Best Progressive Death Metal Albums of 2024

There’s something profoundly exciting about witnessing a band transcend their origins. When I first encountered Ὁπλίτης in the underground Chinese scene, I couldn’t have predicted their metamorphosis into this beast of avant-garde metal. Their relocation to Paris seems to have unlocked something primal yet sophisticated in their approach. The integration of clarinet and saxophone isn’t merely ornamental – it’s fundamental to the band’s evolved DNA. “Μ​ῆ​ν​ι​ν ἄ​ε​ι​δ​ε​, θ​ε​ὰ π​α​ρ​α​μ​α​ι​ν​ο​μ​έ​ν​η ἐ​μ​ο​ῦ​.​.​.” perfectly encapsulates this transformation, where blast beats and clarinet lines dance in unholy communion. This isn’t your typical “let’s add some jazz” metal experiment; it’s a genuine fusion that makes most “experimental” metal bands sound painfully conventional in comparison.

What strikes me most, beyond the technical wizardry, is how the Greek-language framework creates a philosophical bridge between Eastern and Western artistic traditions. The production, raw yet crystalline, allows every unconventional element to breathe while maintaining that essential blackened edge. For those keeping score at home, this is how you push boundaries without losing your soul.

Amazon buy link

Exist’s Hijacking the Zeitgeist feels like a direct transmission from metal’s future. In an era where genre fusion often feels forced, these Baltimore innovators have created something that flows naturally between progressive metal complexity and genuine emotional vulnerability. The decision to tackle themes of digital anxiety through their music isn’t just timely – it’s necessary. “Blue Light Infinite” hits particularly hard, its djent-influenced riffs and jazz breaks mirroring the fractured nature of our online existence. When they launch into “Hijacking The Zeitgeist”, the interplay between technical prowess and melodic sensibility reminds me why I fell in love with progressive metal in the first place.

Amazon buy link

Let’s be honest – we’ve reached a point where technical death metal often feels like a competition rather than composition. But Grossmann, that magnificent bastard, reminds us why he’s been at the forefront of the genre since his Necrophagist days. This EP is a masterclass in restraint and release, proving that twenty-one minutes is all you need when every note has purpose.

The collaboration between guitarists Justin Hombach, Kevin Heiderich, and Tom ‘Fountainhead’ Geldschlager creates moments of genuine brilliance, especially in “Retrospective Monologue” where the leads interweave like a baroque death metal tapestry. Yes, it’s technical as hell – did you expect anything less from a Grossmann project? But unlike many of his imitators, every note serves the composition rather than the ego.

Amazon buy link

Job For A Cowboy’s Moon Healer emerges as the kind of comeback that makes a crusty old metalhead’s heart sing. After a decade of silence that had many of us wondering if the deathcore pioneers had hung up their boots for good, they’ve returned with something that transcends simple genre classifications. Working with Jason Suecof at Audiohammer has yielded a production that serves the material perfectly – clear enough to catch every nuance of Tony Sannicandro’s lead work, but retaining enough grit to remind us this is still a death metal record at its core.

“Beyond the Chemical Doorway” particularly showcases how far they’ve come from their MySpace-era origins. The way Jonny Davy’s vocals weave through Al Glassman’s rhythm work creates moments of genuine progressive brilliance that would have been unimaginable on Genesis. Nick Schendzielos and Navene Koperweis form a rhythm section that doesn’t just support the songs – they elevate them into something approaching progressive death metal perfection.

Amazon buy link

Anciients’ Beyond the Reach of the Sun arrives like an old friend who’s been away studying ancient wisdom – familiar yet transformed. After eight years of silence, this isn’t just a return; it’s a reinvention that makes their earlier work feel like mere sketches of what they’ve become. The addition of Brock MacInnes and Rory O’Brien has fundamentally altered their DNA, creating a rhythm section that doesn’t just propel the songs forward – it gives them wings.

When Kenny Cook takes full control of the vocal duties, it’s a revelation. His transitions between clean passages and growls in “Cloak of the Vast And Black “ remind me of why I fell in love with progressive metal in the first place – that perfect marriage of beauty and brutality. The folk elements don’t feel tacked on like so many of their contemporaries; instead, they’re woven into the fabric of each composition with the care of master craftsmen. This is what happens when a band takes the time to let their ideas fully mature.

Amazon buy link

Sin Querencia descends like a violent storm, each strike of guitar and blast of percussion carving new scars into the landscape of extreme metal. Immortal Bird’s commitment to raw intensity stands unflinching, yet what truly sets this album apart is the emotional resonance that accompanies the chaos. Rae Amitay’s vocals rasp through layers of dense instrumentation like a wounded spirit refusing to yield, and “Bioluminiscent Toxins” emerges as the album’s unsettling heart—a place where blackened death ferocity embraces progressive shapes and textures without ever sounding forced. The result is not simply heaviness, but a profound and anguished depth, daring listeners to find beauty in the turbulence. It’s a difficult journey, but one that reveals a band relentlessly sharpening their artistry until it cuts straight to the soul.

Amazon buy link

Adon’s debut full-length is the kind of record that restores my faith in modern black metal. While countless bands are content to rehash second-wave tropes, this California outfit has crafted something that honors tradition while fearlessly pushing forward. Argonath’s guitar work deserves special mention – the way Eastern tonalities weave through traditional black metal tremolo picking in “Ascension” creates something genuinely fresh. Æthelwulf II’s vocal performance strikes that perfect balance between ritualistic intensity and clear intentionality, especially in “Aether” where the integration of traditional instruments never feels like a gimmick.

Amazon buy link

Luck Won’t Save You’s debut crashes into the progressive metalcore world with unapologetic force and purpose. Influences from Between the Buried and Me are clear, yet the band’s voice remains distinct, balancing technical complexity with heartfelt intensity. Tracks like “Red Mother, Blue Sun” and “White Myth of the Monolith” showcase a deep understanding of tension and release, with hardcore-inspired breakdowns emerging naturally rather than as hollow nods to convention. The rhythm section’s precision elevates each composition, making every intricate time signature feel essential rather than self-indulgent.

Rather than simply mimicking past innovators, Luck Won’t Save You honor their influences while daring to push forward. Technical without turning sterile, aggressive without losing soul, their debut stands as both a respectful tribute to the genre’s roots and a promise of what’s still possible. In a scene caught between nostalgia and drift, this record charts a path ahead.

Album buy link

Amiensus’ Reclamation Pt II stands as a testament to American black metal’s evolution beyond its Scandinavian roots. What strikes me most about this release is its patience – every element feels carefully considered, every progression earned. “Solfarið” builds like a gathering storm, its folk elements serving as more than mere atmospheric touches. The way they handle dynamics puts most of their peers to shame – this isn’t just loud and soft; it’s a masterclass in tension and release.

“Orb of Vanishing Light” particularly showcases how far American black metal has come. The production walks that perfect line between raw energy and clarity that so many bands struggle to find. It’s atmospheric without being ethereal, aggressive without losing its soul. This is black metal that remembers its roots while refusing to be bound by them.

Amazon buy link

Blood Incantation’s Absolute Elsewhere is the kind of album that makes me grateful to be alive in this era of metal. Recording at Hansa Tonstudio – where Bowie crafted some of his most experimental work – wasn’t just a choice of venue; it was a statement of intent. The addition of Thorsten Quaeschning’s synthesizers transforms their cosmic death metal into something truly otherworldly. The two massive tracks, “The Stargate” and “The Message”, aren’t just songs – they’re journeys through the kind of psychedelic death metal landscape that most bands can only dream of creating.

Under Arthur Rizk’s guidance, they’ve managed to capture both the raw energy of death metal and the expansive possibilities of progressive rock. Each “tablet” of these epic compositions unfolds like chapters in a cosmic grimoire, revealing new secrets with each listen. This isn’t just an album; it’s a paradigm shift in what death metal can achieve. When the synths weave through the crushing riffs, it creates moments of transcendence that justify every minute of its ambitious runtime. Absolute Elsewhere isn’t just pushing boundaries – it’s redrawing the map entirely.

Amazon buy link