As 2024 comes to a close, one thing is clear: it’s been a phenomenal year for new music. From genre-defining albums to unforgettable live performances, artists around the globe delivered work that left us in awe. Whether it was raw punk energy, intricate metal anthems, or beautifully emotional singer-songwriter moments, 2024 had something for everyone.
Our team of music enthusiasts has compiled their top five favourite albums and concerts of the year, showcasing the incredible diversity and talent that defined this year’s soundscape. Here’s what resonated with us the most!
Steve Gerrard (editor/photographer)
Albums:
1. Lucy Rose – This Ain’t The Way You Go Out
2. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
3. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
4. Heriot – Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell
5. Naima Bock – Below A Massive Dark Land
Honourable Mention: Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
Shows:
1. Idles @ MTELUS
2. Knocked Loose @ Olympia
3. Fontaines D.C. @ MTELUS
4. Ben Howard @ MTELUS
5. Angie McMahon @ Bar Le Ritz
Honourable Mention: Nails @ Fairmount
Randal Wark (writer)
Albums:
1. Idles – Tangk
2. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
3. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
4. Avril Jensen – Is Any of This Real?
5. Alex Henry Foster – Kimiyo
Shows:
1. Py-Py @ FME – Cabaret de la Dernière Chance
2. Matt Hulobowski – Bar Le Ritz
3. Big Sugar @ Meridian Theatres, Centrepointe Ottawa
4. Peter Dreams @ FME – QG Salle de spectacle
5. Bruce Springsteen @ Bell Centre (even if the sound sucked in the reds)
Simon Williams (writer)
Albums:
1. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
2. Caribou – Honey
3. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
4. Cigarettes After Sex – X’s
5. Nilüfer Yanya – My Method Actor
Shows:
1. James Blake @ Cavea Luciano Berio, Rome
2. Alkaline Trio @ Théâtre Beanfield
3. Fontaines D.C. @ MTELUS
4. NOFX @ Parc Olympique (Day 2 of 2)
5. Yard Act @ The Independent, San Francisco
Eric Brisson (photographer)
Albums:
1. Jelly Roll – The Beautifully Broken
2. Linkin Park – From Zero
3. Post Malone – F1-Trillion
4. Bring Me The Horizon – NexGen
5. Eminem – The Death of Slim Shady
Shows:
1. Jelly Roll @ Bluesfest, Ottawa
2. Beartooth @ MTELUS
3. Architects @ MTELUS
4. Evanescence/Halestorm @ Bell Centre
5. Ice Cube @ Place Bell
Jamie Siddall (writer)
Albums:
1. Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
2. Clairo – Charm
3. Charli XCX – Brat
4. Tinashe – Quantum Baby
5. Haley Heynderickx – Seed of a Seed
Shows:
1. Nicki Minaj @ Bell Centre
2. Mannequin Pussy @ Higher Ground, Vermont
3. Birds in Row @ Cabaret Foufounes
4. Rosie Tucker @ Cabaret Foufounes
5. Tinashe @ MTELUS
Mathieu Perrier (writer)
Albums:
1. Poppy – Negative Spaces
2. Origami Angel – Feeling Not Found
3. SOFT PLAY – HEAVY JELLY
4. Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk
5. Japandroids – Fate & Alcohol
Shows:
1. Frank Turner @ The Great Canadian Casino, Toronto
2. NOFX @ Parc Olympique, Montreal
3. Ripe @ Levitate Festival, Marshfield, MA
4. Texas King @ Bar Le Ritz PDB, Montreal
5. The OBGMs @ Bronson Centre, Ottawa
Dominic Blewett (photographer)
Albums:
1. Beak – >>>>
2. Colin Stetson – The Love It Took To Leave You
3. Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown
4. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
5. Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft
Shows:
1. PJ Harvey @ Centre Bell, Laval
2. Colin Stetson @ New City Gas
3. Sunset Rubdown @ La Sala Rossa
Mike Rogers (writer)
Albums:
1. Liam Gallagher & John Squire – Liam Gallagher John Squire
2. Lizzy McAlpine – Older
3. The Black Keys – Ohio Players
4. Tiny Habits – All For Something
5. Lemon Twigs – A Dream Is All We Know
Shows:
1. Lemon Twigs @ Théâtre Fairmount
2. Tiny Habits @ Le Studio TD
3. Queens of the Stone Age @ Centre Bell
4. Japanese House @ Osheaga
5. Nathaniel Rateliff @ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
Nicolas Cantin (photographer)
Albums:
1. Mk.gee – Two Star & The Dream Police
2. Clairo – Charm
3. Beabadoobee – This Is How Tomorrow Moves
4. Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You
5. Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Shows:
1. Cigarettes After Sex @ Bell Centre
2. PinkPantheress @ Théâtre Beanfield
3. LANY @ MTELUS
4. Lil Tecca @ MTELUS
5. Bryson Tiller @ Place Bell
Lauren Maddock (writer)
Albums:
1. Charlotte Day Wilson – Cyan Blue
2. Geoffroy – Good Boy
3. The Last Dinner Party – Prelude to Ecstasy
4. Blu DeTiger – All I Ever Want is Everything
5. Remi Wolf – Big Ideas
Shows:
1. The Last Dinner Party @ MTELUS
2. Olivia Dean @ Osheaga
3. Rêve @ Théâtre Fairmount
4. CMAT @ Bar Le Ritz PDB
5. Elisapie @ MTELUS
Annette Aghazarian (writer)
Albums:
1. Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes
2. Jack White – No Name
3. Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
4. Hozier – Unheard
5. St. Vincent – All Born Screaming
Shows:
1. Qveen Herby @ MTELUS
2. Kate Nash @ Foufounes
3. Michael Kiwanuka @ MTELUS
4. Allison Russell @ Le Studio TD
5. Dominique Fils-Aimé @ Jazz Fest
Maxime Le Huidoux (writer)
Albums:
1. Poppy – Negative Spaces
2. Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX GEn
3. Sueco – Attempted Lover
4. Bilmuri – American Motor Sports
5. Linkin Park – From Zero
Shows:
1. Beartooth @ MTELUS
2. The Plot in You @ MTELUS
3. Connor Price @ Club Soda
4. Sueco @ Le Studio TD (via his fiancée)
Michael Anestopoulos (writer)
Albums:
1. twenty one pilots – Clancy
2. Fontaines D.C. – Romance
3. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
4. MGMT – Loss of Life
5. Justice – Hyperdrama
Shows:
1. Justice @ Osheaga
2. Fontaines D.C. @ MTELUS
3. Arm’s Length @ Bar Le Ritz
4. twenty one pilots @ Scotiabank Arena
5. Vampire Weekend @ Place Bell
Alex Di Staulo (photographer)
Albums:
1. Idles – Tangk
2. Cola – The Gloss
3. The Gaslight Anthem – History Books
4. Caribou – Honey
5. Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us
Shows:
1. Model/Actriz (Ciel Noir) @ Olympia
2. Joyce Manor + The Gaslight Anthem @ History, Toronto
3. August Burns Red + In Flames @ Festival au Lac
4. The Flatliners @ Club Soda
5. Caribou @ Olympia
Richard Brunette (writer)
Albums:
1. Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX GEn
2. Linkin Park – From Zero
3. Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
4. Childish Gambino – Bando Stone and the New World
5. Alexisonfire – Death Letter (vinyl EP)
Shows:
1. Sleep Token @ Place Bell
2. Gojira @ Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies
3. Cage the Elephant @ Bell Centre
4. Twenty One Pilots @ Bell Centre
5. GWAR @ Beanfield Theatre
Jason Maher (writer)
Albums:
1. Unwanted Noise – Bury Me on the South Shore
After a long wait, Bury Me on the South Shore finally saw the light of day, and it was worth every second. This is a quintessential punk album destined to be remembered as a landmark in the genre’s history. The blistering guitar riffs combined with raw yet melodic vocals create a masterpiece. While the album is packed with standout tracks, my favorite is “P.M.N.,” which boasts infectious sing-along vibes and an upbeat melody. This is a must-have for any punk fan—an iconic release that demands a place in your collection.
2. Ensiferum – Winter Storm
Ensiferum is a name I’ve been aware of for years but had never taken the time to explore—until now. With their upcoming show in Montreal in early 2025, I decided to dive into their latest album, Winter Storm, and I was blown away. It captures everything I adore about metal: epic melodies, soaring lyrics about warriors, intricate guitar solos, and massive, chant-worthy choruses. My favorite track is “Long Cold Winter of Sorrow and Strife,” which opens with a dramatic spoken-word introduction reminiscent of Bal-Sagoth. It transitions from Viking-influenced black metal verses to a grand, sing-along chorus that lingers in your mind. While I’m not sure how diehard fans feel about this album, for me, it was an incredible discovery.
3. Conservative Military Image – No Squares in Our Circle
This controversial hardcore punk band dropped a phenomenal EP earlier this year, and it’s been in heavy rotation for me ever since. Clocking in at just 13 minutes, No Squares in Our Circle delivers a punchy, angry, and irresistibly catchy experience. My standout track is “Indoor Skins,” with its scathing critique of online punks, driven by memorable hooks and an explosive lineup of guest vocalists over thundering guitar rhythms. I’m hoping to catch them live in Montreal in 2025 because this EP is too good to miss.
4. Keys to the Astral Gates and Mystic Doors – II
This is the epitome of a black metal album—checking every box for the genre. From the unreadable logo to the band’s enigmatic aura, II delivers a lo-fi masterpiece. Its raw, distorted guitars create hauntingly beautiful melodies that transport the listener to another realm. My favorite track, “That Which Dwells Within,” features tortured screams layered over a wall of buzzing guitars, creating an unforgettable harmony. The album isn’t available on Spotify, my go-to streaming platform, but I make the extra effort to listen on YouTube or Bandcamp—proof of just how much I love this record.
5. Soulthief – The Bad Kind of Wet
One of Canada’s most exciting new hardcore bands, Soulthief, unleashed a monstrous EP this summer. The Bad Kind of Wet is brimming with massive breakdowns, crushing riffs, and furious vocals, making it essential listening for fans of hardcore, metalcore, and deathcore. My favorite track is the poignantly titled “After All These Years There Was Nothing Left, but Regret and This Empty Desk.” The song combines beautiful guitar melodies with deeply emotional and powerful lyrics, leaving a lasting impression. This EP firmly establishes Soulthief as a band to watch in the Canadian hardcore scene.
Shows:
1. King Diamond @ MTelus
We don’t get to see King Diamond all that often, so any time he’s in town, it’s a magical experience. The stage set was gigantic and incredibly impressive, matching the grandiosity of his music. The setlist was a perfect blend of classics and amazing new songs. King himself was in great shape, and his iconic vocals were absolutely on point. As one of my all-time favorite artists, seeing King Diamond live is always a memorable event, and this performance was no exception.
2. Municipal Waste, Ghoul, and Dead Heat @ Foufounes Électriques
What a banger of a lineup this was! Municipal Waste, one of the best thrash metal bands of all time, brought their signature energy and united the punk, metal, and hardcore scenes into one massive, rowdy mosh pit. Ghoul’s live set was hilarious, gory, and thoroughly entertaining, as always—a true treat to witness. Dead Heat, one of the most exciting new bands in the scene, proved they’re destined for greatness. The energy was unmatched from start to finish.
3. Vision Video @ Bar le Ritz
It’s not every day you discover a favorite new band, but Vision Video managed to do just that for me. Their live performance turned me into a lifelong fan. The band’s charisma and the emotional depth of their music truly shone on stage. I’m already counting down the days until I can see them live again in 2025.
4. Sunami @ Club Soda
At long last, I got to see one of the heaviest and most intense bands in the current hardcore scene. Sunami opened for Kublai Khan, but for me, they were the main event. Their performance was pure, crushing hardcore, and the mosh pit was one of the most violent I’ve ever witnessed. Sunami delivered everything I hoped for and more—a show I’ll never forget.
5. Judas Priest & Sabaton @ Bell Centre
Two metal legends in one evening made this a night to remember. Sabaton, one of my favorite “newer” heavy metal bands, brought their epic storytelling and powerful anthems to life, and I sang along to every song with a huge smile. Judas Priest, led by the iconic Metal God himself, Rob Halford, delivered a set packed with heavy metal classics. Seeing these two bands share the stage was an unforgettable experience for any metal fan.
