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

13) NECROPHOBIC - In The Twilight Grey (Century Media)

 

One of the most exciting names in black/death metal are Necrophobic – the Swedes have been on fire since 2018’s Mark Of The Necrogram. They have continually releasing high quality material and it’s no different with In The Twilight Grey. While vicious and harsh, Necrophobic has included more melodic moments without sacrificing intensity. 

The result is blackened melodic muscle with dynamic songwriting. Necrophobic continues to be a must listen and slays into spot #12.

Scribe Mark Gromen rated the album 7.5, calling it “fast, fierce, and yet surprisingly meldic.” An excerpt of his review:

A temporary downshift to mid-tempo "As Stars Collide". Midway through, a dynamic change, to almost sing-along melodies, atop a disorienting hypnosis of swirling instrumentation. Back to normal, "Stormcrow" hammers, from start to finish. Truth be told, even within such vehemence, there's a bit of ear candy. Such snippets are throughout the album: note the clean guitar solo cutting into "Shadows Of The Brightest Night", which concludes by fading out. Big production, to kick off "Mirrors Of A Thousand Lakes", then the twisted black metal gallop and overturned hornets' nest of activity. There's a sense of class, not the dirty, dangerous, loose cannon mentality of, say Watain. Fantastic stuff!

Old school aggression (not without a guitar break) from "Cast In Stone". The most atmospheric of the batch, "Nordanvind" tempers the pace, as well as the severity. However, the best comes next, the 8+ minute title cut. Frenetic guitars, pounding drums and sickening throat. As an intermezzo, there's a few wayward/solo bass notes and then a renewed aural onslaught. Some sort of black magic, all encased in a conventional, tuneful context. It ends with blaze of guitars as Anders Strokirk repeatedly bellows the titular chorus.

BravePicks 2024 Top 30

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)