Suffering so you don't have to!
Metalcatto
Just like last year, I leave the subgenre that contains my album of the year for last. It’s been a great year for Prog, honestly. At first it didn’t seem that way, but just like a 20-minute-long track, it gained momentum little by little (who am I kidding, you can’t sit through 20 minutes of anything). Anyway, let’s get to it.
Metalcatto
It’s time to reward the albums that made us scratch our heads and wonder: what the heck just hit me? Is this even metal? And should I be having an identity crisis because this album makes me feel stuff I didn’t even know I could feel? Anyway, you don’t have the answers to these questions either, so why keep bothering you? Here are my favourite avant-garde albums of 2025.
Metalcatto
There’s one subgenre that almost never disappoints, and that’s the original extreme Metal style. I’m talking about Death Metal—the one that’s given us the best and worst reputation among the normies. But enough chatting; here are my picks for the best Death Metal albums of 2025.
Metalcatto
Well, you already know thanks to Vicky that this was a decent year for black metal. In fact, this is probably the top I struggled with the most, but in the end I came up with a few jewels for you to listen to in your darkest hours.
Vicky
I listened to Black Metal this year. And a lot of it. So, I’m here to tell you the things that worked, as well as the ones that did not impress me, in terms of music as an overall. Today we focus on the good, the mean, and the evil (or the less evil), in Black Metal. We’ve covered a part of these albums in the past (something that shouldn’t be a surprise), but I’m trying not to repeat what has been said before about these materials. This is just a ranking I’ve made very quickly, without browsing extensively for lyrics, so beware.
Metalcatto
Let’s get something out of the way. This was definitely not the year for Doom Metal. There was simply not much that truly excited me in terms of creativity and madness. Fortunately, there are still some awesome albums to praise today.
The Gothic Metalhead
One of our most discreet collaborator has one last top to give us before the year is over. So, without further do, here’s The Gothic Metalhead‘s top.
Metalcatto
This top is meant to recognize the work of those bands that don’t have a specific niche to attack—the kind of artists that make you say “what the heck was even that?” or “I didn’t know I could feel this.” It’s a journey through albums that are each more mixed and harder to pin down than the last, but that’s the whole point, right? To be disturbed beyond repair. Or, if you prefer, you can also call this the top albums I couldn’t fit anywhere else.
Milo Lane
(according to vibes, weather, and emotional damage)
2025 seemed so forked (Catto still won’t let me swear, so The Good Place rules apply) that it felt like it would never end — and honestly, it still kind of does. I’m not entirely convinced it isn’t yet time for the apocalypse. If this list abruptly ends, please assume society collapsed or my attention span finally did. On a lighter note, there’s no better time to count your blessings than cold, cold December — the month of numb fingers, hot headphones, and staring out windows in contemplation. Hopefully this list leaves you more blessed than before you found it.
Ixone
I remember this time last year I was worrying about not having listened to enough music… Well, let’s just say that version of me would call my present self a lazy slob in that regard. But, the only thing I can do in that regard other than try and put together this Judgement Day of a list, is to hope that 2026 will find me in a place where I actually pull myself together enough to keep up with music properly. However, despite all that, choosing what went in or was left out of this list ended up being a surprisingly difficult endeavor, since the underground has been undoubtedly just as busy as always. But now I will spare you of my ceaseless lamenting and get on with the list.
Metal Eclipse Reviews 