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

25) ENSIFERUM - Winter Storm (Metal Blade)

 

Made for the snow and ice, Ensiferum’s Winter Storm braves the frigid weather with their trademark Viking muscle with axe and shield, spilling blood on the clean, snowy ground. While of course known for furious folk metal musings, Winter Storm sports a more power metal style whilst changing the flow of tracks.

They have found their groove since 2020’s Thlassic and while Winter Storm isn’t as immediate as impact, the depth of songwriting brings a growing warmth upon multiple visits. Winter Storm drops in with an avalanche at #25.

Scribe Nick Balazs scored the album 7.5; writing Winter Storm “[flexed] a power metal muscle in their folk roots;” an excerpt of his review:

Pekka Montin has been a boon to their lineup – his cleans are strong and provide a perfect contrast well to Petri Lindroos’ growls. It’s a definitive fire and ice approach. The production is warm with stark clarity and there is cinematic approach with two brief interludes exploding into full songs making Winter Storm a true album experience.

Proper opener “Winter Storm Vigilantes” (following the instrumental intro “Aurora”) sets the stage as usual energetic opener from the Finns with galloping rhythms and triumphant chorus work. “Long Cold Winter Of Sorrow And Strife” reflects the days of Iron from back in the day, and “Scars In My Heart” features delicate female vocals in a well-done, memorable semi-ballad.

“Resistentia” is a brief acoustic surge into stormer “The Howl” that features a rousing chorus and Ensiferum does something slightly different by putting the long epic – “From Order To Chaos” as the third last track rather than the closer. Another brief instrumental leads to fast closer, the apt “Victorious” with fists raised rhythms and vocals.

BravePicks 2024 Top 30

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)