#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BLABBERMOUTHT
ROB HALFORD Still Loves 'The Writing Experience' With JUDAS PRIEST: 'It's So Exciting'
#RobHalford #JudasPriest #HeavyMetal #BritishSteel #InvincibleShield #GlennTipton #AliceCooper #RockNRollHallOfFame #Birmingham #MusicWriting
Holdeneyeās Top Ten(ish) of 2024
By Holdeneye
This was a strange year for old Holdeneye, characterized by relative outer peace and significant inner turmoil. Peruse my last few lists, and youāll see that Iāve been on a mental health journey for some time now, and this year has honestly been the toughest nut for me to crack. Iāve spent the last few years changing my external circumstances to set me up for interior success, and that has certainly helped. But Iām starting to come to grips with the fact that my choice to follow a career as a first responder, while it has benefitted my family and myself enormously, has come at a cost. Combine with that the absurdities of modern society, and the anxieties and pressures of parenting children, and Iāve been finding my fortitude to be mightily tested. Iām afraid Iām come down with a moderate-to-severe case of cynicism.
George Carlin once said, āInside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist,ā and I strongly agree. Iām by nature a pretty soft-hearted, idealistic person, but with high ideals come high expectationsāand high expectations are basically impossible to meet. I spent much of this year (years, really) embracing my newfound cynicism because it seemed easier and less painful than having my impossibly high expectations disappointed again and again. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a book called Hope for Cynics by Jamil Zaki, and it has been an amazing tool for recalibrating my perspective on life. The book provesāscientificallyāthat Samwise Gamgee was correct when he said, āThereās some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and itās worth fighting for.ā I highly recommend that anyone and everyone read itāitās exactly what the world needs to hear right now.
Cynicism is not conducive to creative work, so my 2024 AMG output was abysmal. Instead of listening to new albums, I listened to my Manowar playlist over and over and over. At one point, I finally pulled the trigger and told Steel I needed to step away. I felt good about that decision, that is until my friend Kenstrosity had his home destroyed by a hurricane. The way the Angry Metal community banded together to support Ken broke through the hard crust that had been forming around my tender heart. The staff, and especially you, the readers, jumped at the chance to help, and it was incredibly inspiringāand it once again proved just how wholesome and unique this little internet community can be. Iām resolving to stay involved, producing whatever content I can make time for, but more importantly, to just be around. When times are hard, I tend to withdraw, but Iām finding that those are the times when I really need to fight to stay engaged.
Thanks for your patience and for your even-handed, if brutal, leadership, Steel. Thanks to everyone who makes this place so special; you are all agents in the war on cynicism. Special shoutouts to Dr. Wvrm, Ferox, and Doom_et_Al for hanging out with me in personāextra special to Doomy for letting me crash at his placeāand to Crispy Hooligan (Rest In Retirement) for recognizing and chatting with me at a Judas Priest show. It was awesome to take my AMG community into three dimensions this year.
Well, youāve heard enough from this gloomy goose! Rest assured that Iām looking to 2025 with hope and a healthy skepticism instead of my usual oscillation between idealism and cynicism. Onto the tunes!
#ish. Judas Priest // Invincible Shield ā This one comes as a bit of a shock to me. When it first released, I was pretty indifferent. I really enjoyed the previous album Firepower, but I didnāt feel a strong need to hear or enjoy a new Judas Priest album in 2024. I have my ten-year-old son to thank for changing my mind. While I was driving him to school one day, he randomly said, āDad, my favorite band is Imagine Dragons, but my favorite music is heavy metal.ā I knew I had to capitalize on this make-or-break moment, so as soon as I got home, I bought two pre-sale tickets to the Invincible Shield tour. Seeing these legends with my boy was a core memory that I will always treasure, and while I prepped for the show, I began to see Invincible Shield for what it really is: one more gift from the metal gods of old, one that is far more energetic and ruthless than it has any right to be. Sample: āPanic Attackā
#10. Necrophobic // In the Twilight Grey ā As someone who gained their black metal fangs because of Necrophobicās modern-day sound, I understand that Iām unfairly biased to enjoy everything theyāre putting out these days. But biased or not, I absolutely dig what Necrophobic have done on In the Twilight Grey. Theyāve taken just about every shade of black metal available and incorporated a bit of this one and a bit of that one to construct a varied collage of blackened brutality. The guitar work on this record is exemplary, and it speaks to my classic heavy metal heart with lead after lead that could fit on just about any Priest album. I didnāt listen to much black metal this year, and this album is partially to blame. In the Twilight Grey arrived early on and essentially sated my appetite for blackened platters. Sample: āShadows of the Brightest Nightā
#9. Ironflame // Kingdom Torn Asunder ā Consistency is an underrated and often maligned trait when it comes to music, but itās something I really value. I love when every day is just about the same as the last. I can eat the same meal three times per day, no problem. As I mentioned above, I can listen to the same Manowar playlist on repeat for months at a time. I like consistency because I like to know what Iām getting. Ironflame has become my poster child for consistency when it comes to modern traditional metal, and I while I may know exactly what an Ironflame record is going to sound like before I ever play it, I take an enormous amount of joy finding my preconceived notions to be 100% accurate. Andrew dāCagna can write killer metal anthems in his sleep, and Kingdom Torn Asunder is full of them. Sample: āSword of a Thousand Truthsā
#8. Vitriol // Suffer & Become ā This album definitely tested the limits of my musical taste. Vitriolās brand of death metal is so punishing that it becomes overwhelming for me, but Suffer & Become includes just enough beauty to let the beast shine by contrast. Full disclosure: I have to be in the right mood for this album. It is so dense, so challenging, so heavy, that it makes me uncomfortable. Without relying on the overt groove or melody that usually anchors the music I enjoy, Suffer & Become manages to hook me through pure violence, leaving me just a few fleeting moments to pop my ahead above the surface to grab a quick breath before dragging me back below. Released back in January, my response to this record was the first indication that my taste (and my list) in 2024 would be trending in a brutal direction. Sample: āThe Flowers of Sadismā
#7. Oxygen Destroyer // Guardian of the Universe ā As I went to wheel my thrash can to the street, I wondered if it would even be worth the trip. While I didnāt listen to all that many albums in total this year, I had an especially noteworthy dearth of thrash albums that caught my attention. Fortunately, the one album that did end up in my thrash can filled it to the point of overflowing. Oxygen Destroyer has received honorable mention on my year-end list before, but this time around, the band has leveled up in so many ways that it was impossible for me not to put Guardian of the Universe on my list proper. Where previous albums were more of an even death/thrash mix, this one is an absolute thrashterpiece, and every single song has at least one earworm riff that refuses to leave my brain. Lord Kaijuās utterly pissed-off vocals are the perfect match for what the rest of the band is doing musically, and with one forthcoming exception, there was no better half-hour set of music with which to torture myself this year. Sample: āBanishing the Iris of Sempiternal Tenebrosityā
#6. Aborted // Vault of Horrors ā Iām a late-stage Aborted adopter. Vault of Horrors was my first exposure to the band, and the uniqueness of this album is probably responsible for why Iāve come to enjoy the band so much. I was at first put off by all the guest vocalists, but then I remembered that I love hardcore vocals. Abortedās mixture of brutal death and deathcore is already potent, but when a host of talented hardcore and metal vocalists add their voices to the mix, the result is an adrenaline-pumping, testosterone-boosting beatdown. One of my favorite metal moments of the year goes to witnessing many of these cuts live in the mighty presence of my Angry Metal brothers Ferox and Doom_et_Al. Vault of Horrors has been one of my gym mainstays since its release, and that quality alone is nearly enough to boost an album onto my Top Ten(ish). Sample: āDeath Cultā
#5. Unhallowed Deliverance // Of Spectres and Strife ā I honestly canāt remember what review it was for, but one of our lovely readers suggested this album in the comments, and I havenāt been able to stop listening to it. Unhallowed Deliverance is another band that mixes brutal death metal and deathcore, but where Aborted goes for the throat nearly 100% of the time, these guys throw in a pinch of atmosphere and a boatload of technicality to create an insanely strong, multifaceted sound. Frontman Arthur Haltrich complements his standard death/deathcore growls and shrieks with some of the gnarliest belches, gurgles, and verbal flatulence Iāve ever heard, giving Of Spectres and Strifeās sonic texture even more depth that its already intricate music provides. The record even includes a collaboration with Kenneth Copeland, the artist responsible for my 2020 Song oā the Year. Sample: āTreatise on the Lowest Form of Manā
#4. Nemedian Chronicles // The Savage Sword ā Itās been many months since Iceberg grossly underrated this absolute gem, and it is a gem that Iāve clutched as greedily as if Iād personally plucked it from a cursed dungeonās treasure hoard ever since. When I first sampled The Savage Sword, I was intimidated by its 70-minute length, but it took little more than a single listen for me to realize that this album is incredibly well-executed from start to finish. Yes, Nemedian Chronicles made the bold choice to start the record with what are essentially two intro tracks, but they are so epic and genuine that they act as a pair of tentacles, forcefully drawing me into the conceptās Hyborian world and setting me up to enjoy of deep immersion. The rest of the album is a masterclass on how to properly deliver epic heavy and power metal goods, and it is frankly the best Blind Guardian album released since the 90s. Sample: āThe Savage Swordā
#3. Brodequin // Harbinger of Woe ā More like Harbinger of Whoa, amirite? I could probably sum this album up with just that single word āwhoa,ā but Steel would most likely force me to sit on that old-timey chair on the cover art if I didnāt elaborate. This was another comment section find, and Iāll be damned if it didnāt grab me almost immediatelyāa rare occurrence for music of this level of intensity. The production on this album raises it so far above much of its comparable competition because it so perfectly balances the materialās speed and chaos with an overwhelmingly tangible heft. Harbinger of Woeās 30-minute runtime is so bludgeoning that my watch sometimes registers my listening sessions as cardio, so Iād like to think that this album has made me a healthier person in 2024. Brodequin, or Brother Quinn as I like to refer to them, can take comfort in putting out one of the finest brutal death metal albums in a year filled with quality brutal death metal albums. Sample: āOf Pillars and Treesā
#2. Keygen Church // Nel Nome Del Codice ā In what is perhaps my greatest musical surprise of the year, this album instantly bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love it, and wish from this day forth never to be parted from it. Iāve enjoyed some of Victor Loveās work in Master Boot Record, but as someone who is drawn to liturgical expressions of spirituality, Keygen Churchās inclusion of Baroque organs and choirs absolutely godsmacked me from moment one. If you asked me to name the greatest song of all time in any genre, Iād probably go with Bachās āToccata and Fugue in D Minor,ā so it should come as no surprise that Nel Nome Del Codice feels as if it were tailormade to tickle me right in the pipe organs. I have no idea how music like this is produced, but my hat is off to Love for creating such a powerful aural experience. Sample: āSulla Via Della Gloriaā
#1. Hell:on // Shaman ā When I dropped a 4.5 on this back in May, I was pretty confident that nothing else would be able to top it, and since Iām almost always right, I was right, of course. Hell:onās mix of death metal, throat-singing, ritualistic rhythms, and Eastern instrumentation makes me feel like Iām trapped within some infernal combination of a death metal concert and a Witcher III boss fight, and itās a feeling that has yet to get old. The band went all-in on the inclusion of their Ukrainian cultural elements within their music this time around, and it was an incredible success. In a year where death metal made up the majority of my top records, Shaman had to fight to keep its place upon the top of the heap, but no other album felt as spiritually dense to me in a year where Iāve fought to find my own personal peace. The textures offered here both exhilarate me and help me into a meditative state, and the resulting empowerment has been a Godsend to me. Sample: āWhat Steppes Dream Aboutā
Honorable Mentions
Olde Record (and Hot Take) oā the Year
Manowar // Warriors of the World ā When I wasnāt listening to new music in 2024āwhich was really, really oftenāI was probably listening to Manowar. I listened to them so much, in fact, that my streaming platform placed me within the bandās top 0.1% of listeners worldwide. Warriors of the World was the first true heavy metal album that I ever purchased, and so many of its songs remain personal favorites to this very day. As I ravaged the bandās discography this year, I came to the realization that Manowar circa 2002 is the absolute highwater mark for heavy music. This album has some weird inclusions that make it feel somewhat unbalanced and goofy at times, but Iām convinced that if the band had cut a bit of the fluff and added in the two cuts from the Dawn of Battle EP, Warriors of the World would have been a 5.0 and the greatest metal album of all time. Disagree? Then youāre not into metal, and you are not my friend. Just kidding. We can still be friends, poser!
Disappointment oā the Year
In Aphelion // Reaperdawn ā After In Aphelionās debut Moribund pummeled its way into the top tier of my Top Ten(ish) of 2022, I had huge expectations for its follow-up, Reaperdawn. Whether it is because several of the bandās members released a similar-sounding and stronger album with their main project Necrophobic or because these songs just donāt match up to the debut, this one just didnāt do it for me. It has a nice blackened aesthetic and some quality moments and performances, but it lacks the edge that made Moribund feel so genuinely dangerous. I hope to hear something new from these guys in the not-so-distant future, because I know theyāre capable of going for my throat.
Song oā the Year
Hell:on // āI Am the Pathā ā This song resonated with me from the very first time I heard it. The way the song swings back and forth between brutal death metal and ritualistic groove strikes the perfect balance for me, and the folk instrumentation adds even more layers to the experience. I canāt tell you how many times Iāve listened to āI Am the Pathā this year, but just about every time I do, I feel my eyes wanting to roll into the back of my head so I can commune with the primal spirits of the earth. The trackās title and chorus have become something of a personal mantra for me as Iāve struggled to find inner harmony this year. It reminds me that I can make all the positive external changes in the world, but if I really seek health and joy, I must walk that most challenging of all paths: the path within.
#2024 #Aborted #BlogPosts #Brodequin #BrothersOfMetal #Fimbulvinter #FromBeyond #GuardianOfTheUniverse #HarbingerOfWoe #HellOn #HoldeneyeSTopTenIshOf2024 #InAphelion #InTheTwilightGrey #InvincibleShield #Ironflame #JudasPriest #KeygenChurch #KingdomTornAsunder #Lists #Manowar #Necrophobic #NelNomeDelCodice #NemedianChronicles #OfSpectresAndStrife #OxygenDestroyer #PneumaHagion #Reaperdawn #Shaman #SufferBecome #TheSavageSword #UnhallowedDeliverance #VaultOfHorrors #Vitriol #WarriorsOfTheWorld
#NowSpinning #JudasPriest #Back2Back #RockaRolla #InvincibleShield 1974-2024 50 Years of the #MetalGods š“ó §ó ¢ó „ó ®ó §ó æ #Alpha š¤ #Omega #Vinyl #LP #HeavyMetal #Music
#TheMetalDogArticleList #MetalInjection ROB HALFORD Has Faith JUDAS PRIEST Will Do Another Record metalinjection.net/news/rob-hal... #RobHalford #JudasPriest #RockaRolla #InvincibleShield #Firepower #MetalMusic #MusicIndustry #Retirement #ProstateCancer #Sabaton
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
ROB HALFORD Has Faith JUDAS PRIEST Will Do Another Record
https://metalinjection.net/news/rob-halford-has-faith-judas-priest-will-do-another-record
#RobHalford #JudasPriest #RockaRolla #InvincibleShield #Firepower #MetalMusic #MusicIndustry #Retirement #ProstateCancer #Sabaton
#TheMetalDogArticleList #BLABBERMOUTH JUDAS PRIEST Shares 'Invincible Shield' Pro-Shot Performance Video From Greece's RELEASE Festival blabbermouth.net/news/judas-p... #JudasPriest #InvincibleShield #ReleaseFestival
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BLABBERMOUTH
JUDAS PRIEST Shares 'Invincible Shield' Pro-Shot Performance Video From Greece's RELEASE Festival
#TheMetalDogArticleList #BLABBERMOUTH JUDAS PRIEST Shares 'Panic Attack' Performance Video From 'Invincible Shield' Tour blabbermouth.net/news/judas-p... #JudasPriest #PanicAttack #InvincibleShield
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BLABBERMOUTH
JUDAS PRIEST Shares 'Panic Attack' Performance Video From 'Invincible Shield' Tour
I don't know how these old blokes do it still, but their most recent 3 albums are as good or damn near so, as anything they've recorded. Faulkner has been a revelation and injected young blood!!! #FirePower #RedeemerOfSouls #InvincibleShield Metal Gods Indeed!!! š¤š¬š§š¤
#NowSpinning #JudasPriest #Vinyl #LP #InvincibleShield 8March2024 š¤š¬š§š¤ #MetalGods #HeavyMetal #Music #DevilInDisguise #EscapeFromReality #SonsOfThunder #GiantsInTheSky
#TheMetalDogArticleList #Loudwire VOTE: Better Judas Priest Album - 'Screaming for Vengeance' vs. 'invincible Shield' Which Judas Priest album do you favor? loudwire.com/vote-better-... #JudasPriest #ScreamingForVengeance #InvincibleShield #ChuckFightClub
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#Loudwire
VOTE: Better Judas Priest Album - 'Screaming for Vengeance' vs. 'invincible Shield'
Which Judas Priest album do you favor - the classic 'Screaming for Vengeance' or the newer 'Invincible Shield'?
https://loudwire.com/vote-better-judas-priest-album-screaming-for-vengeance-vs-invincible-shield/
#JudasPriest #ScreamingForVengeance #InvincibleShield #ChuckFightClub
#TheMetalDogArticleList #MetalInjection Watch JUDAS PRIEST Ripping Through A 20-Song Set During Barcelona's Concert Sounding as good as they ever did metalinjection.net/video/watch-... #JudasPriest #Barcelona #Concert #Firepower #InvincibleShield #Sabaton
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalInjection
Watch JUDAS PRIEST Ripping Through A 20-Song Set During Barcelona's Concert
Sounding as good as they ever did
#JudasPriest #Barcelona #Concert #Firepower #InvincibleShield #Sabaton
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#Loudwire
The 80 Songs Judas Priest Have Never Played Live
Over 20 are from one album alone!
https://loudwire.com/songs-judas-priest-never-played-live/
#JudasPriest #Metal #Setlists #NeverPlayedLive #RichieFaulkner #JudasPriestAlbums #RockaRolla #InvincibleShield #MetalGods
Logging off for the evening.
Enjoying the latest album from Judas Priest in 2024.
I'll leave this here for all you rockers and rollers. Enjoy :)
New episode! Listen: https://linktr.ee/pctd/
Reviewing JUDAS PRIEST's album Invincible Shield! š”
#judaspriest #robhalford #ianhill #invincibleshield #metalpodcast #heavymetal #classicmetal #metal
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#MetalSucks
Kerry King Isnāt Down with Modern Iron Maiden: āTheir Songs Have Gotten So Longā
He's not wrong, really...
#IronMaiden #KerryKing #Senjutsu #MandrakeProject #BruceDickinson #JudasPriest #InvincibleShield #RobHalford #FromHellIRise
#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BLABBERMOUTH
JUDAS PRIEST's ROB HALFORD Opens Up About Love And Sobriety: 'I'm A Prayer Freak'
In a new interview with Kat Mykals of the 103 GBF radio station, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked about the lyrics to the band's song "Crown Of Horns", which appears on PRIEST's latest album, "Invincible Shield". He said: "I love love. It's the best four...
#JudasPriest #RobHalford #Love #Sobriety #CrownOfHorns #InvincibleShield #JamesJasta
