Here are ten moments that defined the year, each one a reminder of why we all love this chaotic, boundary-pushing beast called metal.
From Olympic stages to intimate venues, 2024 delivered moments that shook the scene. Here’s to hoping 2025 cranks the volume even higher.
1. Gojira Steals the Olympics
When Gojira took part in the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, fans weren’t sure how it would land. Turns out, it landed hard. Their reimagined version of ‘Ah! Ça Ira!’ fused operatic grandeur with their signature heaviness, making them the first metal band to headline such an event.
2. The Wall of Death to End All Walls
Hellfest has seen its fair share of chaos over the years, but nothing quite like this. Slaughter to Prevail orchestrated the biggest wall of death in history. Thousands of fans split like the Red Sea, only to crash back together in the kind of carnage that festivals like Hellfest are made for.
3. Slipknot’s Tiny 25th Anniversary Bash
While Slipknot’s 25th anniversary could’ve been celebrated with a massive stadium tour, they went the other way. Playing an intimate set at Pappy & Harriet’s—a 300-capacity venue in California—they took fans back to the raw, early days. Clad in their original masks, it was nostalgia that felt right.
4. Metallica Just Keeps Going
Metallica’s M72 World Tour didn’t just dominate 2024; they announced it’ll roll straight into 2025 with new legs in Europe, North America, and Oceania. With Pantera and Limp Bizkit in tow, the performance proved why they’re still setting the standard for how to tour like legends.
5. Pantera Hits Australia
Speaking of Pantera, their set at Knotfest Sydney was one for the books. Nearly 20 years since the Texans played an Australian stage, and the emotional intensity of their return wasn’t lost on anyone. Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante stepped in seamlessly, giving a fitting tribute to Dimebag and Vinnie.
6. Eat the Turnbuckle’s Bloody Comeback
Only in metal could a band that combines wrestling with grindcore make a triumphant return. Eat the Turnbuckle re-emerged at Wrestlemania in Philadelphia, spilling fake blood and belting out grindy riffs like they’d never left. Their new documentary, Stabbed in the Face, only added to the buzz.
7. Hellfest Crosses the Line
Hellfest pushed boundaries this year, bringing bands like Foo Fighters and Royal Blood to a lineup stacked with Emperor, Testament, and other extreme acts. The gamble has since divided fans. Love it or hate it though, it certainly got people talking.
8. 3 Inches of Blood is Back (for Now)
It’s been nine years since 3 Inches of Blood called it quits, but their one-off reunion show in Vancouver had fans wondering if more could be on the horizon. The setlist was a deep dive into their catalogue, giving fans a much-needed hit of nostalgia.
9. Mercyful Fate Gets a Shake-Up
Mercyful Fate turned heads when they announced Becky Baldwin as their new bassist. Taking over from Joey Vera, Baldwin has since brought a fresh energy to the band’s lineup, proving she’s more than capable of holding her own in one of metal’s most iconic acts.
10. Sick New World Festival Flops (for 2025, Anyway)
After an epic 2024 lineup that included Slipknot, System of a Down, and more, fans were blindsided by the announcement that Sick New World 2025 was cancelled. No reasons were given, leaving metalheads speculating about what happened.
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