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50. 49 Burning Condors – Black Waters

I love 49 Burning Condors and their witchy Southern gothic sound. This single is spinetingling and jangly in all the best ways.

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49. The Radicant – Stowaway

Vincent Cavanagh’s new project had plenty to offer, but this closing piece is what kept me coming back for me. It is a melancholy, subtly catchy piece that slowly adds layers and hooks; I love how the nuanced synth joins in the second half, and how the song eases into a finish with reserved and thoughtful effect.

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48. Mountains of Jura – Oracle

I liked the new Mountains of Jura album, but this closer is far and away the best song on the album. I love how it flirts with darkness, and how it feels reserved in the verses, but gushes in the chorus. The final few minutes are like a fire itching to burst forth, but the band perfectly balances it into a climax that is equal parts reserved and heroic. I love the emotions that hang like a mist about this song.

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47. KÎND – Philosopher’s Wish

I’m looking forward to more from Ireland’s KÎND. This piece displays a tight control of melody and song structure, while still blending prog and alt rock in to make it shine.

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46. Cephid – Terminus

This is, perhaps, the most cinematic and edgy track on Cephid’s debut. I love the movement and electronic razors it deploys, but the overall melody and the haunting vocal interlude are what really take the cake.

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45. Chelsea Wolfe – Unseen World

The finale to Wolfe’s latest album, this piece is lumbering and dark. I love how the synth slices through it like butter, thickening the atmosphere as its color passes.

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44. Ylisia – Underneath

I fell in love with this incredible tune for its humongous chorus that will make you want to sing your heart out, plus the fantastic guitar solo wraps it all up with a nice, tidy bow. Great songwriting.

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43. Whispering Void – Vinden Vier

I was instantly in love with this single from Whispering Void’s debut album. It is impossible to resist this dark spell that transitions into crescendo-laden light at the end.

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42. Sunburst – The Flood

What a song this opener from Sunburst is! It is cinematic and larger than life. It features a forceful, gorgeous melody around which everything else dwells and flows, and I love how the main riff also acts like a touchstone for guitar fireworks and changes in flow.

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41. Midas Fall –

In The Morning We’ll Be Someone Else

This opener from Midas Fall is really something. It has such a sense of beginnings and longings, but also a powerful atmosphere with dark riffs and haunting vocals. 

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40. Magnum – Here Comes the Rain

This piece really stood out on the new Magnum album. It is simply beautiful and wondrously melodic, and the chorus is catchy with lots of keys and drama; I love the piano and orchestrations at the end, too. 

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39. Fragment Soul

– Eternal Night in Death

The dark beauty of Fragment Soul is so potent on this piece. I love the contrast between floating vocal portions from Tamara, rhythmic instrumental segments, and the expressive chorus sung by Marc.

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38. Iress – Lovely (Forget Me Not)

This song hit me the very first time I heard this album. It is a drum-heavy, flowy song that grooves its way into a lush chorus. I love how the melody seems to linger over the whole thing.

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37. Yenisei – This Place Was a Shelter

Yenisei makes such warm music. This piece thrives on deep connection and emotion. I love the electronic interlude and feelings of loss and emptiness that feel so damned familiar. 

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36. The Exies – Closure

I’ll call this the swan song for The Exies, a band I’ve loved since my teens. It is such a potent piece with its heartfelt vocals, sad and happy lyrics, and nostalgic, classic Exies chorus.  It’s like one last gift from the band.

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35. David Gilmour

– Between Two Points

This is a cover of a song by The Montgolfier Brothers, but Gilmour makes it his own. Or rather, Romany makes it her own, and the results are magical.

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34. Simone Simons – In Love We Rust

This song is just so damn catchy. Even with the slow-burn and the ambient style, the song manages to worm its way into your soul.

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33. Pallbearer – Where the Light Fades

I couldn’t get enough of this song last year. It is so haunting and expressive, especially in its opening moments of vocal reflection and well-written lyrics. I love how the song progresses and eventually hits a riffing climax that is extremely satisfying.

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32. Swallow the Sun

– Innocence Was Long Forgotten

This is probably the most accessible song on the album, but for some reason, I listened to it dozens of times last year. I love the rolling blast beats and the addictive chorus. Still can’t get enough of it.

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31. Mushroomhead – Grand Gesture

There are so many good songs on this album, but this one keeps coming back to me. It is stylish in its elongated riffs and floating atmosphere; I really love how it sounds faraway and mysterious.

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30. Myrath – Words Are Failing

This is such an in-your-face and gushing track. I love the vocal melodies of the verses, and the chorus launches from that pad into space. It is oddly personal and yet cinematic.

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29. Wasaya – Curtain Falls

This closer to Wasaya’s latest is a 12-minute gem with Marco Gluhmann of Sylvan on vocals. Rather than an over-the-top epic, this is piece has transitions and ponderous moments, really leaning into the emotional lyrics. I particularly love Marco’s performance.

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28. Amarok – Hope Is

Even though the rest of Amarok’s latest album is great, there’s just something about this flowing, voiceover dominated song that I found myself revisiting over and over last year.

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27. Elvellon – Into the Vortex

There are plenty of great songs on the new Elvellon album, but this one always stands out. I love the exquisite orchestrations and progressive song structure; its assertive guitars and Nele’s wicked vocals lead us into some fantastic instrumentation in the second half.

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26. Lo Moon – Waiting a Lifetime

This is classic Lo Moon: infectious melody, groovy rhythm, and soulful vocals. So many great songs on their latest album, but this one gets me every time.

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25. Wintersun – Silver Leaves

With epic Japanese motifs, rolling and thunderous riffs, deep-throated vocals, and plenty of pomp and flourish, this Time II closer brought me back again and again.

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24. DGM – My Wake

I still can’t get enough of this song. There’s something about the deep riffs, cinematic instrumentals, and insane keyboards that grabbed me on first go, but the heart behind it is what made me listen so many times.

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23. Marjana Semkina

– Anything But Sleep

This hovering piece with Jim Grey of Caligula’s Horse feels almost surreal. Not just in the fantastic duet and haunting sound, but also seeing these two in a video together after listening to their work for over a decade.

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22. Oddleaf – Ethereal Melodies

This has everything I love about Oddleaf’s sound: spunky and bold keyboard action, rollicking drum fills, silky vocals, and psychedelic atmosphere. The entire album is terrific.

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21. Kingcrow – Nightdrive

It’s funny: I wouldn’t have considered this my favorite on the new Kingcrow album, but this is the song I listened to so many times that it ended up being one of the songs to “define” 2024 for me.

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20. Orion – The Lightbringers

This is the closer for the album, and also the last track in a four-track suite called The Cycle of Light. I recommend listening to the entire suite together, but this is certain my favorite part of it. There’s something about the rising tide of light and hope in this part that grips me.

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19. Caligula’s Horse

– The World Breathes With Me

This song is fantastic. Jim Grey sings his heart out, especially at the end, and the powerful writing, meaty riffs, and evocative lyrics simply shine.

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18. BleakHeart – Weeping Willow

This is another defining track of 2024 for me. The sheer intensity of the vocals is one thing, but the haunting hallway instrumental that follows is absolutely brilliant.

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17. Leprous – Faceless

Huge song here from Leprous, having one of their best breaks on any album, one of the coolest grooves, and that cinematic, choral ending. It’s a keeper.

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16. Weather Systems

– Ocean Without a Shore

I adore this piece from the Weather Systems debut. I like the first half with its angelic and floating verses, but when the drums kick in and the spiraling keys abound, it goes to a whole new level.

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15. Mother of Millions – Irae

There’s something about this song that worms its way into your brain right away, but when the final towering moments begin, it’ll take you to another plane of existence entirely.

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14. TVINNA – Wings of Ember

I just couldn’t stop listening to this song last year. Terrific vocals and a catchy first half, yes, but when the whirling melody of light and its accompanying instrumental begin, it’s so easy to get lost in this forest of textures and beauty.

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13. Oceans of Slumber

– I Will Break the Pride of Your Will

The addictive keyboard melody and spunky little synth line that start this song are just the beginning of an amazing, spellbinding, and rich piece from Oceans of Slumber. The last few minutes are classic Oceans of Slumber in all their heaviness, darkness, and gothic glory.

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12. Iterum Nata

– Something Truly Almighty

I love this album so much, and this piece defines it for me: the downtempo music with bright keys in what still feels like a dimly light, introspective atmosphere. I love the haunting feelings, shoegaze emotions, and thoughtful lyrics.

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11. Cemetery Skyline – Violent Storm

While the album didn’t end up grabbing me as much, this single from Cemetery Skyline was a huge hit for me last year. I absolutely adore the chorus and the rolling grace of their gothic metal sound.

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10. Blood Incantation – The Stargate

This unbelievable suite from Blood Incantation is somehow technical and harsh, but also smooth, accessible, and infectious. With Tangerine Dream in tow, the song explores the depths and heights of both beauty and hellish darkness, and it’s brilliant.

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9. Diane Arkenstone – Goddessea

This piece exemplifies Diane Arkenstone’s Aquaria II gorgeously. With New Age, bouncing rhythms, underwater majesty, and catchy melodies, I could listen to this forever.

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8. Bent Knee – Big Bagel Manifesto

This is perhaps the most unorthodox track on the album, but I want to hear more songs like this from Bent Knee. I love Courtney’s wild ethereal vocals, and when Gavin’s drums hit, the song just gets groovier and more amazing.

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7. Kalandra – The State of the World

This immensely beautiful piece expresses so much about what I feel for the world today. And it isn’t afraid to seem childish or naïve in hoping for better things and closer unions. This slice of innocent and hopeful poetry has really affected me, even as I, too, feel despair over the state of the world. One thing I love about the song is how the chorus is just a passionate vocal melody with no lyrics; it’s as if a chorus isn’t possible for the sheer emotional weight and turmoil within her.

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6. Remina – Erebus

Remina has this strange ability to write melodies that feel so familiar and so warm that you’d think they would have been written years ago by somebody else. And then they develop them into a layered, beautifully dark, and spiraling piece that gets more and more addictive on each listen.

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5. Primrose Path – Hex

Primrose Path’s debut album is probably my most anticipated for 2025, and this single shows why. From the synth tone to the heavy riffs to the righteous vocals to the witchy feelings, this piece is so damn good, and it only keeps growing on me.

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4. Evergrey – Cold Dreams

I never thought we’d hear Jonas Renkse singing alongside Tom Englund, but here it is, and it’s just as phenomenal as you’d think it should be. I love the pale light of this song, the harsh vox notes from Jonas, and the swooning catchiness of the chorus.

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3. Big Big Train – Love is the Light

Speaking of another song that defines 2024, this crystal clear, immensely beautiful song from BBT is impossible to dislike. Not only is the music expertly composed and executed, but the hopeful lyrics and Alberto’s excellent vocals are simply majestic.

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2. Exploring Birdsong – Turntail

I should probably be embarrassed about how many times I listened to this song last year, but I’m not. The gentle melodies in this song are arresting, and as the groovy rock portion develops, the vocals and the emotions take off to other places. It is an extremely likeable song, as are all Exploring Birdsong’s singles.

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** 1. MEER

– Today Tonight Tomorrow **

This song defines 2024 for me the most. As soon as I heard that quiet piano rhythm, I knew I would like this song, but Knut takes his time, molding and preparing us, as he absolutely destroys any expectations you might have. His voice is sheer bliss, and the “big note” gives me goosebumps every single time. This is one of those songs that you show friends and their chatty conversation ceases about halfway through, and then sullen, introspective silence ensues. What a towering monster of a song!

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