Listmania: Metal Noise Top #5 Albums of 2025!

Hands up all those whose family saw them crack open a beer before disrupting the family Bluetooth broadcast of Christmas songs with a little Knocked Loose at 10am while witches gathered in their masses around the tree for the annual present opening ceremony? Just us? We believe you. Millions wouldn’t. Anyway we digress. It’s time to dig ourselves yet another grave like hole in the ground by admitting to our top five albums of the year that has been 2025. So without any further much ado about nothing and in no particular order…

“Entanglement” by Sun Of The Suns

We’re going to start with what happens to be the final addition to this list because “Entanglement” by Sun Of The Suns appeared from seemingly out of nowhere and blindsided us on 12th December. Cosmic Existential Progressive Technical Death Metal at its finest, the work of vocalist Luca Scarlatti, lead guitarist Marco Righetti, rhythm guitarist and bassist Ludovico Cioffi (Delain, Nightland) and Fleshgod Apocalypse drummer Francesco Paoli as a session musician is nothing short of astounding. The Italians deliver something punishing and intense on their celestial voyage and also manage to have emotionally resonant lyrics. It’s a breathtaking record.

“Aether” by Forlorn

Having witnessed the band live on numerous occasions before the album was finally released the sense of anticipation for “Aether” by Forlorn was at fever pitch by the time Church Road Records finally let us get our greasy paws on it and it was worth every second of the wait. Blurring the lines between expressionist art, crushing soundscapes and paganism to carve out their own brand of innovative Folk Horror with hints of Black Metal, Post-Hardcore and Post-Metal, the album is phenomenal body of work that captures what they do on stage and commits it to tape. Dramatic and spellbinding, if you haven’t heard this occult ritual already then what are you waiting for?

“This Pain Will Serve You” by Confessions Of A Traitor

For more than two decades London Metalcore merchants Confessions Of A Traitor have been treading the boards alongside the great and good becoming a phenomenal live band and in more recent times spreading their wings and flying to America. Delving deeply into the complex and raw emotions of grief and loss, their first album as a quartet is a beast of a record that flirts with other sub-genres including Gloom Metal along the way with ambient passages adding moments to reflect after the spine juddering guitars. Its the depth of the lyrical narrative on this one that resonates the most as it truly is an exploration of the mourning process and the journey towards healing in pure catharsis.

“Trapped” by Hammer

An album of blood soaked hammer horror inspired tales “Trapped” by Hammer is a portrait in Groove that pushes towards Extreme Metal with alarming regularity. Potent enough to knock you into next week and leave your teeth in a jar on the bedside cabinet for when you wake up, it’s got something of everything from pummeling percussion to razor sharp Death Thrash riffs galore. Over seven vicious cuts it showcases the bands sonic panache as well as they storytelling capabilities of James Andrews as the self confessed horror movie and video game junkies annihilate the weak with neck snap-able down tuned riffs and blistering solos.

“Nothingman” by Age of Ruin

One of the finest Metalcore records of recent times that captures the spirit of the 2003 era with the help of producer Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour “Nothingman” by Age of Ruin is nothing short of pure fun and frolics from a group of impeccable musicians who have crafted something mighty fine. A labour of love that the Washington DC natives spent two years creating it has everything from breakdowns to acoustic moments, glorious Melodic Death Metal leads and scorching solos as well having lyrics that resonate in pure catharsis. It even has a little nostalgia about it which makes it stand out from the rest of our choices like a hammer smashed thumb.

If you’ve read any of the other pieces of this Listmania Awards Season puzzle then you’ll know that we love an honourable mention or five. So here are a few more that were a cigarette paper’s thickness away from making this list…

“Ordhalia” by 5RAND
“Greater Than Death” by Inhuman Nature
“Where They Gather” by Beyond Extinction
“All Is Far Away” by Æl-Fierlen
“Unholy Retribution” by Violator