2025 provided a bountiful supply of heavy metal albums. Bands both new and established released top notch albums that quenched the thirst of headbangers worldwide. Here is my list of albums that I enjoyed this year.
Cradle of Filth-The Screaming of the Valkyries
Dani Filth and company still have it after entertaining and irritating headbangers for the past 34 years. It is a vicious, dark, baroque affair that encapsulates what we enjoy about the band.
The Haunted-Songs of Last Resort
The eight year layoff did not dull the Swedish thrashers in the slightest. “Warhead”, “Hell Is Wasted On The Dead” and “Through The Fire” are among the most aggressive tracks The Haunted have ever composed.
Bloodletter- Leave The Light Behind
This Chicago outfit melds thrash, death and black metal to strong effect on this record. The guitar virtuosity and speed grabs the listener and does not relent.
Doomsday-Never Known Peace
This crossover release modernizes the thrash/hardcore sound for the new generation. Never Known Peace is chock full of riffs, attitude, social awareness and brutality.
Victim of Fire-The Old Lie
The Denver based act combine punk, death metal and black metal on this release. It successfully walks the line between melodicism and rawness as one can hear both At The Gates and Discharge.
Sodom-The Arsonist
The legendary German band that comprises part of the “Teutonic Four of Thrash” still have fire in the furnace with this release. The band shows youngsters how its done on tracks like “Trigger Discipline” and “Taphephobia”.
Disembodiment-Spiral Crypts
This is swampy, slow death metal straight from lineage of Autopsy. One listen to the title track and you will hear what I mean.
Paradise Lost-Ascension
The doom-death metal pioneers unleash one of the best albums of its career. A dark, introspective album with crushing riffs, acoustic passages and despondent lyrics.
Unleashed-Fire Upon Your Lands
The legendary death metal band continues to wave the metal flag with this one. No frills metal that gets the job done.
Struck A Nerve-Struck A Nerve
The debut album for this British outfit is finely crafted thrash. Precise riffing, speed, grooving midsections and wicked guitar leads. It checks the boxes.
