In 1994, BraveWords & Bloody Knuckles magazine was born and here we stand 30 years later celebrating the past 12 months of music on our anniversary! What an incredible ride it has been and it's far from over! And during the past three decades, we've literally seen/heard thousands of releases and this is the time of the season when we crown the finest! The BraveWords scribes have spoken, so join us each day this month as we count down to the BravePick of 2024!

Remember, everybody has an opinion and it’s time for ours! Stay tuned at the end of December for BraveWords' writers’ individual Top 20s (new studio albums ONLY), Top 5 Brave Embarrassments (a fan favorite!), What/Who Needs To Stop In 2024? and Metal Predictions For 2025. 

BravePicks 2024

18) BLOOD RED THRONE - Nonagon (Soulseller)

 

Blood Red Throne took us to hell at the beginning of the year with Nonagon. Drawing inspirations from Dante’s Inferno, the Norwegians stained their chair with an even thicker coat of red, freshening up their sound while staying tried & true death metal. 

Tightly crafted with visceral intensity, BRT proves once again why they are an elite death metal force. Nonagon takes its spot at #18.

Band founder / guitarist Daniel “Død” Olaisen comments: "Blood Red Throne has always been a combination of groove and brutality. While keeping true to the BRT sound and feel, Nonagon feels fresh and new. The lyrics for the album are loosely based on the nine concentric circles of torment described in 'Inferno' by Dante. The album has nine songs and it would be fitting to conceptualize around that. That being said, every lyric is up for interpretation, and I encourage people to find their own meaning and themes based on it."

BravePicks 2024 Top 30

18) BLOOD RED THRONE - Nonagon (Soulseller)
19) RIOT V - Mean Streets
20) PORTRAIT - The Host 
21) ROTTING CHRIST - Pro Xristou (Season Of Mist)
22)SAXON - Hell, Fire And Damnation (Silver Lining)
23) ULCERATE - Cutting The Throat Of God (Debemur Morti Productions)
24) POWERWOLF - Wake Up The Wicked (Napalm)
25) ENSIFERUM - Winter Storm (Metal Blade)
26) OPETH - The Last Will And Testament (Reigning Phoenix Music)
27) DARK TRANQUILLITY - Endtime Signals (Century Media)
28) MORGUL BLADE - Heavy Metal Wraiths (No Remorse)
29) THE DEAD DAISIES - Light 'Em Up (Independent)
30) MÖRK GRYNING - Fasornas Tid (Season Of Mist)