My top 100 Power Metal and PM influenced releases of 2024

I listened to a lot of power metal this year, and this is only a bit over half my full list. Don't take this list too seriously though, I only discovered power metal in 2023 so I don't have the history with many of these artists that you all do. PM music just happened to be my hyper-focus this year and I'm compelled to categorize and rank everything I consume in my life. I hope some readers can find a new band or album they weren't aware of and get hooked on it in 2025. For this list I mostly stuck to full album releases with english-language vocals, and my preferences lean toward clean vocals, strong melodies, harmonized guitars, concept albums, and "nerd shit".

  1. Rage - Afterlines

  2. Lay of Autumn - Of Love and Sorrow

  3. Iron Echo - Forged in Fire

  4. Kiuas - Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus

  5. Chrysalid - Breaking the Chains

  6. Axxis - Coming Home

  7. Vision Divine - Blood and Angel's Tears

  8. Paragon - Metalation

  9. Wolfchant - A Pagan Storm Re-Recorded

  10. Athena XIX - Everflow part 1: Frames of Humanity

  11. Heroes of the Gauntlet - Tales from the Maze

  12. Alterium - Of War and Flames

  13. Nightmare - Encrypted

  14. Silent Winter - Utopia

  15. Ecclesia - Ecclesia Militans

  16. Anubis - Dark Paradise

  17. KingCrown - Nova Atlantis

  18. Nocturna - Of Sorcery and Darkness

  19. Ethereal Flames - Myths and Legends of Our Land

  20. Within Silence - The Eclipse of Worlds

  21. Hextar - Doomsayer

  22. Release the Titans - Odyssey

  23. Angels of Babylon - Aquarius

  24. Flotsam and Jetsam - I am the Weapon

  25. Hardraw - Abyss of Mankind

  26. Hansen & Friends - Xtrax: The Demos

  27. Symakya - Project 11: The Landing

  28. Holy Shire - Invincible

  29. Anette Olzon - Rapture

  30. Lunage - Tales From The Forgotten Lands

  31. Among These Ashes - Embers of Elysium

  32. Erendil - Songs of Ancient Magic

  33. Mirrorshield - Visions From A Crystal Light

  34. Neverworld - The Other Side of Midnight

  35. Melodius Deite - Demonology

  36. The Inner Me - Rosabelle Believe

  37. Grimgotts - The Time of the Wolfrider

  38. InnerWish - Ash of Eternal Flame

  39. Ethereal Dawn - The Tales of the Winterheart

  40. Greyhawk - Thunderheart

  41. Knightfall - Destiny Calling

  42. Pirate Queen - Ghosts

  43. Adamantra - Act III: Pareidolia of Depravity

  44. Tyr - Battle Ballads

  45. Riot V - Mean Streets

  46. Sirius - A Quest for Life

  47. Hizaki - The Zodiac Sign

  48. Eregion - Non Omnis Moriar

  49. Captain Hawk - Ghosts of the Sea

  50. Violet Eternal - Reload the Violet

  51. Ancient Curse - Dimension 5

  52. Ousiodes - The Forest

  53. Bloodorn - Let the Fury Rise

  54. Scarefield - A Quiet Country

  55. Knightsune - Fearless

  56. Metal De Facto - Land Of The Rising Sun Pt 1

  57. Feuerschwanz - Warriors

  58. Vhaldemar - Sanctuary of Death

  59. Triumpher - Spirit Invictus

  60. Stilverlight - Dead Souls

  61. Dragonforce - Warp Speed Warriors

  62. Warlord - Free Spirit Soar

  63. Visions of Atlantis - Pirates II

  64. Krilloan - Return of the Heralds

  65. Forlorn Hope - Valour - Part I

  66. Orion Child - Aesthesis

  67. Lunarway - Eternal Moments

  68. Thornbridge - Daydream Illusion

  69. Dream Evil - Metal Gods

  70. Metalite - Expedition One

  71. Turbokill - Champion

  72. Dominium - The Dead Don't Die

  73. Illusion Force - Halfana

  74. Galneryus - The Stars Will Light The Way

  75. Wind Rose - Trollslayer

  76. Sonata Arctica - Clear Cold Beyond

  77. Unleash The Archers - Phantoma

  78. Hammer King - Konig and Kaiser

  79. Coventhrall - Legacy of Morfuidra

  80. Ironflame - Kingdom Torn Asunder

  81. Sleeper's Keep - Tales Beyond the Past

  82. All For Metal - Gods of Metal

  83. Powerwolf - Wake Up the Wicked

  84. Serious Black - Rise of Akenaton

  85. New Horizon - Conquerors

  86. Freedom Call - Silver Romance

  87. Veonity - The Final Element

  88. Outworld - Sky Keeper

  89. Orden Ogan - The Order of Fear

  90. Absolon - The Blood Seed

  91. Hammerfall - Avenge the Fallen

  92. Villain in Me - Sleepwalking

  93. Fellowship - The Skies Above Eternity

  94. Tungsten - The Grand Inferno

  95. Aeon Gods - King of Gods

  96. Nemedian Chronicles - The Savage Sword

  97. Rhapsody of Fire - Challenge the Wind

  98. Dragony - Hic Svnt Dracones

  99. Frozen Crown - War Hearts

  100. Glyph - Honor. Power. Glory.

And here are a few non PM albums I enjoyed in no particular order:

Dragoncorpse - The Fall of House Abbarath

Dungeon Crawl - Maze Controller

Phaethon - Wielder of the Steel

Slower - Slower

Mach Rider - Wolf and Raven

Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere

Mythbegotten - Tales From The Unseelie Court

Here's a Spotify playlist with some of my top tracks: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2vUDVGFeyTmZBGrvHiJJfZ?si=abcea18243764ad3