In these end-of-year recaps, I try to wrap up with an overarching takeaway that extends beyond just music. Last year, I parodied the idea of extraterrestrial life because it was dominating headlines. This year, I guess my takeaway is a little more serious.
I’ll just dive into it.
I’m not sure what it means to be human anymore.
Over the last year, I’ve tried to reflect on what exactly it means to walk this plane of existence. And this isn’t some grand, abstract philosophical undertaking, but more of a personal journey to understand and make sense of whatever the hell is going on here. For my own sanity, I guess.
Much of this journey is due to the fact that I’m so sick of the dehumanization of virtually everything. We live in a world where we, the average earth dwellers, are just glanced over in terms of our opinions on where we’re taking this spinning rock, simply because we lack the monetary means to have a thought worth considering.
Without further burying the lede, the advent of something as grandiose as AI holds the promise of the greatest technological shift in the history of mankind.
However, this innovation may fundamentally challenge or even undermine the essence of what it means to be human.
It’s worth asking if you’re okay with that.
When you read headlines about big changes coming to the workforce or the arts, remember that regular people like you and I weren’t asked if we wanted AI to be a part of everything we do.
Again, it’s worth asking if you’re okay with that.
I want to be clear: I’m not trying to sit on my soapbox and shake my fist at new technology. I’m old enough to remember the internet and social media booms. My parents witnessed the space race. My grandparents saw the rise of the automotive industry. But artificial intelligence seems to be the first advancement built to replace humans…entirely.
I’m not okay with that.
Oh, and another thing: I’m sick of how numb we’ve all become. And maybe that’s why you aren’t asking yourself the important question as to whether or not you’re okay with where things are headed.
The 24-hour news cycle.
Dispute after dispute.
Tragedy after tragedy.
Rinse.
Repeat.
For many, human emotion – the ability to feel empathy – is dwindling. I’d advise you to do everything in your power to maintain that feeling. Allow yourself to detach from the virtual world. Walk through a local art exhibit. Strike up a friendly conversation at the farmer’s market. Hear live music. Do something that plants your feet in the here and now. These things are the remnants of what it means to feel.
In 2025, I realized that the more I tried to understand all of this, the more pessimistic I felt. But then I realized that, somehow, things tend to work themselves out. Our existence is a testament to that. In its own weird way, humanity prevails.
Remember, your anger is a gift. And we don’t have to settle for a world that we’re not okay with.
Anyway, here are my favorite albums from 2025 that helped me make sense of the clusterhell.
NOT AI SLOP (PTS. 20-11)
20. Araphel – The Enchanter
Araphel popped up on the radar near the end of the year, but landed with the weight of 10,000 suns. The Endchanter is a beautiful mashup of black and heavy metal in the vein of our friends in Rotting Christ, Varathron, and Mortuary Drape. Riff by riff, the album builds up to some of the most evil moments on record in 2025. And the leads here are tasty as hell. I’ll keep coming back to this one for a while.
19. Blindfolded and Led to the Woods – The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes Me
“Overall, The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes Me sounds much more pessimistic than its predecessor. You could say it’s the yin to Rejecting Obliteration’s yang. Nonetheless, it’s another outstanding release from the New Zealanders, and one that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. Here, there’s no technicality for the sake of technicality — only chaos for the sake of feeling.”
• Bandcamp
18. Graveripper – From Welkin to Tundra
“There are no signs of a sophomore slump here. As great of a debut as Seasons Dreaming Death is, it doesn’t match the sheer brutality of From Welkin to Tundra, marking it as Graveripper’s finest release yet. From the holistic performances by the band to the nods to various avenues of extreme metal, it’s a downright punishing yet anthemic offering. Enjoy the moments screaming along to the lyrics, mimicking the solos, headbanging to the rhythm section, and starting a makeshift circle pit in any given room it blares over the speakers — two frostbitten thumbs up.”
• Bandcamp
17. Fer de Lance – Fires on the Mountainside
“Point, blank, period: if you’re a fan of metal—subgenres aside—Fer de Lance’s Fires on the Mountainside should be on your list of albums to immediately feast upon. There’s no shortage of influences to sink your teeth into, and these dudes are one of the best newer bands doing epic heavy metal today. So, breathe in the sweet, sweet air of victory, Chicagoans. You have a winner in Fer de Lance.”
• Bandcamp
16. Sulfuric Cautery – Killing Spree
Imagine being beaten over the head with a baseball bat for 20 minutes and then being injected with a gallon of liquid Vyvanse.
• Bandcamp
15. Drawn and Quartered – Lord of Two Horns
“At its core, Lord of Two Horns is a grand ol’ time for death metal fans old and new. Drawn and Quartered remain as consistent as ever, churning out one of their strongest albums as they approach decade number three of their careers. It’s—yet again—an all-killer, no-filler offering from the Pacific northwesterners. And as much as we laud a band like Cannibal Corpse or Immolation for their longevity and quality dependability, we should start tossing Drawn and Quartered into that discussion.”
• Bandcamp
14. Morbific – Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh
I listened to this for the first time while on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic. If the boiling midsummer sun had melted me into a pile of goop, which I guess isn’t too far from my current physical state, I’d have perfectly captured the essence of Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh. Quintessential death metal for knuckleheads like me, Morbific wrote an album that’s as dumb as it is good and as gross as it is fun. Basically a mid-paced riff factory, the album is comfort food in a genre sometimes stuck in overindulgence. Spin this to take a few points off your IQ.
• Bandcamp
13. Zeicrydeus – La Grande Heresie
“Advertised as a band for fans of Rotting Christ, Varathron, Mortuary Drape, Running Wild, and Manowar, how could this not be a staple in the 2025 Last Rites camp? There are various corners of the metal buffet to feast upon here. I encourage you to indulge sooner rather than later. Superb album.”
• Bandcamp
12. Species – Changelings
Changelings is a throwback in more ways than one. You’ll definitely hear the ‘80s tech thrash influence. Even though the band’s look says they’re just here for fun, there’s a real sincerity underneath that shows Species is serious about their music. If you like bands like Sadus and Voivod, check this out as soon as possible.
11. Havukruunu – Tavastland
“Tavastland is another black metal album in the epic vein for the Finnish outfit, but it might just be their most well-written, polished, and unapologetically ’80s/’ 90s-inspired offering to date. Still capturing what makes your favorite legacy acts so irresistible, Havukruunu whip together a smorgasbord of them all—the Bathorys, Rotting Christs, and Moonsorrows—but are creating a unique legacy of their own. A must listen, and a superbly enjoyable one at that.”
• Bandcamp
DEFINITELY NOT AI SLOP (PTS. 10-1)
10. TOWER – LET THERE BE DARK
Let There Be Dark is a bold, traditional metal album. Tower made a big entrance in 2025, making it clear they’re here to stand out. I dare you to find a flaw in this record. The vocals are hypnotic, the riffs are catchy, and the drumming is intense. These New Yorkers prove that classic metal is still thriving in the U.S. Their music is theatrical but never feels overdone or cheesy. You can tell they’ve learned from the legends. The production feels warm and nostalgic. It’s a fantastic release.
• Bandcamp
9. HEXEREI – REALMS…..
“Realms… seizes the aura of what made black metal so special in the first place—blurring lines between what may or may not be honest—and all of that is the direct result of the music itself. It’s as sinister as you’d expect and then some. Sure, old-school fans will, without a doubt, adore this release, but those seeking the more challenging aspects of art will, too. While this may sound counterproductive, it’s not an easy listen, but the right of passage is worth it.”
• Bandcamp
8. PARADISE LOST – ASCENSION
There really isn’t much I can say about Paradise Lost that hasn’t been said millions of times already. They’re legendary, of course, and arguably one of the most consistent bands from their era. Ascension is their best work in more than a decade, and here’s a hot take: “Salvation” is their best track since the ‘90s. It’s honestly fascinating. After all these years, they continue serving quality on a silver platter, and even if the dishes are similar, they find a subtle ingredient to spice things up.
• Bandcamp
7. VULTURES VENGENANCE – DUST AGE
This might be the first year in quite some time that I’ve included numerous trad metal releases in my top 10. However, with records like the aforementioned Let There Be Dark and Dust Age, how could I not? Vultures Vengeance knocked it out of the park a few years ago with The Knightlore, but Dust Age somehow manages to eclipse even that work. The Cirith Ungol vibes run deep, sure, but VV have conjured the spirit of what made heavy metal so special in the first place: passion. Without sounding too hokey, the songwriting here is top-notch. The way it fluctuates so fluidly between tempos, the perfectly-placed leads, and the interesting choices in vocal melodies are spectacles in and of themselves. Fans of the classics: rejoice. This one’s for you.
• Bandcamp
6. KRIGSGRAV – STORMCALLER
“For longtime Krigsgrav followers, the atmospheric black metal vibes are at an all-time high on ‘Twilight Fell,’ hitting like Wolves in the Throne Room’s Primordial Arcana or something of the like. Then, ‘None Shall Remember Your Name’ drops into the fold with The Mantle era Agalloch necromancy, particularly noted by Sikora’s clean vocals and the acoustic guitar layers. While it doesn’t stick out too much, bits and pieces of ‘The Tonic of Wilderness’ remind me of a more upbeat Dance of December Souls or Gothic. But the band saved their most melodic doom-ridden track for the finale. Everything from My Dying Bride to Paradise Lost to Katatonia is found within the DNA of ‘Womb:Death:Dawn.’ While a tough outing to match the grandeur of Fires in the Fall’s ‘Alone with the Setting Sun,’ this one puts up quite the fight. Over the last few weeks, I’ve asked myself countless times if Stormcaller eclipses the sheer colossal nature of Fires in the Fall. At this point, I’m unsure if it even matters, because at the very least, it’s just as impressive.”
• Bandcamp
5. STERÖID – CHAINMAIL COMMANDOS
Steröid’s Chainmail Commandos really stands out among my top 20 picks. The vocals are the first thing you’ll notice—they might not be for everyone, but I love them. As Ryan mentioned in his review, there’s a dark, almost mournful vibe beneath the band’s quirky style. If you pay attention to the riffs and overall performance, you’ll see they really know how to do classic heavy metal. It’s over the top, sure, but that’s part of the fun. There’s also a somber side to it. I might not be able to explain it perfectly, but if you listen with an open mind, you’ll get it.
• Bandcamp
4. CORONER – DISSONANCE THEORY
I wrote a little bit about Coroner earlier this year.
“Today, Coroner maintains a cult following. Perhaps they never truly received the recognition they deserved. The real kicker is their sound could have reached mountainous heights had they not stepped into the shadows in the mid-90s, assuming they’d have continued following a more industrial/groove metal-centered path.”
It’s nice to see them getting so much love this year.
Much like I said in my Paradise Lost blurb, not much else needs to be said about Coroner. From the early days with Tom G. Warrior on vocals to their murderer’s row of classics into the early ‘90s, these tech thrash titans understand the ins and outs of writing extreme metal songs. After more than 30 years, they returned this past year with Dissonance Theory. It’s like they didn’t miss a beat.
Now, I’m not sitting here shouting from the rooftops that it’s better than Mental Vortex or Punishment for Decadence, but it’s a worthy record to lump in with them, if that makes sense. Nonetheless, even if this is their fourth or fifth best LP, it says a lot about their legacy and talent that it’s landed on so many year-end lists in 2025. And rightfully so.
• Bandcamp
3. KAKOTHANASY – METAGONISM
Imagine being beaten over the head with a baseball bat for 20 minutes and then being injected with two gallons of liquid Vyvanse
• Bandcamp
2. PHANTOM SPELL – HEATHER & HEARTH
“Phantom Spell’s Heather & Hearth might be one of the most beautiful albums of 2025. Throw in Jean deMers’ palette of purples, pinks, and blues, and the result is near perfection. The prog-rock-heavy second full-length from Kyle McNeill showcases somewhat of an evolution for the project. While there are, without a doubt, similarities to Immortal’s Requiem, McNeill leans even more so into his Kansas-ness with tons of tranquil solos, dreamy synths, and triumphant vocals, all culminating in a medieval fever dream that sounds both nostalgic and fresh…
What McNeill finds in the soothing guitar leads, mid-paced riffs, and keys, deMers finds in his simplistic sketch of a poor skeletal soul resting in front of a tattered castle, seemingly confronting the trials and tribulations of past battles. And while there’s undoubtedly little soothing about claymores clashing, there is in the comedown at night in front of the campfire. That’s what you’ll find here. The melancholy yet hope that echoes from the speakers in reverb and acoustic guitars is addictive and unshakeable.”
• Bandcamp
1. TEITANBLOOD – FROM THE VISCERAL ABYSS
Teitanblood bestows the sounds of the darkest side of humanity.
Here’s what I said in my review earlier this year:
“As I sit here writing this, the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly. In the eleventh hour of 2024, Teitanblood made a cryptic social media post. After countless listens of From the Visceral Abyss, that cryptic post isn’t so cryptic. In many ways, album No. 4 is indeed the second Death. Not just because it’s the band’s finest release since that 2014 offering, but because it fits the mold and spirit of what makes that release a classic. Beneath the noise and countless layers of sound is the representation of our human existence—an awakening, if you will. With that, From the Visceral Abyss isn’t meant to be a question but rather an answer.
And all you have to do is ask.”
Twenty years from now, I think their fourth album will be a time capsule for what it felt like to be human in 2025—or maybe what it felt like to lose that feeling. The music is full of aggression, disgust, punishment, despair, and hopelessness. But after listening, you start to wonder if things are really that dark, or if the music just makes it feel that way. I don’t know the answer, but even thinking about it is eye-opening. That’s what makes it art, and that’s why it’s at the top of my 2025 list.
• Bandcamp
SOME EPs FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Nimbifer – Von Gipfel
This one should come as no surprise. Nimbifer’s 2024 full-length came in at No. 2 on my list last year. Let’s recap.
“When raw black metal is done right, for me, there’s nothing within the metal genre that evokes emotion more. The rawness fits perfectly with the aesthetic—black-and-white album covers, band members in spiked gauntlets, evil incarnate. You get the picture. Speaking of ‘evil,’ the latest LP from German black metal outfit Nimbifer, Der böse Geist, translates to ‘The Evil Spirit’ and lives up to its name. While a raw black metal release, Der böse Geist weirdly sounds thick and packs quite the punch.”
Nimbifer’s raw, melodic black metal with clear bass is exactly my style. Von Gipfel shows what the band can do and reminds me how addictive their music is. If you haven’t heard their earlier work, this is a great place to start, too.
Elder – Liminality / Dream State Return
“Elder is a band I’ve admired for quite some time. Dead Roots Stirring still gets a few plays on the ol’ turntable yearly. But in all honesty, I’ve really enjoyed each of their releases — and while certainly some more than others — they’re a rather consistent band. Atmospheric, at times super heavy and downright catchy, Elder’s tunes are pretty timeless. They’d fit well in any psychedelic/prog/rock/metal era.
Their first studio release since 2022’s Innate Passage, the band’s latest EP, Liminality / Dream State Return, lives up to its name. “Liminality” is 12 minutes of floating somewhere far beyond. In just 18 minutes, Elder’s kaleidoscope of colors is built upon layers of psychedelic guitar tones, beautiful vocal melodies, and otherworldly keys that really take Elder’s sound to another level. Again, Nick DiSalvo’s vocals have progressed exponentially, and for Elder in 2025, his voice fits the bill perfectly. And while this might be a hot take, “Liminality” may just be a top-five Elder track. “Dream State Return” functions more as a long outro — no vocals — and wouldn’t feel too out of place in an ‘80s galactic fantasy flick.”
Valdrin – Apex Violator
“If you’re a fan of Valdrin, you won’t find much here that surprises you, and that’s because they’ve carved out their A-tier signature blend of theatrical, melodic, dark, and heavy. At this point, they’re one of the most consistent USBM bands out today, leaving no traces of a lackluster release. Apex Violator is another stellar effort and chapter in the Ausadjur saga. Now, if you’re new to the band, dive into this one…immediately. Then, take a stroll through the backlog for a holistic experience.”
Feind – 9mm Neuroleptika
“Bochum, Germany’s Feind return with another brain-pummeling release in 9mm Neuroleptika. Point blank, Feind grants quite a bit of substance to each moment. While that certainly isn’t an outlier in the genre (grindcore), there’s something to Feind’s leave-no-stone-unturned approach that seems maybe just a tad more unique. Of course, it’s gross. Sure, it’s fast. But there’s a tangible anger here that sounds like—I don’t know—the feeling of watching someone tell your dog, ‘No.’ Ya know what I mean?”
Cell Intruder – Den of Deformity
Enjoy your mush brain.
Thanks for reading, friends. Stay safe and positive in 2026.
