It's that time of the year again, to reflect back upon the best releases of 2024! Collector and music critic extraordinaire, Jonathan has an ear for excellence and and eye for design and layout that gives the rest of us plenty to appreciate and soak in regarding new and favorite releases.
The complete list of new releases and reissues can be found on the Heaven's Metal website and social media platforms. Scroll to the bottom for a direct link.
At Boone's Overstock, we are thrilled that two of our labels - Retroactive and Bombworks are well represented in this list of top 2024 albums. So, we put together a list here of all the titles on the list that we have in the store and are discounting (LIMITED TIME SALE PRICES) every single one of them in hopes they all find good, loving homes!
First we have new releases followed by the top reissues of 2024....
HERE WE GO!
CLICK IMAGES OR UNDERLINED SECTIONS TO GO TO ORDERING PAGES.
1. MOTIVIK - RENOUNCEMENT (progressive thrash!) CD $12.97 / Vinyl $26.97 (only three copies in stock)
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL MOTIVIK CD & VINYL OPTIONS
There is just something about this album … throwback to the glory days of thrash metal where melodies weren’t discarded for the sake of speed and guitar solos shredded with conviction. The best of Believer, Betrayal and Tourniquet with a splash of Metallica and Megadeth and even the more progressive death metal of Becoming the Archetype. It was a tough decision between this one and Human Code, but at heart I’m a metal guy … and with a song like “Septicemia” on the set list, the doctor in me completely sold-out!
2. Human Code – Break the Silence CD (Standard $11.98 / Deluxe $14.98)
Doug Van Pelt’s “pick of the year.” Without a doubt, totally worthy of the album of the year, especially given the care and effort put into this by a bunch of guys with a ton of talent, spirit and credibility. For sure, this is the “best-sounding “album of the year… and the songs, lyrics and execution are brilliant!
8. Saint – Immortalizer CD $11.95 / Vinyl $26.97
An easy top 10 pick. The longevity of the effort and the persistence of the spirit isn’t lost on anyone, but when you are in the game this long you must still deliver the message and the goods with credible execution. Check, check. Roger, that!
11. Stryper – When We Were Kings (Girder Exclusive Vinyl)
STRYPER - WHEN WE WERE KINGS (ROYAL PURPLE) GIRDER MUSIC EXCLUSIVE $39.97
13. The Brave – Carnival of Sins CD $11.97
Without a doubt, the best melodic rock album this year from artists devoted to praising the King with smooth melodies and accessible hooks. Their legend lives on…
15. All For the King – Darkest Before Dawn CD $12.97 (only 3 left!)
We have their other CD as well - ALL FOR THE KING - LET THERE BE LIGHT (CD, 2022, Roxx) Melodic Metal w guest from Ulf (Jerusalem) $14.97 (limited quantities)
At 34 minutes this album is a bit more in EP territory which was one factor keeping it this far down in the chain. Also, I don’t understand the decision to place the Ulf Christianson song (previously released in 2022 as a bonus track) as the lead-off track. All that aside, this band has a wonderful ability to match melody with lush heavy rock infused by totally sold-out praise-the-Creator attitude. Narnia blended with Jerusalem and Modest Attraction.
16. Flood – Ripped Into Exile $11.97 CD / $24.97 Vinyl
Also, CLICK HERE TO GET FLOOD - POLARIZED ON CD / VINYL
Consequently, this album should have been huge. In so many ways, it still is – the songwriting, the diversity, the technical execution, the singing. But the production mix was a missed opportunity. While the vinyl version (Bombworks) provides a redemption of sorts, the lack of sound quality matching the band’s debut remains a surprising shortfall. The good news is that the songs are very good to excellent.
17. Kalamity Kills – Kalamity Kills CD $11.97
Jamie Rowe from Guardian - Heavy Metal!
Jamie Rowe’s new rock endeavor was originally released to digital streaming late 2023, found its way to CD in 2024 and vinyl format in early 2025. I missed out on this in 2023 (never hit my radar), but I get it now. Refreshingly, Rowe embraces a neogenesis of sorts, these songs encompassing hard rock/melodic metal merged with more contemporary electronic rock effects for maximum shock rock impact.
Also in stock featuring Jamie Rowe on vocals - some amazing hard rock and metal - CLICK HERE FOR: ADRIANGALE - SUCKER PUNCH & CRUNCH CDs for just $9.97 (SALE)
18. Perpetual Legacy – Teodrama (2-CD Import) Limited Qty $17.97
This progressive symphonic rock/metal group hailing from Brazil – featuring the dynamic voice of Michelle Rodovalho – released their second full-length in late 2024. Frankly, this could easily be ranked higher, but I’ve not had enough time yet to fully digest its impact and scope. One thing for sure, noteworthy indeed, is the ambitiousness and diversity of this 2-CD epic replete with melodic and harsh vocals, cinematic elements and plenty of great compositional experimentation.
Ken Tamplin - Stand Up And Shout (4-CD Box Set) 69 Songs, 22 Unreleased + 6 New Versions $35.00
One of the most comprehensive collections of songs from an artist with a plethora of material from which to cull.
Believer – Extraction from Mortality, Sanity Obscure, Dimensions (CD, Cassette, Vinyl)
Various discounts on ALL THREE titles by Believer
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL BELIEVER IN STOCK
My original intention was to review all three of these gems, but alas, I was only successful in accomplishing this goal with the band’s debut
Brother Cane – Wishpool CD w collector card $13.98
Without a doubt, the best of the band’s 3 incredibly brilliant releases. How this band didn’t make it bigger is beyond comprehension. Girder has done a nice job of reissuing their debut on both CD/first-time vinyl in 2023. Similar treatments on this release are equally good, the excellent vinyl remaster sublime.
Barren Cross – Atomic Arena & State of Control (Vinyl)
$24.97 single color / $28.49 multi-color Vinyl
CLICK HERE FOR BARREN CROSS CDs!
With each release available in two different colors, these classics – originally released on Enigma – have been reissued on vinyl as part of the now iconic Limited Run Vinyl Series.
Sacred Warrior – Waiting in Darkness (CD) DELUXE EDITION w slipcase $14.97
CLICK HERE - SACRED WARRIOR - WAITING IN DARKNESS VINYL $23.97
CLICK HERE FOR SACRED WARRIOR EVERYTHING
Originally released in 2013, the often-overlooked Eli Prinsen incarnation of the band put out a worthy dark progressive collection of songs. Retroactive issued the “first time on vinyl” in 2021 and this year the newly packaged Collector’s Edition on CD, replete with slipcase and expanded 12-page booklet. And speaking of waiting … we patiently await/anticipate new material…
Damascus – The Road to Damascus (2-CD) 80's Prog Rock $15.97
An amazing, expertly curated anthology/tribute to one of the most underrated Christian prog bands from the ‘80’s.
Damascus was a Christ-centric progressive rock band from the ‘80’s, contemporaries with AD, Kerry Livgren, Arkangel and largely the brainchild of the multi-instrumentalist/singer Tom McKeown (Shadowfields). The band’s inception (early ‘80’s) was inspired by a car accident involving McKeown and his then band Haze, an incident McKeown later acknowledged changed the course of his life forever. With the change to a life in Christ, McKeown formed a new band with a new vision – from (the) Haze was born Damascus.
Damascus Prog
Consequently, influenced by his childhood musical heroes (Kansas, Genesis, Yes, ELP and later Saga), Damascus would move in a musical direction which was not popular amidst the budding Christian rock/AOR scene – progressive rock. Along with his previous band’s bass player Cliff Zweibruck, McKeown would later be rejoined by Marc Reich (guitars/vocals) after he returned from college and even later by drummer David Coy.
Musically, where Trytan was the ‘80’s Christian Rush-infused prog juggernaut, Damascus was the scene’s Kansas/Yes (heavy keyboard emphasis) infused prog rock dynamo. Hence, the music was much more instrumentally focused than most “Gospel” rock acts at the time were either recording or for which they were awarded airplay. Therefore, neither their 1983 self-titled EP nor any of their 3 full-length albums were previously released in formats other than self-financed cassette.
“Exegesis is a diamond in the ruff, a missing piece in the UK white metal puzzle, a long-lost piece of Christian metal history.”
UK’s Lazarus has for many years remained an enigma to the Christian metal community. The infamous 1991 White Metal Warriors compilation CD (Kingsway/Edge Records) – yeah, that one with songs by legends Seventh Angel and Detritus – featured two songs from this upstart power/classic metal band named Lazarus. Surprisingly those two songs, “Do or Die” and “Overpower,” turned out to be two of the best songs on the release!
DISCIPLE - The Lost Disciple (CD, 2024, Roxx) FFO Stryper, early Guardian, Barren Cross $13.97
Call it nostalgic, this is old-school all the way. This lovingly culled resurrection of the music of Australia’s Disciple stands testament to the dual-edged sword of late ‘80’s Christian metal – melodic rock/metal matched with the message of hope in Jesus Christ.
A huge thanks to Jonathan Swank and Heaven's Metal Magazine for championing Christian rock and metal. It has introduced us to an amazing amount of quality music! Enjoy this sale - discounts for a limited time only!
To read all of Jonathan's Top releases of 2024 CLICK RIGHT HERE