01) Simone Simons, Vermillion (Nuclear Blast)
Imagine crafting a new Ayreon album, enlisting one of today’s most exceptional soprano vocalists, and calling it Simone Simons. Well played, Arjen Lucassen. Naturally, a new Ayreon release is almost guaranteed a top-five spot, and here it is, rightfully claiming number one.
This album stands as one of 2024’s most delightful surprises, showcasing Lucassen’s signature brilliance. Now, the anticipation builds for what Epica has planned for 2025. Could they take the top spot next year? Only time will tell!
Key Track(s): “Aeterna,” “In Love We Rust,” “Cradle To The Grave,” “Weight of My World,” “The Core,” “Dystopia,” “R.E.D.”
Honorable Mentions:
Aborted, Vault Of Horrors (Nuclear Blast)
ACOD, Versets noirs (Hammerheart Records)
Accept, Humanoid (Napalm)
Alcest, Les Chants De L’Aurore (Nuclear Blast)
Anvil, One and Only (AFM)
Apocalyptica, Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 (Throwdown)
Artificial Heaven, Digital Dreams (My Kingdom)
Blood Red Throne, Nonagon (Soulseller)
Bruce Dickinson, The Mandrake Project (BMG)
Celtian, Secretos de amor y muerte (Maldito Records)
Charlotte Wessels, The Obsession (Napalm)
Chelsea Wolfe, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She (Loma Vista)
Crownshift, Crownshift (Nuclear Blast)
Dragony, Hic Svnt Dracones (Steamhammer/SPV)
Exit Eden, Femmes Fatales (Napalm)
Freedom Call, Silver Romance (Steamhammer/SPV)
Hand Of Kalliach, Corryvreckan (Prosthetic)
Hellish Torment, Hellish Torment (Butchered Soul Records)
Hideous Divinity, Unextinct (Century Media)
Infected Rain, Time (Napalm)
Judas Priest, Invincible Shield (Epic)
Kerry King, From Hell I Rise (Reigning Phoenix)
Kittie, Fire (Sumerian)
Leaves Eyes, Myths Of Fate (AFM)
Lucifer, Lucifer V (Nuclear Blast)
Luciferian Rites,Oath Of Midnight Ashes (Moribund)
Lutharo, Chasing Euphoria (Atomic Fire)
Magnum, Here Comes the Rain (Steamhammer Records/SPV)
Marty Friedman, Drama (Frontiers)
Mountain Caller, Chronicle II: Hypergenesis (Church Road)
Mr. Big, Ten (Frontiers)
Necrowretch, Swords of Dajjal (Season Of Mist)
Nocturna, Of Sorcery And Darkness (Scarlet)
North Sea Echoes, Really Good Terrible Things (Metal Blade)
Orange Goblin, Science, Not Fiction (Peaceville)
Per Wiberg, The Serpent’s Here (Despotz)
Powerwolf, Wake Up the Wicked (Napalm)
Satan, Songs In Crimson (Metal Blade)
Saxon, Hell, Fire and Damnation (Silver Lining)
Sonata Arctica, Clear Cold Beyond (Atomic Fire)
Striker, Ultrapower (Record Breaking Records)
Stryper, When We Were Kings (Frontiers)
The Rods, Rattle the Cage (Massacre)
Tribulation, Sub Rosa in Æternum (Century Media)
Tyr, Battle Ballads (Metal Blade)
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Nell’ Ora Blu (Rise Above)
Unleash The Archers, Phantoma (Napalm)
Unto Others, Never, Neverland (Century Media)
Vemod, The Deepening (Prophecy)
Vesperian Sorrow, Awaken the Greylight (Black Lion Records)
Visions of Atlantis, Pirates II – Armada (Napalm)
