In 1994, BraveWords & Bloody Knuckles magazine was born and here we stand 30 years later celebrating the past 12 months of music on our anniversary! What an incredible ride it has been and it’s far from over! And during the past three decades, we’ve literally seen/heard thousands of releases and this is the time of the season when we crown the finest! The BraveWords scribes have spoken, so join us each day this month as we count down to the BravePick of 2024!
Remember, everybody has an opinion and it’s time for ours! Stay tuned at the end of December for BraveWords’ writers’ individual Top 20s (new studio albums ONLY), Top 5 Brave Embarrassments (a fan favorite!), What/Who Needs To Stop In 2024? and Metal Predictions For 2025.
BravePicks 2024
17) BLACKTOP MOJO – Pollen (Cuhmon Music Group)
Rock is indeed alive and well in 2024 and Blacktop Mojo proved it with their fifth full-length. Pollen is a storm of emotions with catchy grooves and moods from love to regretful to feel-good anthems. It’s how rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be; real and from the heart and Mojo delivers it in spades.
Pollen grows with each listen as the passion radiates through the speakers and the Mojo flower blooms at #17.
Scribe Aaron Small rated Pollen a 9.0; an excerpt of his review:
Opening track “The End Is Gonna Come” welcomes listeners with a suave subtlety, hinting at what lies ahead, and simultaneously showcasing the ability of Matt James as a brilliant storyteller with imposing range. “Weary I Roam” is more upbeat and bound to bring ladies onto the dance floor. “I Can’t Tell” gives Seattle grunge a Lone Star State makeover and in doing so, is one of the catchiest tracks on Pollen. “Please Don’t Call” has all the earmarks of a great Alice In Chains song, whereas “Red Enough” is built upon endearing Southern twang that soars sky-high.
“Rise” is soulful and gritty, complete with great guitar work. Turn the volume up for “As The Light Fades” – a feelgood radio rock hit in the vein of Bob Seger. Unexpected and absolutely beautiful, “Something’s Changed” channels the spirit of gospel / R&B great Etta James. “Shoulda Just Gone To Sleep” is pretty close to country music, yet it works incredibly well. There are very few bands capable of successfully combining such diverse influences on one album; Blacktop Mojo are talented, terrific songwriters.
BravePicks 2024 Top 30
19) RIOT V – Mean Streets
20) PORTRAIT – The Host
21) ROTTING CHRIST – Pro Xristou (Season Of Mist)
22)SAXON – Hell, Fire And Damnation (Silver Lining)
23) ULCERATE – Cutting The Throat Of God (Debemur Morti Productions)
24) POWERWOLF – Wake Up The Wicked (Napalm)
25) ENSIFERUM – Winter Storm (Metal Blade)
26) OPETH – The Last Will And Testament (Reigning Phoenix Music)
27) DARK TRANQUILLITY – Endtime Signals (Century Media)
28) MORGUL BLADE – Heavy Metal Wraiths (No Remorse)
29) THE DEAD DAISIES – Light ‘Em Up (Independent)
30) MÖRK GRYNING – Fasornas Tid (Season Of Mist)