This year was an insane one for new music, and it was incredibly difficult to pick my top albums… to the point where I kinda *couldn’t* pick ten and rank them, so I’ve just made an Albums of the Year list. Here are fourteen of my favourites from 2025, starting with the album that was undisputedly my number one. You’re welcome.
Number 1
Greyhaven – Keep It Quiet
I would love to be able to inject every single second of this exquisite album directly into my veins. The music is the perfect fusion of post-hardcore and metalcore, and the lyrics are like poetry. From opener “Prelude: Evening Star” which begins with a hauntingly funky melody that draws you in and ends in a cacophony of aggression, to the last song, “Cemetery Sun”, which closes the album in a chaotic burst of adrenaline and noise that is at once the perfect end but also leaves you wanting more — this album for me is a 10/10.
Greyhaven (alongside Better Lovers), fill the gaping void left by Every Time I Die perfectly, if that’s what you’re into. Also, the guys are lovely, and the time I randomly met them all outside Banshee Labyrinth and shared a cigarette with vocalist Brent Mills is one of the highlights of my year.
And in no particular order:
Deftones – private music
My favourite band had a new album out this year and there was no way I wasn’t going to love it. A lot of reviews suggested that it’s “like Deftones but not quite Deftones” in a negative way, but I actually really liked that. The album has the signature riffs that the band is famous for, plus a lovely ethereal element which elevates it to iconic status. It’s admirable that the band has retained so much of themselves over a 30+ year career while evolving their sound as they grow up, and navigating becoming famous again among a much younger audience.
Conjurer – Unself
A crushing exercise in post-metal, with deeply personal lyrics, a reimagined version of a century-old Americana gospel song, and a sludgy doomy vibe that begs for multiple listens to really fully feel it in your bones. It’s stunning and you need to listen to it.
Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power
This is a beautiful album, and widely lauded as one of the band’s finest — it merges shoegaze with black metal in a way that feels the most cohesive for them, and delivers a masterclass in how to make the listener feel so many emotions without being able to understand the lyrics. For the record, I cried throughout most of their set at Damnation Festival, and I’m not even ashamed.
Turnstile – Never Enough
I adore Turnstile, and am really enjoying their alternative take on hardcore punk. Never Enough is such a joyfully expansive album that retains enough of their vibe from 2018’s Time and Space to sound familiar, but adds a tinge of synth-pop (and trumpets!) to bring their sound to a newer realm. Listen to “Dreaming” and you’ll know what I mean.
Whitechapel – Hymns in Dissonance
I was hooked on this album from the first few seconds of the first song, “Prisoner 666”. It’s the kind of dank and heavy music that feels like it’s blasting you backwards into a wall, and Phil Bozeman’s insane vocal talent perfectly matches the deathcore/groove metal vibes of the music. The drums, oh my god the drums *face melting emoji*
Crippling Alcoholism – Camgirl
I only discovered this band around two months, ago after a friend recommended I listen to them when I was making my way through the portion of the Damnation Festival lineup I wasn’t familiar with. I am now obsessed. They call themselves ‘murderpop’ but their style is more a blend of darkwave and post-punk, and the name Crippling Alcoholism gives a good insight into their lyrical themes. It’s depressive, gloomy, deliciously haunting and incredibly poignant.
Pupil Slicer – Fleshwork
Although this album only came out at the beginning of November, it quickly made its way to the top of my AOTY list. It’s a brilliant fusion of mathcore with layers of other genres, and Kate Davies’ vocals are some of my favorites in the game at the moment. This band is one to watch and I can’t wait to see what they get up to in 2026.
Honourable mentions:
Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea
Truly a great metalcore album. Courtney LaPlante is an absolute dreamboat and an amazing vocalist.
Employed to Serve – Fallen Star
We love to see lasses in metal, and Justine Jones is an icon. I love how big this band is getting now, it’s so well-deserved.
Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath
Just absolutely fuckin brutal, and has some super cool guest appearances (e.g. Cattle Decap and Full of Hell).
The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven
So many genres?? In one album?? This was delightfully mad and I listened with a smile on my face the whole way through the first time. FFO mathcore, Dillinger Escape Plan, and silliness.
Still in Love – Recovery Language
If you were a lil emo kid into all the UKHC screamo stuff in the early 2000s, this is for you. It’s the debut from ex-Bring Me the Horizon, Dead Swans, and Your Demise alumnus, among others, and packs a punch for only being 23 minutes long.
