Paul Hutchings / The Best Of Heavy Metal In 2024

As I began to gather thoughts about 2024, I reviewed my ramblings from 2023. If that was quite a year, then 2024 has surpassed it by some margin. Once again, it’s a huge selection box from which to choose from, and very few of those nasty coffee flavours to cause disgruntlement. 

I worked backwards last year, and it seems appropriate to do the same again for 2024. Not only because as another year passes even fewer memories are retained in the old noggin, but because, well, it’s just easier!

But first, what soundtrack to play alongside my musings? Well first up is a huge highlight from 2023, just released by Cherry Red Records. The full live show by Hawkwind at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2023, is one that I covered for Metal Talk along with Liz Medhurst. So, music set, let’s get go. 

2024 ended with fantastic news. My good friends in King Kraken were confirmed for the opening slot at 2025’s Stonedead Festival, an event that Liz and I have covered for the past couple of years. It is well deserved for the South Wales quintet, whose 2024 has been nothing short of phenomenal.

A blistering set at Bloodstock, as well as an unforgettable headline show at Swansea’s Station 18 Festival in May. King Kraken have a cracking new album recorded, which will be released in April 2025 but already played to death thanks to an advance copy. The band look unstoppable.

Talking of Stonedead and Bloodstock, I was fortunate to be able to photograph at both events. Stonedead saw massive sets from Saxon, KK’s Priest, Ugly Kid Joe, and Tailgunner among the highlights. Seeing another South Wales band, Scarlet Rebels, light up the Friday party was incredible, whilst the late Paul Di’Anno also went down well.

I was able to photograph him one last time two nights later at The Patriot in Crumlin. RIP Paul.

Bloodstock proved a harder task, with so many stages and bands to cover, but sterling cover from Paul Monkhouse, Adrian Stonley and Keith Kinchella saw the MetalTalk team keep the rolling coverage moving throughout the weekend. I think we did okay, but in 2025, I’m taking a year away from that festival to refresh.

Other festivals I covered for MetalTalk included the inaugural HellaRock event in Coventry, which was a fantastic day, and I’ll be back there in 2025, as well as my annual trip up the mountain to Steelhouse Festival.

Probably my favourite of the lot, this is one where Mrs H is happy to come along with a decent crowd of us, making it a great weekend.

This year we were blessed by stunning weather, as well as a huge mix of quality on the stage. Skindred and The Almighty took the main headline slots, but it was the emotional tribute to Bernie Marsden on Friday night that hit deepest in the feels.

South Wales remains my base, although trips to London are always fun. This year, that included gigs by Electric Six, the Thrash triumvirate of Anthrax, Kreator and Testament, the final UK show by the legendary Cirith Ungol, a fine performance by Blackberry Smoke and ZZ Top’s superb Wembley set with sterling support from the phenomenal Rival Sons and another South Wales outfit in Those Damn Crows. 

Of course, I’m firmly ensconced as in-house tog at The Patriot, and we had a fine selection of bands visit through 2024. There is a long list, but Chris Holmes’ fine W.A.S.P. set, three different shows by Black Lakes, the Rock for Llamau charity event (expanded into three days in 2025), Sharkfest festival, and blistering sets from Blind River, Skam, Trucker Diablo and Renegade all remain in the memory.

We have two sold-out shows from Florence Black to see out in 2024 in style, too.

Throw in the best Orange Goblin show I have ever seen at The Fleece, the intimate Cardinal Black tour warm-up set in Le Pub in Newport, the Judas Priest / Saxon / Uriah Heep tour (Birmingham and Bournemouth for me), Lacuna Coil at O2 Academy Bristol, and the dramatic and spectacular set by Within Temptation at the Cardiff International Arena, and these are merely a few of many to savour.

It has not been a shabby year for releases, either. There have been stunning albums from Opeth, Blood Incantation, the welcome and unexpected return of a certain Phil Mogg (who was delightful to interview twice) with Moggs Motel, one of Orange Goblin’s best in Science, Not Fiction and Judas Priest’s best album for decades in Invincible Shield.

Add in Vola, Mür, Rotting Christ, Gatecreeper, Sergeant Thunderhoof, Wheel, Alcest, The Moor, Frost*, Haliphron, The Rattlebacks, 200 Stab Wounds, Sentry, Florence Black, Scarlet Rebels, Preacher Stone and Kerry King, as well as Here Comes The Rain, the final album by Magnum (RIP Tony Clarkin), and you will get my point. 

So, looking forward to 2025, on a personal level, after the stress of losing my mum (thanks to Steve for the dedication to her), it is a double house move to manage in the first few months. Not that I’ll be silent, far from it.

There is an exciting project for unsigned bands at The Patriot rolling out, and gigs booked across the year already. King Diamond at the Roundhouse should be amazing, a triple set of Opeth dates is in the diary, a Helloween ticket for their 40th celebrations is sorted, as well as a double date with Green Lung, Pantera in Birmingham, Saxon in November and the usual handful of festivals.

Throw in weekly shows at the Patriot and more shows across the bridge in Bristol, no doubt. It is shaping up to be a busy one and a very exciting one.

My final words go to the MetalTalk team. It is a brilliant team to be a part of, full of professionalism and measured responses. In editor Steve, we have a gem. His guidance and support are always there when needed.

And to Ian Sutherland, who coordinates the press accreditation, my respect for a role that can be difficult and frustrating.

So, a Happy New Year to the team and to the thousands of readers we have. Keep it Metal, Keep it MetalTalk, and Keep it real.

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