Image Credentials: Image Title: 2024 in Heavy Metal Music (sora.chatgpt) Date: June 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), and it does not depict a real-world scene.
This article documents significant events, album releases, tours, and developments in heavy metal music during 2024.
Major Album Releases
Notable Studio Albums
| Artist | Album Title | Release Date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metallica | 72 Seasons (Live Edition) | March 1 | Blackened | Expanded live recordings from 2023 album |
| Judas Priest | Invincible Shield | March 8 | Epic | First album in 6 years; features Rob Halford |
| Iron Maiden | The Future Past Tour Live | April 12 | Parlophone | Live album from 2023 tour |
| Slipknot | Here Comes the Pain | August 23 | Roadrunner | First album since 2022’s The End, So Far |
| Tool | Fear Inoculum: Revisited | September 6 | RCA | Remixed/expanded edition of 2019 album |
| Avenged Sevenfold | Life Is But a Dream… Part II | October 11 | Warner Bros. | Sequel to 2023 experimental album |
| Megadeth | The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! (Deluxe) | November 15 | UMe | Bonus tracks and live material |
Debut Albums
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Frozen Soul – Glacial Domination (January 26, Century Media) – Death metal breakthrough
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Spiritbox – The Fear of Fear (Expanded) (February 9, Rise Records) – EP reissue with new tracks
Genre Highlights
Death Metal
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Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific (Live) (May 17, Metal Blade)
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Obituary – Dying of Everything (Tour Edition) (June 7, Relapse)
Black Metal
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Dimmu Borgir – Inspiratio Profanus (October 31, Nuclear Blast) – Covers album
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Mayhem – Daemon (Anniversary Edition) (November 22, Century Media) – Remastered 2019 album
Metalcore/Progressive
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Periphery – Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre (March 22, 3DOT)
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Bring Me the Horizon – POST HUMAN: NeX GEn (April 19, RCA) – Second in POST HUMAN series
Tours & Festivals
Major Tours
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Metallica – M72 World Tour (Leg 2: Europe/Asia)
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Slipknot – Here Comes the Pain Tour (North America)
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Iron Maiden – The Future Past Tour (Leg 2: South America)
Festivals
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Download Festival (June 14–16) – Headliners: Avenged Sevenfold, Fall Out Boy, Queens of the Stone Age
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Wacken Open Air (July 31–August 3) – Headliners: Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Judas Priest
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Hellfest (June 27–30) – Headliners: Metallica, Tool, Machine Head
Awards & Achievements
2024 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
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Best Album: Invincible Shield – Judas Priest
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Best Live Band: Iron Maiden
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Breakthrough Artist: Frozen Soul
Grammy Awards (2024)
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Best Metal Performance: “72 Seasons” – Metallica
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Best Rock Album: The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! – Megadeth
Trends & Developments
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AI in Metal: Machine Head used AI-generated artwork for their Of Kingdom and Crown (Expanded) reissue.
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Vinyl Resurgence: Over 40% of metal albums in 2024 received vinyl pressings (per Billboard).
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Genre Fusion: Increasing crossover between blackgaze (black metal + shoegaze) and industrial metal.
Notable Deaths
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Steve Riley (b. 1956) – Drummer for W.A.S.P. and L.A. Guns (died January 12)
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Jonas Åkerlund (b. 1965) – Former Bathory drummer and filmmaker (died March 8)
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Dave Lombardo (b. 1965) – Ex-Slayer drummer (retired due to health issues, April 2024)
References
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Metal Hammer, “Judas Priest Return with Invincible Shield,” March 8, 2024.
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Billboard, “Vinyl Sales Surge in Metal for 2024,” June 20, 2024.
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Loudwire, “2024 Golden Gods Winners List,” August 1, 2024.
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