels unique in an admittedly very crowded arena, so much so that Deserts of Mars may very well have clinched their spot at the top of my personal list of 2024 stoner metal adjacent favorites." 'Nuff said, no?
Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal (August 29, 2024 via Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records)
Besides Kendrick Lamar, did any artist have as grand of a 2024 as Doechii? Her rise to a position of prominence is exceedingly well-deserved, and a real credit to her seemingly endless flexibility within an industry that tramples integrity. This project shows a remarkable diversity of sounds and aesthetics, but her powerful persona maintains the thread of cohesion throughout. She can rap harder than anyone. She can sing a mean hook. Her ability to create and maintain an intimate connection through unexpected narrative is second to none. Her approach to song structure is unorthodox and fun. Considering Alligator Bites Never Heal was technically only a mixtape, I'm very curious to see what kind of damage her official debut does. Fingers crossed for a 2026 release!
Hand of Kalliach - Corryvreckan (February 23, 2024 via Prosthetic Records)
Some of you may recall that I worship at the altar of Hand of Kalliach, and gladly would die for their debut, the glorious and masterful Samhainn. Against all odds, their sophomore album is somehow grander and more atmospheric, landing in the discomforting zone between tender and terrifying. There's an organic and airy and/or watery appeal to their sound, and here, a distinct lushness contrasts excitingly with the sawing aggression of the guitars. There's an always-interesting vocal contrast as well, with John's blunt bestial roars acting as the perfect foil to Sophie's arresting ethereal cleans. When it comes to melodeath/folk conglomerates, Hand of Kalliach represents the best of both worlds. Truly stellar stuff.
I AM THE INTIMIDATOR - I AM THE INTIMIDATOR (March 8, 2024 via Miserable Pyre)
Better pump the gasoline, motherfucker! A fantasy reimagining of Dale Earnhardt's last day of isn't your typical metal fodder, but, as is immediately apparent, I AM THE INTIMIDATOR is not your typical metal band. While the commitment to the bit is admirable, the whole NASCAR metal thing really isn't a gimmick, and the bit itself feels less and less bit-like as I AM THE INTIMIDATOR races along, spewing exhaust and burnt rubber with a tangible glee. The love shown here is palpable. Praise hell raise Dale, etc. At a mere six tracks, this absolute ripper is perhaps an EP by technicality, but it feels like an album and thus qualifies for album status in my book.
Kendrick Lamar - GNX (November 22, 2024 via pgLang)
I was elated to witness Kendrick's glorious and decisive victory. GNX was icing on the cake--a concise project with a litany of earwormy west-coast-as-fuck bangers, some heartfelt treatises, and some pointed barbs. While I'm certain that this is not his "best" album, it felt (and still feels) the best to listen to. Kendrick is the greatest living rapper in my estimation, full stop. The realization of his artistry and intent here is truly on another level, and while some may have missed the complexity of prior albums, I love when Kendrick says what he wants to say without the obfuscation. More than an infinitely re-listenable album, GNX is the pure distillation of a moment in time. I have derived so much joy from the project, and, more generally, from the vast time spent listening to Kendrick's catalog over the past few years.
Kurokuma - Of Amber and Sand (August 9, 2024)
Kurokuma have released two outstanding albums to date, and I forever regret reviewing neither. Of Amber and Sand is a masterclass in psychedelic sludge excellence. It is monolithic, it is expansive, it is muscular, it is primal, it is groovy to a degree that taps an irresistible urge to move with the music. On multiple occasions, one may find themselves wondering how many beefy riffs Kurokuma can possibly cram into a trim 37 minute runtime. The answer: always more. Highly recommended for fans of doom, sludge, or heavy-as-fuck riffs in general.
Lascaille's Shroud - Wyrmfire and Starlight (April 5, 2024)
The first of two Brett Windnagle projects to appear on this list, this latest from Lascaille's Shroud represents progressive death metal excellence. Wyrmfire and Starlight, based on Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree, is a single track that spans the entire runtime. It is expansive. It is epic. I'm endlessly impressed by the interplay between synths and guitar; the foreboding atmosphere and squirming electronic current meet forceful and driven riffage in a constant ebb and flow. While a 40 minute track may feel intimidating, this is immaculately constructed and delivers on its own ambition in magnificent fashion. A intricate and cohesive masterpiece nestled within a discography that goes wildly underappreciated.
Legendarium - For Eternal Glory (November 8, 2024, cassettes via Fiadh Productions)
Yet another prime exemplar of purple album cover excellence, no? Having followed this project from its advent, I can confidently say that For Eternal Glory was a huge level up for Legendarium--indeed, the central thesis of my review is that each subsequent Legendarium release "somehow manages to blow the prior out of the water." This thing predictably wields some absolutely ripping riffage, but also brings some frenzied aggression, punky stomp, and a lived-in old-school warmth that is simultaneously badass and good-humored. In sum: hell yeah, bröther. Horns emoji. Sunglass emoji.
Lowen - Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran (October 2, 2024 via Church Road Records)
When it comes to stuff I like in a metal album, Lowen's Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran checks a great many boxes. Stunning vocal performance? Check. Engaging songcraft? Check. Mythical thematic underpinnings? Check. An aesthetic that works well in a variety of environs, including both dark-room-headphone-time and the gym? Check. Crisp hooks and pugilistic riffs? Check. A title that invites both curiosity and playful memeage? Check. Cool-as-fuck cover art? Check, check check. 5 stars, no notes. Perhaps one day I will disobey Lowen's command and wage war against the demons of Mazandaran, but today, dear reader, is not that day.
Mastiff – Deprecipice (March 22, 2024 via MNRK Heavy)
In my review of the mighty Deprecipice, I closed by stating (prophetically?) that it was "an early contender for the favorites o' the year list." Well, well. Here we are. I revisit this one frequently, and agree with the past-self assessment that it "is heavy with a purpose; violent with a purpose...the execution is precise and crushingly brutal in equal measure." Special shoutout to the incredible integration of features, which feel uniquely central to the project and help keep things varied and engaging throughout. And while we're here, I must admit that the album cover should have appeared on the Favorite Artwork list as well. That was an unfortunate oversight.
Oxygen Destroyer - Guardian of the Universe (August 9, 2024 via Redefining Darkness Records)
Oxygen Destroyer, the preeminent Kaiju-themed death/trash band, has consistently astounded me with their penchant for absolute carnage since like uhhhh 2016. Guardian of the Universe is a level-up of substantial magnitude. They've never sounded so fierce, and they've never been so dialed in. They are ruthless with a notable efficiency. Snarling and intense, yet surgical without sounding clean; the definition of lean and mean. I particularly enjoy the thrashier direction here--the urgency and momentum simply refuses to falter. I'm fairly convinced that no one is doing it like this, nor making it sound this goddamn fun.
Rapsody - Please Don't Cry (May 17, 2024 via Jamla Records)
When it comes to the rap albums on this list, I mention storytelling a fair amount, but no one tells a story like Rapsody. Whether monologuing therapeutically, leaning into her braggadocious bag, or detailing the reality of her mother's Alzheimer's disease, she draws the audience into her world with an unmatched level of detail. Her emotional vulnerability is raw, and her claim of being "underappreciated but still the most respected" feels like a thesis fully supported by the complexity and sonic diversity of the project. Her elite-tier skill as a rapper almost feels like a given--on this album, she is past proving herself.
ScHoolboy Q - Blue Lips (March 1, 2024 via Top Dawg Entertainment)
ScHoolboy Q took his time with Blue Lips, and it most definitely shows. It's an album that, through its sequencing, feels more than the sum of its parts. It is intentional and poignant, a complex portrait of a rapper who has evolved through the height of his own fame and taking position of his life as it stands now. It's a sonically diverse platter, and he seemingly revels in the merciless switch-up from soul loop introspection to brash banger. He is simultaneously aggressive and elegant, and forthright throughout. "THank god 4 me" is, imo, one of the best tracks of 2024, and "Yeern 101" gives us a strong contender for hardest bar of the year with "I ain't never met god / but I bet he know me." If this list is any indication of my thoughts on the matter, I believe that TDE had a banner year, and ScHoolboy Q set the stage quite nicely with this one.
Scoured - Scoured (May 10, 2024)
Oh hey, another album that has earned a spot both here and on my Favorite album Art of 2024 list! Turns out you can indeed, on occasion, read a book by its cover. With each track feeling entirely distinct, Scoured's self-titled is an exercise in genre eclecticism. The atmospheric post-metal umbrella is broad and deep: if you're a fan of lugubrious sludge, blackened post-doom, and/or drone, there is something lurking herein for you. Despite the inherent sonic variety, it feels designed to be utterly immersive, with a distinct sense of slow-moving sadness permeating the project as a whole. Scoured is a fantastic listen for when the world feels too large and too loud.
Sif - Aegis of the Hollowed King (September 27, 2024, cassettes via Fiadh Productions)
The first time I listened to this album, I was doing yard work. However, I was immediately struck by how fucking cool it sounded, and subsequently sat down in the yard for an impromptu uninterrupted listening session, work be damned. The riffage is so earthy and organic; the tone so mighty and decadent. There's a sense of triumph and grandeur baked into the ebb and flow, and the instrumental compositions are endlessly stirring and engaging across the four hefty tracks. Sif's ability to build catchy and cathartic moments is notable, and I hesitate to use the word "epic," but Aegis of the Hollowed King truly sounds (and feels) epic.
Slimelord – Chytridiomycosis Relinquished (March 8, 2024 via 20 Buck Spin)
Chytridiomycosis Relinquished sounds exactly what the album cover looks like. What does it look like, exactly? Not quite sure, to be honest, but in my Favorite Album Art of 2024 list I did say that "it is grotesque and beautiful and lush, grossly gorgeous stuff." With the benefit of more generous wordcount, I would like to add that the art (and the album it advertises) is putrid, and swampy, and putrescent, and bizarre, and warm, and fetid, and putrid, and burbling, and colorful, and putrid. And also putrid. Slimelord have captured the feeling of gulping natural gaps fumes and subsequently hallucinating a new life form whilst spelunking through a moistly verdant cave system. The result is more beautiful than you might expect.
Soulmass - Principality of Mechanical Violence (February 2, 2024)
Appearing on my album art list, EP list, and now here, Soulmass has officially completed the 2024 triple crown. In my review of the ferocious Principality of Mechanical Violence, I closed by stating that it taken up position as the default album when it came to satisfying a craving for energetic death metal. That same staying power has been demonstrated across the many months between release and now--I throw on this succinct and thoroughly blistering album with intense frequency. If you too crave some high-caliber high-urgency pummeling death metal mastery, this is an absolutely essential 2024 listen.
the forest forgets - Of Wind & Willows (September 27, 2024)
A deliciously melodic and at-times hefty conglomerate of sludge, doom, post-rock, and alt-metal topped off with some absolutely killer vocals, Of Wind & Willows is definitely an EP and technically should have been included on that list. However, I maintain that this excellent release feels like an album, hence why it's been on my AOTY shortlist since the first listen last September. It is full, and vibrant, and accomplishes a hell of a lot in its short breadth. An underrated gem, regardless of runtime. "Disintegrate" in particular is an absolute showstopper.
Tyler, The Creator - Chromakopia (October 28, 2024 via Columbia Records)
Over the years, Tyler has only gotten better at creating cohesive album and developing the aesthetics that support a particular era. The (literal) art of the album is not lost on him, and the listening experiences he curates are truly second to none. On the sepia-yet-vivid Chromakopia, immersive storytelling and behind-the-mask honesty meet his frankly godtier songwriting chops. Chromakopia is weirdo and cartoony and heart-wrenchingly earnest, and often melds the extremes in a fashion that feels, if not impossible, at the very least highly unlikely. The result is fascinating, endearing, immersive, and endlessly stimulating. Very possibly my favorite Tyler record, which hopefully says something.
Volcandra - The Way Of Ancients (March 1, 2024 via Prosthetic Records)
The first time I heard this album, I knew I was going to run it back. And then I did, several times. The Way Of Ancients is a prime exemplar of precision and editing, with every song doing what it needs to do without indulging in excess flair. The entire runtime is exciting and invigorating, and the prominent melodic elements are firmly grounded in a deathy heft. This album is bursting with the kind of powerful and otherwise kickass riffage that makes you remember why you gravitate towards riff-centric music in the first place. It's engaging, highly listenable, and quite refreshing. You can't ask for much more than that.
Vince Staples -Dark Times (May 24, 2024 via Def Jam Recordings)
As far as west coast hip hop in 2024, I feel like this one kinda flew under the radar amidst TDE's general dominance, Tyler's album, and attention garnered by The Battle. But goddamn, Vince Staples put together an album. This concise collection cuts straight to the heart of his strengths: nonchalant-yet-emotive delivery, starkly catchy songwriting, introspective narrative-based lyricism, thoughtful curation. Dark Times is relistenable in a subtle sense--the individual songs trend towards a subdued earworminess, and the editing is so ridiculously tight. A uniquely satisfying album in an increasingly long line of uniquely satisfying albums from Vince Staples.
Witnesses - Joy (November 8, 2024)
Last but not least: Witnesses' fantastic Joy. An album so good it broke my streak of not purchasing vinyl. It is also an album that I had a difficult time writing about, and I sincerely regret not putting in the time required to review it in full. In brief, then: Joy is regal and elegant, a representation of doom at its most rich and evocative and emotionally vulnerable. The depth of the world is tangible--the instrumentation fully and completely draws the listener into the album's sonic environment, and the vocals are wistful in a way that feels profoundly identifiable. Despite the incorporations of styles that feel like they would clash or create jarring transitions, the songwriting is quite fluid. Everything herein flows, water-like, and even the most overtly metal moments feel oddly calm. Joy is beautiful and pristine, and certainly one of my most-listened albums of 2024.
And that's an official wrap on 2024! Thank you for reading, and for waiting.
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