RANK’d: Albums of the Year 2025
Welcome back to the 9th annual RANK’d Albums Of The Year! While the year itself may have been one big pile of shit, the music, on the other hand, absolutely delivered in what may be the most stacked year since Covid. Though this year, for me, was kind of a discovery and expansion year. As well as being a year full of bands that have made prior lists, being completely absent this time around. Former top 3 album charting bands we’re talking about here. Lots of newbies, but of course some all time greats as well.
So enough preamble ramble, let’s get to it!
Singles Of The Year
This year was INSANE for singles, while some bands released 90% of their albums as “singles”(fuckin hate that). Others gave us just a tease, dropped an absolute banger, then went dark. Here are the Top 5 singles of the year.
(criteria: one song per band only)
5. Car Bomb - Paroxysm
Genre: Chaotic Incoherent Cacophonous Metal
If You Love: Chaos
Google defines Paroxysm as a sudden attack or violent expression of emotion or activity and I can’t find a better descriptor of what Car Bomb is if I tried. Violent aggression, tempos merely a suggestion, nothing but sheer fucking chaos in song form. And I love it. The first taste of their latest outing in SIX years got me so ready for more.
4. Their Dogs Were Astronauts - The Scorpion
Genre: Instrumental Metal
Listen If You Love: Beautiful melodic guitars and HEVY grooves.
It was nice to check up on TDWA this year. Haven’t delved into a ton of instrumental music in a bit. So seeing as they put out a slew of singles, decided to see what was up. The Scorpion stood out big time with its MASSIVE riff to close the song. I love infectious grooves in instrumental music or at least stuff to zone out too, this absolutely has both. As with Contortionist and Fata Morgana, these guys do hooky riffs really well and I can’t wait to see what else they cooked up for the full record.
3. Karnivool - Drone
Genre: Progressive Metal
Listen If You Love: Tool, but tolerable.
Nearly two decades of waiting for the Aussie proggers to return, and boy howdy did they return with a banger, THREE in fact. But Drone was the first, and it gave me massive Themata vibes. I LOVE that album and was hoping something closer to that versus their last album which was much more Tool than i’d like. But this? THIS is fantastic. Catchy hook, great riffs, fantastic drums, and a return to the 2005 hard rock prog that i’m stoked to see more of next year.
2. Moodring - Half-Life
Genre: Nu-Metalcore
Listen If You Love: Insane drumming and breakdowns on a 2002 Chevelle joint.
While Gaben has yet to bless us with Half-Life 3, Moodring blessed the world with this monster of a single. Seamlessly blending the melodic cleans of the Stargazer record and the titanic HEVYness of the Your Light Fades Away EP, this is what I wanted in new Moodring and I WAS extremely jazzed for the record when this dropped. I just really wanted BLACK_WAVE with Red Light Gossip and dammit, I got that. It’s just…if only the OTHER single didn’t leave such a bad taste in my mouth. Cannibal sucked, guys. We’ll see, but if the rest of the album was like THIS? AOTY, easily.
Loathe - Gifted Every Strength
Genre: Nu Metalcore/Shoegaze/Prog
Listen If You Love: Art.
That is….unless Loathe have anything to say about it.
Five LONG years have I waited, but alas, just a single. But not just A single, THE single. Few bands elicit this many emotions when I listen to their work. From anxiety to joy to anger to euphoria to zen. That is this song. Loathe have reinvented their style while also still sounding unmistakably Loathe. Super harsh production on guitars, drums and vocals, but deliberately so. I love when artists do that. Production isn’t just a tool to shape a sound to make it obscenely bass heavy, obnoxious and hide flaws. It can also be used to enhance what the artist is trying to convey or elicit certain emotions or take you on a journey and get absolutely lost in it. Gifted Every Strength is that. It surprised the hell out of me. It STILL, after dozens of listens, hits just as hard as the first time I heard it. If there’s one song on this entire list you listen to, make it this one.
My god this album can’t come soon enough.
EPs Of The Year
Only 2 this time around, mostly because EPs are mostly just 6 singles bunched in until the full album drops these days. But alas, these two stood out and are ACTUALLY EPs.
2. Enterprise Earth - Descent Into Madness
Genre: Deathcore
Listen If You Love: Fucking Power.
Seems like these guys never stop working, always appearing in some shape or form on my lists over the last few years. And for good reason, ANOTHER set of fantastic brutal tracks that started off the year just right and got me in the mood for what was to come for the genre. The biggest standout for me was IV. Chasms Of Hell. Shreddy, HEVY, and an absolutely bad ass closing stretch of machine gun double bass drums with the repeated chant of “Devour, i prove myself devout. The snake enters my mouth, i see her, shapeshifter. Show me fucking power.” Excellent.
Favorite Track: IV. Chasms Of Hell
The Paradox - NSFW
Genre: Pop Punk
Listen If You Love: Blink, Sum, Soup, All Time Low, Yellowcard etc….
The Paradox or Black-182 as they’ve affectionately called themselves have exploded on the scene this year with their early 2000s pop punk inspired track, Do Me Like That. And really you could pop this in with the other giants of the era, and it would totally fit in and i’m sure would be as beloved as them. They absolutely nailed the vibe of the era and brought me back to my younger days listening to Tony Hawk Pro Skater OSTs. My standout is the aforementioned Do Me Like That. Just insanely catchy, upbeat and a ton of fun to listen to. Looking forward to seeing where these kids go.
Favorite Track: Do Me Like That
The Slam Section
Okay, so a couple months back I was sifting through the Spotify/Youtube/Reddit musical rabbit hole and came across the Rob Scallon video of him hanging out with Slam band Peelingflesh and performing a show with them. Really awesome video of Rob learning what exactly Slam is and the insane antics it can bring. As well as how stupidly stupid it is. Got me inspired to check out Peelingflesh as well as another band who has popped up in my studies, BOLTCUTTER. Specifically their latest outings in PF Radio 2 and Still Broke, respectively. Little did I know how much I’d actually enjoy it. Really it’s the same riffs and unintelligible pig squeals but the appeal is the silly antics during the songs like how they use hip hop samples or memes to accentuate a breakdown or a drop early in the song. I lose my shit laughing every time when BOLTCUTTER’s Get From Round Here pops up and the sample at the beginning is from the vid “BAG UP TERRY, THROW IT IN REVERSE TERRY!” then it drops into some stupid riffage, so fun. It’s slack-jaw, knuckle-dragging, neanderthal level music, but I just love it so much and I couldn’t go without putting them on here in some capacity. If you can stomach the vocals, these really are a blast to go through. I mean, just look at the album art, it’s incredible.
Albums Of The Year
Here we go, the main event.
I boiled it down to 10 this time. Like I mentioned earlier, there were some bands who had made top 3 before and didn’t make it this time. Like Jinjer and Spiritbox. Not terrible albums by any stretch, but just didn’t stick with me for one reason or another. Bands like Orthodox and Greyhaven dropped acclaimed albums as well, but again there was just something with them that didn’t jive with me. Hopefully next time, guys.
Anywho, on to the list!
10. AVRALIZE - liminal
Genre: Metalcore
Listen If You Love: A new spin on an old genre.
This year was the year of the German Metalcore renaissance. Of course we already have Electric Callboy tearing it up but there were a couple newbies this year that brought some heavy hitters and a vastly different spin on a genre that largely has gone stagnant in the last few years. One of those bands is AVRALIZE. Bringing that euro pop type groove and melodic sensibilites with the HEVY guitars and drums. Almost every track has an interlude with synths and beats to add flavor in between the HEVY stuff and it’s great. There’s one that’s just called childhood.wav and it’s just 40 seconds of this atmospheric synthy melody and it kinda sounds nostalgic in a way? It’s so odd in an album full of oddities already like my favorite track, the main single medicine. Catchy, boppy, banger. The main riff has a banjo backing it up for cryin’ out loud and with the added groovy pop-like beat behind it, it’s a ton of fun and a fantastic kick off to a great album.
Favorite Track: medicine
9. LANDMVRKS - The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been
Genre: Metalcore
Listen If You Love: Linkin Park, but french.
From new age Eurocore to old school Nu Metal vibes in a new school, french wrapped, package. LANDMVRKS took me by surprise this year, giving me something I didn’t know I needed. Old school Drop C/B HEVY riffage fused with french rapping and very Chester-esque high pitched screams to pull off a record that sounds new but has some old Linkin Park in there to get the nostalgia tickles going. So many banger riffs in here from Creature, to Sulfur, to La Valse Du Temps. Really nailing that August Burns Red 00s era fast paced Metalcore but having the aforementioned high end vocals and some french rapping and hip hop beats thrown in. Such a breath of fresh air in a time of 12 string djenty bass filled slop out there.
Favorite Track: La Valse Du Temps
8. Tallah - Primeval: Obsession
Genre: NuMetalcore
Listen If You Love: Your Slipknot just a bit more mad.
Tallah have once again blessed us with a record that shatters the mould with breakneck riffs, pulse pounding drums, absolutely insane vocals and doing it all…in one take. You heard me. One. Take. The entire record was done all in one go, each song connects to another and it blew me the hell away when I found that out. You couldn’t tell early on by the singles, but once you hear the full album it makes much more sense, well, as much sense as a Tallah record could make. Really, it sounds like the ramblings of a madman and his merry band of insanely talented psychopaths and I love it. Every Tallah record twists their formula around and this time with the one take stipulation, it really sounds like one big song. Especially when they reprise the earlier track’s choruses later on in the album. Such an insane record by an insane band and another worthy addition to their insane catalog.
Favorite Track: A primeval detachment
7. Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH
Genre: (well according to the highly acclaimed Grammy’s, they’re Metal, but no.) Pop, Punk, Ska, more Pop, Daft Punk, Hardcore etc.
Listen If You Love: Moody atmospheric rock, The Police, Goldfinger, Daft Punk, old Turnstile.
Ah yes, the “METAL” album. Really idfc, they got nominated, awesome. A breakout album from a band that used to be predominantly a Hardcore band. They still dabble in it on this album, but really what’s bringing them to the dance is, their poppier soft stuff. Hell the opening album titled track was massive when it dropped. Really solidifying their new softer side that people have gravitated towards, and I kinda dig it too. This album is a smorgasbord of genres and moods and I tend to enjoy albums that take more risks with genre melding or just throw conventional wisdom out the door. Like here, we legit go from soft rock, to punky ska, to Hardcore, to straight up Daft Punk with guitar solos. It’s sorta brilliant and not usually my bag, baby. But I kept coming back to this one for some reason or another. Maybe I just dig Daft Punk with guitar solos man, I dunno.
Favorite Track: BIRDS
6. A Day To Remember - Big Ole Album Vol.1
Genre: Pop Punk(thankfully)
Listen If You Love: Pop Punk
Thank fuck this is good. I was as gracious as I could be with the last album, much more so than many others. Gave it glowing marks when it was good, but man when it was bad, it was BAD. Thankfully, ADTR took our criticism fairly and sensibly and didn’t make ANY tracks about how much people shouldn’t bitch and give feedback or complain about how much they need to do before they’re considered The One….Right? Well, at least the album is great. Tons of the catchy goodness they’re known for and some HEVY hitters that balance this one much more than their previous outing. Really, the only duds on the record are the aforementioned Feedback and the final track Closer Than You Think. My standouts are All My Friends, To The Death, and Same Team. Kinda stepped out of the box for that last one. I’d love to see them really expand the MUSIC part of their game and avoid the pitfalls that tanked You’re Welcome for so many. Less Ramen Fueled garbage, and more of what brought them to the dance. Let’s see how Vol.2 turns out when it drops next year.
Favorite Track: All My Friends
5. Whitechapel - Hymns In Dissonance
Genre: Deathcore
Listen If You Love: HEVY
HEVY-est album of the year and it’s not even close. What a return to form for one of the pioneers of the genre. Going from essentially groove metal and ballads to arguably the HEVY-est deathcore record, ever? Ever since the first single A Visceral Retch dropped, it was over for everyone else. Phil Bozeman was in full form and the guitars and drums were the most brutally HEVY produced sound the genre has ever seen. And it only got HEVY-er once the album dropped, like doubly so. Really, the only qualm I have is you really need a break once you surmount the obscene wall of sound the record produces, because it’s unrelenting and powerful all the way up until the beautiful closing stretch of the final song and it reaches it’s more melodic climax. Can be overwhelming, but there ain’t nothing like it. I mean, just listen to the opening of the title track and TELL me something else is HEVY-er, try me. The goosies I get every time Phil rips into those lows man, WOO. Truly stunning work and what comes next excites me greatly.
Favorite Track: Hymns In Dissonance
4. Alestorm - The Thunderfist Chronicles
Then we go from the punishing brutallity of Whitechapel to silly Pirate Metal. Truly the tonal whiplash my lists are known for. Alestorm really pissed me off with their last outing, so much so that I didn’t listen to them AT ALL until this album dropped. I had thought maybe the gimmick has run it’s course and they just couldn’t do it anymore. Maybe they’re chasing the high of Tortuga and just pumping out silly gimmick songs. Nah, we’re back guys. With Thunderfist, not a single skip, every track a BANGER. From the stomping opener of Hyperion Omniriff to the absolutely incredible epic voyage of Mega-Supreme Treasure of The Eternal Thunderfist, no filler all killer. Sure it’s still silly Pirate Metal, but we have Banana daiquiris and songs about giant boobs now, it’s high art. Just a ton of fun this go ‘round and man, that closer is so good. A 17 minute epic with so many twists and turns, TWO chantable choruses and guitar solos aplenty akin to Dragonforce. Dare I say this album could be their best, but only time will tell with that one, absolutely give it a go if you’re looking for a good time.
Favorite Track: Mega-Supreme Treasure of the Eternal Thunderfist
3. Vianova - Hit It!
Genre: Metalcore
Listen If You Love: MORE new spins on an old genre.
From seemingly out of nowhere, German Metalcore outfit Vianova drops one of the best debut albums in a hot minute. A fresh mix of R&B, jazz, synthy beats and the HEVY stuff akin to other innovators like Issues. Few bands nail genre blending as complex as this and Vianova are going to turn heads quickly with stuff like Oh No(Believer), Uh Yaya, and Obsolete(my favorites). Look at Uh Yaya for example. Seemingly unassuming at first. A lil elevator jam to get you comfy. Then we jump into the bouncy as fuck riffs, only slightly turning the HEVY dial up, just a smidge here and there. Then we hit harder…..and HARDER. Until the lead vocalist lets out a shriek the likes of which you rarely hear and the next thing you know, your face is caved in. That’s just ONE SONG. Obsolete on the other hand is a melodic Jazz fusion track that is stunningly beautiful all the way through. There’s a section in there that took me off guard, first time through, you’ll know when you hear it. Then the big booming crescendo at the end is just amazing. An incremental build up of energy, with the lead vocalist shouting his heart out, then the band lets it all out with a huge blast beat finale. Perfect way to finish a record. A total blast from start to finish and a real standout in a sea of derivatives.
Favorite Track(s): Uh Yaya, Obsolete (couldn’t pick one)
2. Thornhill - Bodies
Genre: Metalcore
Listen If You Love: Deftones, but done way better.
According to Spotify, my most played piece of music all year. Yeah, easily. Thornhill got my attention(as well as others) with The Dark Pool record. A melodic, ethereal experience of an album that put them up high for so many. Then their next album…they kinda shit the bed for me. Largely forgettable, tonally different. I guess the band agreed, shifted gears, then dropped Obsession. I had missed the drop and only really listened to them again after a few more singles came out and the reception was so overwhelmingly positive to the point that I had to put everything down and give them a go. And man, let me tell you, these were special. Silver Swarm and Obsession, became, well….my Obsession ALL YEAR. The former has the most satisfying breakdown of the year, I mime that “woo” before the drop like a damn fool, every fuckin’ time. And the latter is the single sexiest riff of the year, bar none. Then the whole damn record came out, was and I was eating so good. Production? Perfection. Riffs? Sexy. Drums? Neck breakingly groovy. Vocals? Smooth as honey. So, you may ask….why is it 2nd? Well…the latter half of the album isn’t as strong and those slower tracks tend to drag a bit. Honestly, it was a toss up, but one of my big criteria of this list is that number one has to have no skips and, well, this one does. Despite how absolutely fantastic this record is, it’s just shy of perfection.
Favorite Track(s): Damn near all of em. Here’s Silver Swarm:
The Callous Daoboys - I Don’t Wanna See You In Heaven
Genre: Mathcore/Metalcore
Listen If You Love: Love, Loss, Loathing, Failure.
The single most surprising album of the year for me. I did not go in expecting to love this as much as I do. Mathcore typically isn’t my bag, baby. Not that I hate it, I dig the manic and frantic nature of the genre but what The Callous Daoboys have done here is not only more palatable for my own enjoyment, but just set a new benchmark in the Metal genre as a whole and I feel very few can surpass let alone reach that new bar set here.
The album itself is a personal story of the lead vocalist’s struggles with love and life. And the way it’s wrapped all together is so unique. It opens and closes with you being in a Museum in the seemingly desolate future, a metaphorical Museum Of Failure. And the narration on the PA system is describing the album as a discovery and pieces of a “collection”. All the meanwhile everyone else is going about their day like its just another thing there. Then what follows are 2 tracks that lunge into the manic HEVYness of Mathcore. While afterwards Two-Headed Trout lead us into a more Metalcore vibe with its bouncy beat and Oceans 11 sample in the back. Probably the catchiest of the HEVY stuff, a good go-to for first timers of Daoboys. Next with Tears on My Lambo Leather you get more HEVYness. But then we swerve into Lemon. And it’s all a poppy clean ballad that arguably is the best track on the whole album. Catchy with the right amount of sweetness without becoming saccharine. But then it fades into Body Horror For Birds and it’s a straight smooth Jazz section with a big melodic vocal from 1ST VOWS. It’s a great break from the unrelenting lunacy of the earlier tracks. Then for the next 3 tracks we’re back into Mathcore, going full tilt into insanity before we stop at the end of Douchebag Safari where someone is talking and basically saying “Conjure something from inside that’s screaming to come out of you. Let it all out, because we have nothing else, we don’t even get to keep our bodies.” Which leads to Distracted By The Mona Lisa. A great catchy Metalcore track that rounds up the “end” of the album. Now, we’re back at the museum, before it was mentioned that the rest of the “collection” was recovered and it was “Daoboys Seaworld Footage” and the actual final track of the album ”III. Country Song In Reverse”. A brilliant, almost 12 minute epic of pure raw emotion and insanity.
I can’t really describe this album other than, it’s pure art. You really gotta listen to the whole “collection” to get the full picture and man, it shocked me how good this is. I wasn’t much of a Daoboys fan before this, only hearing bits and pieces of prior work and coming to the ignorant conclusion of “oh its mathcore, skip”. But now, I’m all in. I’ll eventually go back and do a discog run through since I’ve heard nothing but positive things about their last record.
And there you have it. 9 years of doing this(well, 3 on the site) and I have no plans of stopping. Planning more stuff for the site, especially on the Games side(go check it out if you haven’t), with more coming soon in the new year.
Here’s to 2026, and thank you so much for reading!