There was so many heavy, extreme, and beautiful death metal albums created from every region of the world this past year, ranging from Mexico and Botswana t0 Ukraine and Taiwan. To bring closure to 2024, our readers voted for their favorite death metal album.
While there was much back and forth between who would take the throne, our top three winners included some noteworthy bands from Brazil and Japan to New Zealand.
Enjoy the most-voted for death metal albums of 2024…
Death Metal Album of the Year – 2024 (Bronze Tier)
Ulcerate
Cutting the Throat of God
Released via Debemur Morti
New Zealand
The Auckland conjuration of technical, sludgy, avant-garde metal continues on this seventh full-length album. From the merciless opener “To Flow Through Ashen Hearts” to the title track finale, Ulcerate have the metal community by the jugular, with mastering by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna). Only listen to in pitch darkness.
FFO: Gorguts, Blood Incantation, Neurosis
Death Metal Album of the Year – 2024 (Silver Tier)
Ryujin
Ryujin
Released via Napalm Records
Japan
I’ve seen this project dubbed as ‘Samurai Metal,’ which frankly, is unfair to push all this creative talent into a gimmick box like that. Yes, Ryujin does convey a distinct Japanese folk sound through their music, but the songwriting, dynamics, and melodic-death-power metal amalgamation is unlike anyone before. With features and production by Matt Kiichi Heafy (Trivium, Ibaraki) as well as shamisen, erhu, dragon flute, and orchestration by frontman Ryoji, this self-titled album is beyond noteworthy for all metalheads.
FFO: Bloody Tyrant, Children of Bodom, Trivium
Death Metal Album of the Year – 2024 (Gold Tier)
Siriun
Psychonaut
Self-released
Brazil
The best kind of death metal is different death metal. Siriun harnesses the brutality of true Cannibal Corpse heaviness, but in a far more impactful way, through an excess of psychedelic groove. Mastered by Mark White (Whitechapel, Fallujah), this Rio de Janeiro group is addictively intense. Experience Psychonaut with an open, inebriated mind.
FFO: Gojira, Lamb of God, Decapitated