CD's: My Top 24 of 2024

2024 was a great year for music. Result, ranking is hard. Still I think I found a list that makes all sense (to me). As stated before I don't know where to place Opeth yet as th3 album is too new and hard to get still. No worries as many bands influenced by Opeth did make my list. Two albums I only bought digital and I'm already pissed, so might get these CD's later. The only reason people make lists like this is to remind others on albums they might have missed. Warning: my list contains lots of extremely strong albums and I left some big names from the past out. So here we go.

24. Out of Darkness - Out of Darkness

Some US metal to start my list. Great discovery this new band with ex members of Iced Earth in it. Weird beard, but a solid album.

23. Amerikan Kaos - Armageddon Boogie

Jeff Waters releasing a trilogy with music that is differnet from Annihilator. This is the first one and I liked his ode to classic rock / melodic metal. An uplifting summer album.

22. Shumaun - Opposing Mirrors

Proper progmetal with great melodies, vocals and guitars. For when I need comforting after too many modern progmetal bands going quirky. 

21. North Sea Echoes - Really Good Terrible Things

Alder/Matheos but far from Fates Warning. More Tuesday the Sky with Ray Alder singing over it. Nice calm album Josie also appreciates when waking up slowly on Sunday mornings.

20. Piah Mater - Under the Shadow of a Foreign Sun

A progressive Death metal duo from my other hometown Rio de Janeiro. Pity they don't seem to be touring. Solid album, until the last song goes all MPB on us.

19. Warlord - Free Spirit Soar

Warlord coming back to live and even better touring Europe. This album is based upon old riffs written by founding member Bill Tsamis who sadly passed away some years ago. Their original sound still stands firm and so glad I finally got to see them live.

18. Eternal Storm - A Giant Bound to Fall

That other band from the new voice of Persefone. Epical progressive death metal that blew me away, but saw me return few times only later on through the year.

17. Cats in Space - Time Machine

Dark needs light and Cats in Space balances out the dark and heavy stuff in my list. If you feel like early eighties classic rock in superb form. Maybe a bit heavy on ballads this time, still pure class.

16. Borknagar - Fall

The masters of melancholic dark extreme metal do not disappoint again. Music to warm you through winter nights and sad I missed them live again this year.

15. Kings of Mercia - Battle Scars

Second album of this Jim Matheos / Steve Overland cooperation. With Joey Vera and Simon Phillips an all star band. Even better than their debut my favourite melodic hard rock album of the year.

14. Witherfall - Sounds of the Forgotten

That is four top albums in seven years of these progressive power metal heroes. Pity the masses have not discovered them yet, but those who attended their live shows in Holland know, a brilliant band.

13. Anubis - The unforgiveable

Australia's finest do it again. After shorter songs on Homeless, back to an epic concept album. OK cut into ten songs, but one long story of beautiful prog rock. Pity the lyrics did not come with the download.

12. The Moor - Ombra

With a bandname like this Opeth is touched upon. Maybe somehwat lighter. I had their debut, but missed album #2. So a welcome comeback of these Italians. A long album that flies by due to it's variation.

11. Marty Friedman - Drama

My other favourite guitarist releasing an almost fully instrumental album. Looking at the softer melodic side I can put this one on every day. When vocals are not needed really.

10. Cloven Hoof - Heathen Cross / Riot V - Mean Streets

Equally good. Two Heavy Metal bands existing over 45 years, with very good current vocalists releasing a very relevant album of fast power metal songs. 

9. Papangu - Lampião Rei

The most diverse album of the year title goes to Papangu. Telling us the story of Lampião Rei (which I already knew, so a nice surprise) they visit avantgarde, extreme metal and Brazilian pop in a blend that works wonders. In August they play Complexity, reason enough to get a ticket.

8. Frost* - Life in the Wires

Frost* are back and maybe better than ever. This AI. 1984 prog rock concept album of 85 minutes is a joy from start to finish. Maybe time to see them live on stage again.

7. Category 7 - Category 7

The thrash metal album of the year to me. A sort of Thrash metal supergorup, with the mighty voice of John Bush to top it off. Catchy, fast and thrashy, just like I love it.

6. Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere

The boldest album of the year mixing the death metal with the Pink Floyd so apparently simple. Maybe worth album of the year, but you do need full attention for 45 minutes and play it in one go. Missing their visit to Holland in May, slightly gutted as curious how this is live. Should be good as Starspawn was as well.

5. Sgàile - Traverse the Bealach

The ultimate soundtrack for long hikes through nature. As we don't have Scottish Highlands here, the The Hague dunes will do (where Scottish Highlanders roam freely). Loved this one upon release in January and still go back to it at times. The clean vocals make it prog/post metal while the atmosphere  hints at more extreme styles.

4. Anciients - Beyond the Reach of the Sun

This is progmetal of the extreme kind. Although the album contains grunts it should also attract those more into progmetal of the heavier kind. I missed their first two albums, but this is a beauty. Great artwork to match as well.

3. Inner Strenght - Daydreaming in Moonlight

In 1993 I missed Shallow Reflections by this band. Now they are back 31 years later bringing us progmetal from the heydays of the genre. A very nice surprise to me and when I ordered the album I got 4 other albums along, so now ready to see them live on stage (in Baarlo to please the oldskool progmetal heads)

2. Iotunn - Kinship

Access all Worlds was possibly the surprise of 2021. And now they are back even stronger. Just listen to opening track Kinship Elegiac and we have the epic of the year. Emotional vocals by Jón Aldará lift the album up. But the real heroes are the Gräs brothers on guitars. Screaming for a return to stages in Holland.

1. Mega Colossus - Showdown

Ever since hearing opening track Fortune & Glory on the Mostly Metal site I fell in love with this band whom already released three full lenghts and several EP's before. Turned out that this whole album is filled with catchy and hooky Heavy Metal that just makes me very happy. I went to see them in Germany and live they were as good. A new favourite band is born and you do not need to rewrite the book of heavy metal in order to blow me away. The album I played most in 2024 and everytime I feel empowered and uplifted after doing so. Check them out!!

Live concerts: My Top 24 of 2024

2024 was a very good year for gigging me. The list of great shows was endless and I even managed to miss many shows I would love too. When I attend a show I always enjoy the evening, so disappointments only came with cancellations. Manowar in Rio cancelling on the day without any information on their event page, shows once again that I should stay far from Manowar. Fifth Angel pulling out of Pyrenean Warriors Open Air and the French Airbnb cancelling my reservation was another low. But when I did attend it was always great. Musicon offered plenty as home venue, while another nearby venue de Boerderij turns more and more into a tribute and coverband hall, which is not for me. What appened to Nobel? from at least once a month pre-corona to not visited. The trend of diminishing prog rock in my CD purchases and live shows continues, but I do regret that I was not able to attend shows by Anubis or Blind Ego. So what I did see needed a ranking which is comparing apples and pears in many cases. The bands I list here all gave me a great evening. August being possibly the best month ever on live concerts in my life.

24. Bodyfarm - Baroeg 10 February

I saw Bodyfarm twice this year as one but last band on a festival day. In both cases the headliner could not come close to them thereafter. Among Holland's best death Metal bands for sure.

23. Disgrace and Terror - Lazarus 19 May

A last minute adding on their tour turned into a great evening. local favourites Rages of Sin opening and than D&T gave us typical Brazilian dirty thrashy death metal. Tiago joining for a while in his hometown made this one nice surprise.

22. The Hirsch Effect - Boerderij 25 May

Supporting Caligula's Horse, but being the more energetic and enthusiast (thus better)  band of the evening. 

21. Martyr - Zwarte Ruiter 19 April

Martyr live won't surprise us anymore, but when they play a bar in your hometown and you know almost everyone in, a great evening is guaranteed (so is a hangover the next morning).

20. Seventh Son  - P60 19 October

Highlight of Heavy Metal Maniacs were these sympathetic Japanese guys. Flying over for one show only, it was great to see they went down so well.

19. The Monolith Deathcult - Musicon 1 June

The Hague Death Fest had it's first edition in a sold out Musicon. Best surprise of the day to me were TMDC. I did buy their last album The Demon Who Makes Trophies of Men, but odd shaped  I lost it somewhere in my house.

18. Onheil - Musicon 27 January

I attended several of Ralf's (White Room Reviews) Loud & Heavy parties in Musicon. Onheil were the best band playing on all of them to me. Makes you wonder why I missed them over their 25 years of existence. Great blend of NWOBHM with black metal.

17. Plan Nine - Boerderij 7 June

.Arjen Lucassen and Robert Soeterboek joining forces to give an album that sounds like seventies Whitesnake. Great show, but I guess not for all the Ayreonauts in that evening.

16. Persefone - Effenaar 11 March

Two tours combining resulted in a Prognosis one day affair. Persefone were the winners of the day, as Cynic disappointed with a messy set. New vocalist making them even better.

15. Hirax - Musicon 14 August

Exumer headlined, but only one band ruled in Musicon this hot summer night. What an energetic show and what a frontman they have in Kato W. de Pena.

14. Angel Witch - De Helling 7 February

Another band not headlining, but ruling the evening. I liked Lucifer on CD and live, but Angel Witch dominated de Helling. Never getting enough of revisiting their debut.

13. Opeth - 013 7 August

Opeth giving us an indoor show during their festival tour. Class guaranteed, even if little surprises on the setlist.

12. The Anchoret - Sjiwa 6 October

The second best band at Progpower this year (even if Sadist came close) The Anchoret proving live on stage why their 2023 debut album ended so high on my end of year list. Fantastic band.

11. Alkaloid - Paard 4 July

Bach out of bounds meant Death Metal band Alkaloid mixing with a chamber orchestra setup and it worked wonderfully well. The most different show I attended, but how great to see a classical violinist going beserk on a death metal song.

10. Tygers of Pan Tang - Musicon 14 July

I Saw Tygers a few times over the past years, but this time they were better than ever before. A setlist visiting their whole discography it's the golden oldies that get most reactions. Very strong current line-up.

9. Witherfall - Boerderii 17 November

For the first time live in the Netherlands in full blasting set-up. Maybe not known enough to schedule a few headline shows, but those who know, know. Perfect US Power Prog metal and what a voice.

8. Mearfest - Queenshall 30 & 31 August

The whole festival is a special experience. Highlights over the two days Seventh Son (UK), Cloven Hoof (first show with the Tyrant) Slander, Tröjan and Gypsy's Kiss. Next year I'm back.

7 Crimson Glory - Sjiwa 6 October

The best surprise of Progpower this year was their booking of Crimson Glory. Some younger attendees don't get proper progmetal, but many people loved revisiting the late eighties. New vocalist holding his ground and bring on that new album.

6. Mega Colossus - Stereo Wonderland 1 August

A new tradition after last year's succes with Riot City, Hellripper and Jag Panzer? In summer I drive to Germany for an old skool Heavy metal show. Their album blew me away and they repeated same live on stage. A band for the future of Heavy Metal.

5. Warlord - Mezz 25 August

In 1984 I bought And the Cannons of Destruction Have Begun... It would take me 40 years to see these songs live on stage. Two guitarists substituting founding member Bill Tsamis (RIP) and a nice trip through their albums. Definitely worth the wait.

4. Riot City - 013 17 April

If you are into Heavy Metal and Speed Metal Riot City are the best band on stage in current times. Last year in Dortmund, now for the first time ever in Holland. Both times only some 40 minutes and I was already blown away. Now hoping for a headlining set in 2025.

3. Fish - Phil 7 November

Fish says farewell. His voice is no longer the same for decades, but what a nice setlist and his best band as solo performer. Backing vocals helping on heights and Fish remains the ultimate performer. You shall be missed.

2. Atheist - Fluor 15 March

And than to think I was in doubt if going all the way to Amersfoort by train. The most energetic set of the year. Kelly schaeffer has a young and hungry band around him and this evening was a total glory ride. Still impossible to follow his vocal lines I can have much more of this.

1. Armored Saint - Melkweg 9 August

Sometimes everything works out perfectly. An early show with no support means no rush in getting home. Further some cold ones on a terrace along a canal and than have a bite as perfect warm-up. Armored Saint the eternal underdogs. Love all their albums and setlists always respect all albums. Band in superb form and such an emotional moment when a last wish fan got Aftermath dedicated to him, sung next to his stretcher. Saints do conquer for over 40 years now, if only the whole world would know. Next year in Brasil? probably.

Anubis - Frost* - Oceans of Slumber - Opeth

A last round of CD tips for 2024. But wait, four albums 1 CD on the picture only? Meet the new me. With months abroad for the coming years I decided to buy some albums digital version on bandcamp. Spotify is still a no go for me as I love music, but sometimes I find CD's hard to get when I am around. So I tried digital and increase my library on the bandcamp app. By doing so I always have a large collection at hand.So here are the four albums I did not mention yet. The three I do not have on CD this time are bands I follow since their beginning and all their previous albums I do own on CD, so a little hurt is felt.

Anubis - The Unforgiveable

2024 was a poor year for progrock. well to me it was at least. And than my two favourite bands of this century both released a concept album of masterpiece status. Anubis from Australia formed in 2004 and released their debut album in 2009. This is their sixth studio album and back to concept album style. To me a welcome return even if Homeless' shorter songs worked well too. Anubis writes epic music, even in short songs. Beautifull guitar and keyboard melodies are the base for their distinctive multiple vocals telling a story of a young man joining and escaping a religious cult. Pity that the download does not come with lyrics, as that helps following the story. My only complaint as Anubis prove again why they are among my favourite progrock bands. Such a pity I missed them in October at Progfrog.

Frost* - Life in the Wires

That other favourite current century progrock band is Frost*. Also formed in 2004, I only saw them live after they released their sensational debut Milliontown in 2006. This is their fifth studio album, but as it is a double also number six. The story here is about AI, a radio, 1984 and total control. The lyrics are on their website and reading along, this is one beautiful story. Frost* always have been top musicians, but never these extremely serious guys, a disease that occurs in progrock. Jem Godfrey is the leader of the band and at times I do hear traces of the mighty Tinyfish of his brother Simon. John Mitchell is an absolute guitar hero, which is not recognized enough. the duo Craig Blundell / Nathan King is solid as ever and this album, might even turn out to be their best in the long term. So if you like neo-prog get this one.

Oceans of Slumber - Where Gods Fear to Speak

It was Prog Magazine that put me on track of Aetherial in 2013. That was a blast and became my album of the year 2013. Than their vocalist left and in came Cammie. Definitely one of the best female vocals in metal, with her warm and soulful vocals. The band basically became her now husband Dobber Beverly on drums and an ever changing line-up. Their first three are classic, but hereafter they became a bit samy to me. Their previous album Starlight and Ash runned the risk of getting too soft, but here the grunts are back a plenty and it still shows that finally a headlining tour through Europe would be nice. Not too soon though as first the Beverly family are expecting their first baby, so enjoy that.

Opeth - The Last Will and Testament

The new Opeth after five years and the grunts are back. Also a concept album and weird titles called paragraph 1-7 plus one song a Story Never Told. Well I can be short, I need way more time to get this album. Also the decision if I go see them live in Amsterdam next year, shall follow later (if not sold out before that, which is a decision of sorts too). So I heard the album on Youtube first. That did not work as I was doing other things. Now I read along with the lyric sheet once and yes it sounds promising. But too early to call and no place in my Top 24 of 2024 yet. Actually being this hard to get is a good sign, but do we have the time  and patience is another fact.