Albums of the Year 2025

This is about the album "Totalitarian Black Metal" (which I also can not link as it isn't available on streaming sites). This is just a relentless and brutal onslaught of aggressive black metal with some nasty riffs. The lyrics are cringe and over the top as always, but the music fucks. Rating: 7.5/10

Sodom always deliver but this might be last time they ever delivered. But my god, what a way to go out! This album takes a lot of inspiration from Slayer and doesn't shy away from that. But it still has this Sodom-feel. Great album, great riffs, great songs. Rating: 8/10

For some people, Imperial Triumphant is just noise. For some people, they are the second coming of christ in the extreme metal scene. I firmly belong to the second group. Imperial Triumphant stay true to their dissonant, jazz-like approach to death and black metal and ramp up their songwriting quality by a mile. Rating: 10/10

I've never been too much into ...and Oceans. They do play quality black metal, for sure. But it never really grasped me. But this album kinda changed that and send me into an ...and Oceans rabbithole. Rating: 7.5/10

After quite a long time, Sargeist have graced our ears with some new top notch Finnish black metal. It's Sargeist, is probably one of the best black metal bands to ever do it. You can't do anything wrong with this album. But I gotta admit, I don't enjoy Shatraug's vocals as much, but this is personal preference. Rating: 8.5/10

Well, this is some old nice Finnish black metal as we all know and love it. If you like Sargeist, you will also like this album. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel to deliver quality and Sarastus shows just that. Also the vocals are an absolute highlight here! Speaking of Sargeist... Rating: 8.5/10

Hell fucking yeah, Fallujah are finally returning to form! I loved The Flesh Prevails and Dreamless. And afterwards, well, the band took a huge nosedive trying to dig into metalcore territory. But now they are finally back, delivering their dreamy and posty tech-death onslaught. I'm beyong happy! And the album artwork once again looks dope as hell! Rating: 9/10

And another French black metal band on the list. But what can I say, Blut Aus Nord just always deliver some top notch avantgarde black metal. This album truly highlights what kind of songwriting genius Blut Aus Nord really are. This album switches between the well-known dissonant style and an absolutely breathtaking melodic style without so much as a slip-up. Rating: 9.5/10

1914 always were great songwriters, no doubt about it. But they never really catched me as much, probably because they were a bit too doomy for my taste. But their newest record ramps up the black metal and especially the brutality by a considerable amount. There are still doomy party but they are fewer in between compared to previous albums. Maybe that's why I finally start to get the hype behind 1914. Rating: 8.5/10

I've never been too much into In Mourning. I always shoved them aside as "Yeah, they are okay, but nothing special". Well, this changed with their newest album. This album is packed full of aggressive riffs but also emotional moments. Definitely something too check out if you're into the melodeath style of Insomnium. Rating: 8/10

I was quite disappointed by "Origins" (and a lot of other people as well). It was missing this unique feeling that only Saor could create. And than I listened to the first few seconds of Amidst the Ruins and was like: Fuck yeah baby, Saor is back! This album is packed full with moments that make you feel like you're climbing in the Scottish highlands. Feeling absolutely epic but also evoking this certain melancholic feeling of being in secluded nature. Rating: 8/10

Melodic Death Metal is a genre that is sometimes a bit too cheesy for my liking, especially when it tries to lean too hard into the melodic part. But every now and then there comes an album that really shows why this more melodic approach to death metal can rip ass. And this album is one of those. Rating: 8/10

Testament still got it man! In comparison to other big american thrash bands which got more mainstream and soft over the years, Testament are still staying strong and even ramp up the brutality considerably. I certainly did not except blastbeats on a Testament album in 2025! Rating: 8.5/10

I am not too much into Prog Death (except for Opeth obviously). And compared to Opeth, An Abstract Illusion are still playing death metal (there are even some black metal influences to be found). Compared to Woe, this album leans a lot more into synth elements and even has exclusively synthie parts. And while I do enjoy this album a lot, I think the production does not do it favors. It all sounds kinda muddy, too overproduced, which makes it kinda hard to even hear the individual riffs. Good album, held back by lackluster production. Rating: 7/10

Pagan Black Metal is always kinda hit or miss: It's either the most epic shit ever or the cringiest shit ever. Luckily, Havukruunu have proven time and time again that they are the masters of epic viking melodies. This does not change with Tavastland, if anything this is probably their most epic sounding record. Rating: 9.5/10

To be fair, I always had a soft spot for Deafheaven. Yes, they have absolutely nothing to with black metal in the traditional sense. But man, their music is just good. And especially this album has some absolutely ferocious black metal parts, without missing the Deafheaven post-influence. Rating: 9/10

Lamp of Murmuur are really evolving their approach to black metal with every album. Starting with raw, going through an Immortal-phase, and now doing something of their own. The only real downside of this album is that the vocals are not quite my taste. Rating: 7.5/10

Tolkien black metal for everyone who needs their Summoning fix. Some good shit. Rating: 8/10

This album is the lovechild of punky (almost pop-punky) riffs and black metal ecstasy. When htis album released I was practically addicted to it. It's just so fun to listen to! And compared to its predecessor it doesn't dip in the 2nd half. Rating: 9.5/10

This is for sure not an album that you can listen to at any time. You need to be in a specific mood for it. At heart, Lykke is atmospheric black metal. But it also borderline sounds like depressive black metal. The guitars and vocals have this washed out feeling, like they are playing from very far away. This really sells the whole melancholic, depressive vibe Sunken are going for. This is not atmo black for taking a nice stroll on a sunny sunday. It is atmo black for dark and gloomy winter nights. Rating: 8/10

I didn't know this band before and stumbled upon by chance in my YouTube recommended. And I was blown away. What is with the French and writing some of the best black metal ever? This album feels a lot like Vehemence and that it has this epic medieval feeling to it, which I quite enjoy. Only downside is the production, which might be a bit too clean. Rating: 9/10

This band just does not disappoint, they are consistently good. Kadath is a bit more on the progressive side and has less doomy elements than its predecessors. Rating: 8/10

This is not about Battlefields, but about their newest album "Against all Odds" (which I can't like here because it isn't available anywhere). This is the first Hate Forest album with live drums and my god does it show. This album is a relentless onslaught of some of the coldest and most hate-filled riffs paired with some of the gnarliest vocals ever. Good shit. Rating: 9/10

Yes, it is not None so Vile. But it is still really good tech-death. Aggressive, relentless and good for headbanging. Rating: 7.5/10

Drudkh always had a special place in my heart. I'm not the biggest fan of atmospheric black metal anymore (highly mood dependend) but I always look forward to a new Drudkh album. And Shadow Play might just be their best since Blood in our Wells. Memorable riffs, really good drumming and an amazing atmosphere. Rating: 9.5/10

I've always been a huge fan of Der Weg einer Freiheit. and this may be their best album to date. This album has everything, from aggressive blastbeat thunderstorms to heartwrenching guitar work. Also some really emotionally gripping vocal work. Rating: 10/10