2024 Metal Academy Awards Discussion - The North Edition
It's that time of year again i.e. the time when we start to think about which releases will be crowned as the pinnacle of their clans for the previous calendar year. I've opened this thread to house the discussions around our The North Clan Release of the 2024.
These are the 2024 releases that have gained the most attention from our members:
Spectral Wound - "Songs of Blood and Mire"
Hoplites - "Παραμαινομένη"
Æthĕrĭa Conscĭentĭa - "The Blossoming"
Darkthrone - "It Beckons Us All......."
Labyrinthus Stellarum - "Vortex of the Worlds"
What other releases should our members be checking out?
I really don't think Darkthrone's album belongs in The North to be honest.
Spectral Wound is my black metal AOTY, but Antichrist Siege Machine's "Vengeance of Eternal Fire" is a great war metal album.
Above Aurora, Darkspace and Departure Chandelier all turned in solid efforts in 2024 as well.
Hauntologist's "Hollow" is a nice slab of posr-black if anyone is up for that.
Of the releases I've afforded a full review to, Ætheria Conscientia's "The Blossoming" is the current leader but I have a bunch of releases that I've spent some casual listening time with that I need to firm up this month including the Paysage d'Hiver, Aara, Trhä, Conifère, Panzerfaust & Hoplites releases.
Besides Xephyr's featured albums of 2024, my North visits were not very long. I liked almost all of the records mentioned above, with Æthĕrĭa Conscĭentĭa being my favourite.
Thy Catafalque's A gyönyörű álmok ezután jönnek is a wonderful release although it is categorized as folk metal and much lacking in anything dark. The only other record worth consideration is Saidan's Visual Kill. Their style of black metal is very melodic, uplifting and very inspired by Deafheaven so I advise caution to the more traditional black metal fans.
I'm willing to offer up:
- Krallice - Inorganic Rites
- Aquilus - Bellum II
- Bríi - Camaradagem póstuma
- Black Curse - Burning in Celestial Poison
Really strong year for Black Metal yet again in my opinion, with Krallice and Paysage D'hiver taking my top 2 spots. Very hard to decide which one I liked better, since each one has a very distinct atmosphere that hits differently depending on the day.