We’re coming to the end of 2025 (thank goodness) so we’re going to start seeing a lot of those “best of 2025” lists, as well as folks’ year-end summaries for the music they listened to throughout the year. Though I listen to lots of music, my preferred genre is heavy metal so I tend to focus on that. So, since music and the year’s end is on my mind, here are my favorite metal albums for 2025.
Ghost – “Skeleta”
I’m not going to get into the argument about whether Ghost is metal or not, but I’m clearly on the side that thinks they are. This album is catchy as hell and I don’t think there’s a bad song on it. An album doesn’t need to be groundbreaking to be enjoyable, and “Skeleta” is Ghost at their finest.
Der Weg einer Freiheit – “Innern”
I stumbled upon this band completely by accident and I’ve become obsessed with this album. It mixes powerful metal with sweeping, hauntingly beautiful melodies akin to Enslaved and Cult of Luna, two of my favorite metal bands. Dark, atmospheric, and eerie, it feels like I’m listening to a tragedy, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Castle Rat – “The Bestiary”
This album, and the band that made it, makes me feel like I’m listening to a fantasy b-movie, and I mean that as a tremendous compliment. Each band member is a character, from a rat queen to a vampire, and every song on the album is literally about a fantasy creature from, well, a bestiary. Castle Rat is a lot of fun and this album has put a lot of momentum behind them, for good reason. This album is so much fun.
Lorna Shore – “I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me”
I want to give Lorna Shore an award for the most fucking metal name for an album I’ve heard in years. Aside from that, this album is absolutely brutal. The opening track knocked me flat on my ass, and while it never relents it becomes more brutally beautiful as the album goes on. There are some triumphant melodies soaring over the grinding power of these songs, which are heavy as fuck. This one is not for beginners to the genre, but man is it a worthwhile listen.
Astronoid – “Stargod”
I’ve been a fan of Astronoid’s brand of “dream metal” for a few years now, and I am in love with their latest album. It doesn’t veer too far from their unique blend of dreamy vocals and melodies floating over thrashing guitars and drums, but they do slow it down a bit in places for a more accessible listen, and that doesn’t hurt their sound. Astronoid has a one-of-a-kind sound that I find myself inextricably drawn to.