While Sin and Steel is generally focused on heavy metal, it's not all I listen to... and there were some great non-metal music releases in 2024, so I thought I'd break down my top 5! Especially given that I believe they're all heavy or dark in their own ways, make a great palette cleanser, and would appeal to many metalheads.
If you'd prefer to watch the full episode, this can be found on the Sin and Steel YouTube channel, or at the bottom of this article.
Number 5: The Dead South - Chains & Stakes
From Canada, these guys have their own very distinct brand of folk-bluegrass, with some murderous and more devious themes and darker aspects.
This is a solid and well-balanced album, that expands on their already existing sound, in an enhanced manner, and I felt like the instrumental pieces stood out really well too.
Number 4: Amyl & The Sniffers - Cartoon Darkness
This is a band that perfectly balance the aggression of punk, with joy and silliness, and the Aussie nature that comes through, is wonderful.
It was clear when these guys started out in 2016 that with their sound, image, and energy, they'd be going places, and this album has only continued their trajectory.
Number 3: Eivor - Enn
This album is pure magic... From Faroe Islands, Eivor plays a mix of electronica, folk and pop, often with a darker edge, the occasional pagan vibes, and some heavy bass thrown in for good measure.
It's ambient, well textured, and haunting in the most beautiful and interesting way.
Number 2: Amigo the Devil - Yours Until the War is Over
From the US, Amigo the Devil has been referred to as 'murderfolk', playing alternative folk that, while it gets dark, with themes of self hatred, doubt, personal and societal issues... is balanced well with dark humour and lots of cheekiness.
I was lucky enough to get to see a number of these performed live in 2024 at the Pelly Bar in Frankston, and it was a phenomenal show!
Number 1: The Bridge City Sinners - In the Age of Doubt
From the US, and with more alternative folk, this album explores doubt, in the sense of what is wrong, what is right, and an endless pursuit of self-acceptance.
The musical themes take from prohibition era jazz, swing, and even saloon, all the way to death metal, with the raspy vocals in tracks like Doubt, or Eye for an Eye, and some big screeches in The Crawl.
This album feels like The Bridge City Sinners have ramped everything up, refined it, and brought their unique brand of debauchery into a new era, and at a new level.
To watch the full episode on this topic, check out Sin and Steel, the Heavy Metal Podcast on YouTube, watch below, or jump across to Spotify for the audio version.
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