While the Music Geek is putting the final touches on his annual genre-agnostic and quite Epic "Best Albums Of the Year" List, here's a quick one: 2025's 20 favorite metal and metal-friendly releases.
Either this was not a particularly strong year for metal, or after 45 years as a metalhead I finally stopped being one. Dunno, but only a couple of the below metal, punk, dark albums REALLY impressed me and will make the other List. I'm keeping the order here alphabetical to maintain the suspense.
But feel free to share suggestions in the "Comments" area below on what I might have missed out on. Come on, change my mind. Hail Satan.
ANNA VON HAUSSWOLFF – Iconoclasts
Her “pop” album is also her strongest and includes duets with Iggy Pop and Ethel Cain. The term “pop” of course only applies if we agree that stuff released on 4AD in the 80’s was “pop”.
BEHEMOTH – The Shit Ov God
A grandiose black/death metal statement, and probably their best since career-high “The Satanist”.
CORONER – Dissonance Theory
Their first album in 30+ years doesn’t disappoint, seamlessly blending quantum physics-level of prog into their brutal speed metal assault.
CRYPTOPSY – An Insatiable Violence
If you like technical virtuosity and a bit of melody thrown into your brutal death metal, you can do worse than this album.
DARON MALAKIAN AND SCARS ON BROADWAY – Addicted To The Violence
The closest we’re going to ever get to a new SOAD album, I guess.
DEAFHEAVEN – Lonely People With Power
They bring the metal back– you still have shoegaze-y guitars pop up here and there but this is their heaviest record in at least a decade, reminiscent in places of second-wave Norwegian black metal like Emperor and Enslaved.
DREAM THEATER – Parasomnia
Portnoy’s return to the line-up coincides with a strong album that will thrill prog metal fans.
DROPKICK MURPHYS – For The People
The beloved Celtic folk-punks have demonstrated an AC/DC-like stylistic consistency throughout their career and this is one of the better albums.
GHOST – Skeleta
Not as catchy and fun as “Impera", still has lots to offer.
HANDGEMENG – Satanic Panic Attack
The stoner bastard child of Turbonegro and Kvelertak.
HELLACOPTERS – Overdriver
A very welcome return for these guys and their brand of infectious, high-energy rock ‘n’ roll.
LAURA JANE GRACE – Adventure Club
One of the best punk rock records of the year was conceived and recorded in Athens, Greece with members of Vodka Juniors, and includes a song about espresso freddo.
PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS – Death Hilarious
Doom/sludge metal band Pigs x7 instill a bit of Helmet into their formula and bring home the bacon.
PROPAGANDHI – No Longer Young
Canadian punk/metal heroes return with another solid slab of technical, thrashy social commentary.
RIVERS OF NIHIL – Rivers Of Nihil
Progressive death metal, not as adventurous as, say, Blood Incantation, but expertly written and executed.
SANHEDRIN – Heat Lightning
A lady you wouldn’t mess with on vocals and bass backed by a couple of hooligans on guitar and drums, this is traditional heavy metal in its purest form channeling early 80’s Riot and Maiden and all sorts of good stuff.
SPIDERS – Sharp Objects
Nordic rockers return and this time they pump up their Detroit/Australia-style garage punk rock with some late-70’s NYC vibes – I can hear traces of Blondie, The Ramones, even Richard Hell/Stiv Bators/Johnny Thunders in here.
TURNSTILE – Never Enough
If this is modern hardcore, I have to say that in places it sounds a lot like a cross between imperial era Chili Peppers and The Police. This is meant as a compliment.
WINO – Create Or Die
You’ll find the blue-collar doom metal riffs you expect here, but where Wino really shines on this solo outing is when he puts on his Townes Van Zandt hat, as on the magnificent “New Terms” and “Noble Man”.
WITCHCRAFT – Idag
Better than “Black Metal” and “Nucleus”, probably better than “Legend” too, and as fuzzy and riff-tastic as their first three albums on Rise Above.
