Top 10 Metal Albums of 2025

 Here are our Top 10 albums of 2025.

2025 has been filled with great music and strong atmospheres across the metal spectrum. From my point of view, it may not have reached the same overall heights as 2024, but it was still a year with plenty of releases worth giving time and listening too. 

This list is entirely subjective, based on my overall feeling, and how these albums lived with me throughout the year ,not just first impressions or short-lived hype.

Let’s hope 2026 continues the momentum and delivers even more memorable releases.

Have a fantastic New Year, everyone ,see you along the way.


10.  

 Deftones - Private music

This is an album that works best when given time. It is not among the most immediate releases of 2025, but it carries a sense of calm and confidence that still earns it a place on the list. At the bottom, yes , but still relevant and worth mentioning in a strong year.

9. 
Malevolence - Where only the truth is spoken 

The album may not be the most nuanced or atmospheric entry on the list, but it makes up for it with raw power and presence. As a number nine, it fits perfectly , an album that didn’t define the year, but still left a clear mark and delivered exactly what it promised.

8. 
Wino - Create or Die 


The album carries a raw sincerity that gives it weight. It doesn’t aim to reinvent the genre, nor does it need to. As number eight, Create or Die stands as a reminder of why Wino still matters: grounded, heavy, and unapologetically true to its roots.


7. 
Weald and Woe - Far from the lights of heaven 


The album unfolds patiently, relying on immersion and atmosphere rather than constant intensity. Its authenticity and clear artistic vision are what make it stand out. Weald and Woe were also featured guests on the Heavy Metal Talks podcast, making this release even more memorable within the context of the year.


6.
Harvested - Dysthymia

This album maintains a strong sense of focus throughout, never losing its grip or momentum. Its strength lies in consistency and mood rather than variation. As number six, Dysthymia stands as a solid and enduring release ,one that may not seek attention, but earns it through sheer presence. Brutal!

5. 
In Mourning - The Immortal 


In Mourning return here with a deeply melancholic and mature release that highlights the band at their most refined. Blending melodic death metal with progressive elements, the sound is heavy without being overwhelming, and emotional without becoming overstated.The Immortal grows stronger over time. As a fifth-place entry, it represents a release that may not have dominated the year outright, but proved its lasting value through consistency and atmosphere.

4. 
Blackbraid - Blackbraid 3


Rather than relying  on intensity, this release leans heavily on emotion and pacing. Its strength is in how it blends grandeur with grit. Creating a record that feels both personal and imposing. As a fourth-place entry, Blackbraid III stands as a powerful and fully realized statement that narrowly missed the very top of the list.

3. 
Abyssery - Interminable End


For me, this was one of the strongest releases of the year. Interminable End is a fantastic debut — raw, uncompromising, and driven by a clear vision that immediately stands out. The album delivers a cold and hostile atmosphere throughout, and Abyssery sound remarkably confident for a debut. The band also appeared as guests on the Heavy Metal Talks podcast, making this release an even more memorable part of 2025 and a well-deserved third-place entry.


2. 
Whitechapel - Hymns in Dissonance 


Hymns in Dissonance is a massive and hard-hitting release that shows Whitechapel operating at full force. The album balances brutality with control, delivering crushing riffs, strong dynamics, and a sense of focus that keeps it engaging from start to finish. It feels refined without losing its aggression. As a second-place entry, it stands as one of the most impactful and consistently powerful metal albums of 2025. BRUTALITY !

1. 
Faetooth - Labyrinthine 

Labyrinthine is my clear number one album of 2025. Faetooth deliver a heavy and immersive record built on atmosphere, emotional weight, and restraint rather than speed or excess. The album unfolds slowly, drawing the listener into a dense and melancholic soundscape that grows stronger with every listen. More than any other release this year, Labyrinthine stayed with me, making it the defining album of my 2025.


This list reflects my personal opinions and listening experience throughout 2025. It is not influenced by labels, promotion, collaborations, or guest appearances on the podcast. All placements are based solely on how these albums resonated with me over time.
Thank you for taking the time to read — it’s genuinely appreciated.


Hauk©2026





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

 Zero Gravity - My Jeffrey Dahmer I recently received a very friendly request from the band Zero Gravity to review their latest single, and I was happy to give it a listen. From Innsbruck, Tyrol, Zero Gravity is a band that thrives on unpredictability. Formed by Dionys Dorner (vocals, guitar) and Daniel Berger (drums) in their teens, and joined by Christian Hubmann (bass, vocals), the trio has carved out a path defined by bold experimentation and a refusal to be boxed into a single genre. Their music blends punk, rock ‘n’ roll, grunge, and now gothic and metalcore elements, with a recurring “broken glam” aesthetic — raw, chaotic, yet undeniably engaging. Their latest single, “My Jeffrey Dahmer” , is a provocative, ironic take on love songs, using a shocking metaphor to explore romantic failure with absurdist and nihilist undertones. The track carries a bitter sense of humor, with chaotic shifts in tone and energy that mirror the tension of its lyrical themes. Dionys’s vocals, at t...
Read more

For Ruin - Painted in colours of War

Image
 My review on For Ruin - Painted in the colours of War Release : January 29th , 2026 Origin      : Cork , Ireland  Label      : Sentinel Records  Rating     : At The End Painted in the colours of War Painted In The Colours Of War is an album defined by atmosphere. From the very start , the mood is dark, heavy, and emotionally. This is not a record that rushes to impress,instead, it builds patiently , layer by layer, allowing tension and weight to accumulate before it finally releases. And when it does, it hits HARD . Musically, the album sits firmly within melodic blackened death metal . The guitars balance heaviness and melody well, creating riffs that feel both aggressive and expressive rather than purely technical. The drums are powerful and well-placed, giving the music a strong sense of drive without overwhelming the rest of the instrumentation. Everything feels intentional and controlled, yet never sterile. One of the key...
Read more

Victim - Nuclear Nightmare

Image
 My Review on Victim - Nuclear Nightmare Release : December 6th , 2025 Origin     : Weimar , Germany Label      : Independent Rating    : At The End A blast of old-school thrash, raw energy, and unfiltered aggression. Nuclear Nightmare opens deceptively calm , a slow, brooding intro that lingers just long enough for you to wonder where it’s going, and then it detonates. The moment the drums hit, you’re thrown straight back into the era when thrash was dangerous, uncompromising, and bursting with youthful aggression. It feels like having an entire rehearsal room hurled at your face , in the best possible way. From the very start, Victim prove why the underground has been buzzing. The band delivers a blend of classic thrash, raw crossover energy, and subtle hints of hard rock and grunge. At times you hear Slayer. Other moments? Metallica. And occasionally a flash of early Sodom. These guys aren’t hiding their influences , they’re weaponizing...
Read more