Farewell, 2024! It's been another massive 12 months in the heavy music world with new releases from everyone from Judas Priest and Opeth to Nightwish, Bring Me The Horizon and Poppy, but we're finally ready to put the year to bed.
There've been comebacks - Nails, Bruce Dickinson, Job For A Cowboy, Kerry King - ascendant new bands like Heriot and Lowen making their stunning debuts and an all-round bounty of all things extreme and interesting, but the time has come to rule which albums best represented the heavy music world in 2024.
That in mind, we asked Hammer's extensive pool of freelancers, staffers and contributors to submit their picks for the 20 best metal albums of 2024, and below you'll find the fruits of those labour as every vote has been tallied to create a comprehensive rundown of the finest 2024 had to offer. Don't recognise a name on the list? Stick 'em on! We'll see you for more brilliant new music in 2025.
