2025 has been a trying year for all of us. We’ve collectively watched our country rocket itself towards full-blown fascism almost overnight as we folks suffer the comorbidities of living under a pedophile pyramid scheme of a government. One thing that has always brought us together is the power and presence of music. I see it at shows, online groups/forums, and sites like Bearded Gentleman Music, which are keeping the interest and conversations going. We owe it to ourselves to preserve everything I mentioned—the importance of supporting musicians and artists is how we continue to create and maintain a semblance of a community and camaraderie with our fellow humans. With that said, we are in this together, let’s pull each other up and have the best times that we possibly can. I love you all.
In kinda an order, these are my favorite albums of 2025!
You can find them all on Bandcamp and most other platforms that aren’t funding genocide and warfare, you know, the one that sounds like Slopify.
Uboa – All the Dead Melt Down as Rain
“Made in a dizzy haze during a bout of chronic illness” is the first line in the description of this album, and as soon as it begins, having this tidbit of knowledge, the sonic hurricane you’re swiftly enveloped by hurts a lot more. The pain radiating from each track is tangible, harrowing, and hellish. There are a few palliative, tranquil, and beautiful moments along the way, but like the eyes of a storm, they are fleeting. I hate the saying that “pain produces some of the greatest art”, but in this case, it’s true. With that said, no one should ever have to endure a chronic illness. I have family members and close friends dealing with various diagnoses.
Every time I make it through this album, I feel guilty for enjoying it, but maybe that is how you raise awareness? If ATDMDAR is auditorily parallel to the symptoms caused by a chronic illness, then it’s something we all should be paying attention to and helping are friends/family when in need. FFO- Harpy, Rectrix, Gnaw Their Tongues, Aaron Dilloway
Pissgrave – Malignant Worthlessness
Anyone who actually reads my End of Year lists knows how much I love Pissgrave. I had no idea they were releasing a new album, and when my friend mentioned it, I ordered a copy immediately. I don’t want to say that this is their most accessible album, because that would be like recommending a high-quality snuff film, like “yeah, this one is in HD!! Looks so much better than the usual blood-spattered Hi8s they usually come on.”
MW is still just as harsh and punishing, like a barbed wire Q-Tip in each ear, but there were some unexpected hooks on a few of the tracks that caught me off guard, and in the best way. I’ve listened to MW probably about 25 times now, and I look forward to listening to it again as soon as possible. I just wish they’d credit their album artist (sorry, bad joke). FFO- Carcass, Ceremonial Bloodbath, Infernal Coil, Vorum, Vacuous
YHWH Nailgun – 45 Pounds
Like Lithics, Liturgy, The Locust, etc., when artists are taking new and untraditional approaches to the hallmarks of the genre(s). Comments on YouTube and other platforms often have middle-aged white guys that wear those round African hats and hang out at Guitar Centers getting weird boners to the Steve Vai DVD’s playing on the TV’s, white hipster bro’s with medieval weapon tattoos, in white v-necks that can’t stop jerking off to that Geese album, and metal purists, all crying about being challenged—“YOU CALL THAT MUSIC?” “MY GRANDMA CAN PLAY THAT!”, blah blah blah etc..
ANYWHOOOOOOOO, YHWH Nailgun can also now officially and proudly wear the badge of angering these types, cuz I’ve seen the comment sections, so, job well done guys, you’re doin’ me proud! There are no easy ways to describe them, which is an accomplishment for any artist. You got some Al Johnson-esque vocals over fragmented riffs and sharp and frantic percussion. Can you bob your head to it? People mosh to it? Choose your own adventure, brah! They’re great live too, I have seen them twice now, and it’s always a crazy time. I say go in blind, give this one a listen, and tell me what you think. FFO- JOBS, Palm, Open Head, Mandy, Indiana.
Fed Ash – Rotting Exuberance
I love my grindcore to be noisy, pointed, and vicious, and Fed Ash has done it again. One of my favorite bands of the last decade, and they are even more formidable live. In a sea of 2349023 bands trying to perfect this sound, FA is has been and is on top of it. Rotting Exuberance is a ferocious, dizzying, infernal nightmare. FFO- Cloud Rat, Full of Hell, Fluoride, Purge, Closet Witch
Uranium – Corrosion of Existence
Uranium is one of my top 10 favorite bands of the last decade. Unbridled cruelty, inhumaneness, and depravity all packed into some of the gnarliest blackened industrial/noise you’ll ever hear, and somehow, Corrosion of Existence has successfully dialed all of these things up. Remember that scene in Punisher: Warzone when he pushes that dude into the glass recycler at the recycling plant? Well, I imagine what that poor bastard heard was probably COE. FFO- 8 Hour Animal, Ash Prison, Gnaw Their Tongues
Rectrix – The Bell That Never Stops Ringing
Pippi Zornoza has been a pillar of the Providence noise and noise rock scene since its inception, and is still creating some of the most brutal, thought-provoking, and innovative noise and performance art. The recordings from her solo project Rectrix were finally released this year. Even though a recording will never capture the visceral intensity of Pippi live, which is essentially Pippi pummeling her drum kit, which is connected to a bunch of samplers and other machines (I know zero about pedals, samplers, or whatever any of these devices are called) while unleashing her inhuman howls into a headset. You can feel the air change around you as the entire audience is fully captivated by the intensity radiating out of her. Rectrix is 10x heavier than most metal bands think they are. FFO- early-Swans, Diamanda Galas, Harpy (her other side project with another Providence staple and powerhouse, Gyna Bootleg).
Ethel Cain – Perverts
Speaking of harrowing and crushing albums, Perverts is such a beautiful bummer. I love it when artists take a big swing, and this is definitely a departure from Preacher’s Daughter. I enjoyed Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, also released this year, but you all know me, I want that dark and sad shit! I love it! Vacillator is one of the best songs of the year. If you’re in the mood for the most gorgeous, dreary, brooding, and foreboding rainy day of an album, get some Perverts up in your ears. FFO- Grouper, Julianna Barwick, Hilary Woods
Kuunatic – Wheels of Omon
An all-female Japanese stoner psych-tribal-rock trio singing about Swiss nature, history, and folklore? Yeah, it fucking rules, and more people need to hear them. Wheels of Omon is an audio cinema—you can see and feel this album. So put on your warmest winter clothes and take this fanciful journey with Kuunatic. I cannot recommend this album enough. FFO- OOOIOO, Six Organs of Admittance, Koenjihyakkei
Editrix – The Big E
I love me some weirdo rock. I need 2000x more of it. Stumbling upon Editrix was such a treat. No-wavy, off-kilter noise rock/punk, loaded with catchy hummable hooks and rabid tempo shifts. If you’re craving catchy avant-rock that’s not super challenging but is still unpredictable and whacked out, this is for you. FFO- Melkbelly, People, Luge, Tombouctou, Stimmerman
Prissy Whip – R.I.P. MF
Speaking of whacked-out music, Prissy Whip is one of my favorite active bands. I’ve caught them twice now, and both times were a total blast. Their brand of walloping, unhinged noise rock would fit nicely on the wall next to your favorite Three One G bands. Riffs morph in and out of each other and somehow keep getting heavier and faster. This album is a quickie, but there is a ton packed into it. FFO- Chaser, The Locust, Child Abuse, Tombouctou, Holy Molar, Mob Terror
Pons – Heavens to Peter
Haven’t had your brain scrambled enough this year? Heavens to Peter is an all-out aural assault of various genres that have been grossly mutilated and stitched back together into a mathy, noise rock, no-wave, avant-metal Frankenstein’s monster. It’s an intense and fascinating listen that I will be revisiting many times before the end of the year to make sure I got everything, FFO- Luge, The Dog Faced Hermans, Black Midi
JOTA – Cold Haven
This is some beefy skramz! I have been LIVING for the skramzplosion that’s been happening over the past few years; it’s one of the only revivals that I’ve been thankful for. Y’all and your stupid nu-metal boners can cut the act, that shit has always sucked and still does. The same goes for all the boring throwback, meathead, generic hardcore everyone is rabidly frothing over. ANYWHO, Cold Haven is an unrelenting powerhouse. (I’m surprised not more people are talking about this band?) It’s not 100% farm-to-table Skramz, but a seamless blend of screamo, black metal, and post-hardcore—you’ll feel this one in your guts. FFO- Oathbreaker, Welcome the Plague Year, Satan (France), The Heads Are Zeroes, Coilguns, Idylls
Delirant – Thoughteater
Where avant-garde black metal ruled my lists the last couple of years, I couldn’t find as many in 2025, but Spain’s Delirant and their kaleidoscopic Thoughteater is an easy top 20. It’s a dissonant, malevolent drive through ever-shifting soundscapes, tempos, and timings. I love albums where you feel like you’re never going to find your balance, and this is one of them. FFO- Ad Nauseam, Imperial Triumphant, Void Paradigm, Serpent Column, The Phantom Carriage
Baan- Neumann
Remember Super Shredder from Ninja Turtles 2? Well, imagine if Hum fell into that same mutagen. No matter how fuzzed out and heavy Baan becomes, they still remain a gentle giant—a soothing peacefulness is present even during their most crushing moments. Neumann is big and bombastic in every way, a churning sonic ocean of some of the heaviest riffs you’ll hear this year. Whoever recorded, mixed, and mastered this album did a phenomenal job. FFO- Hum, A Minor Forest, Great Falls
Glass – s/t
Have you ever been at your friend’s house and they have a really mean cat that they don’t want anyone petting, but then the two of you are alone, and you can’t resist? You bring your hand closer and closer to its cute little face, nervous that you’re either going to get caught by your friend or it’s going to scratch the shit out of you. You start getting a little sweaty and shaky from the anticipation… Yeah, this is what listening to a Glass album feels like: it’s unsettling and nerve-shredding, but you keep going back for more. They label themselves as art punk on their Bandcamp, and I think that’s about as close as you will get to describing them. FFO- Hissing Tiles, Open Head, Snowman
Mondrady – No Better Than Man
Sludgy and BRUTAL skramz-spattered post-hardcore. Amaya’s vocals are fanged and scathing; one of my current favorite vocalists. NBTM is a grueling experience to endure, and I mean that in the best way possible. FFO- The Assistant, Welcome the Plague Year, Fuck The Facts, Mare
MTN ISL – Turn Me Into You
Remember the early Dischord Records days and their small pocket of weird indie rock bands that were doing weird and innovative shit? Well, MTN ISL is carrying that torch. Every one of their albums is an automatic purchase for me. TMIY is oddly uncomfortable and soothing all at the same time. FFO- Lungfish, Self-Defense Family, The Sunglasses
Death Spa – Ewwwphoria
Give me all the raucous, pummeling, queer noise punk! Death Spa, also the name of one of my favorite horror movies, is one of those albums where every song is a headbanger. In the slop pile of bands trying to make this sound work, these folks are crushing it effortlessly. Every time someone tells you punk is dead or there is no more interesting rock being made, tell them to STFU and put on Ewwwphoria. FFO- Todd, Meatwound, Bummer, Prissy Whip, BEDTIMEMAGIC
KID COPS – s/t
It’s been a great year for experimental rock, and KIDS COPS is another fine addition to this year’s fellow musical cryptids. The songs range from plodding minefields to spastic, angular noise punk. I miss the era when there was always a band like this mixed into all those shitty hardcore bills, and I could actually enjoy myself. FFO- Thumbnail, North of America, atombombpocketknife, The Holy Shroud, Navies, Ice, Sea, Dead People, Boilermaker
Shearling – Motherfucker, I am Both: “Amen” and “Hallelujah”…
I was wondering what happened to Sprain, who released one of my favorite albums of 2023, The Lamb As Effigy, and accidentally stumbled upon Shearling, and my questions were answered! One of my favorite arenas of music is that of Rodan, The Dreebs, Roadside Monument, Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Worst Gift, and Exhalants. Some call it post-hardcore or post-rock, or just plain ol’ noise rock, but these bands have bent and braided multiple genres together to create whatever the fuck this blood type is that they all share. MIABAAH is a lot different than what I’m describing; it is a single 1-hour, 2-minute, and 20-second track that is a chilling and intense Odyssean trek through all 9 circles of Hell, narrated by a madman. It’s a wild one! FFO- Sprain, Oxbow, The Dreebs, Worst Gift
Hilary Woods- Night Criu
Jason from Thee Phibbs recommended me another ghost queen, Hilary Woods, to add to my ever-growing list. Night Criu is a grey autumn day, the phantom in your periphery, the voice you think you hear when you’re home alone. It is as chilling and forlorn as it is warm and elegant. I am absolutely blown away by the production on this album as well—I love when the artist’s aesthetic and the recording itself match each other perfectly. I cannot recommend this album enough. FFO- Gem Club, Chelsea Wolfe, Ethel Cain
Thee Phibbs – Marsh Threading
Providence cryptids, Thee Phibbs, released a hauntingly beautiful and morose “swamp folk” album this year that you didn’t know you needed. The duo has really created something unique and enchanting here—between Ari’s ghostly, melodious vocals and her warbling singing saw and Jason’s gorgeous, gravely croonings, it sounds as if you’re listening to something from a forgotten time or spiritual plane. This will quickly become one of my October listens. It also features Keith of Vudu Sister on a track that also rules. FFO- Three Mile Pilot, Vudu Sister, White Magic
Chainlacing – Attersee
I want to be walking in the woods in early winter in 5 layers of clothing, listening to Attersee most days of the week. It’s a cornucopia of various branches of shoegaze/dream pop. From reverb-drenched ethereal guitars over a drum machine, to percussion-less swells of otherworldly vocal melodies swirling in and out of spectral soundscapes. The duo is from New Hampshire and Boston; you can definitely detect the influence of the region in their music. FFO- Flying Saucer Attack, early Tamaryn, Landing
Hell – Submersus
Hell, it’s not just a clever name, and when we all end up there, Submersus is what’s going to be playing over the intercom. Another flawless entry to their catalogue of sludgy, brutal, blackened doom. FFO- Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean, Burning Witch, Indian
Just Mustard – We Were Just Here
Another band Jason of Thee Phibbs introduced me to. Don’t let this band name fool you because they’re great. Imagine mixing equal parts Cranes, Curve, and Medicine, and then the band chugging that concoction down and creating one of the most dazzling and gorgeous albums of 2025. FFO- Astrobrite, Medicine, Fleeting Joys, The Fauns, Curve, Cranes
Open Head – What is Success
Imagine elements of 70’s/80’s NYC No-Wave mixed with the newer wave of avant-garde post punk that’s been popping up everywhere. Disorienting, grimy, and a total fucking blast. FFO- YHWH Nailgun, FACS, Theoretical Girls, Glass
Serrate – Even the Wind Sounds Dead
I like my skramz on the more reckless, weirder, and noisy side, and Serrate scratches that itch. Reminds me of a lot of the bands on Level Plane Records (RIP). ETWSD has all the hallmarks of your usual screamo, but the “pretty” parts often don’t feel like a reprieve from the onslaught of angular, pouncing riffs and percussion. FFO- Shikari, Get Fucked, Welcome the Plague Year, Makara, Uranus
The Austerity Program – Bible Songs 2
They’re at it again! More Biblical violence brought to you by the 2-man and a drum machine wrecking crew. It’s somehow even heavier than Bible Songs 1 and just as stress-inducing. BS2 is unrelenting, giving your ears a pretty consistent battering throughout its duration—and honestly, there’s no better way to celebrate our lord and savory cracker. FFO- Big Black, Luna 13, Hammer Party
Deaf Club – We Demand a Permanent State of Happiness
I don’t think Justin Pearson ever sleeps or stops moving, but I’m thankful for all he does. Three One G still consistently releases great music, and all of its bands are top-tier. WDAPSOH is a bit noisier and unhinged than their previous full-length, Productive Disruption, which is always a good thing in my book. If you’re looking for some fast and weird power violence adjacent pandemonium, this is for you. FFO- Retox, Head Wound City, My Lai
Heat Rash – s/t
I love when an album just beats the ever-loving shit out of you like a pissed off dominatrix. This short but not sweet Heat Rash release is a primal and snarling total beatdown that will have you sucking on the spike of its boot before ya know it. Gnarly noise punk/rock at its finest! FFO- SQRM, Failures, Zulus, Lamps, Cult Ritual
Crippling Alcoholism – Cam Girl
It took a while for this band to click with me; after listening to Cam Girl, I finally got it. CA is an experimental combination of goth and noise rock, and post-punk. Each track ebbs and flows between cavernous plodding synths or explosive dissonance. Also, the mixing and mastering on this album is monstrous! FFO- Swans, Sunrise Patriot Motion, Type O Negative
nonsecrator/Wound Fetish – Shallow Breaths and Stale Bruises
Vicious and abrasive harsh noise and power electronics from each of these maniacs. The nonsecrator tracks waver in and out of what sounds like radio equipment having a mechanical breakdown from making contact with the Hell dimension in Event Horizon and swaths of demonic vocals. Wound Fetish (the formidable noise God of Providence, Gyna Bootleg) is equally unsettling and nightmarish. Washes of feedback and undecipherable samples and sounds that your brain tries to correlate with a word or familiar sound with which adds to the bedlam. FFO- Hair Police, Gyna Bootleg, John Weise, Mouthus, farrah faucet
Arachnodactyl – Scraps
Arachnodactyl is a culmination of genres—math rock/metal, metalcore, prog-metal, noise rock, all played at a 10. I love how impractical each track is, giving albums like this the re-listenability factor. FFO- Pupil Slicer, The Callous Daoboys, Sectioned, Goodthink
My Wife’s An Angel – Yeah, I Bet
My friend Myles turned me onto these maniacs, and I can’t thank him enough. Grungy, feral, and perturbing noise punk that sounds like it’s being played by your kidnappers. I hope this is just as creepy live. FFO- Chat Pile, Zulus, Clever, Bad Breeding
If you liked my Top Albums of 2025, these are my honorable mentions! All are also worth a listen.
Bat Piss– There’s a Place In My Mind Where We All Burn Alive
Distant Mirror– s/t
Microfilm– Homebodiez
Emma Goldman– All You Are Is We
Absent from the Morning Headcount– Compos Mentis
Shannon Wright– Reservoir of Love
Uboa & Whitehorse– The Disillusion of Eternity
Lamp of Murmuur– Dreaming Prince of Ecstasy
slow quit– Fusion in Rupture
Pyre– this is how we lose fullness
deers– You Were So Nice