The Top 10 Rock Albums of 2024

Rock music continues to be one of the last vestiges of picking up instruments and playing songs the artist has written.  With metal having a more loyal market, it feels like less straight-up rock music is coming out, but then again it's not something I always look for. There is a very specific feel of moodiness, melody, and underlying mental health issues I seek out from rock music, and these albums touch on varied corners of that sound.  In fact, this year's list is more varied than last year's list. 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 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. You might find your next favorite on this list. I included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Rock albums of 2023.

10-The Jesus Lizard -"RACK" 

There is much more of a rock n roll feeling possessing this album. Yow's voice sits back in the mix, though when he comes to the forefront it's evident he still has his voice. There is a cool tension lurking under the surface of the rock facade. The rock n roll direction takes some getting used to at times,  but it's still better than the bulk of rock music coming out these days, thus earning its place here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-jesus-lizard-rack.html

             

9 -Rope Sect -"Entrangement" 

As a big fan of this band, we have covered every release from this German band, and they have yet to disappoint, so when it popped up in the old inbox there was a great deal of excitement. This project has never been content just settling for one sound and milking it. The album opens with a more familiar sound that picks up closer to where they left off marrying the metallic energy of their picking hand with the melancholy of post-punk. This comes with a cleaner guitar sound and not the overdriven metal tone. They are not metal, though this album does go in a more rock direction. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/rope-sect-enstrangement.html

 

8-Solstafir - ""Hin helga kvöl" 

I'm old enough to remember when this band from Iceland used to be black metal. They have been on this more rock n roll road for some time, so the direction never surprises me. The vocals are emotive and have more edge than your average rock band, The use of atmosphere works really well, as they start off the album with a strong dynamic balance.I like the direction they are going here, and think the more weed-influenced songs are better than when they try to rekindle the metal fires. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/solstafir-hin-helga-kvol.html

7-Bruce Dickinson -" The Mandrake Project" 

Despite being a huge Iron Maiden fan, I have never paid much attention to Dickinson's solo work. Sure I have heard and once owned "Tattooed Millionaire" and am marginally familiar with "Chemical Wedding". When he sings, he is unmistakable. It sounds like a more rock n roll take on Iron Maiden. It has more in common with Deep Purple or other proto-metal bands like Uriah Heap most of the time. 

 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/bruce-dickinson-mandrake-project.html

6-Brume- "Marten" 

I really liked this band's 2019 album. This time around things are darker and more organic with less of the atmosphere which previously reminded me of the Gathering. Thanks to Jackie Gantz bringing her cello to the party there are sweeping post-rock dynamics expanding the sonic zip-code way past the normal Sabbath pandering of the genre. It's a gripping listen. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/09/brume-marten.html

5-Poppy-"Negative Spaces" 

Some people want to call this album metal. They obviously do not know what metal is and their opinions are equal to the sound of a toilet flushing , when it comes to the subject, not only is this album not metal but other albums on this list are heavier than this album, and they are also just rock albums  This album is fun, it would be on the pop list but there is more guitar on it than most pop albums this side of Linkin Park have , who is another pop band have, so here it is since it's not even hard enough to make the hard rock list, but it's fun music. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/poppy-negative-spaces.html

4- Pearl Jam -"Dark Matter" 

This album comes closer to what you expect from them than some of their more recent albums that found the band taking more chances. Granted if you think of these guys as a grunge band, then you might find this album lacking in grit, however, this is their 12th album, and only their first two albums should really be considered grunge, as the band has ventured off into varied forms of rock and Americana since then in the 10  albums that followed these guys have a pretty basic formula to follow to be successful and please their fan base. Eddie sings and the rest of the band supports him allowing Vedder to do what he does. Side note great guitar playing .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/pearl-jam-dark-matter.html

          

3-Choke Cherry -"Messy Star" 

This band carries a raw grunge edge to their otherwise trippy take on "dream pop' that leans into the pop hooks. The opening song rocks out more and the dense guitar riffs pack more of a punch Their frequent use of subtle hooks that are highly effective. The loud-to-soft formula is very 90s but cements their songs as being authentic to that era which they pay homage to. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/choke-cherry-messy-star.html

2-Marilyn Manson - "One Assignation Under God Chapter 1"  

Manson is back. Vocally sobriety seems to be doing him favors. His upper range is not as strained. His 12th album is once again produced by Tyler Bates. It sounds like Code Orange's Rebe Meyers is playing for him and lending backup vocals, which makes sense as she has been a part of his most recent touring band. Lyrically this album is interesting and honest, it grew on me as it might not have the edge of his earlier work yet, but there are still a few glances back at his legacy, his voice sounds great and it's dark enough to work for me. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/marilyn-manson-one-assignation-under.html

 

1-Planes Mistaken For Stars - "Do You Still Love Me ?" 

The late Gared O'Donnell recorded this album while undergoing Chemo, before succumbing to his chance at 44. They were always too gritty and real to break through to the mainstream. Their take on rock n roll still pounds the song into you. Unless you share in the inner darkness with which these songs were conceived you might not know what to make of the brooding. To my ears it's beautiful. Some brighter guitar tones on this album than in their previous work, it's clear he was ending things in a manner that still pushed their sound forward. Gared you are missed

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/11/planes-mistaken-for-stars-do-you-still.html

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the Jesus Lizard : "RACK"

Noise rock became the label that most would define these guys with, though when "Pure" came out in 1989, I remember thinking they played their instruments too well to be a punk band, thought this was a time when music was shifting and the "alternative" label meant something more than a marketing slogan. There is much more of a rock n roll feeling possessing this album. Yow's voice sits back in the mix on the first song, but when he takes the spotlight on "Armstice Day" it's evident he still has his voice. There is a cool tension lurking under the surface of the rock facade. 

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More punk attitude seeps into "Grind". The guitar tones feel brighter and more organic, they are not playing with the same pent-up aggression they gave their 90s a subtle metallic edge.  "What If ?" is driven by a creeping introspection that serves as a fitting counterpoint to the rowdier "Lord Godiva". This finds Yow coming closest to his famous howl, as for the first four songs he has kept the mood pretty civil. "Alexis Feels Sick" is closer to what I want from these guys as it has an unhinged mood with an inner darkness smirking at you. 

Things got back more to a frantic syncopation, before tightening the reins into a groove for "Falling Down", which might not be as explosive as their earlier work, but is still effective. "Dunning Kruger" is much more rock n roll, it would have almost fit on rock radio in the mid-90s. The band themselves said this was some of their hookier songwriting, so this must have been one of the songs they were referring to. Not what you go into this album expecting if you are measuring them against the past but it works. "Moto(R)" bleeds from a similar vein as the previous song, a little happier than what I associate with these guys, and not as catchy as "Dunning Kruger" 

By the time we get to "Is That Your Hand?" they are beginning to bore me, but then I really like "Swan the Dog" as it has darker more melodic leanings and is a great example of how they can bring the sound we expect as fans and marry it to these more mature rock leanings the album goes into. These guys have been critical darlings for the bulk of their career, so you are going to read a lot of inflated praise of this album, I like the album but wish it was darker, and the more rock n roll direction takes some getting used to at times, so I will give it a 9, which is still better than the bulk of rock music coming out these days. 

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Tomahawk : Oddfellows

The fourth album from a super group comprised of the cool kids from the nineties alternative metal scene, Faith no More, Jesus Lizard, Helmet and Mr. Bungle. Earlier in their inception it was easy to dismiss this as another one of Mike Patton's abundant solo projects. The only distinction to separate them from Fantomas , his other super group was Tomahawk came across more like a hipster metal version of Damn Yankees.

"Oddfellows" finds the band has developed into more of a real band, not to say their first two albums aren't good. The first one sounds like Patton fronting the Jesus Lizard and the second one had a heavy Deep Purple vibe to it but either gained an abundance of listens to me though I enjoyed them when I popped them in , this marks their first album that demands heavy rotation.

These songs could have easily been on a follow up to "Album of the year" and sound much more like what you expect from Patton, sometimes to a fault when it sounds like he he's checking off the cast of characters in the vocal range. The song writing is concise and saves the day from this just being about quirky vocals. Age has done Patton's voice favors as it has more grit to it, from wear and tear of a career screaming.

The title track that opens this one has a sinewy riff that weaves its way around the drums. The verse's are sung in Patton's more baritone range and the chorus escalate into Faith no more territory. The ominous chugs are somewhat Jesus Lizard like, but tighter accents despite the angular tone. "Stone Letter" reminds me of "Digging the grave" in it's more straight forward approach, but is not the only ghost of "King for a day fool for a lifetime" that haunts the album.

"I.o.u" has a trip hop vibe in the electronic percussion which starts of the album and while we are at Faith No More comparisons this one would be "Album of the year" at under three minutes it's enought of a taste to avoid being plodding . "White hats/ Blackhats" is more bass driven and a return to the Jesus Lizard feel of the first album. One thing I noticed in the past Patton has said people look for meaning in his lyrics when most of the time he just likes the sound of the words, however it's clear there are themes being constructed here. I like the dissonant ring of the guitar here and Denison explores a lot of tones outside of the sphere I normally associate with his playing style.

"A thousand eyes" is suitably dark and creepy enough to make me happy. There's nothing complex going on musically just every thing is smartly placed and the space each instrument occupies is very tasteful. "Rise up dirty waters" sounds like a Mr. Bungle b-side from the " California days" it's a little silly to me and while it's trademark herky jerky Patton, it doesn't get with the rest of the album.

"the quiet few" gets back to the angular groove and the low throaty chant style. The chorus is another wink at "King for a day...", I do like the tight muted chugs that bridge certain sections, I guess this one could also fall more on the Jesus Lizard side of the band. So in some ways the album acknowledges in equal portions their collective pasts.

"I can almost see them" has a dark western feel despite the Tool like drive of the bass. Patton sings in more of Faith No more like cadence, if you are thinking of some of their more cinematic moments. I think my favorite song is " South Paw" , it's tightly coiled and hard driven even on the more subdued sections of the verses. I like how they take their time getting to the punch of the chorus , it's great song writing all the way around. The melody on the " you rubbed me so wrong/ please keep your close on" is perfect and this is one of Patton's best all around vocal performances.

Patton's vocals rescue the song " Choke neck" whose form and function would have been in question with a lesser singer. "Waritorium" is a tightly chugged winding web of passive aggression, like funkier Jesus Lizard. "Baby let's play" is a David Lynch like stroll, but is so languid it never really takes any form or finds its direction. The album with "Typhoon" which has a palm muted swing amd allows the drummer to open up on the unresolved builds, the melody never finds a hook to catch me in though I can appreciate more where they are trying to go than on the previous song, but it feels the album ends with more of a thud.

Overall this one is really solid and Patton is in fine form , though Trevor Dunn kind of dials it in if you consider his playing in Bungle and the more I think about the talent in the band that's backing Patton, then Denison is the only one who broadens the bag of tricks he brings to the table, the ong writing has with the few exceptions stepped up so I think this one deserves a 9 because the songs that are more noticeably filler are still better than most of the stuff pumped out these days and the dark creepy tone works for me.