Best Albums Of 2025

1. "Abrahadabra" Wytches Moon (Doom Metal)
Wytches Moon took the number one place on my list for the second year in a row. I've been really enjoying Ian Farms more recent releases over the past couple of years this one has songs from Wytches Moon’s earlier releases “Grimoire I: Scorpio”,  “Grimoire II: Abrahadabra”, and the “Scarlet Lady” single, now with a much better production. 

2. "Monkey Palace" Goat Shaman (Sludge/Stoner Metal)
Really fantastic debut, one of the most creative sounding sludge metal bands I’ve heard.

3. "Sub Rosa" Daevar (Stoner Metal)
“Mirrors” is now my favorite stoner metal song. 

4. "Sign of the Storm" Century (Heavy Metal)
Another really strong release from Century not sure if I liked it as much as  “The Conquest of Time”,  which sadly I recently realized I forgot to put on my 2023 list. 

5. "Here Be Dragons" Avantasia (Power Metal)
I overlooked the last 2 Avantasia albums. So this is the first I’ve heard since “Ghostlights”, and while it doesn’t quite pack the punch that album had, and the first 2 tracks were kind of duds. It’s still a solid album and “Against the Wind” was one of my favorite songs this year. 

6. "まほろば"("Mahoroba") 人間椅子(Ningen-Isu) (Progressive Rock/Doom Metal)
Ningen-Isu has been consistent with all their releases since I started following the band and never disappoint.

7. "By Light of Emerald Gods" Chamber Mage (Heavy Metal)
Struggled with finding the place for this album on my list. While I really enjoyed the album, it’s a little rough and the production could be better. But it’s still a great debut album and “Beyond the Lighthouse” was one of my favorite songs this year. 

8. "...and the Monks Played Rock & Roll" Methuselian (Sludge/Stoner Metal)
Throat singing is rare in heavy metal, the only other band I can think of off the top of my head is Tengger Cavalry.  So its cool to hear it being utilized so well.  “Cosmic Loser” was one of my favorite songs this year. 

9. "Greater than Death" Inhuman Nature (Thrash Metal)
It’s rare that I find a thrash album that I really like.  Chris Barling harsh vocals are strong which is usually where most thrash bands fall short for me. 

10. "Bear" Friendship Commanders (Sludge/Stoner Metal/Grunge)
Fairly unique sounding band. Dominantly sounds like sludge metal but without the typical harshness and intensity of the genre. 

11. "For Centuries Alive" Firmament (Heavy Metal/Hard Rock)
A solid album, but I am sad that Maik Huber is no longer in the band, he had such a unique voice, and it really elevated the band. Marco Herrmann is great but just not as special. 

12. "In the Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye" Labÿrinth (Progressive Power Metal)
I enjoyed about half the album, but “Accept the Changes” was outstanding and was as good or better than everything on “Return to Heaven Denied” which is one of my favorite albums of all time. 

13. EP "Traveller Supplement 1: The Ephemeral Glades" The Lord Weird Slough Feg (Heavy Metal)
A more straight forward release after New Organon which felt a lot more experimental. 

14. "Let There Be Dark" Tower (Heavy Metal)
Solid album but still dependent on Sarabeth Linden who is carrying the band. 

15. "Part III - The Bodiless" Cavern Deep (Doom Metal)
Solid album overall. Good brooding doom metal, almost teetering on funeral doom. 

16. "Return from the Point of No Return" Nightstalker (Stoner Metal)
Good album but “Heavy Trippin'” was the song that really stood out.

17. "Don't Be a Hero" Villain (Heavy Metal)
Great band, but the album is hindered by a rough and inconsistent production, which kept it from placing higher on my list.  “Don't Be A Hero”  and “Womaneater” were my favorites songs on the album. 

18. "Blasphemia Satura" I Am You

19. "Vanitas Vanitatum" Glamoury (Doom Metal) 

Another project by Ian Farms. It sounds a bit rougher than the last couple Wytches Moon albums but still similar in style. “A Sombering” and “Höllenhund” were really outstanding. 

20. "Time Out of Place" Syrinx (Progressive Rock/Heavy Metal)

21. "Vórtize" Vórtize (Heavy/Speed Metal)

22. "Lost in Flames" Saber (Heavy Metal)

23. "Zam​ā​ru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu Part 1" Wyatt E.
The singles released before the album were really outstanding but the rest of the album felt like filler.  

24. "Think of You" Asunojokei (Post Black Metal/Hardcore)
Still a very good album, but I didn’t like it as much as “Island”.

25. "Shadow of a Fallen Star Pt.2" Seven Sisters (Heavy/Power Metal) 

26. "Ice and Death" Reinforcer (Heavy/Power Metal)

27. "Prorok Ilja" Patriarkh (Atmospheric Black Metal)
The first few tracks where it leaned more into the orthodox style chanting were great. But I found the second half of the album a lot less interesting. 

28. "III" King Witch (Heavy/Doom Metal)

29. "Under the Auspices of Idmon" Idmon's Aegis (Heavy Metal)

30. "Phantoms of Tomorrow" Ouijabeard (Heavy Metal)
Only made the list because of "The Blade" 

31. "Giants & Monsters" Helloween (Power Metal)
This was a disappointing follow-up to the self-titled reunion album, which felt as fresh and inspired as their classic albums. “Giants & Monsters” just sounds like they were going through the motions. “Savior of the World” was alright, but the rest of the album did nothing for me.