Favorite New Music 2024

I know it might be too soon for some of you, but I've been working on my list of favorite releases this year.
I purchased 11 new releases and 3 reissues/compilations.  So I will probably do a top 5 or 6 list of new favorite music.

1. Human Code - Break The Silence
2. Hard Road - Change The World (only complaint is it needs more Alldat compositions, but fantastic blues-based rock and roll!)
3. Saint - Immortalizer (great comeback from the previous dud of an album)
4. Warpriest - Gloombreaker (so sad this will be the last one)
5. Stryper - When We Were Kings (this one sounds more like their 80's output than any other album since the reunion)
6. Whitecross - Fear No Evil (fun rocking album with just one too many ballads, well done, I really hope they do a follow-up)

Didn't make the list...
Van Zant - Always Look Up, This is a good album, lots of talent and recorded well, just too much modern country influence on over half the of the album.  The songs I like, I really do like, but half of them I feel like skipping.
The Brave - Carnival of Sins, again really well recorded and lots of musical talent, but very samey and feels too long by the time I finally get through it.

Best Reissue: Battlecry - Red White And Blue: And Beyond, this is a fun rock album and even the bonus live material is quite good.  Gotta hand it to Roxx, they do a great job with these OOP reissues.

What was your favorite new music this year?

In no particular order, I like/love all of these. Sorry for the lack of commentary on them, I just like them ok??   

All For The King – Darkest Before Dawn
ApologetiX: Unchained Medley
Brad Smith: Broken Bones & Bullet Holes 
Latter Reign: Order to Chaos
Luis Cardenas – Stages 
Motivik: Renouncement
Rainforce: Almost Holy
Saint: Immortalizer
Shining Force: Spiritual Warfare
Stryper: When We Were Kings
Transcendent – Awaken
VanZant – Always Look Up
WhiteCross - Fear no Evil

No commentary needed my friend.  

I will comment on the Van Zant. I like it. I don't love it. I see me and Lisa listening to it together on trips, but I doubt I'll ever come back to it by myself. I love the message, but there's not enough Southern Rock on it like I was hoping.

I didn't buy much this year. But here's my top 3...


1 - FLOOD - Ripped Into Exile
Great to hear Guy and Gary once again. I know some folks talked about the production of it not being top notch, but I didn't really notice anything that put me off.  Love the subject material, love the music, love the fact that it's 10 heavy songs, love the fact that Guy and Gary are still singing and playing together.  Easily my favourite of the year.

2 - SAINT - Immortalizer
Another great Saint album, and fits in well with their last album. I haven't had enough time to listen to this as much as I would like, but it's still an incredible album.

3 - MOTIVIK - Renouncement.
Slightly too heavy for me, but there's this Tourniquet sound in it that I find compelling. I think they've done an exceptional job on the whole album.

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

I will comment on the Van Zant. I like it. I don't love it. I see me and Lisa listening to it together on trips, but I doubt I'll ever come back to it by myself. I love the message, but there's not enough Southern Rock on it like I was hoping.

That's pretty much exactly the way I was feeling.  I really wanted it to be more southern rock, bu I'll probably listen to it on occasion though.

Fundy wrote:

I didn't buy much this year. But here's my top 3...


1 - FLOOD - Ripped Into Exile
Great to hear Guy and Gary once again. I know some folks talked about the production of it not being top notch, but I didn't really notice anything that put me off.  Love the subject material, love the music, love the fact that it's 10 heavy songs, love the fact that Guy and Gary are still singing and playing together.  Easily my favourite of the year.

2 - SAINT - Immortalizer
Another great Saint album, and fits in well with their last album. I haven't had enough time to listen to this as much as I would like, but it's still an incredible album.

3 - MOTIVIK - Renouncement.
Slightly too heavy for me, but there's this Tourniquet sound in it that I find compelling. I think they've done an exceptional job on the whole album.

Wow, you are only sharing one title with me!  That's not cool!!! 

I expect you to come back after your Christmas haul and add at least two more titles to the list!

Staybrite wrote:

I know it might be too soon for some of you, but I've been working on my list of favorite releases this year.
I purchased 11 new releases and 3 reissues/compilations.  So I will probably do a top 5 or 6 list of new favorite music.

1. Human Code - Break The Silence
2. Hard Road - Change The World (only complaint is it needs more Alldat compositions, but fantastic blues-based rock and roll!)
3. Saint - Immortalizer (great comeback from the previous dud of an album)
4. Warpriest - Gloombreaker (so sad this will be the last one)
5. Stryper - When We Were Kings (this one sounds more like their 80's output than any other album since the reunion)
6. Whitecross - Fear No Evil (fun rocking album with just one too many ballads, well done, I really hope they do a follow-up)

Didn't make the list...
Van Zant - Always Look Up, This is a good album, lots of talent and recorded well, just too much modern country influence on over half the of the album.  The songs I like, I really do like, but half of them I feel like skipping.
The Brave - Carnival of Sins, again really well recorded and lots of musical talent, but very samey and feels too long by the time I finally get through it.

Best Reissue: Battlecry - Red White And Blue: And Beyond, this is a fun rock album and even the bonus live material is quite good.  Gotta hand it to Roxx, they do a great job with these OOP reissues.

What was your favorite new music this year?

Wow! I am honored by your comments on Hard Road!  

I just wish I could get more people to listen to the music!

Oh yeah, I am really digging that Hard Road album (I love the style).  I hope you guys continue on writing and playing together (even though you lost a member).  I know you've struggled with the guys a bit with song-writing and other stuff, but I think what you guys are doing is fantastic!

Buckle up, boys and girls. Here we go:

AotY: Stryper: When We Were Kings

Others that rocked my face (no particular order):
Saint: Immortalizer
Eternal Gaze: Winters Womb
FLOOD: Polarized
LEAH: The Glory and the Fallen
Millennial Reign: World on Fire
Motivik: Renouncement
Snakes of Byzantium: The Making
The Brave: Carnival of Sins
Warlord: Free Spirit Soar
Burial Extraction: Expelled (ep)
Decayed Existence: The Beginning of Sorrows (ep)
Allos: Strong Delusion
Faith Head: The Horror of Things to Come
Kärv: What the Dunes Have Hidden
Anette Olzon: Rapture
Enduring Revery: Staring into Light
Warpriest: Gloombreaker
Whitecross: Fear No Evil

I'm hoping to listen through some of my 2024 albums and make my list soon.

I still have three more albums I want to listen to again or even for the first time before I make my list.  I need to hear the new Skillet one more time as well as Shining Force.  Then, I bought the download to the new Allos album that came out in 2024.

I just now got Hard Road and Floods new one. Definitely adding them both to my 2024's favs

Based on ya'alls lists, I bought Human Code finally. Should be here soon and I may add that one to my list too. Pretty good album ?

Guilty/Forgiven wrote:

Based on ya'alls lists, I bought Human Code finally. Should be here soon and I may add that one to my list too. Pretty good album ?

I really liked it.  Some great song-writing and an expert performance.  I know some fans wanted it to be more "metal" than it was, but If the music is good it doesn't have to be full on metal to make me happy.