The ancestry of heavy music is one of its most attractive aspects. Heavy metal, punk rock… we can trace the lineage and evolution of these genres like a constantly branching family tree that continues to grow, transform and hyper-specificate. A root system that lasts forever.
Over the years, genres and styles have merged to the point that there are seemingly endless ways to express yourself through heavy music. That's never been more evident than in 2024, where legendary pioneers like Judas Priest, auteurs of obscurity like Chelsea Wolfe, and modern hardcore stalwarts Knocked Loose can share the same internet airspace, if not the same concert or festival lineup.
When compiling our list of the best heavy albums of the year so far, we were struck by how almost every band or artist included sounds very different from one another. The level of individualism is staggering, illustrating how far heavy music has come and the endless creative possibilities that lie ahead. Nothing feels stagnant and the feeling of forward movement is exhilarating.
See below for Strong consequencesPicks for the best metal and hard rock albums of 2024 so far, and stay tuned to see what the rest of the year has in store for us in heavy music.
-Jon Hadusek
Senior Writer, Big Consequences
Editor's Note: Check out the rest of our 2024 Midyear Report coverage and see where some of these heavy albums landed on our Top 30 Albums So Far list.
Alcesto— The songs of the Dawn
A quarter century into his career, Alcest continues to masterfully combine beauty and chaos in his music. Call it post-black metal, blackgaze or whatever you want, but the French group's latest full-length work and seventh overall, The songs of the Dawn, is another dazzling work in his impressive discography. Elements of '80s new wave and '90s alternative rock are evident alongside extreme metal components, as heard on the absolutely captivating single “Flamme Jumelle.” —Spencer Kaufman
thanks to our partners at consequence.net
