Four best metal songs of 2024 we should still be listening to a decade from now
By Lee Vowell
It has been a good year for metal. We have seen an increasing amount of versatility in a subgenre that was once just a bunch of white guys. Metal needed to grow and it has.
The difference, and something that some might struggle with, is that metal has grown a bit denser. These layers are harder to fight through than say, "Iron Man" was. That means the music has matured and might take a little longer to love.
The positive part is that means in ten years, some of what we are hearing today should still be around then. Likely, the songs and albums from some of metal's best of 2024 only sound better with age. The songs below should be staples for metal fans for years to come.
These heavy metal songs we should still be listening to a decade from now
Erra - "Cure"
A seemingly slow build at the beginning of the song turns into a thunderous rush of full-on adrenaline. The band gives us a little respite during the less voluminous parts of the track, but only barely. Even then the vocals never let us fully rest.
It's a great piece of what progressive metalcore should sound like and has a ton of energy. Well-produced and well-played, it's a song you won't play during family gatherings for Christmas.
Jinjer - "Someone's Daughter"
If you haven't yet tuned into Jinjer, one might ask you what your wait is about. One of the many female-fronted bands that are beginning to emerge and overtake the metal mainstream is Jinjer, who hails from Ukraine, so their rage is honest and fully felt. If one doubts what a female lead can do in metalcore, Tatiana Shmayluk will put any fears to rest.
"Someone's Daughter" is not an easy listen lyrically. Women struggle and are forced to overcome. That needs to end.
Slaughter to Prevail - "Kid of Darkness"
Slaughter to Prevail almost feels like the poppy version of Deathcore. That is not meant as a slight, only that they are one of the more popular bands of the subgenre. Thankfully, "Kid of Darkness" is one of their heaviest songs.
One of the marks of a long-term great song is how well and how often it can be played live. This track is a perfect example of that. 20 years from now, when you are at a Slaughter to Prevail concert, you'll still be jamming out to the back-end breakdown of this song.
Unleash the Archers - "Ph4/NTOmA"
The metal equivalents of the Tragically Hip, these power metal experts come from Canada, but need a bit more love worldwide. That might get it from their latest album, Phantoma. Another great example of how women can scream metal songs is Brittney Slayes, and she does it at an elite level.
This six-minute track goes by in a flash because there is such a consistent push forward on the song. That makes the tune a great bomb track for the gym. Or if you just happen to want to sit on the couch. Plus, the band's name is completely brilliant.