2024

2024 was a year of elections, with around 80 countries going to the polls and most governing parties coming off worse. Donald Trump won a second, non-consecutive term in the United States in November. Wars continued in Ukraine and Gaza, the fighting spread into Lebanon, and in December Bashar al-Assad fled Syria.

Rock spent much of the year looking backwards, and often to good effect. Green Day opened the albums with Saviors in January, Pearl Jam returned with Dark Matter in April, and The Smashing Pumpkins added Aghori Mhori Mei in August. Black Sabbath's Anno Domini: 1989–1995 gave the post-Dio years another look in May. Linkin Park did the most, though. Papercuts in April and an instrumental version in June kept the catalogue busy, and in November came From Zero, the year's most popular album here. Slayer, Nevermore and The Sword all reformed, and Kerry King revealed his solo plans.

The year also held plenty of upheaval. Linkin Park returned after seven years with Emily Armstrong replacing the late Chester Bennington and Colin Brittain taking over from Rob Bourdon. Slayer played their first show since 2019 at Riot Fest in September. Jane's Addiction ended their tour in Boston when Perry Farrell shoved and punched Dave Navarro on stage. Sepultura's drummer Eloy Casagrande left abruptly, then turned up in Slipknot. Mr. Big, UFO and Rage Against the Machine were listed among the departed, and James Kottak, once of Scorpions, died in January.