The Best Heavy / Traditional Metal Album - Metal Storm Awards 2024

Attic - Return Of The Witchfinder

Return Of The Witchfinder marks an impressive return for Attic following their brief hiatus. This 3rd full-length album offers a theatrical take on traditional heavy metal, with themes that'll surely interest occult fanatics and those with a morbid curiosity for sadistic medieval witch burning. The thing you'll find most striking here is the resemblance in style to King Diamond, particularly from the eccentric high-pitched squeals and trademark wailing, but don't get the wrong idea; this is not just your typical King Diamond-worshiping act. From the outrageously catchy choruses and riff melodies to the creepy atmospherics and impressively performed solos, this could prove to be the band's most treasured release yet, and surely one of the most enjoyable albums in heavy metal of 2024.

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Black Sites - The Promised Land?

From the beginning, Black Sites have breathed fresh life into classic heavy metal in the way that very few newer bands have even come close to; they certainly pay their dues to traditional sounds and classic bands, but they reframe those influences in a way that feels very modern. The Promised Land? is perhaps the most prog-inspired interpretation of the band's style to date, not least due to the inclusion of a remarkable 12-minute title track; Black Sites shine throughout this album, however, as nods to the likes of power and thrash metal see the record spread its search for the promised land far and wide. A surplus of inspired and innovative riffs sit alongside outstanding solos and a predictably excellent vocal performance from Mark Sugar; there's precious few bands in the realm of heavy metal that can compete with what Black Sites are capable of when they're on form, and on album number four, they're red hot.

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Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project

The Mandrake Project comes 19 years after Tyranny Of Souls and finds Bruce Dickinson in a pretty dark mood. The album’s great strength is the variety of the well-written compositions, with the brooding “Afterglow Of Ragnarok” opening the album, “Rain On The Graves” standing out as one of the catchiest tracks Bruce has ever sung in his solo career, and closing with the introspective grandeur of the record's highlight, “Sonata (Immortal Beloved)”. The legendary vocalist is still in great shape, and Roy Z next to him is bringing along some of his best guitar work in an album that might just even be better than the latest Iron Maiden.

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Judas Priest - Invincible Shield

Just like 40 years ago, this is a two-part process: first they swoop in screaming to claim the crown, and then they stand strong to defend the faith. It’s a uniquely incredible experience to hear Judas Priest sounding so vicious and vital even now: after all, they invented this category. There’s no “heavy/traditional metal” without them. None of the other bands in this category existed when Priest first hit their stride and probably half the members weren’t even born yet. It’s unthinkable that 50 years passed between Rocka Rolla and Invincible Shield. But, of course, while all of that is impressive and inspiring, none of it is a reason why Invincible Shield should be considered among the best albums of the year. No, the only justification you need is in the album itself: Judas Priest are still spitting fire, howling with energy, planting a fist full of metal straight into your solar plexus with every wicked chorus, blazing lick, and thundering breakaway. The performances, songwriting, and production on Invincible Shield are all top-form, heavy metal of the highest quality, among the best work from a band that is itself among the best ever to do it. When you think “heavy metal”, you think “Judas Priest”, and this album is exactly why.

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Lord Goblin - Lord Goblin

From heavy psych rock to traditional heavy metal? Yeah, that makes sense. That's the canon progression. Then from traditional heavy metal to epic doom - no problem, that's just Black Sabbath to Candlemass in one step. Just like the real deal. Epic doom to power metal, okay, there's plenty of logic there; we see that all the time. Power metal to black metal. ...All right. That one's new. But Lord Goblin make it work without a second's question, slipping tremolo-picked second-wave riffs and blastbeats in between hefty, stomping doom progressions and dramatic, soaring power metal choruses and wrapping it all up neatly and tightly in a sonic aesthetic grounded in old-school heavy metal. Lord Goblin cross streams with no seams in one of the most exciting debuts of the year.

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Morgul Blade - Heavy Metal Wraiths

Heavy Metal Wraiths is much like the Ringwraiths themselves: something once pure, noble, and mighty, twisted into something grim and grotesque. Morgul Blade trace their lineage to the classics of the traditional heavy metal heyday, NWOBHM and speed and power all rolling together in dramatic, up-tempo riffs and grandiose melodies, but their otherwise faithful renditions of the quintessential formula are shaped by another power: evil. For this is not a straight revival – this is an indiscriminate melding of all those genres that in their 1980s nascence took aesthetic cues from fantasy. Thus you’ll find black metal of the first and second waves corrupting the valorous heavy metal anthems, crowned not with soaring, operatic choruses but wicked growls. Think Nite; think Slægt; think Exmortus. Think of how you can survive the poison of a Morgul Blade.

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Phaëthon - Wielder Of The Steel

While they are newcomers, Phaëthon have a high pedigree in their ranks with members hailing from seasoned acts such as Fen and Craven Idol. And perhaps it is that connection to more extreme types of metal that is the reason for the ferocity behind Wielder Of The Steel. Phaëthon’s raw approach gives their debut album an authentic and exciting vibe. This is a truly epic heavy metal album for fans of punchy acts such as Manilla Road, with quirky vocals and all. Singer Vrath has a particular tone that manages to be both cheesy and badass at the same time. His heroic chants can be quite haunting when the band switches to faster sections, with meaty riffs and pummeling drums being the foundations of these triumphant songs.

Rage - Afterlifelines

Rage are approaching 40, and they’re still chasing sound as aggressively as ever – how on earth did they manage a double album this consistent, this hungry, so packed with vicious hooks? A thrashy, speed-driven first disc and a more melodic, traditionally oriented second disc balance each other out for a strong sampler of Rage’s different tempos and tones, with some symphonic touches borrowed from Lingua Mortis Orchestra thrown in for an even better-rounded experience. Peavy is in fine fettle, familiarly crunchy, still dispensing lessons in how to perfect your abrasion-to-accessibility ratio; somehow across almost 90 minutes Rage remain inventive enough to be compelling and they sound fresh enough that they could have formed yesterday. Rage are joined in this category by some other venerable veterans with comparable careers and some young whippersnappers just beginning to find traction, and there’s not a one of them whom Rage couldn’t proudly stand next to.

Satan - Songs In Crimson

Satan have been on a roll since their resurfacing with Life Sentence, with every album being a stellar specimen of NWOBHM, but played in the new millennium. Songs In Crimson is packed with sinister heavy metal riffs and leads from the old days, with a sound that is as unpolished as it gets. Brian Ross turned 70 last year, but age is just a number, and this man proves it here. The entire band remains in almost inexplicably great form, and Satan’s inspiration and energy are a bit of an enigma for outright defying the law of diminishing returns.

Traveler - Prequel To Madness

Traveler has now come to an unfortunate end in their travels, but that wasn't before they ended their short-lived career with an emphatic final album. The Canadian heavy metallers' self-titled debut took the NWOTHM scene by storm back in 2019, and although their sophomore never quite reached those high standards, this third offering most certainly does. A high-octane, adrenaline-fueled headbanger's delight from the get-go, this album offers more than just your regular run-of-the-mill modern heavy metal, where new bands so often fail to live up to the golden age: with delicious hooks and catchy melodies met by lively energetic performances, Prequel To Madness is one of the most memorable and enjoyable traditional heavy metal releases of 2024.

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