As 2024 draws to a close, I’ve realized that for me, it was a “quality over quantity” type of year. There weren’t as many great albums that jumped out at me as in years past, but the ones that did were pretty exceptional.
As usual, my list contains some legendary bands that are pushing new creative boundaries and also some rising, young artists who are injecting fresh intensity into the hard rock genre.
Here are my standout albums of 2024. Cheers!
#10 – Two Shots At Glory – Crazy Lixx
This album is a commemoration of Crazy Lixx’s 20+ year career. It features reimagined versions of some of their best songs and also contains a few surprises. These guys are definitely influenced by 80’s glam rock royalty, Skid Row, Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, RATT, Poison and Bon Jovi. If you dig them, you’ll like this album.
#9 – Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day, Babylon A.D.
I have to admit, the only Babylon A.D. album in my collection is their killer 1989 debut. When I heard they were putting out a new album in 2024, I was curious to hear what they sounded like after all these years. Turns out the band has aged remarkably well. This one probably fell between the cracks for a lot of fans, but it’s definitely worth a listen.
#8 – Ten, Mr. Big
The iconic supergroup Mr. Big released a new album of original material in July, but we’ll likely never have the opportunity to hear these tunes live. Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Nick D’Virgilio called it quits this year, but thankfully left us with a great final album that neatly ties a bow on a stellar rock legacy.
#7 – Tattoo Me, Lee Aaron
18 albums into her career and Canadian rock queen Lee Aaron never did a collection of covers. Until now. On Tattoo Me, she pays homage to the artists who influenced her, including Led Zeppelin, Elton John and Heart with a rockin version of their classic, “Even It Up.” Lee’s been called a rock and roll chameleon and I think it’s a title that fits her just fine.
#6 – Disintegrate Together, Vain
It appears that there may only be 200 copies of this album available worldwide, so running out to grab it may be a challenge. But if you’re lucky enough to find one, it’s the closest thing to Vain’s 1989 masterpiece, No Respect, to-date. If you were a fan back then, you should love this one. This band should have been as big as Poison in the glam rock era. Kudos to them for never giving up.
#5 – Blue Electric Light – Lenny Kravitz
As a hard rock/heavy metal fan to my core, I will never apologize for loving Lenny Kravitz! His latest release is bluesy, funky and at times, straight up pop, but still includes enough rock guitar and signature Lenny vocals to make me happy. This insanely talented writer, producer, singer, entertainer and musician doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.
#4 – Child Within the Man – Sebastian Bach
Maybe the best vocal performance of the year for me. Sebastian found the Fountain of Youth on his way to recording his latest solo effort. His voice is as strong as ever and his backing band is tight and on point. This one is just loaded with fantastic songs. The only thing wrong with this album is that it makes me yearn for a proper Skid Row reunion even more!
#3 – When We Were Kings – Stryper
There’s not a soft spot on this album. The riffs, hooks and melodies carry all the way through to the closer. How Michael Sweet can still hit those high notes after all these years is a testament to Stryper’s resilience and dedication to their craft. More than 40 years after it all began on the stages of Gazzari’s and the Whisky in West Hollywood, they’ve never wavered from their Christian faith or hard rock artistry.
#2 – The Art of Letting Go – Myles Kennedy
Myles Kennedy is a factory for brilliant new music. I’ve been looking forward to this album and it didn’t disappoint – in fact, it far exceeded my expectations. If you’re a casual Alter Bridge fan or have ever thought, “hey, that guy who sings in Slash’s band is pretty damn good,” do yourself a favor and give this album a spin. And be sure to take note of his exceptional guitar work that often takes a backseat in his other bands.
#1 – Vampire Calamity – Seven Year Witch
Back in March, I reviewed this album and predicted it would be in my top ten this year – and here it is at number one! If you’re not familiar with Seven Year Witch, you should be. Described as “Straight out of left field with an electrifying hybrid of hard rock, blues-punk and 70’s garage rock,” these charismatic boys from Pendleton, South Carolina are developing a cult-like following. There’s something for everyone on this album – tribalism, swing, raw punk energy and just plain old kick ass rock and roll.
I’m Music Magazine Writer Steve Pawlowski
