Welcome to another year end listicle, a time honored tradition of mine for the last ten years on this website but probably fifteen or more, across various forums and servers! ✨

Before I proceed, I’d like to state that compared to previous years, 2025 hasn’t had one clear standout metal album for me. I’d reckon the top three metal albums are very very close to each other, so my ranking is slightly arbitary towards the top spots. However, my most played album of the year is not even metal, so I’ve dedicated some words to give it a shoutout too.

In case you are curious about my past lists, here they are -> #AOTY. Like the previous three years, this year is no different where I aim to acquire the said albums on vinyl, you know, to support the bands and their labels, if one can. I generally gravitate towards the proverbial “underground” and my picks are an amalgamation of anything that bleeds old school, true, evil, cult, bizzaro, a bit of cheese and/or can be subjectively deemed “authentic”.

Without further ado, here are my top heavy metal albums of 2025! ⛓️⚔️✊

Havukruunu are no stranger to the spotlight, after a string of very competent albums, most notably Uinuos Syömein Sotahas, which was released five years ago. Tavastland, the band’s latest effort further cements the band’s reputation as one of the better, more interesting and vastly consistent black metal bands out there today. Tavastland is replete with riffs, vocals that switch between harsh and clean choral vocals, dynamic song writing, excellent lead guitar work and immersive soundscapes. By comparison, Tavastland is a tad weaker than their previous effort, but that is probably the only blemish on this 54 min album. There are three songs which stand out for immediately - Kuolematon Laulunhenki, Tavastland and Unissakävijä. However, like all albums, this deserves a spin from front to back. I’m a little bummed that I missed the band’s album release tour in Finland, but no doubt if they happen to play within a 100km radius of where I am, I will be sure to make the trip. After Tavastland, I feel that Havukruunu are arguably the best contemporary black metal export out of Finland currently, with a sound that has strayed away from the classic Finnblack sound. I say this as a massive compliment!

Spain’s Summoning Hellgates burst onto the scene this year with Spear of Conquest, a blistering hybrid of black/death metal. This 21 minute EP makes my cut solely because this has been the most enjoyable extreme music released in the calendar year. There is pure Angelcorpse worship - high on intensity, chaotic, primitive downtuned aggressive riffs, almost leaning towards “war metal” territory but not quite there. The vocals are not Helmkamp-y (of Angelcorpse, OFC fame), but it’s caustic and hateful in their own right. The production on this EP makes it quite palatable for me, a tad warm and probably almost inviting enough for the casual Blasphemy listener. Spear of Conquest is an uncompromising slab of music by this two-piece outfit. I believe the length of the EP is just right to warrant multiple spins and to keep it from being too repetitive, a symptom of this subgenre. Being signed onto Osmose Productions, Summoning Hellgates will probably to be a force to reckon with in the future. I’m quite enjoying the resurgence of extreme music from Spain and that it’s just not Teitanblood and Altarage who have paved the way.

Cénotaphe are becoming one of the more prominent names in the modern French black metal scene, and Chimères is their latest magnum opus. Their previous album, Monte Verità, featured in my top ten list of 2020, so it was without a doubt that I was excited when this came out. The duo of Fog and Khaosgott have produced poetry with this album - Aggressive yet exceptionally melodic riffs, often utilizing bright, triumphant major-key shifts that contrast sharply with the bleakish screaming vocals. The album takes you on a highly emotive journey from start to finish, but if there was one standout track that encapsulates the album, then it’s the second track - Titans. Perhaps it’s just me but when I think of the French and I juxtapose that with black metal, then I immediately think of high art, high brow and elitism. Cénotaphe brings all those elements into Chimères. Highly recommended!

Innumerable Forms are a very underrated death/doom band from Boston, Massachusetts and have a career spanning almost 20 years. Think strong Finnish death/doom influences, some Winter, pounding death metal riffs and an atmospheric darkness enveloping it all. With Pain Effulgence, I feel the band has embraced more atmospheric elements and more slow mournful melodies, making it more evocative. It’s this balance that makes Pain Effulgence quite a trip for the listener. The guitar leads that sit over that thick atmosphere is worthy of note - like little embelishments that make the listening experience a gazillion times better. I love the production and the guitar tone achieved here by the inimitable Arthur Rizk (famed mixing/mastering wizard) - supreme clarity while not compromising on the vision and ethos of the band and the subgenre. I feel a bit validated when I saw that CVLT Nation ranked this album as the number one death/doom album of the year. Without a doubt, it’s my favorite death metal or death metal adjacent album of 2025!

Volahn are one of the better known acts from the Black Twilight Circle collective and they have been one of my favorite black metal bands in the last decade ever since I discovered them. I’ve also been lucky to see this elusive band perform live two years ago at the Never Surrender festival. With Popul Vuh, Volahn have unleashed only their third full length, eleven years after Aq'Ab'Al. Unsurprising, this album is steeped deep in indigenous Mesoamerican / Mayan heritage. It’s not just thematically rich in history, but also Eduardo, the main man behind Volahn (and BTC), has incorporated traditional instruments like flutes, percussive shells, and acoustic guitars. Musically, from a black metal perspective, the album is everything that one would expect from Volahn - melodic raw black metal, aggressive and frenetic tremolo riffing, a ritualistic atmosphere. The tracks are long and transformative, often switching tempos, styles but extremely cohesive and effortless in their transitions. I wish I understood Spanish, all songs are sung in it, but even to me it feels like there’s a strong, intense and purposeful message being conveyed through these tracks. I most certainly didn’t expect Volahn to return with a full length but boy am I glad that they did. Popol Vuh is a must listen for fans of the subgenre!

Kostnatění, a musical project by D.L, has quickly pierced the extreme metal realm with its brand of experimental black metal. Úpal, the previous album released in 2023, was super well received across the spectrum of fans. With Přílišnost (Excess), D.L, takes his musical direction further into experimental territory, so much so that I find it hard categorizing the music as “metal”. There are black metal elements but also the exploration results in a chaotic mix of dissonance, breakdowns, nauseaous atmosphere, electronic breakbeats and more. The album is technical, while at the same time embraces simple yet catchy grooves in the melodies. It can be perceived that D.L. is trying too much with this album, which leads to an exhaustive listen, you know - experimental for the sake of being experimental. But I quite enjoy it. I’m probably almost ten listens in and it’s something that resonates quite well with me. If you don’t mind the sensory overload of dissonant black metal with modern experimental sounds, then Přílišnost (Excess) is the perfect album for you. A definite grower, with more listens!

I’ve mentioned this before that a new album by Tales of Medusa wasn’t on my bingo cards for 2025. I feel very privileged and thankful to be on their list to receive one of the only 100 LP copies made for this album. In case you are unaware, Tales of Medusa are an “anonymous” epic heavy metal band residing somewhere in Canada (most likely British Columbia). They’re anti-digital, anti-mainstream and give out physical copies of their album to fans for free. I’ve been a fan of theirs ever since I was gifted a copy of Antiquity, their 2021 demo, by Axe, their guitarist. Relentless Tragedy is their third full length album and the band continues their brand of 80s epic heavy metal storytelling based on ancient Greek history. The album is a masterful display of neoclassical songwriting, layered guitars, epic and operatic vocal lines, capturing both heroism and tragedy. As someone who only started appreciating true traditional heavy metal in the last decade or so, I still find it hard to chew on and appreciate epic heavy metal in general, but it’s easy when the masters of the craft like Tales of Medusa produce something as good as Relentless Tragedy. This belongs in the Louvre!

I’ve been fortunate to spot Scimitar before they exploded in the underground. I’ve been familiar with vocalist Shaam Larein’s solo project ever since I saw her perform at Muskelrock in 2023. Additionally, I’ve been a long time Slægt fan and appreciated their brand of blackened heavy metal. So imagine when both these worlds collided in 2024! I caught Scimitar’s first ever live performance at Metal Magic last year and then subsequently again this year at Muskelrock, but this time with a debut full length under their belt! Scimatarium I is a brilliant yet complex fusion of black metal, post-punk, and heavy metal. In an interview with White Filth and Crypt of the Wizard, the band members described their intention with the music as - “We wanted to pack the songs with as many layers and riffs as possible” (I’m paraphrasing). This is quite evident from the music, but what elevates the music is Shaam’s epic, clean soaring vocals! The songwriting is complex but remarkably fluid, jumping from jagged, angular guitar riffs to galloping rhythms to psychedelic passages. It’s quite a frenzy and I love it! Scimitarium I is truly something unique in this scene of ours. I honestly find it challenging to rank it at only number three as my top three releases blur a bit into each other. Scimitar are brilliant, ‘nuff said!

Let’s get this out of the way - I’m a huge Vultures Vengeance fanboy. The Knightlore, the band’s debut back in 2019, is probably one of the best pieces of heavy metal music in the last two decades. So when Dust Age came out quite early in the year, it was not surprising that many hailed it as an instant AOTY contender. If you’re new to this Italian heavy metal sensation, Vultures Vengeance play a brand of heavy metal that is equal parts epic, progressive and traditional. Just like in the Knightlore, Dust Age opens in one of the most epic crescendos with the title track. These boys know how to start an album. The album continues with intricate winding riffery, twin guitar harmonies, acoustic passages and to top it off idiosyncratic and passionate vocals. On the latter, what I especially love about Dust Age is that the vocals seem to be a tad higher on the mix, an improvement on their previous releases. This was probably the only minor grievance I had with the Knightlore. There’s not a single weak song in Dust Age, each unique in its own right, a plethora of diverse guitar melodies, captivating through and through. Vultures Vengeance have produced something magical with Dust Age. A stamp in time!

Norway’s Nachash returns with Eschaton Magicks, which if I may add, are a band who have floated under the radar of general black metal and extreme metal listeners. This is atypical black metal from Norway and the band mustn’t be written off based on their birthplace. I discovered Nachash, thanks to Signal Rex, the label they’re now signed on and which released Eschaton Magicks. I love black metal if it borrows heavily from the old school 80s sounds and Nachash do that perfectly! The album is a mastery of occult black metal, often mid-paced but infuses the sinister sounds of heavy metal, much like the legendary Master’s Hammer and Mortuary Drape. The raspy commanding vocals compliment the exceptional song-writing, with themes of eschatology and ancient sorcery. What makes this record stand out for me is that it hits the spot with what I’m looking for in black metal - galloping black/thrash-y moments, repetitive monotonous hypnotic passages, heavy metal riffery, vocals with a bite and an ode to the occult. I also feel these songs will translate live excellently. I really hope I can catch them live next year. Eschaton Magicks may not be for everyone but if your tastes overlap with mine, you’ll surely appreciate this wonderfully underrated and overlooked band!

Non-metal album of the year

This is the first time I’m talking about favorite non-metal album of the year. If you’re even remotely familiar with Steröid, how can one not give them a shout-out?! Chainmail Commandos has been my most played album of the year and it is definitely my favorite album of the year! Steröid’s mastermind is Lord Gordith, the man behind Quest Master, who is very much part of the Aussie/Hobart underground. Chainmail Commandos can perhaps be described as bizarre, supremely catchy, punk influenced heavily by NWOBHM. The vocals are easily the most divisive for listeners oweing to its high-pitched chipmunk like delivery. Some hate it but if you can get past it, then the album will be sureshot favorite in a matter of minutes. The songwriting is incredibly sincere and technically proficient. It’s honestly hard to make “simple” music sound great and unique. Steröid have managed to achieve just that. The tracks are anthemic, have infectious choruses and all around will give you the pure joy of rocking to them. Chainmail Commandos is a whimsical masterpiece. When I learnt that Steröid were touring Europe, without batting an eyelid, I found the closest show to me. The best live show in a very very long time for me. This will be a modern classic for years to come!

Chainmail Commandos through the night! 🎶

With that, 2025 comes to a close. Up the irons and may 2026 bring us more great music! ⚔️⛓️✊