2024 Metal Academy Awards Discussion - The Guardians 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 Guardians Clan Release of the 2024.

These are the 2024 releases that have gained the most attention from our members:

Crypt Sermon - "The Stygian Rose"

Judas Priest - "Invincible Shield"

Darkthrone - "It Beckons Us All......."

Powerwolf - "Wake Up the Wicked"

Savage Oath - "Divine Battle"

What other releases should our members be checking out?

Grand Magus' latest, "Sunraven" is the first that comes to mind and Morgul Blade's "Heavy Metal Wraiths" was pretty good too. I quite liked the new Saxon, "Hell, Fire and Damnation" and for me it was a bit of a nostalgia trip.

Should the Darkthrone record be considered for The Guardians award guys or do you think it’s a stretch to call it a heavy metal release?

Should the Darkthrone record be considered for The Guardians award guys or do you think it’s a stretch to call it a heavy metal release?

I think it's true place is in The Fallen, Daniel. I don't think it belongs in The Guardians or The North.

Yeah, I tend to agree from my experiences thus far Sonny. I've given the latest Inconcessus Lux Lucis, Ryujin, Rotting Christ & Markgraf records some casual listening time over the past year but haven't committed to a full investigation of any 2024 The Guardians releases as yet & can't see that changing before the end of January.

I haven't listened to the last Darkthrone yet, or probably ever, but based on the last one, I imagine someone not inclined towards their usual sound wouldn't care for it very much.

How about the latest Nightwish? It's better than the last two imho, but that isn't saying much since I didn't care for those at all.