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. The Night Flight Orchestra: Give Us the Moon (Napalm) {3}: Blb:*, ClR:*, DiS:* -- A:77/5
  25. Pentagram: Lightning in a Bottle (Heavy Psych Sounds) {3}: ClR:*, MH:*, MI:* -- A:74/5
  26. Retromorphosis: Psalmus Mortis (Season of Mist) {3}: AMG:*, Blb:*, MH:* -- A:83/3
  27. SpiritWorld: Helldorado (Century Media) {3}: Blb:*, DiS:*, K:* -- A:75/4
  28. Thornhill: Bodies (UNFD) {3}: DiS:*, KH:*, MH:* -- A:80/3
  29. Unreqvited: A Pathway to the Moon (Propecy Productions) {3}: MH:*, MSuk:*, Spk:* -- A:79/4
  30. Vukovi: My God Has Got a Gun (SharpTone) {3}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:80/3
  31. The Wildhearts: Satanic Rites of the Wildhearts () {3}: ClR:*, K:*, RC:* -- A:83/3
  32. Wren: Black Rain Falls (Church Road) {3}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:80/3
  33. Wyatt E.: Zamā Ultu Qeber Ziqquratu, Pt. 1 (Heavy Psych Sounds) {3}: AMG:*, MH:*, Spk:* -- A:80/5
  34. Allegaeon: The Ossuary Lens (Metal Blade) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:80/3
  35. Cryptosis: Celestial Death (Century Media) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:75/4
  36. Faithxtractor: Loathing & the Noose (Reaper Metal Productions) {2}: AMG:*, MI:* -- A:80/2
  37. Forlorn: Aether (Church Road) {2}: DiS:*, K:* -- A:80/2
  38. Grave Digger: Bone Collector () {2}: Blb:*, ClR:* -- A:71/4
  39. Grief Ritual: Collapse (Church Road) {2}: DiS:*, K:* -- A:85/2
  40. Grima: Nightside (Napalm) {2}: AMG:*, DiS:* -- A:80/2
  41. Hangman's Choir: Saddiction (Nuclear Blast) {2}: DiS:*, MH:* -- A:85/2
  42. Hierarchies: Hierarchies (Transcending Obscurity) {2}: Blb:*, Spk:* -- A:74/3
  43. Marko Hietala: Roses From the Deep (Nuclear Blast) {2}: AMG:*, K:* -- A:75/5
  44. Hirax: Faster Than Death (Armageddon) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:67/3
  45. Jonathan Hultén: Eyes of the Living Night (Kscope) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:77/3
  46. Maud the Moth: The Distaff (The Lavarium) {2}: AMG:*, DiS:* -- A:90/2
  47. Memphis May Fire: Shapeshifter (Rise) {2}: Blb:*Sp:* -- A:74/4
  48. Mutagenic Host: The Diseased Machine (Dry Cough/Gurgling Gore) {2}: AMG:*, MH:* -- A:80/2
  49. Nite: Cult of the Serpent Sun (Season of Mist) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:80/3
  50. Paleface Swiss: Cursed (Blood Blast Distribution) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:72/5
  51. Patriarkh: Prophet Ilja (Napalm) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:85/2
  52. Rwake: The Retun of Magik (Relapse) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:85/2
  53. Silverstein: Antibloom (UNFD) {2}: Ex:*, Sp:* -- A:74/5
  54. Stormo: Tagli/Talee (Prosthetic) {2}: DiS:*, MH:* -- A:73/3
  55. Teitanblood: From the Visceral Abyss (Norma Evangelium Draboli) {2}: AMG:*, Spk:* -- A:81/2
  56. Thundermother: Dirty & Divine (AFM) {2}: Blb:*, ClR:* -- A:73/4
  57. Tremonti: The End Will Show Us How (Napalm) {2}: Blb:*, DiS:* -- A:74/6
  58. Vacuous: In His Blood (Relapse) {2}: Blb:*, MH:* -- A:85/2
  59. Warbringer: Wrath and Ruin (Napalm) {2}: DiS:*, MH:* -- A:74/5
  60. Abduction: Existentialismus (Spinefarm) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/2
  61. Acid Magus: Scatterling Empire () {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  62. Alien Weaponry: Te Rā (Napalm) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/3
  63. Apocalypse Orchestra: A Plague Upon Thee () {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  64. Aran Angmar: ORdo Diabolilcum () {1}: AMG:* -- :A:80/1
  65. Arch Enemy: Blood Dynasty (Century Media) {1}: Blb:* -- A:68/4
  66. Avantasia: Here Be Dragons (Napalm) {1}: Blb:* -- A:68/5
  67. Balefire: Balefire (Iron Bonehead -EP) {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  68. Bergthron: Neu Asen Land () {1}: DiS:* -- A:75/2
  69. Black Spiders: Cvrses () {1}: RC:* -- A:80/1
  70. Blacktoothed: Headway (Arising Empire) {1}: K:* -- A:80/1
  71. Bleeding Through: Nine (SharpTone) {1}: K:* -- A:75/3
  72. Bong-Ra: Black Noise (Debemur Morti) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/2
  73. Bonnie Trash: Mourning You (Hand Drawn Dracula) {1}: MH:* -- A:75/2
  74. Calyces: Fleshy Waves of Probability (Dry Clean) {1}: DiS:* -- A:70/2
  75. Combust: Belly of the Beast (Triple-B) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  76. Dawn of Ouroboros: Bioluminescence (Prosthetic) {1}: DiS:* -- A:74/5
  77. Deathless Legacy: Damnatio Aeterna (Scarlet) {1}: Blb:* -- A:90/1
  78. Destruction: Birth of Malice (Napalm) {1}: MH:* -- A:71/4
  79. Disrupted: Stinking Death () {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  80. Domain: Philosophy of the Blade (Daze -EP) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/1
  81. Dorothy: The Way (Roc Nation) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/2
  82. Drudkh: Shadow Play (Season of Mist) {1}: Spk:* -- A:90/1
  83. Dunes: Land of the Blind () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  84. Dynazty: Game of Faces (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:75/2
  85. God Complex: He Watches in Silence (SharpTone -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  86. Gràb: Kremess (Prophecy Productions) {1}: MH:* -- A:80/1
  87. Guiltless: Teeth to Sky (Neurot) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  88. Hands Like Houses: Atmospherics (Civilians) {1}: K:* -- A:70/2
  89. Häxkapell: Om Jordens Blod Och Urgravens Grepp () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  90. Hellacopters: Overdriver (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/4
  91. Hypermass: Apparition Day (Seek & Strike -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  92. Jivebomb: Ethereal (Flatspot) {1}: K:* -- A:80/1
  93. Mean Mistreater: Do or Die (self-released) {1}: PO:+
  94. Mechina: Bellum Interruptum (self-released) {1}: Spk:* -- A:90/1
  95. Museum of Light: Diviner (Spartan) {1}: ClR:* -- A:80/1
  96. Ninkharsag: The Black Swords of Winter (Vendetta -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:90/1
  97. Novarupta: Astral Sands () {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  98. Obscura: A Sonication (Nuclear Blast) {1}: Blb:* -- A:70/2
  99. Obscure Sphinx: Emovere (self-released -EP) {1}: Spk:* -- A:80/1
  100. Pain of Truth & Sunami: Coast to Coast Split (Daze/Triple B -EP) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  101. Phrenelith: Ashen Womb (Dark Descent/Me Saco Un Ojo) {1}: Spk:* -- A:75/2
  102. Pop Evil: What Remains (MNRK Heavy) {1}: Blb:* -- A:90/1
  103. Pothamus: Abur (Pelagic) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  104. Pulse: Body Is Reality () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  105. Purified in Blood: Primal Pulse Thunder () {1}: Blb:* -- A:78/2
  106. Pyres: Yun () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  107. Dax Riggs: 7 Songs for Spiders (Fat Possum) {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  108. Ritual Ascension: Profanation of the Adamic Covenant (Sentient Ruin Laboratories) {1}: AMG:* -- A:80/1
  109. Røry: Restøration () {1}: DiS:*, K:*, MH:* -- A:83/3
  110. Sanhedrin: Heat Lightning (Metal Blade) {1}: Blb:* -- A:80/1
  111. Saor: Amidst the Ruins (Season of Mist) {1}: AMG:*, DiS:*, MH:* -- A:83/3
  112. Sarcator: Swarming Angels & Flies (Century Media) {1}: Blb:* -- A:90/1
  113. Scare: In the End, Was It Worth It? () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  114. Scour: Gold (Nuclear Blast) {1}: MI:* -- A:90/1
  115. Shepherds of Cassini: In Thrall to Heresy (self-released) {1}: AMG:* -- A:90/1
  116. Shrieking Demons: The Festering Dwellers (Transcending Obscurity) {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  117. Stinky: Solace () {1}: DiS:* -- A:80/1
  118. Tayne: Love (Inside Job/MNRK) {1}: K:* -- A:80/1
  119. Thecityisours: Will You Still Love Me? () {1}: DiS:* -- A:60/3
  120. Tiberius: Singing for Company (self-released) {1}: DiS:* -- A:90/1
  121. Tiktaalika: Gods of Pangaea (InsideOut) {1}: DiS:* -- A:65/2
  122. Voidfallen: The Rituals of Resilience () {1}: MH:* -- A:75/2
  123. Wrekmeister Harmonies: Flowers in the Spring (Thrill Jockey) {1}: am:* -- A:71/3