It is about time MetalBear shares his list of most anticipated albums for 2024 as we are already one month into the new year. From the January releases (which I shall cover in a separate post over the coming days), there weren’t any I would have included in the below list. However, there is one important clarification to be made here – only because an album is featured on the most-anticipated-records-of-the-year list by no means does that guarantee a place on the top albums of the year list. The opposite is also true – if a given album wasn’t anticipated with such eagerness by MetalBear in the first place, it is still very much possible to turn out to be a fantastic release and catapult itself in the top 10/20/30 for the year (so rejoice January platters – there is definitely hope for all of you).
Let’s have a look now at what exciting material is due to be released in the coming weeks/months or is in the making and should see the light of day at some point in 2024. You will notice MetalBear’s expected rating, along with few comments, for some of the albums (usually for bands I have been following actively for decades). Upon release, we will find out how close or far I was with my predictions for those particular albums. One important thing to note before we jump right into it – there is a good bunch of bands with material in production where the exact release date is not yet finalized and while they are eyeing 2024, it isn’t yet fully confirmed whether that will happen and are hence not included on the list, but might end up being reviewed, or hopefully even making it to the top albums of the year list at year’s end.
Savatage – Curtain Call
Genre: Progressive Metal/Rock
Country: USA
Label: Steamhammer
Release Date: April 2024
Expected Score: 5/4.5
In one of my previous blog posts I mentioned Savatage‘s 2015 gig at Wacken as an example of an 5 out 5 score when it comes to concerts. To elaborate on this – it is actually the best gig I’ve been to in my life so far (more on that some other time though as I can’t possibly capture the magnitude of it all over a few brief sentences). This gives you, dear Metalhear reader, an idea as to how big of a role Savatage has played in my metal upbringing with MetalBear crossing paths for the first time with the music of these legends some 20 years ago. It was about 4 years after their last album released to date – “Poets and Madmen” – had hit the stores (yes, we are looking at the pre-streaming/CDs times). Hence, basic math indicates that the album scheduled for release this April will be their first one in 23 years, and as confirmed by mastermind Jon Oliva, it will also be their last one ever. I’ve been waiting for new Savatage material for so long that I am hesitant to offer any thoughts or more specific expectations (well, I’ve offered my Expected Score above but that is solely based on sheer fandom) and just want the day to arrive where I will be sitting in my room, eyes teared up and about to press the play button on “Curtain Call”.
Vanishing Point – “TBA”
Genre: Melodic/Symphonic Power Metal
Country: Australia
Label: AFM Records
Release Date: To Be Announced (second half of the year)
Expected Score: 4.5
I’ve been a massive Vanishing Point fan for close to two decades now – next year actually will mark the 20 year anniversary ever since that teenage MetalBear cub got his hands on “Embrace the Silence” – an absolutely brilliant album I was immediately mesmerized by and would still spin every now and then to this day. While this Australian crew doesn’t churn out albums with particularly high frequency (3 albums over the last 16 years), when they do release new material it has always been a top contender for album of the year on MetalBear’s lists. With this in mind, I am beyond thrilled about Vanishing Point’s upcoming album which I expect to rank somewhere in the 4-4.5 territory. Meanwhile, if you are not familiar with the band, make sure to check them out with the abovementioned “Embrace the Silence” or “Distant is the Sun” being excellent starting points (the latter one was used by Wacken for their 2015 trailer; quite the endorsement I’d say).
Judas Priest – Invincible Shield
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Label: Sony Music
Release Date: 8th March, 2024
Expected Score: 4
Ever since Rob Halford’s return, Judas Priest are on a formidable streak in terms of extremely solid albums released. I’d go as far as to make the following rather unpopular (at least to a good amount of people and critics out there) statement – all four albums between 2005 and 2018 have been in the top 10 of their respective release years (meaning 3.5 at the very least, on two occasions I am going for a solid 4). In my humble opinion, “Nostradamus” and “Redeemer of Souls” are seriously underappreciated platters that deserve considerably more praise than what they’ve received over the years. I expect “Invincible Shield” to continue this streak and be another solid album – the three singles released to date give a strong indication of this. Whether it will top “Firepower” or not we will find out in about a month from now.
TYR – Battle Ballads
Genre: Folk/Power Metal
Country: Faroe Islands
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 14th April, 2024
Expected Score: 3.5
Týr is a band heavily characterized by consistency in the quality of their releases. They’ve always managed to keep things captivating throughout their albums and have never shied away from experimenting with new ideas and introducing that healthy doze of variety in their sound with each next album. No singles have been released so far off “Battle Ballads” but as usual when it comes to these legends from the Faroe Islands, MetalBear is expecting a superb record that will likely end up on heavy rotation.
Firewind – Stand United
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal
Country: Greece
Label: AFM Records
Release Date: 1st March, 2024
Expected Score: 3.5
Recruiting Herbie Langhans to lead the vocal department was a stellar move by Firewind as the man has one hell of a powerful voice. To me, this was undoubtedly one of the main reasons why their previous, self-titled album released in 2020 was such an enjoyable platter. Of course, when you have such an immensely talented guitarist and songwriter as Gus G, it is normal to have high expectations for any upcoming album. I was quite impressed by the four singles off “Stand United” and I am eagerly looking forward to this release with just a few weeks left.
North Sea Echoes – Really Good Terrible Things
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country: USA
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 23rd February, 2024
Expected Score: 3.5
I found out about this project only a few days ago and hence it might be a bit bizarre as how this lands on a most-anticipated-albums list. The answer is quite simple – it features two phenomenal musicians I have tons of respect for: Jim Matheos and Ray Alder, both of Fates Warning. The two singles released to date remind me of the ballads on the “FWX” album by Fates Warning, more specifically “A Handful of Doubt” and “Wish”. I guess these two extraordinary gentlemen have decided to join forces and produce an album dominated by atmospheric, ballades-que tracks where they can both shine in ways slightly different to their main act and other projects they are involved in. Greatly excited about this and looking forward to February 23rd.
Witherfall – Sounds of the Forgotten
Genre: Progressive Power Metal
Country: USA
Label: DeathWave Records
Release Date: 31st May, 2024
Borknagar – Fall
Genre: Progressive Viking/Folk/Black Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 23rd February, 2024
DragonForce – Warp Speed Warriors
Genre: Power Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Label: Napalm Records
Release Date: 15th March, 2024
Korpiklaani – Rankarumpu
Genre: Folk Metal
Country: Finland
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 5th April, 2024
Counting Hours – The Wishing Tomb
Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Country: Finland
Label: Ardua Music
Release Date: 23rd February, 2024
Torchia – Arcana Magicae
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Finland
Label: Independent
Release Date: 9th February, 2024
In Vain – Solemn
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Indie Recordings
Release Date: 19th April, 2024
As noted at the beginning of the post, it is quite possible that as the year progresses there will be more albums announced for release in 2024 that could make it on this list. If these pile up, I might create a “Vol. 2” of most anticipated albums. Thank you for reading and until next time, and as for the time in-between – enjoy checking out previous albums of some of the more unknown bands highlighted above, if there are such. Cheers!
1MetalBear 
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