SPOILER: Here Are Decibel’s Top 40 Albums of 2024

Welcome to the 20th annual Decibel Top 40 Albums of the Year. That marks two full decades of countless “you forgots,” “it’s only Novembers” and at least one “No Belphegor? GTFO!” we have weathered from your critical keyboard strikes. Of course, some of those replies to our yearly Top 40 are from forlorn attention-seekers, but most of the responses come from an extremely (OK, alarmingly) passionate community of fanatics who care about underground metal just as much as we do. We just aren’t quite as liberal with our use of Caps Lock.

To those of you searching for grievance, please know that it doesn’t have to be like that. If a record you loved isn’t featured below, its exclusion is not a personal affront to you. Conversely, if any album you absolutely loathe appears, it doesn’t render the list an abject failure. A more likely conclusion is that arriving at consensus between nearly three dozen contributors spanning six decades of metal fandom is, to put it mildly, an imperfect exercise. But if after reading our list, you still can’t control your bodily functions, this may interest you.

Still, there is almost certainly a record in our Top 40 that you haven’t heard that is about to become one of your favorite albums of 2024. I’m sure it will feel pretty good when you tweet at us, “WTF Decibel, why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” Apologies in advance. —Albert Mudrian

40 Anciients, Beyond the Reach of the Sun, Season of Mist

39 Departure Chandelier, Satan Soldier of Fortune, Nuclear War Now

38 Oranssi Pazuzu, Muuntautuja, Nuclear Blast

37 Darkthrone, It Beckons Us All ……., Peaceville

36 Yoth Iria, Blazing Inferno, Edged Circle

35 Vicious Blade, Relentless Force, Redefining Darkness

34 High on Fire, Cometh the Storm, MNRK

33 Deceased, Children of the Morgue, Hells Headbangers

32 Oxygen Destroyer, Guardian of the Universe, Redefining Darkness

31 Midnight, Hellish Expectations, Metal Blade

30 Lucifer, Lucifer V, Nuclear Blast

29 Paysage d’Hiver, Die Berge, Kunsthall Produktionen

28 Glacial Tomb, Lightless Expanse, Prosthetic

27 Chat Pile, Cool World, The Flenser

26 Apparition, Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State, Profound Lore

25 Nails, Every Bridge Burning, Nuclear Blast

24 Hellbutcher, Hellbutcher, Metal Blade

23 Black Curse, Burning in Celestial Poison, Sepulchral Voice

22 The Black Dahlia Murder, Servitude, Metal Blade

21 Full of Hell, Coagulated Bliss, Closed Casket

20 Undeath, More Insane, Prosthetic

19 Dödsrit, Nocturnal Will, Wolves of Hades

18 Opeth, The Last Will and Testament, Reigning Phoenix Music

17 Terminal Nation, Echoes from the Devil’s Den, 20 Buck Spin

16 Ulcerate, Cutting the Throat of God, Debemur Morti Productions

15 Spectral Voice, Sparagmos, Dark Descent

14 Ripped to Shreds, Sanshi, Relapse

13 200 Stab Wounds, Manual Manic Procedures, Metal Blade

12 Hulder, Verses in Oath, 20 Buck Spin

11 Mother of Graves, The Periapt of Absence, Profound Lore

10 Necrot, Lifeless Birth, Tankcrimes

9 Inter Arma, New Heaven, Relapse

8 Julie Christmas, Ridiculous and Full of Blood, Red Crk

7 Gatecreeper, Dark Superstition, Nuclear Blast

6 Tzompantli, Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force, 20 Buck Spin

5 Tribulation, Sub Rosa In Æternum, Century Media

4 Judas Priest, Invincible Shield, Sony

3 Spectral Wound, Songs of Blood and Mire, Profound Lore

2 Blood Incantation, Absolute Elsewhere, Century Media

1 Crypt Sermon, The Stygian Rose, Dark Descent

Now, if you’d actually like to read editorial on these releases (for, you know, context), interviews with the artists who rank near and at the top of the list as well as dozens of hilarious, contributor-conceived, year-end Top 5 lists, a cover story on the legendary Cirith Ungol  and a Hall of Fame on Krallice’s self-titled USBM game-changer, you can grab a copy of the full issue here. It comes with an exclusive new Yoth Iria flexi disc. You’re welcome.