2025 has been a year. A year full of ups and downs for us all, but thankfully with a ton of good music to make everything better. As I reflect on the past and the future, I am extremely thankful and lucky that I get to live in a time with such amazing music to make the world and reality feel less bleak. I struggled a lot with figuring out what my favorite releases were this year, but I made myself pick 10 this time. Behold my list of the best releases I listened to this year:
10. Cemetery Moon – Dominion of Ashes
Released: 10/24/2025
Label: Wulfhere Productions
Genre: Black Metal
Favorite track: “Triumphant Spirit”
Cemetery Moon is a band you should keep on your radar. I was introduced to them through their 2nd album Dominion of Ashes, and I am hooked. They stand out in a sea of black metal bands and I am super excited to see what they do next. This record is relentlessly intense and aggressive in the best way possible from the first song all the way to the end. You can read a more in-depth review/interview here: https://harshvocals.com/posts/cemetery-moon-dominion-of-ashes-review/
9. Les Bâtards du Roi – Les chemins de l’exil
Released: 10/10/2025
Label: Les Acteurs de l’Ombre Productions
Genre: Black Metal
Favorite Track: “Les chemins de l’exil”
French black metal feels like the perfect vessel to breathe the Medieval world into life, a la Véhémence. Les Bâtards du Roi only further this argument. Their 2nd full length presents us with the brutality of the Middle Ages, using harsh vocals, some clean singing, and spoken word (all in French, of course) while blasting our ears with insanely addictive guitars and drumming. As a huge lover of anything Medieval, I was bound to love this.
8. Blackbraid – Blackbraid III
Released: 8/8/2025
Label: Independent
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Favorite track: “The Dying Breath of a Sacred Stag”
Another amazing record by Adirondacks-based Blackbraid. With the 3rd full length by the indigenous one-man black metal project created by Sgah’gahsowáh, also known as Jon Krieger, Blackbraid keeps the momentum they generated since their first album in 2022, and there is no other band that sounds like them. Sgah’gahsowáh is a master at blending the ferocity of black metal with a deep reverence for nature, including several instrumentals that create the perfect balance throughout the record. I was lucky enough to see them twice on their tour with Dödsrit and Lamp of Murmuur this year, and their live performances are just as memorable as their music.
7. Grenadier – Wolves of the Trench
Released: 9/5/2025
Label: Drakkar Productions
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Favorite Track: “The Swine of Mount Cashel”
When I say I want melodic death metal, this is exactly what I’m looking for. I knew I was going to love this album from the very first track. Although I don’t love their label, Canada’s Grenadier don’t seem to hold the same beliefs as many of the other bands on it so I’m not complaining too much. The music more than makes up for it at least. This record is simply irresistible, and the cover art is stunning.
6. Argesk – Moonlight Pyromancy
Released: 10/17/2025
Label: Matriarch Records
Genre: Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal
Favorite Track: “Wreathing Serpent”
This band is a true hidden gem. Hailing from the UK, Moonlight Pyromancy is Argesk’s 2nd full length album and it truly is something special. There is a beauty throughout the record that feels more alive with each listen. Each song is unique and strong, with keyboards and some clean vocals mixed in at times that perfectly complement the harsh vocals.
5. One of Nine – Dawn of the Iron Shadow
Released: 10/31/2025
Label: Profound Lore Records
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Favorite Track: “Quest of the Silmaril”
How can you not love a Tolkien-inspired record? One of Nine have stolen many hearts with their 2nd full length album, a true ode to the amazing universe that is Middle-earth. I absolutely love the bells, and certain sections were reminiscent of Summoning. A beautiful work of art from beginning to end.
4. Lamp of Murmuur – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy
Released: 11/14/2025
Label: Wolves of Hades
Genre: Black Metal
Favorite track: “A Brute Angel’s Sorrow”
The ever-evolving Lamp of Murmuur is back with a 4th full length album, The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy. The tracks steadily build up to a climax, with my favorite songs being the last 4. The mysterious M., the project’s mastermind, is also behind Silent Thunder and Magus Lord, and his talent is undeniable. This album is dripping with a dangerous and tantalizing sweetness that is deeply entrancing.
3. Istapp – Sól tér sortna
Released: 3/6/2025
Label: Trollzorn Records
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Favorite Track: “Under jökelisen”
This is black metal mixed perfectly with Viking metal. The clean vocal sections are amazing and addictive, which is refreshing in a sea of harsh vocals. Originating from Sweden, Istapp have been around for over 20 years but this is my first time listening to them and I’m excited to delve into their discography. The melodies in this are absolutely perfect and I can’t stop listening to this record.
2. Bloody Valkyria – In Our Home, Across the Fog
Released: 4/4/2025
Label: Northern Silence Productions
Genre: Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal
Favorite Track: “From Stormveil to Liurnia”
I wasn’t sure how much I liked this album the first few times I heard it, but with every listen my love for it grew stronger, until I couldn’t remember a time I didn’t enjoy it. From beginning to end, this Finnish one-man project astounds with its beauty. I really loved the debut album, 2024’s Kingdom in Fire, so I had high expectations for this one and they have been surpassed. Oozing with a fantastical atmosphere, Bloody Valkyria is one of the strongest black metal bands currently out there.
1. Empillarist – Pale River, Ghost Reflection
Released: 7/18/2025
Label: Massive Void Recordings
Genre: Black Metal
Favorite Track: “Pale River Reflection”
Every time I listen to this record I fall in love with it more. Empillarist is a one-man black metal project from Chile given life by a being who goes by “Errant Grief.” This record is a masterpiece of raw emotion and melody. Even the instrumentals are overflowing with feeling in every single note. I’ve been looking for good music from my home country and I am beyond impressed. Atmospheric, depressive, melodic, and raw, this record feels truly cathartic.
~
EPs
Velvet Cross – Blood Consumer
Released: 5/30/2025
Label: Independent
Genre: Black Metal
Favorite Track: “A Dying Rose Withered Inside a Grave”
Although I did not include any EPs in my list last year, I have no choice but to rave about Velvet Cross’ Blood Consumer on my 2025 list. Combining the uniqueness of Malice Mizer with the intensity of black metal, every single song on this EP is a masterpiece. Formed by Splatterpvnk and Hundosai of Saidan, along with Entity X and Entity 0, this project has given me something I didn’t even know I was looking for, and I need more. Malice Mizer and visual kei as a whole hold a very special place in my heart and I absolutely love to see that influence in black metal.
Upon Stone – End Time Lightning
Released: 6/20/2025
Label: Century Media Records
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Favorite Track: “Fury My Master”
I absolutely adore Upon Stone because they make my favorite kind of melodic death metal. Every song they put out is super catchy and so much fun, while remaining heavy and aggressive. Although this EP has only 3 songs (and one of them is a cover), it’s too good not to include here. I got to see Upon Stone this year on their tour with High Command and Fuming Mouth, and they absolutely killed it.
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