Metal is a branch of rock music that developed in the 1960s with bands such as The Yardbirds, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix. This style is known for its warped guitar sound and heavier drums and bass. In the 70s, metal lost some of its popularity due to the disco era, but rebounded the following decade and has been turning out new artists who define what metal music means ever since.
In 2024, the face of metal has changed a bit but the message is constant: send a message, be who you are, and do it loudly.
2024 Metal Music to Check Out
Some old contenders have stood the test of time and continue to make great music. Judas Priest is a British heavy metal band founded in 1970. While there have been some shifts in band members throughout the years, most of the original line-up are still contributing members and their style, attitude, and sound have not changed in the past 50 years. They released their newest album, “Invisible Shield” in March 2024.
Pearl Jam, another veteran band, has produced 12 albums in the last 30 years, some to success and others that fell short of expectation. However, their newest album, “Dark Matter” takes on a new sound for them, pulling away from their traditional energetic punk vibe and heading in a reflective and more introspective direction. Fans will enjoy the wiser take on their traditional ballad sound.
Pearl Jam’s new album, “Dark Matter”
New Metal Makes a Splash
Over the years, the genre has evolved into several different sub-categories including death metal, thrasher rock, and even some hip-hop and electronic cross-overs.
BRAT is redefining the look of metal, with a blonde Barbie-esque singer with the voice of a demon. Originating in New Orleans, BRAT takes extreme metal to a new place with tasty guitar licks, and thrasher cords reminiscent of Avenge Sevenfold. Their new album, “Social Grace” puts a feminine spin on death metal.
Gel is a New Jersey-based band that features hardcore metal for “the freaks.” Their music screams of straight-forward head-banging rock that redefined what metal meant to include a place for them. Their summer European tour consisted of festivals such as Hellfest and Download. Their new album, “Persona” released earlier this month will be featured in their American tour, which spans through the end of October.
Gel’s newest album, “Persona”
The Sun’s Journey Through the Night would be considered a black metal band featuring masks and entertaining subjects such as rebirth and death. Formed in the UK, they have released four albums in the past three years, their newest called “Wordless,” which showcases fast-paced, hardcore screamo, backed by thrashing instruments and tantalizing riffs that float to the surface. They played the Incineration Festival on May 11 in London and ArcTanGent earlier this month.
Militarie Gun does not look like your traditional metal band, but rather like California skaters who decided to make an album. They find their inspiration in punk music, but enjoy focusing on the way the lyrics and melodies contrast the heaviness of their instruments. After last year’s success in their UK tour, their new album, “Life Under the Gun” consists of mainstream rock with a blunt edge and their sound is The Clash meets Sum41. Their main focus is to keep experimenting with their sound to create a new branch of metal music.
Fans of traditional metal will be excited to know that Metallica has released their new album “72 Seasons” and have begun their 2024 tour, M72 in Munich, Germany this past May.
Formed in the 1980s Metallica has retained all of their original members to produce a sound that has remained consistent for the last 40 years. While the band showcases their new album in their summer tour, they are happy to give die-hard fans what they really want–those classic songs that gave them a voice and a place in the metal world, such as “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Master of Puppets.”
The European leg of their tour finished last month and they have begun their American leg, touring major cities in the US and Canada until September.
There is no age limit on rock and roll.
There is no beauty contest or mold to fill, and metal music opens its arms to all, recognizing fellow warriors waving their freak flags and trying to express themselves.
Every artist gets their inspiration from what moves them, what makes them feel: the bands that have successfully come before them and paved the way for new genres of music. But to take that nugget of truth and create something unique is what art and music are all about and sharing these bands is what will keep the genre alive and thriving.
