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

3) FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - I Am The Weapon (AFM)

 

The old guard still rules. Doomsday For The Deceiver came out an iconic year for thrash metal – 1986. 38 years later and Flotsam And Jetsam are producing some of the best metal out there. I Am The Weapon nuked the world in September and is another stunning revelation of heavy power thrash marked by tremendous vocals and fierce, volcanic riffs and rhythms.

Standing tall over their peers, Flotsam And Jetsam’s I Am The Weapon explodes at #3.

Scribe Rich Catino scored I Am The Weapon an 8.5, stating Flots “are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to new music.” An excerpt of his review:

"Primal" hits a steadfast pace, gallop, with some double bass drums. Title track lyric video angry with fitting words, "A world insane, Kill the pain, Say my name, I am the weapon", graphics of giant monsters (Godzilla, too) and manmade weapons of mass destruction. 

"Burned My Bridges" maintains the punch with a melodic bridge and chorus. "The Head Of The Snake" utilizes a drop tuned modern riff reminding of later Nevermore. 

For a change, straight forward simple riff and arrangement to "Beneath The Shadows" followed by that ultra-fast start to "Gates Of Hell". Old school riffing to "Cold Steel Lights" and complimenting lead work over the verse, with melodic break pre solo. I dig how "Running Through The Fire" has this start-stop drive, like the drums and rhythm seems to try and keep up with each other and just plows through the arrangement.

BravePicks 2024 Top 30

3) FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - I Am The Weapon (AFM)
4) CRYPT SERMON - The Stygian Rose (Dark Descent)
5) KERRY KING - From Hell I Rise (Reigning Phoenix)
6) BORKNAGAR - Fall (Century Media)
7) SEBASTIAN BACH - Child Within The Man (Reigning Phoenix)
8) GRAND MAGUS - Sunraven (Nuclear Blast)
9) IOTUNN - Kinship (Metal Blade)
10) NILE - The Underworld Awaits Us All
11) EVERGREY - Theories Of Emptiness (Napalm)
12) THE CROWN - Crown Of Thorns (Metal Blade)
13) NECROPHOBIC - In The Twilight Grey (Century Media)
14) DJEVEL - Natt Til Ende (Aftermath)
15) INTRANCED - Muerte y Metal (High Roller)
16) KITTIE - Fire (Sumerian)
17) BLACKTOP MOJO - Pollen (Cuhmon Music Group) 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)