The ancestry of heavy music is one of its more alluring aspects. Heavy metal, punk rock… we can trace the lineage and evolution of these genres much like an ever-branching family tree that continues to grow, morph, and hyper specify. A root system that goes on forever.
Over the years, genre and styles have been amalgamated with one another to the point where there are seemingly infinite ways to express oneself through heavy music. That has never been more evident than in 2024, where legendary pioneers such as Judas Priest, auteurs of darkness like Chelsea Wolfe, and modern hardcore stalwarts Knocked Loose can share the same internet airspace, if not the same concert or festival bill.
When compiling our list of the best heavy albums of the year thus far, we were struck by how nearly every band or artist included sounds vastly different from one the next. The level of individualism is astounding, illustrating how far heavy music has come and the endless creative possibilities that lie ahead. Nothing feels stagnant, and the sense of forward motion is exhilarating.
See below for Heavy Consequence’s picks for the best metal and hard rock albums of 2024 so far, and stay tuned to see what the rest of the year in heavy music brings.
— Jon Hadusek
Senior Writer, Heavy Consequence
Editor’s Note: Check out the rest of our 2024 Midyear Report coverage, and see where some of these heavy albums landed on our list of the 30 Best Albums So Far.
Alcest — Les Chants de l’Aurore
A quarter century into their career, Alcest continue to masterfully blend beauty and chaos in their music. Call it post-black metal, blackgaze, or whatever you want, but the French act’s latest full-length effort and seventh overall, Les Chants de l’Aurore, is another stunning work in their impressive discography. Elements of ’80s new wave and ’90s alt-rock are evident alongside extreme metal components, as heard on the absolutely captivating single “Flamme Jumelle.” — Spencer Kaufman