2016 – Meshiaak – Alliance of Thieves
2017- Caligula’s Horse – In Contact
2018- Rise of Avernus – Eigengrau
2019- Lord – Fallen Idols
2020- Vanishing Point – Dead Elysium
2021- Dangerous Curves – Summertime Highs
2022 – Taliesin – Faceless
2023- Night Legion – Fight or Fall
2024…
20. Project Ultimate Satan – The Opus Satanas (Eschatonic Records)
19. Ploughshare – Second Wound (Brilliant Emperor Records/I, Voidhanger Records)
18. Pilots of Baalbek – By The Seat of Our Pants (Own Label)
17. Crypt Crawler – The Immortal Realm (Own Label)
16. Black Aleph – Apsides (Art As Catharsis/dunk!records)
15. King Zog – Second Dawn (Rue Morgue Records)
14. Pod People – Oblivion (Black Farm Records)
13. Bentham’s Head – Blood, Salt and Ash (Own Label)
12. Starcrazy – Starcrazy (Own Label)
11. Battlesnake – The Rise and Demise of The Motorsteeple (Lemontree Music)
10. The Neptune Power Federation – Goodnight My Children (Cruz Del Sur Music)
“At it’s peak – the irresistible Twas A Lie, for instance, or maybe the more progressive Woe Be To Father’s Troubled Mind – this is music that possesses a timeless brilliance that, whilst drawing deeply from the wells of past Goddesses still comes to the ears fresh and alive, possessed of an evergreen relevance that demands the listener give in and roll over to it’s demands without question” – Scott Adams, 08/02/24
9. Flaming Wrekage – Terra Inferna (Grindhead Records)
“At the end of the day, the World won’t stop turning if you don’t buy Terra Inferna when it comes out later this month; But you will be a significantly less well-rounded and fulfilled person without the likes of Blood and Bone and Ghosts in your life, believe me…” – Michael Stronge, 01/04/24
8. Carmeria – Tragédie D’amour (Own Label)
“A great album… an album dealing with a clear theme throughout of love, tragedy and loss… Carmeria have put the big boys and girls on notice with this outstanding sophomore effort” – Paul Kerr, 13/08/24
7. Shotgun Mistress – Kings of the Revolution (Own Label)
“While Kings of the Revolution is a big step up from their debut album, the band still retains the raw hard rock roots forged on many small stages in sweaty venues around Australia. It’s Alright and Addicted to Pain channel that live rock sound, with big bass, crashing cymbals, and thundering drum sounds kicking off these high-paced hard rocking tracks that will get those packed live venues jumping up and down again” – Frank Tonkin, 10/06/24
6. Immorium – Rose Water Black (Own Label)
“At five songs in length, you might complain that there isn’t enough here to satiate your extreme metal hunger, but the flipside of that is that there are literally no weak points to report. The band doesn’t waste a single note on Rose Water Black, with the result being an album you’ll be listening to over and over again over the next few months. Highly recommended!” – Chris Arrowsmith, 18/07/24
5. Werewolves – Die For Us (Own Label)
“Die For Us is not an album for the faint of heart. It’s a blistering, unrepentant onslaught that reinforces Werewolves’ position as one of the most uncompromising acts in modern death metal. For fans of the band, this album delivers exactly what is expected: unrelenting aggression, dark humour, and a complete disregard for musical trends. For newcomers, it’s a baptism of fire into the savage world of the band. Either way, Die For Us is a savage big up to the band’s unwavering commitment to their craft and their unique brand of extreme metal” -CA, 24/06/24
4. The Eternal – Skinwalker (Reigning Phoenix Music)
“Lyrically, Skinwalker is a profound exploration of loss, grief, and the quest for meaning… With Paradise Lost seemingly happy in heavier waters and My Dying Bride rent by internal strife, the time is right for The Eternal; To see them grasp their chance with such flair on Skinwalker is not only thrilling, but also a fitting tribute to Mark Kelson’s vision for the band over more than two decades” – Alf-Inge Ingesson, 14/06/24
3. Orpheus Omega – Emberglow (Wormholedeath Records)
“Seriously – albums like this don’t come around very often, and they should be revered and adored in equal measure. Songs like Paper Dreams and Concrete Walls are the sound of personal dreams coming true, of the acknowledgement that all the toil, travail and self-denial was worthwhile – the sound of success. Congrats to all involved!” – Ferry Templeton, 05/07/24
2. Abramelin – Sins of the Father (Hammerheart Records)
“In Sins of the Father, Abramelin has crafted an album that not only pushes the boundaries of death metal but also cements their legacy as one of Australia’s most important extreme metal bands. With incredible musicianship, savage vocals, and a knack for injecting just the right amount of old-school influence, this is an album that will stand the test of time. Get ready for the carnage!” – CA, 21/08/24
All of which brings us to the moment we’ve all been waiting for… Sentinel Daily‘s top Australian album of 2024 is…
Witchgrinder – Nothing Stays Buried (Own Label)
“Whatever your poison in modern metal these blokes have got you covered; The only thing that’s down to you is the provision of a big bastard stereo on which to enjoy the mayhem unfolding before your ears, because surely that’s what’s needed to fully enjoy the bonecrushing majesty of tracks like Inject The Venom or the absolutely coruscating robo-thrash of You Bury Your Own, which is hands down the best thing I’ve heard so far in 2024… Please, cancel whatever it is you’ve got planned for the rest of the day and spend your time with this album instead” – CA, 28/03/24
Great list. No Pestilential or Permafog makes me sad though.