There is no Sleep Token on my list.
For me 2025 was a year of discovery. I embarked on an exciting journey beyond the streaming platforms’ algorithm and the mainstream music media machine. I wanted to discover new sounds that, like those of my formative years, would shape my memories and become a monumental part of my own identity. And guess what? It was fun. Now I get to share the abundance of those discoveries with you.
Each month, I sifted through more than 300 brand-new albums and EPs, sampling them briefly or devouring their contents time and again. Many of my friends received some of these “love letters”, as I like to call them, sent directly to their WhatsApp or Instagram DMs, usually with the note, “you might like this” and a link to something new they could listen to. Some of my friends reciprocated this random act of kindness. Sometimes, even strangers shared their finds as well through social media. What a treat!
There is nothing better than people exchanging art they love: it’s human, authentic, and capable of expanding your horizons beyond the invisible borders that exist only in your mind. It goes far beyond what those at the top of the music-industry food chain decide you should like. And as a bonus, you get to know yourself better along the way. Many people set New Year’s resolutions. Mine remains the same: stay curious.
It was extremely difficult to make this list. If I had more time I could easily extend it by another 100 (or more). There are some EPs I didn’t include simply because they didn’t have enough running time, despite remaining as highlights, such as releases by Amenra or Peeling Flesh.
There’s a lot of death metal, plenty of hardcore and post-punk, and many, many more genres to explore. The USA seems to be the most represented country on the list, which means that in 2026, I’d love to focus even more on finding bands from a broader international spectrum.
I hope you’ll enjoy this little gift and my carefully curated playlist of favourite albums from 2025. And to all the festival organisers out there: consider these artists for your future lineups.
Facs – Wish Defense (Trouble in Mind)
Genre: Alternative Rock, Post-Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 7th February 2025
Madmess – The Third Coming
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Country: Portugal
Release Date: 9th May
Die Spitz – Something To Consume (Third Man)
Genre: Grunge/Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 12th September
The Sun’s Journey Through Night – Demo III (Church Road)
Genre: Black Metal
Country: UK
Release Date: 9th May
En Masse – newviolenttrends EP (Fever Ltd.)
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 20th June
Vildhjarta – + där skogen sjunger under evighetens granar + (Century Media)
Genre: Djentcore
Country: Sweden
Release Date: 30th May
Wren – Black Rain Falls (Church Road)
Genre: Experimental/Sludge
Country: UK
Release Date: 21st February
Surfaced – Where Angels Fear To Tread EP (1126)
Genre: Metalcore/Beatdown Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 15th August
Phrenelith – Ashen Womb (Dark Descent)
Genre: Death Metal
Country: Denmark
Release Date: 7th February
Moonstone – Age of Mycology
Genre: Psychedelic Doom Metal
Country: Poland
Release Date: 5th November
Inhuman Nature – Greater Than Death (Church Road)
Genre: Hardcore/Thrash
Country: UK
Release Date: 25th April
Believe In Nothing – Rot (Church Road)
Genre: Noise/Sludge
Country: UK
Release Date: 31st October
Excide – Bastard Hymns (SharpTone)
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 28th November
Traitors – Phobias (Self)
Genre: Deathcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 21st February
Spiritual Cramp – Rude (Blue Grape)
Genre: Indie/Punk Rock
Country: USA
Release Date: 24th October
Chokecherry – Ripe Fruit Rots And Falls (Fearless)
Genre: Grunge/Shoegaze
Country: USA
Release Date: 14th November
Greet Death – Die In Love (Deathwish)
Genre: Indie/Shoegaze
Country: USA
Release Date: 27th June
Haggus – Destination Extinction (Tankcrimes)
Genre: Grindcore/Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 20th June
Primitive Man – Observance (Relapse)
Genre: Black Metal/Sludge
Country: USA
Release Date: 31st October
Forlorn – Aether (Church Road)
Genre: Metalcore/Progressive Metal
Country: UK
Release Date: 28th March
Boneflower – Reveries (Deathwish)
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Country: Spain
Release Date: 25th July
Habak – Mil Orquideas En Medio Del Desierto
Genre: Melodic Crust
Country: Mexico
Release Date: 4th April
You can stream and download Habak’s music on Bandcamp for free.
Black Magnet – Megamantra (Federal Prisoner)
Genre: Industrial Goth Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 25th July
Intercourse – How I Fell In Love With The Void (Brutal Panda)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 12th September
King Parrot – A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot (Housecore)
Genre: Thrash/Grind
Country: Australia
Release Date: 6th June
Iron Mind – Test Of The Iron Mind (Flatspot)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 13th June
M.U.T.T. – Toughest Street In Town (Quiet Panic)
Genre: Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 20th June
In Covert – Bleak Machinery (Dune Altar)
Genre: Deathrock/Industrial/Post-Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 9th May
Fomies – Liminality (Taxi Gauche)
Genre: Psychedelic/Garage/Punk
Country: Switzerland
Release Date: 11th April
Mortuaire – Monde Vide (World Eater)
Genre: Doom/Death Metal
Country: France
Release Date: 7th March
Available on Bandcamp
The Gift Is A Curse – Heir (Season Of Mist)
Genre: Blackened Death Metal/Hardcore
Country: Sweden
Release Date: 7th March
Abduction – Existentialismus (Candlelight)
Genre: Death/Black Metal
Country: UK
Release Date: 21st February
Floating – Hesitating Lights (Transcending Obscurity)
Genre: Black/Death/Post Punk
Country: Sweden
Release Date: 11th July
Greyhaven – Keep It Quiet (Solid State)
Genre: Metalcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 10th October
Ephemeral – Envisaged Human Collapse (Armageddon)
Genre: Death Metal/Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 3rd October
Restraining Order – Future Fortune (Blue Grape)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 12th September
Still In Love – Recovery Language (Church Road)
Genre: Metallic Hardcore
Country: UK
Release Date: 5th September
Bronson Arm – Casket Schwagg (Learning Curve)
Genre: Punk/Grunge/Noise
Country: USA
Release Date: 9th May
Whitechapel – Hymns In Dissonance (Metal Blade)
Genre: Deathcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 7th March
Rainbow Kitten Surprise – bones (Atlantic)
Genre: Alternative/Indie
Country: USA
Release Date: 26th September
Fox Lake – New World Heat (MNRK Heavy)
Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 1st August
The Acacia Strain – You Are Safe From God Here (Rise)
Genre: Deathcore/Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 24th October
Pig Pen – Mental Madness (Flatspot)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 27th June
Bambara – Birthmarks (Bella Union/Wharf Cat)
Genre: Post-Punk/Noise
Country: USA
Release Date: 14th March
Split Chain – motionblur (Epitaph)
Genre: Shoegaze/Grunge
Country: UK
Release Date: 11th July
Pathogenic – Crowned In Corpses (Skepsis)
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 7th February
Midnight – Steel, Rust And Disgust (Metal Blade)
Genre: Black/Heavy Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 23rd May
Paleface Swiss – Cursed (Self)
Genre: Deathcore
Country: Switzerland
Release Date: 3rd January
Jivebomb – Ethereal (Flatspot)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 28th March
Throatcut – Resilience (Arising Empire)
Genre: Metalcore
Country: Germany
Release Date: 18th July
Inherited – No Regrets (Self)
Genre: Hardcore/Groove Metal
Country: Netherlands
Release Date: 22nd April
Slow Crush – Thirst (Pure Noise)
Genre: Shoegaze
Country: Belgium
Release Date: 29th August
Witchcraft – IDAG (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Genre: Doom/Stoner/Retro Rock
Country: Sweden
Release Date: 23rd May
Final Dose – Under The Eternal Shadow (Wolves Of Hades)
Genre: Blackened Punk
Country: UK
Release Date: 11th April
Fange – Purulences (Throatruiner)
Genre: Death/Sludge Metal
Country: France
Release Date: 14th March
Gridiron – Poetry From Pain (Blue Grape)
Genre: Hardcore Rap
Country: USA
Release Date: 30th May
Crippling Alcoholism – Camgirl (Portrayal Of Guilt)
Genre: Goth/Noise Rock
Country: USA
Release Date: 12th September
Atom Juice – Atom Juice (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Genre: Psychedelic/Prog
Country: Poland
Release Date: 11th July
Discarded – Humility EP (Self)
Genre: Blackened Deathcore
Country: Netherlands
Release Date: 25th July
Home Front – Watch It Die (La Vida Es Un Mus Discos)
Genre: Synthpop/Punk
Country: Canada
Release Date: 14th November
Accvsed – Dealers Of Doom (Arising Empire)
Genre: Metalcore
Country: Germany
Release Date: 1st August
Ryr – Dislodged (Moment Of Collapse)
Genre: Post/Doom Metal
Country: Germany
Release Date: 11th April
Katla – Scandinavian Pain (Napalm)
Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Post/Rock
Country: Denmark
Release Date: 21st March
Spite – New World Killer (Rise)
Genre: Deathcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 31st October
Superheaven – Superheaven (Blue Grape)
Genre: Alternative Rock/Shoegaze
Country: USA
Release Date: 18th April
Blank – The Descent (Upstate)
Genre: Hardcore
Country: Canada
Release Date: 13th June
Gasket – Gasket (Blue Grape)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 21st November
Margarita Witch Cult – Strung Out In Hell (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Genre: Heavy Metal/Doom
Country: UK
Release Date: 1st August
Psycho-Frame – Salvation Laughs In The Face Of A Grieving Mother (SharpTone)
Genre: Deathcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 25th July
Lamp Of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy (Wolves Of Hades)
Genre: Black Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 14th November
Melting – You Exist Because We Allow EP (Greyscale)
Genre: Deathcore/Hardcore/Sludge
Country: Australia
Release Date: 2nd May
Planning For Burial – It’s Closeness, It’s Easy (The Flenser)
Genre: Experimental Dark Ambient
Country: USA
Release Date: 30th May
Death Whore – Blood Washed Everything Away (Duality)
Genre: Death Metal
Country: France
Release Date: 16th May
The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven (MNRK Heavy)
Genre: Mathcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 16th May
Extortionist – Stare Into The Seething Wounds (Unique Leader)
Genre: Deathcore/Metalcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 10th October
Scalp – Not Worthy Of Human Compassion (Closed Casket)
Genre: Hardcore/Death Metal/Grindcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 25th July
Cold Steel – Discipline & Punish (Spinefarm)
Genre: Hardcore/Thrash
Country: USA
Release Date: 7th November
Gates To Hell – Death Comes To All (Nuclear Blast)
Genre: Death Metal/Metalcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 21st March
Eyes – Spinner (Prosthetic)
Genre: Hardcore/Noise
Country: Denmark
Release Date: 25th April
Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power (Roadrunner)
Genre: Blackgaze
Country: USA
Release Date: 28th March
Scorching Tomb – Ossuary (Time To Kill)
Genre: Death Metal
Country: Canada
Release Date: 24th October
Higher Power – There Is Love In This World If You Want It (Nuclear Blast)
Genre: Alternative Hardcore Punk
Country: UK
Release Date: 27th June
Drain – …Is Your Friend (Epitaph)
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 7th November
Grief Ritual – Collapse (Church Road)
Genre: Blackened Metallic Hardcore
Country: UK
Release Date: 31st January
Daevar – Sub Rosa (The Lasting Dose)
Genre: Doom/Grunge
Country: Germany
Release Date: 28th March
Throne – Ossarium (Dusktone)
Genre: Blackened Sludge
Country: Italy
Release Date: 14th February
Castle Rat – The Bestiary (King Volume)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 19th September
Open Kasket – Trials Of Failure (Barbaric Brutality)
Genre: Death Metal/Hardcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 7th February
Faetooth – Labyrinthine
Genre: Doom/Sludge/Shoegaze
Country: USA
Release Date: 5th September
Mugshot – All The Devils Are Here (Pure Noise)
Genre: Hardcore/Metalcore
Country: USA
Release Date: 20th June
Century – Sign Of The Storm (Dying Victims)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Sweden
Release Date: 24th January
Divide and Dissolve – Insatiable (Bella Union)
Genre: Instrumental Doom Metal
Country: Australia
Release Date: 18th April
Turnstile – Never Enough (Roadrunner)
Genre: Alternative Hardcore Punk
Country: USA
Release Date: 6th June
Handgemeng – Satanic Panic Attack (Ripple)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Norway
Release Date: 11th April
Vacuous – In His Blood (Relapse)
Genre: Death Metal
Country: UK
Release Date: 28th February
Deftones – Private Music (Reprise)
Genre: Alternative Metal, shoegaze
Country: USA
Release Date: 22nd August
Pothamus – Abur (Pelagic)
Genre: Sludge/Post-Metal
Country: Belgium
Release Date: 14th February
Messa – The Spin (Metal Blade)
Genre: Scarlet Doom
Country: Italy
Release Date: 11th April
Agriculture – The Spiritual Sound (The Flenser)
Genre: Black Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 3rd October
Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath (Century Media)
Genre: Death Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: 10th October