Metacritic/EOY Aggregate: 2025 New Music: Metal

Notes

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

For reissues and compilations, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Heartworms: Glutton for Punishment (Speedy Wunderground) {12}: 45:*, Cl:*, D:*, DIY:*, FO:*, Mj:*, MO:*, NME:*, Ov:*, PM:*, SC:*, UR:* -- A:89/14
  2. Spiritbox: Tsunami Sea (Rise/Pale Chord) {10}: AD:*, Blb:*, AD:*, D:*, DiS:*, G:*, K:*, MH:*, NME:*, Sp:* -- A:89/11
  3. Deafheaven: Lonely People With Power (Roadrunner) {9}: Cl:*, DIY:*, K:*, LBF:*, MH:*, MSuk:*, NME:*, RS:*, Sk:* -- A:81/12
  4. Architects: The Sky, the Earth & All Between (Epipath) {6}: AD:*, Blb:*, Cl:*, DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:73/9
  5. Dream Theater: Parasomnia (InsideOut/Ytse Jams) {5}: Blb:*, DiS:*, MH:*, MSuk:*, Spk:* -- A:76/8
  6. Imperial Triumphant: Goldstar (Century Media) {5}: AMG:*, DiS:*, K:*, MH:*, Ne:* -- A:83/6
  7. Jinjer: Duél (Napalm) {5}: Blb:*, ClR:*, K:*, MH:*, MI:* -- A:76/8
  8. Killswitch Engage: This Consequence (Metal Blade) {5}: Blb:*, DiS:*, MH:*MSuk:*, Sp:* -- A:75/8
  9. Stick to Your Guns: Keep Planting Flowers (SharpTone) {5}: Blb:*, DiS:*, K:*, MI:*, MSuk:* -- A:83/5
  10. Whitechapel: Hymns in Dissonance (Metal Blade) {5}: Blb:*, DiS:*, K:*, MH:*, MSuk:* -- A:79/6
  11. Cradle of Filth: The Screaming of the Valkyries (Napalm) {4}: Blb:*, DiS:*, MH:*, Spk:* -- A:76/6
  12. Havukruunu: Tavastland (Svart) {4}: AMG:*, DiS:*, MH:*, Spk:* -- A:82/5
  13. Lacuna Coil: Sleepless Empire (Century Media) {4}: -- Blb:*, K:*, MH:*, Sp:*
  14. Love Is Noise: To Live in a Different Way (Century Media) {4}: Blb:*, DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:83/4
  15. Mantar: Post Apocalyptic Depression (Metal Blade) {4}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:*, Sp:* -- A:76/5
  16. Wardruna: Birna (Music for Nations/Sony) {4}: AMG:*, DiS:*, MH:*, Mj:* -- A:80/7
  17. Avatarium: Between You, God, the Devil and the Dead (AFM/Napalm) {3}: Blb:*, MH:*, MI:* -- A:78/6
  18. Bloodywood: Nu Delhi (Fearless) {3}: Blb:*, MH:*, K:* -- A:75/6
  19. Great American Ghost: Tragedy of the Commons (SharpTone) {3}: Blb:*, DiS:*, MH:* -- A:78/4
  20. The Great Old Ones: Kadath (Season of Mist) {3}: Blb:*, MH:*, Spk:* -- A:78/4
  21. The Halo Effect: March of the Unheard (Nuclear Blast) {3}: Blb:*, MH:*, MI:* -- A:77/6
  22. Harakiri for the Sky: Scorched Earth (AOP) {3}: DiS:*, MI:*, MSuk:* -- A:78/5
  23. Jaye Jayle: After Alter (Pelagic) {3}: ClR:*, DiS:*, MH:* -- A:78/4
  24. Messa: The Spin (Metal Blade) {3}: AMG:*, DiS:*, Spk:* -- A:80/4
  25. The Night Flight Orchestra: Give Us the Moon (Napalm) {3}: Blb:*, ClR:*, DiS:* -- A:77/5
  26. Pentagram: Lightning in a Bottle (Heavy Psych Sounds) {3}: ClR:*, MH:*, MI:* -- A:74/5
  27. Retromorphosis: Psalmus Mortis (Season of Mist) {3}: AMG:*, Blb:*, MH:* -- A:83/3
  28. SpiritWorld: Helldorado (Century Media) {3}: Blb:*, DiS:*, K:* -- A:75/4
  29. Thornhill: Bodies (UNFD) {3}: DiS:*, KH:*, MH:* -- A:80/3
  30. Unreqvited: A Pathway to the Moon (Propecy Productions) {3}: MH:*, MSuk:*, Spk:* -- A:79/4
  31. Vukovi: My God Has Got a Gun (SharpTone) {3}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:80/3
  32. The Wildhearts: Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts () {3}: ClR:*, K:*, RC:* -- A:83/3
  33. Wren: Black Rain Falls (Church Road) {3}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:80/3
  34. Wyatt E.: Zamā Ultu Qeber Ziqquratu, Pt. 1 (Heavy Psych Sounds) {3}: AMG:*, MH:*, Spk:* -- A:80/5
  35. Allegaeon: The Ossuary Lens (Metal Blade) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:80/3
  36. Cryptosis: Celestial Death (Century Media) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:75/4
  37. Faithxtractor: Loathing & the Noose (Reaper Metal Productions) {2}: AMG:*, MI:* -- A:80/2
  38. Forlorn: Aether (Church Road) {2}: DiS:*, K:* -- A:80/2
  39. Grave Digger: Bone Collector () {2}: Blb:*, ClR:* -- A:71/4
  40. Grief Ritual: Collapse (Church Road) {2}: DiS:*, K:* -- A:85/2
  41. Grima: Nightside (Napalm) {2}: AMG:*, DiS:* -- A:80/2
  42. Hangman's Choir: Saddiction (Nuclear Blast) {2}: DiS:*, MH:* -- A:85/2
  43. Hierarchies: Hierarchies (Transcending Obscurity) {2}: Blb:*, Spk:* -- A:74/3
  44. Marko Hietala: Roses From the Deep (Nuclear Blast) {2}: AMG:*, K:* -- A:75/5
  45. Hirax: Faster Than Death (Armageddon) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:67/3
  46. Jonathan Hultén: Eyes of the Living Night (Kscope) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:77/3
  47. Maud the Moth: The Distaff (The Lavarium) {2}: AMG:*, DiS:* -- A:90/2
  48. Melvins: Thunderball (Ipecac) {2}: Blb:*, K:* -- A:70/7
  49. Memphis May Fire: Shapeshifter (Rise) {2}: Blb:*Sp:* -- A:74/4
  50. Mutagenic Host: The Diseased Machine (Dry Cough/Gurgling Gore) {2}: AMG:*, MH:* -- A:80/2
  51. Nite: Cult of the Serpent Sun (Season of Mist) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:80/3
  52. Paleface Swiss: Cursed (Blood Blast Distribution) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:72/5
  53. Patriarkh: Prophet Ilja (Napalm) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:85/2
  54. Rwake: The Retun of Magik (Relapse) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:85/2
  55. Silverstein: Antibloom (UNFD) {2}: Ex:*, Sp:* -- A:74/5
  56. Stormo: Tagli/Talee (Prosthetic) {2}: DiS:*, MH:* -- A:73/3
  57. Teitanblood: From the Visceral Abyss (Norma Evangelium Draboli) {2}: AMG:*, Spk:* -- A:81/2
  58. Thundermother: Dirty & Divine (AFM) {2}: Blb:*, ClR:* -- A:73/4
  59. Tremonti: The End Will Show Us How (Napalm) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:74/6
  60. Vacuous: In His Blood (Relapse) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:85/2
  61. Warbringer: Wrath and Ruin (Napalm) {2}: DiS:*, MH:* -- A:74/5
  62. Abduction: Existentialismus (Spinefarm) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/2
  63. Acid Magus: Scatterling Empire () {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  64. Alien Weaponry: Te Rā (Napalm) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/3
  65. Apocalypse Orchestra: A Plague Upon Thee () {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  66. Aran Angmar: ORdo Diabolilcum () {1}: AMG:* -- :A:80/1
  67. Arch Enemy: Blood Dynasty (Century Media) {1}: Blb:* -- A:68/4
  68. Avantasia: Here Be Dragons (Napalm) {1}: Blb:* -- A:68/5
  69. Balefire: Balefire (Iron Bonehead -EP) {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  70. Bergthron: Neu Asen Land () {1}: DiS:* -- A:75/2
  71. Black Spiders: Cvrses () {1}: RC:* -- A:80/1
  72. Blacktoothed: Headway (Arising Empire) {1}: K:* -- A:80/1
  73. Bleeding Through: Nine (SharpTone) {1}: K:* -- A:75/3
  74. Bong-Ra: Black Noise (Debemur Morti) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/2
  75. Bonnie Trash: Mourning You (Hand Drawn Dracula) {1}: MH:* -- A:75/2
  76. Calyces: Fleshy Waves of Probability (Dry Clean) {1}: DiS:* -- A:70/2
  77. Combust: Belly of the Beast (Triple-B) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  78. Dawn of Ouroboros: Bioluminescence (Prosthetic) {1}: DiS:* -- A:74/5
  79. Deathless Legacy: Damnatio Aeterna (Scarlet) {1}: Blb:* -- A:90/1
  80. Destruction: Birth of Malice (Napalm) {1}: MH:* -- A:71/4
  81. Disrupted: Stinking Death () {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  82. Domain: Philosophy of the Blade (Daze -EP) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/1
  83. Dormant Ordeal: Tooth and Nail (Willowtip) {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  84. Dorothy: The Way (Roc Nation) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/2
  85. Drudkh: Shadow Play (Season of Mist) {1}: Spk:* -- A:90/1
  86. Dunes: Land of the Blind () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  87. Dynazty: Game of Faces (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:75/2
  88. God Complex: He Watches in Silence (SharpTone -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  89. Gràb: Kremess (Prophecy Productions) {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  90. Guiltless: Teeth to Sky (Neurot) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  91. Hands Like Houses: Atmospherics (Civilians) {1}: K:* -- A:70/2
  92. Häxkapell: Om Jordens Blod Och Urgravens Grepp () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  93. Hellacopters: Overdriver (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/4
  94. Hypermass: Apparition Day (Seek & Strike -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  95. Jivebomb: Ethereal (Flatspot) {1}: K:* -- A:80/1
  96. Lik: Necro () {1}: DiS:* -- A:75/2
  97. Mean Mistreater: Do or Die (self-released) {1}: PO:+
  98. Mechina: Bellum Interruptum (self-released) {1}: Spk:* -- A:90/1
  99. Museum of Light: Diviner (Spartan) {1}: ClR:* -- A:80/1
  100. Ninkharsag: The Black Swords of Winter (Vendetta -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:90/1
  101. Novarupta: Astral Sands () {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  102. Obscura: A Sonication (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/2
  103. Obscure Sphinx: Emovere (self-released -EP) {1}: Spk:* -- A:80/1
  104. Pain of Truth & Sunami: Coast to Coast Split (Daze/Triple B -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  105. Phrenelith: Ashen Womb (Dark Descent/Me Saco Un Ojo) {1}: Spk:* -- A:75/2
  106. Pop Evil: What Remains (MNRK Heavy) {1}: Blb:* -- A:90/1
  107. Pothamus: Abur (Pelagic) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  108. Pulse: Body Is Reality () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  109. Purified in Blood: Primal Pulse Thunder () {1}: Blb:* -- A:78/2
  110. Pyres: Yun () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  111. Dax Riggs: 7 Songs for Spiders (Fat Possum) {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  112. Ritual Ascension: Profanation of the Adamic Covenant (Sentient Ruin Laboratories) {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  113. Røry: Restøration () {1}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:83/3
  114. Sanhedrin: Heat Lightning (Metal Blade) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/1
  115. Saor: Amidst the Ruins (Season of Mist) {1}: AMG:*, DiS:*, MH:* -- A:83/3
  116. Sarcator: Swarming Angels & Flies (Century Media) {1}: Blb:* -- A:90/1
  117. Scare: In the End, Was It Worth It? () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  118. Scour: Gold (Nuclear Blast) {1}: MI:* -- A:90/1
  119. Shepherds of Cassini: In Thrall to Heresy (self-released) {1}: AMG:* -- A:90/1
  120. Shrieking Demons: The Festering Dwellers (Transcending Obscurity) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  121. Stinky: Solace () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  122. Tayne: Love (Inside Job/MNRK) {1}: K:* -- A:80/1
  123. Thecityisours: Will You Still Love Me? () {1}: DiS:* -- A:60/3
  124. Tiberius: Singing for Company (self-released) {1}: DiS:* -- A:90/1
  125. Tiktaalika: Gods of Pangaea (InsideOut) {1}: DiS:* -- A:65/2
  126. Voidfallen: The Rituals of Resilience () {1}: MH:* -- A:75/2
  127. Wrekmeister Harmonies: Flowers in the Spring (Thrill Jockey) {1}: am:* -- A:71/3