Hard Rock is defined here as being, more aggressive than rock n roll,, but not dark or mean enough to be considered by Metal, by anyone who knows anything about metal. These are not the coolest albums, but the best, fuck what other blogs say, After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of 2024.
The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Hard Rock albums of 2024.
10-Bokassa - "All out of Dreams"
This Norweigan band occupies a similar place as Kvelertak. But are more stoner rock and not black metal at all, They have a healthy love of punk rock, so much so that Lou Koller from Sick of it All joins in on the second song. The riffing at times has a hint of 80s metal which works for me. Think Judas Priest or Accept here. The raspy vocals prove capable of holding melodies down.
9-Silly Goose - "Bad Behavior"
At first listen, it might be easy to write this Atlanta band off as a Limp Bizkit tribute act, but there is more under the surface. The zany rapped delivery of Jackson Foster, does lend Fred Durst comparisons to his suburban white boy approach. But these kids are hard-working and that extends to their songwriting which is pretty hooky, while they might not be skinning your ass raw like a chainsaw, they do bring enough of themselves into the mix.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/08/silly-goose-bad-behavior.html
8-Abrams-"Blue City"
This time around there is a heavier more grunge-tinged aggression that sometimes reminds me of Filter and makes me think of Soundgarden. The big guitar sound swirls around the songs. They are big and anthemic in their attack with nuanced verses that groove while leaving enough room for the vocals to howl and croon around . It's when they reach the balance of melody, groove, and dynamics that the band really shine
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/abrams-blue-city.html
7-Falling in Reverse- 'Popular Monster'
This album is obviously nu-metal for the post-Myspace generation. Not sure why Radke gets under people's skin, his rap skills are on par with his singing voice, and while this does not ever hit like metal it does have more balls than most rock music earning it's place here.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/08/falling-in-reverse-popular-monster.html
6-Modern Witchcraft -"S/T"
These guys play an ethereal style of atmospheric doom that owes more to The Cure than Black Sabbath. At times this puts them closer to Deftones. The melody is given more emphasis. The emotion of the song washes over you. Sounds swirl around you. It is heavier in feel than it is heavy metal.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/modern-witchcraft-st.html
5-Hidden Mothers - "Erosion / Avulsion"
This band combines elements of sludge with the hard-hitting post-hard core that is balanced out by melodic passages that create a somber dreaminess. The arrangements are almost progressive. It all falls together in a very organic fashion to find a happy middle ground.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/hidden-mothers-erosion-avulsion.html
4-Boston Manor- "Sundiver"
This band can switch things up from emo-tinged pop punk to a moody melodic nu-metal explosion that should appeal to fans of Deftones. They write catchy songs that stick to you which at the end of the day is what matters.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/boston-manor-sundiver.html
3- Fatima -'Eerie"
This French band made the year's most haunting grunge album with urgent vocals and an ominous ambiance, all works perfectly. The guitar carries the needed metallic punch to drive the point home as the bass anchors this down, with a unique songwriting approach. Some 90s elements are lurking under the surface here, and perhaps this is the icing on the cake for me. They bring plenty of power to the overdriven wall of fuzz
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/november-is-doom-fatima-eerie.html
2-Jerry Cantrell- "I Want Blood"
I've heard some of his solo work before, but it's this album that makes it clear he is Alice in Chains, and Layne was just part of the window-dressing to give their early work added darkness thanks to his junkie charm. This should have been the album that came out after "Black Give Way to Blue" as it's way better than "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here". His guitar playing remains iconic, as his solo is in every note.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/jerry-cantrell-i-want-blood.html
1-O Zorn !- "Vermillion Haze"
On the darker side of 90s grunge reviving, these guys kept the anthemic slant minimal, and instead cut themselves and allowed the songs to bleed from it. It is heavy with mood rather than hammering at you. This album took me by surprise and exceeded any hopes I had for it, It grew on me more than any other album becoming a staple of my weekly listening due to the honest melancholy that seeps from its pores. If you like grunge, but not the kind for jocks then this will be up your alley. Really can not sing its praises enough.
https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/o-zorn-vermillion-haze.html
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