Haela Huntress’ Top Albums of 2024

(Editor’s note: This year, we’re bringing back the individual ‘Top Albums’ lists. In previous years, we all kinda just lumped everyone’s picks into one article, but we got enough comments from you guys about wanting the individual lists, so here we are with MetalSucks Deputy Editor Haela Huntress’ picks.)

Candy — It’s Inside You

I realize that everyone and their mom has been shitting themselves over the new Knocked Loose and, while I appreciate that album and its sudden recognition from mainstream outlets, I don’t think there’s anything that Knocked Loose did on You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To that Candy didn’t do better on It’s Inside You. Much more than a simple hardcore album, the combination of hardcore with electronic elements really elevated this above your average hardcore record. So this stands as my favorite record of the year, no matter how many people seem to want to claim that I was paid to say I like it.

Zeal & Ardor — Greif

While the misspelling of the word “grief” annoys the shit out of me as a grammar nerd, Zeal & Ardor’s Greif was easily one of the most diverse and eclectic metal albums of the year. With little concern for genre classification, the experimental metal group pops out a surprisingly dynamic metal album that does a lot of different things equally well, which is generally what I look for in any genre.

Pissed Jeans — Half Divorced 

Alternating between seriousness and silly humor, the band with the unfortunate name managed to crank out one hell of a hardcore album. From the micro-focused “Helicopter Parent” to the uproariously funny “Everywhere is Bad,” this album switches moods more often than me without my meds and somehow they do a great job with all of it.

Punching Moses — Live Short and Suffer

This album was just relentless, balls-to-the-wall hardcore at its absolute finest. Punching Moses went through some very significant lineup changes since their last album and managed to keep up the same intensity and energy. Moving from regional act to a bigger stage, this album really saw the band coming into its own in a very big way.

Kittie — Fire

I have to admit that nostalgia is playing a part in this pick because the lyrics on this album could use some work, but it’s hard to deny the sheer nostalgic power of a band like Kittie. I literally had this band’s photos on my locker in high school. And Kittie brings all the fury and femme power they had on their early albums. So I admit that I’m reaching a little on this one, but I’m allowed to do that so fuck it.

Honorable mentions:

Knocked Loose — You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To

SeeYouSpaceCowboy — Coup de Grâce

Sprints — Letter to Self

Judas Priest — Invincible Shield