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MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - August 2025
Welcome back to MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month! Is it just me or was it relatively quiet for new releases? A calm before the Album-of-the-year storm, perhaps? Maybe it's just that the big-bill bands held off putting out new stuff. Maybe we just have a proclivity here for the darker recesses of the underground. Whatever the case, we've got the goods down below.
-Nate
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Harvested - Dysthymia
Independent
Really tight no frills modern death metal with a lot of Soreption-esque groove to it. At first, it doesn't seem like anything special but then you listen for a bit, a few riffs sink their claws into you, and you can't find any major faults even with careful scrutiny. Not everything has to be avant-garde or experimental to be effective, after all.
-Nate
Call Of Charon - Tales Of Tragedy
Massacre Records
The first time I listened to Call Of Charon's new album was right after the new Signs of the Swarm, which is not bad but falls in the overproduced and formulaic kind of deathcore I'm not the biggest fan of and the difference was stark. Call Of Charon's brand of deathcore is a more organic and "Slaughter of the Soul" riffs inspired kind of deathcore, which was very welcome for my ears. If you crave a more "old school" and honest deathcore sound, Call Of Charon's got you covered!
-Raphael
Finnr's Cane - Finnr's Cane
Nordvis Produktion
For a small, isolated city, Sudbury has a surprisingly fertile metal scene - although a majority of the bands are studio projects from the same half-dozen guys. Fractal Generator, Wolven Ancestry, Symbotic Growth, and now this little atmospheric black metal project has revived itself after a few years of inactivity.
I am unsure if this was also the case on previous albums, but this eponymous work features no bass guitar, instead using cellos and keyboards to provide an extra layer of depth and contrast to the cold, treble-heavy guitar. Sometimes, the rock beat style pacing brings Lifelover to mind, though I wouldn't classify this as DSBM - there's certainly a sorrowful undercurrent, but it emerges out of something more intentionally colorful and lush - almost as to highlight the beauty in decay, like when the season turns to autumn and leaves lose their green pigment for a final scenic flourish. The literal mountain of dime-a-dozen black metal bands out there has left me pretty jaded in regards to the genre, so when I do hear something that can stand with some of the atmospheric beacons that made me fall in love with the genre (Agalloch, Alcest, Solstafir, early Ulver), it's cause for celebration.
-Nate
Centuries Of Decay - A Monument To Oblivion
Independent
Nice vaguely proggy, vaguely melodic death metal from my neck of the woods. Bit of a "kitchen sink metal" vibe going on where it pulls from a smattering of different styles and vibes - good stuff if you enjoy Rivers of Nihil, Black Crown Initiate and stuff of that ilk. Very professionally played and produced, especially for a band that's doing things completely independently.
-Nate
Cancer Void - First Metastasis
Me Saco Un Ojo Records
That spooky, synth filled intro sets the mood perfectly for this incredibly fun and highly well composed OSDM EP. Again, I'm judging by the cover, but have you seen this disgustingly beautiful art by Prague artist serus, you just know the music will be good! This is four OSDM songs crafted to perfection with monstrous vocals, precise riffs, fat meaty bass and great drumming. And considering it's their first release, stay vigilant for Cancer Void, I hope they continue developing their irresistible brand of malignant death metal.
-Raphael
Rhabdomyolysis - Visceral Lesion
Inherited Production
Snare goes ping, vocals go gurgle gurgle, guitar goes bzzzzzz. Me likey.
-Nate
The Prophecy²³ - Mosh O'Clock
Massacre Records
On their Instagram page, The Prophecy²³ describes their sound with a simple equation: Thrash+Death+Punk = Fresh Metal. Fresh is indeed a great way to describe their eclectic sound. One minute it's a punk anthem and the next, a savage death/thrash ragger and both elements blend seamlessly together to create a fun, summer vibes album. Not taking themselves to seriously with songs like "Ready To Get Wasted Again" or "Chill 'Em All", they still have a more serious side, as evident from songs like "Fresh Metal Fights Fascism" or "Work Eat Sleep Repeat" bringing a good dose of social commentary amidst all this fun.
-Raphael
Imperishable - Revelation In Purity
Everlasting Spew
When's the last time you saw an album with Derek Roddy on it? To be fair, according to his metal-archive page, he is active in a smattering of different bands in the Florida region. However, it's a lot of stuff that seems to be primarily studio projects and not the type of stuff that's into heavy touring. Gone are the days where it seems like every big bill extreme metal band that wants a fast drummer got him on board.
That's what makes this album by Imperishable such a pleasant surprise. Not only is Roddy showing that he can still kill it as an established veteran, but he's joined by top-tier talent from Nile and Olkoth to unify a worthy supergroup. There's plenty of overwhelming, dense blastbeat sections but there's a surprising amount of curveballs and diversions to balance it out (did I hear a clean vocal section in there?) while still keeping a steady mix of untainted death metal inspired by both old and new-school facets of the genre. This is undoubtedly the work of skilled, experienced musicians that know how to make something unique and compelling without showing off in a ham-fisted tension. In a word: this is meaty.
-Nate
Desaster - Kill All Idols
Metal Blade Records
Germany's blackened thrash icons, Desaster, are here with their 10th album, Kill All Idols, hopefully not talking about themselves! Since this is a new band for me, I can't compare with the rest of their discography, but this album is 40 min of polished thrash, while still retaining a blackened atmosphere, making for a perfect sounding album! It features dynamic songwriting, oscillating between mid tempo thrash to furious and fast black metal. Never forgetting melody, they always incorporate catchy riffs here and there, making for an overall fun but still kvlt and trve experience!
-Raphael
METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH
10: In Mourning - The Immortal
Supreme Chaos Records
I do not understand why this band does not get heralded among the greats of expansive, proggy melodeath - they have the hooks, they have the rich, flowing song structures that weave elaborate tapestries, they have the crunchy groove riffs that the genre is known for with an extra bit of musicality thrown in, they don't have a bad album - why this band isn't as big as, say, Insomnium or Omnium Gatherum is a mystery to me (although they are touring with the latter, so maybe I'm underestimating their pedigree a bit). Either way, if you don't know them already - get familiar.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.1/10
9: Obvurt - An Alternate Dimension
Brutal Mind
We all know that no one techs like Quebec! Obvurt's story is one of adversity overcome with unusual avenues to success. If you don't know the backstory, frontman/mastermind Phillippe Drouin played in another QCDM band called Unbreakable Hatred, who were solid, well-established, worked with Unique Leader, all that fun stuff - and then Drouin got in a car accident rendering his unable to play guitar in the way he had learned to over the course of decades. Most folks would throw in the towel at that point, but Drouin is not most folks. He re-learned guitar left handed, even employing the dual-neck guitar a la Michael Angelo Batio on some occasions, started a new band (even enlisting the help of some old friends and scene veterans, Sam Santiago and Olivier Pinard, for his band's first EP) and gained a modicum of viral fame when his new project played their debut show for the elementary school Drouin works at as a music teacher. Not by any means a traditional path, but an inspiring one nonetheless.
An Alternate Dimension might be my favorite Obvurt album yet - perhaps it's the abundance of tasty Gorod-esque tapping licks. Leaning more into that stuff as opposed to percussive chugging is where this band really gets the chance to showcase Drouin's augmented talents. Enzo Roussel's active bass work sounds like he took some lessons from Forest Lapointe, and Dany Araya's drumwork is grounded and groovy with enough speedy flourishes to keep up with the flurry of notes. When tech-death still maintains a catchiness and groove amidst the jumble of notes, that's when it can be particularly effective and even ensnare the minds of those that aren't immersed in the style, and Obvurt very successfully does that here. Worth a look from any tech-heads, but I think prog fans and even more classic brutal death fiends will get some mileage out of this as well.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.1/10
8: Thorn - Nebulous Womb Of Eternity
Transcending Obscurity Records
For a death/doom album, it has an interesting beginning. The second you press play, you get hit in the face with full-on, high-speed death metal with the doom slowly creeping in, with extremely satisfying chugs and a slow, ominous solo towards the end, bringing a lot of atmosphere. The album brings groovy riffs, occasional atmosphere filled interludes, soft whispers, like voices in your head and unsettling noises just makes you feel more claustrophobic. The album ends on a high note with the title track, 7 and a half minutes of slow and heavy death/doom that transports you in a dark and moldy cave where escape is impossible. Although I preferred their last album, 2023 Evergloom, this is still a solid offering for fans of dark and crushing metal.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.2/10
7: Devolver - Non Compos Mentis
Independent
The first thing that drew me in was the beautiful cover art done by the legendary Travis Smith at Seempieces (who worked with Opeth, Katatonia and Death, to name a few) and that they are from Alberta (support local music, and please don't leave us! For people not taped in Canadian politics drama, there is a movement for Alberta to leave Canada and yes, I see the irony of a dude from Québec saying that) Anyway, musically, this album is pure comfort food in sonic waves. They play the kind of melodic metalcore that was big in the 2000's. Melodic death style riffs, plenty of catchy and emotional chorus, satisfying breakdowns and technical solos, I swear, to say these guys are virtuoso, is an understatement. The fact this is an independent release blows my mind, I can't wait to see where these guys go from here!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.2/10
6: Hedonist - Scapulimancy
Southern Lord Recordings
For apocalyptic death metal band Hedonist's first album, they offer us a large portion of Bolt Thrower style heavy riffs, a disgusting (positive) guitar tone, à la Entombed, an incredible reverb filled and monstrous vocal performance. AJ summons the deepest growls a human can conjure and the most piercing screams imaginable. Musically engaging from beginning to end, each song has its own flavor of grimace inducing riffs and an overall dirty (again, positive), crust punk attitude. Featuring members from legendary Canadian blackened crust band Iskra, no wonder you feel this authentic atmosphere and raw emotions, or maybe I'm just biased.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.3/10
5: Cemetery - Thoughts On Life... And Death
Independent
Formed all the way back in 1986, these guys went through many stylistic and band name changes before resurrecting Cemetry in 2017 and going back to a Death inspired progressive death metal sound. Thoughts On Life... And Death is a concept album about a totalitarian regime and its oppressive nature on regular people. (absolutely no modern example of this right now…) As written on their bancamp page: "Across nine intense tracks, the album explores themes of fear, manipulation, psychological isolation, and the final struggle for dignity in the face of dehumanization." Musically the band demonstrates their immense talent and experience, offering an OSDM experience that is completely modern with progressive compositions and virtuoso playing. Their music is everything at once, brutal and aggressive, complex yet atmospheric, sometimes fast and other times slower and doom infused but the crazy, technical solos are always lurking around every corner. Again, an impressive independent release with a magnificent artwork by Silvio Fiorese, this is what makes metal special, no AI slop, just pure raw artistic talent!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10
4: Defacement - Doomed
Avantgarde / Total Dissonance Worship
Dissodeath's inherently abrasive nature means that bands in the style have to do something extra to stand out - there has to be an integration of softer melody to balance out the inherently entropy, or you just need to throw some completely unexpected, scary shit into the mix - which is harder than it should be, because everyone in the style is trying to do that.
Defacement already stood out with their previous release, Duality, with the key to them standing out among the herd being the heart-wrenching emotion they could inject into their cacophony. There was all of the hair-raising tension that this realm allows, but there was a certain eerie beauty once you peeled back the layers. It's what made it one of my top 25 albums of the year for 2024.
Barely a year later, they've already put forth another 40 minutes of equally dense music - AND they've evolved significantly from the previous release Duality. There's still moments of somber catharsis ("Unexplainable"), but immediately following that, they slowly plunge into an all-encompassing abyss that can bring Obscura-era Gorguts to mind ("Worthless"). This is less of an album that jumps out at you, requiring careful examination to get the same mileage out of it as the previous release - but there's been no compromises on the quality front, even with the quick turnaround from the previous album. Was definitely exciting and surprising to see that Defacement already had something new out - they're fast becoming one of the most intriguing and "need to know" bands in the realm of dissonant extreme metal. Get on board while the bandwagon still has room.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10
3: Victim Of Fire - The Old Lie
Southern Lord Recordings
Victim Of Fire have succeeded in blending 90's style Swedish melodic death with a good dose of crust punk for that authentic raw aggression. Already with the first song I was sold, meaty riffs, fast paced and d-beat filled drumming with an equal injection of melody and rawness, but the break before the solo of the second song, "Apocalyptic Inclination", was it for me. A recording of Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1961 farewell address, about the dangers of the influence of the military industrial complex. Looking at the state of the world in 2025, safe to say he was 100% right! The album ends with an interesting cover of "Aces High", both faithful to the original, yet transforming it completely into a Victim Of Fire song. Ending with a cover is not my favorite, I would've much better liked them to end it with the epic, 7 min. long "Disharmonist" but hey! What do I know, I'm just one dumb guy on the internet.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10
2: Malevich - Under A Gilded Sun
Church Road Records
One of my favorite new discoveries of the past few months was this band's 2019 release, Our Hollow. A mix of black metal, aggressive screamo, sludgy post-metal and a tinge of post-hardcore, it sucked me in immediately and kept me wondering how they would merge the elements present - and they nailed everything they tried. Tough to pin down, but it all coalesces into a potent, emotional broth that drips genuine atmosphere from its edges. This won't be something you're into if you only listen to second-wave BM worship or think any death metal after 1993 is inherently inferior. For the rest of us, Malevich is something special, and a buried gem in the realms of modern extreme metal.
Seeing they had a new album on deck was an equally pleasant surprise. Under A Gilded Sun shows more willingness to play with space and explore some of the softer sides of their sound. There's less maniacal aggression, but more dynamics. Not to say this doesn't have its share of moments that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up - their signature tonal, agonizing screech gets me every time. But the moments where they do let the ambiance slowly drift into your consciousness really show off their incredible chemistry and how each member knows exactly what to contribute to Malevich's multifaceted sound. The conclusive title track, which start off very minimal and slowly adds layers until a powerful, static force completely envelops you, is a noteworthy example of this, and one of many highlights of another powerful, compelling release from one of my new favorite bands. Don't sleep on this.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10
1: Blackbraid – Blackbraid III
Independent
It's been three years since the world has been blessed by the creative genius of Jon S. Krieger aka Sgah'gahsowáh (a Mohawk name meaning "the witch hawk") and his project Blackbraid. Three years, three albums, that have propelled Jon to the top of the American and worldwide metal scene. I've been a massive day one fan and I'm so happy to see his well-deserved success. His third album is everything I wished his first and second album was. Blackbraid I was a nice introduction to his sonic world but was too short, Blackbraid II was much longer, perhaps a bit too long, and saw him experiment a bit with different styles, to varying degrees of success and now, I feel like he almost reached perfection with Blackbraid III. The fact that all this evolution happened in just three years is mind-blowing!
The album begins with a short instrumental, setting the mood with a soft acoustic guitar picking, over the sound of a fire, that ends with distortion kicking in leading to the next song. A fast blastbeat, a sadness filled riff, and his savage scream combine and send chills down my spine. The track follows a familiar structure, cleverly combining lyrics and music, to create a whole experience. While striking the toms rhythmically, he screams with passion: "The imminence of fate on the horizon, The drums of war on the wind". The track ends with a fast solo and a long, epic scream, summoning the eagles to rise and carry us to the silence of death.
"The Dying Breath Of A Sacred Stag" softly enters with a sad, acoustic guitar melody, that transforms with distortion and drums slowly kicking in, getting progressively faster and then, from the sacred forest of the ancestors, comes a powerful scream accompanied by a short tapping riff that cracks up the energy to 11. The song being kind of long, 7 min 45 sec, it is constructed in such a way that there are enough repetitions, making the melody get planted in your head and has a good meditative quality, it's surprisingly relaxing. It ends on a fade out, just as it began, with that sad melody on acoustic guitar. Speaking of sadness, I would say it is the main theme of this album, the melodies, the lyrics, it combines to leave us reflecting on our own mortality.
I think "God Of Black Blood" might be my favorite song, although it can change depending on the day. Every song has its own life and mood, but the simple blackened, stomping rhythm combined with his powerful voice always pumps me up! And in the middle of this brutality, the soft and soothing sound of a traditional flute appears, as if sent from the heavens to heal our hearts. But it only makes a quick appearance, and the cold brutality comes back. Towards the end, he drops an incredible shredding solo, just because he can!
To top it all, the beautiful Adam Burke cover, with border art by Adrian Baxter makes for, hands down, the best album cover of the year! And with Neil Schneider handling the recording, mixing and mastering, everything sounds balanced, polished but organic. Blackbraid's ascension to the top of the black and general metal scene is an inspiring sight, the resilience, after surviving some of the worst crimes humanity has committed, being still here, with a burning desire to live and I feel so lucky to be able to witness it. Speaking of crimes against humanity, I'll end with an obligatory Free Palestine and never lose hope!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 9.9/10
Thanks as always for stopping by. Check out the previous lists for this year here:
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
And, of course, Follow MetalBite on Facebook, Spotify and Instagram so you can be there right when the next Top 10 list drops!
Entered: 10/24/2025 6:40:06 AM
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MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month - October 2025
Welcome back to MetalBite's Top 10 Albums of the Month. The race to get caught up in the middle of AOTY season is real. Will we do it? Will we languish behind to the point where our year-end lists are meaningless? Does anyone care either way? Who knows. Anyways, thanks for being here. Check out some sick albums below.
-Nate
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Blindfolded And Led To The Woods - The Hardest Thing About Being God Is That No One Believes Me
Prosthetic Records
Damn, that album title + band name is a mouthful, perhaps capturing the suffocating, intricate density of the music within. Fans of Pyrrhon, Imperial Triumphant, and Gorguts are going to get some mileage out of this one, although even at their most discordant the thick production job gives this a crushing, volatile weight.
I struggle with adding albums like THTABGitNOBM (how's that for an acronym lol) to this column because you can't get an accurate read on how much you like it quickly. This music requires several listens - often over the course of several months - to fully wrap your head around. It's not built for rapid consumption, and I'm still nowhere close to deducing where this sits relative to other 2025 releases even with these lists running a couple months behind. But I can at least tell you it's worth a time investment, especially if you have a proclivity for the more mathy, challenging side of death metal.
-Nate
Illusive Key - Consume Us
Amor Fati Productions
Amor Fati have long maintained a strong line in aggressive and obscure black metal that holds true to the orthodox tenets of the sub-genre, but without slavishly replicating the sound of the Scandinavian second-wave, instead delivering the spirit of black metal in a variety of diverse and individual ways. Illusive Key are another such band, an international trio releasing an impressively fully-formed debut, Consume Us. Illusive Key primarily trade in blast-furnace black metal, with an unapologetically low-fi production. The combination of coruscating melodies and touches of dissonance, as on standout track 'Ghosts' suggests Darkthrone playing Deathspell Omega, and the furious intensity of the band's delivery ensures total attention throughout. It could be argued that Consume Us is fairly rudimentary in terms of rhythmic complexity and dynamics, but the ingenuity of the lead guitar lines and relentlessly hateful tone of every track renders this unimportant. As ever, when is prepared to mine a little deeper than the current mainstream flavour of the month, there is treasure still to be found deep underground.
-Benjamin
Pillory - Old Soul
Independent
Ripping death/thrash from the frozen hellscape of Sault Ste Marie. Lots of nods to Death, Cannibal Corpse, Pestilence, demo-era Cynic and even a bit of Vektor sprinkled about. No unnecessary avant-garde diversions on here - just sharp, tight riffs executed precisely and effectively. Kind of like tech-death before tech-death existed if that makes sense.
-Nate
Yellow Eyes - Confusion Gate
Gilead Media
This is one of those bands that has been recommended by trusted sources and is right up my alley stylistically, but I have never given them a proper listen until the promo for this showed up in my inbox. They are very much modern black metal, with a touch of discordance and avant-garde lining the Cascadian vibe. Listening to this album feels like walking through a forest of glistening, metallic trees. You are immersed in what is ostensibly nature, but something feels…off, or displaced. Not in a way that is unpleasant - it's still pretty and colorful, but lined with sharp edges that cut you if you try to touch them. There is a certain euphoria, but with anxiety lurking underneath - it's as if the band is trying to audially represent uncomfortable happiness that borders on mania. The production's hazy qualities, with buried vocals and the remaining instruments fighting for dominance, shrouds the album in mystique. It invites you in, not fully revealing itself on a cursory listen - but after peeling back the layers, you might not be satisfied with what you find. "Confusion Gate" is a surprisingly apt album title.
If nothing else, this is very interesting. I don't know where I'd put this on my year-end list - really, I'm not even sure if I like it. But it compels me to listen more and dig deeper, and that alone is indicative of qualities that most bands don't have.
-Nate
Impermanence - Anicca
Satanath Records
Impermanence nails everything on their debut album, technical prowess with mind melting riffs and solos, balancing a decent level of catchiness (like the many riffs and solos on "From Mirage To Lust") and a blackened touch of atmosphere, making it sound extra evil (like on "Spiritual War", when things slow down a bit with haunting soft whispers just before the great solo). The only thing I would improve is that the vocals are a bit one note, but being tech death, it's not the worst since instrumentally there is always something going on. All in all, a really strong debut by a promising new band!
-Raphael
Drofnosura - Ritual Of Split Tongues
Transcending Obscurity
Sludgy, blackened, and atmospheric - this is one of Toronto's hidden gems. The disparate influences converge into a cohesive fabric that contorts in a fluid, yet unpredictable manner. The higher-register dissonant flourishes are as beautiful as they are eerie, and by the end of the album you're still wondering what the hell just happened. Though they thrive in playing with empty space in a way that accents the dynamics, moments of reprieve are rare. The atmo-metal scene in Ontario has been under-appreciated for a while, and it's nice to see that Transcending Obscurity is taking notice of it and living up to their namesake.
-Nate
Bonginator - Retrodeath
Testimony Records
This is a really solid listen despite being directly in opposition to my personal taste. I'm a 90s kid so I have zero 80s nostalgia, and crossover thrash/new wave hardcore-tinged death metal aren't my go-to genres. I can appreciate elements of humor, but if they supersede quality riffs you've lost me.
Against all odds, Bonginator avoids these pitfalls through ripping production (that snare tone is absolutely delicious), using the funny stuff as a garnish to make certain songs more memorable ("Short Ass Bus" being a prime example), and having a surprisingly versatile skill set for a band that is designed to be stupid mosh music enjoyed in a live setting. They might masquerade as idiots, but careful inspection shows a band that very much knows what they're doing and how to market themselves. Nothing is an accident.
Above all, though, this isn't really music that is meant to be dissected - just crank it up and bang your head, and go see them live (they tour constantly and have a pretty insane work ethic). This is covertly intelligent via its overt ignorance.
-Nate
Ultra Raptor - Fossilized
Fighter Records
Anyone here remember Vlad? He was a regular contributor to these lists for a while, and tended to cover a lot of classic 80s styled speed metal in this vein. Consider this my way-too-late tribute to him.
I am more of a "genre tourist" to this stuff myself, but Fossilized is a party and a half. Perhaps I gravitate more towards it because the members behind it seem to originate from a more extreme background, with ties to Csejthe, Hatalom Obvurt and Outre-Tombe. That usually helps bring heavy/speed metal into my regular rotation, as I do think informing it with some more modern sensibilities and production values helps things from feeling stale and dated. The choruses are catchy, the ballads go surprisingly hard, and there's colorful dinosaurs on the front cover. If you hate this, I'm pretty sure you hate fun.
-Nate
Silent Tombs - Mourning Hymns From Beyond
Personal Records
Pain, sorrow and the deepest darkness of the abyss with a touch of beauty and melodies? Sounds like a new Finish band. Well yes it does, but no, hailing from sunny Mexico, these boys can write some fine slow and depressing riffs, dripping with sadness but always with melody in mind. Vocally, Victor Mercado summons deep growls that are powerful and evokes the pain in a perfect way. He sometimes whispers/sings, bringing a vulnerability that adds to the depressing atmosphere. The production is raw and organic, with a cover art by Brvja XIII that captures the sad beauty of the music, it's a perfect album to throw on a cold autumn morning, gazing at the dying nature, getting ready for a long cold winter season.
-Raphael
An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping City
Willowtip Records
Beauty meets atmosphere meets complex brutality. 2022 Woe was one of my favorite albums of that year and while I don't think The Sleeping City quite achieves the greatness of Woe, it is still enjoyable, think of bands like Ne Obliviscaris or Vintersea. They focus more on keyboard melodies and sound, more than real classical instruments, although cellos and violins are still present on some songs, giving the album a more modern prog feeling. Still, plenty of great ideas on here, like the pulsating heaviness of "Like A Geyser Ever Erupting" or the angelic chorus of "No Dreams Beyond Empty Horizons" or the almost djenty riff of "The Sleeping City" and the devastating blackened blastbeats present all around the album. If you like modern prog with big and bright production, this should satisfy your cravings.
-Raphael
Despised Icon - Shadow Work
Nuclear Blast
I've been revisiting Consumed By Your Poison recently, so this new album arrived at an oddly fitting time - and it underscores to me that throughout their career, Despised Icon has always been a true crossover band, and one of the first to do it. Their technicality and sheer speed has always been substantial enough to make this a "safe" listen for the staunch metalheads, but the dual vocalist approach and use of big breakdowns gets all the mosh-heavy hardcore kids to come out to the shows. They've developed in terms of professionalism and had more resources behind them as the years have gone on, but their approach has always been the same - and this is the most inspired they've sounded since Day Of Mourning.
-Nate
Valdur - Guilded Abyss
Bloody Mountain Records
As a newcomer to US three-piece Valdur, it's somewhat daunting to discover that the band have already reached their seventh full-length, given the substantial volume of catching up that this triggers. Guilded Abyss caught the ear due to the hugely unpleasant nature of their blackened death metal. Or perhaps deathened black metal. Song by song, riff by riff, the balance of their sound shifts, a death metal riff supplanted by bulldozing black metal tremolo, the whole thing unified by a domineering vocal approach that wouldn't be out of place on a Revenge album. Although Valdur rather cheekily commence the record with a riff that directly lifts the iconic tritone sequence from 'Black Sabbath', it is instructive to note that this is as accessible as Guilded Abyss gets, the album devolving into dark and supreme evil as soon as the Mysticum-style drum battery joins the fray. Valdur lie somewhere between Pissgrave and Aborym, a cold, industrial edge lending their noise an unhuman and even psychedelic feel that is absolutely not for the weak and feeble. Valdur are the sound of disease and decay, and nothing living is safe as long as they exist.
-Benjamin
Morgue - Terre De Cauchemars
Ascension Records
A whirlwind of evil riffs has been unleashed upon the world from the cold and industrially ravaged lands of Québec city. These boys have been making music for the past 20 years and are as fuelled by rage and a hatred of Christianity on their latest work, Terre De Cauchemars, (land of nightmares), as they were at their beginning. Riffs are king on their fourth album, blending catchiness with devastating heaviness, making them memorable. Expect surprises like a bass solo on "L'âge Des Ténèbres" and a touch of sad melodies in the tremolo pickings of "Les Vautours". As for the musicianship, a lot of them played or are playing in various technical death metal bands, arguably the greatest metal export of "la belle province", and it truly shows. If you like blackened death metal and are searching for something less flamboyant and more honest than Behemoth, Morgue is here for you.
-Raphael
METALBITE'S TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE MONTH
10: Tombs - Feral Darkness
Redefining Darkness Records
I blind bought Savage Gold some years ago at a record store and it was in my regular rotation for a while, and initially this came off as a bit of a disappointment - mostly because I expected them to sound like that album. Once I acclimated myself and gave this some time to sink in, I started to appreciate this for what it is. Tombs has gone through a significant re-tooling - the shift from more "major" labels in the extreme metal world (Relapse, Season of Mist, Metal Blade) to a newer, more indie outfit in Redefining Darkness may signal a desire for the band to scale down and have more control over their artistic direction.
Feral Darkness is a grittier take relative to the rest of Tombs' discography. I'd call it a "back to the roots" album, but I don't think they've ever sounded this raw, nor have they expunged the post-metal leanings to this extent. Their style has always straddled a few subgenres in a way that you can't easily categorize, but generally speaking they take the more atmospheric facets of the style and deliver them in a way that might resonate with fans of hardcore and punk. There's a density and depth to the ideas they present, but the undercurrent of the rhythms gets your head banging. This album is less meandering and more on the nose, but once you get used to that, It is equally as compelling as some of their more well-known works - if not more so.
Is anyone else really into Wolvhammer? This album captures the same spirit, and that band also holds the same distinction of being perennially underrated.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.4/10
9: Dead Heat - Process Of Elimination
Metal Blade Records
This album sounds huge; it's pure crossover thrash that focuses on aggressivity and overflowing with energy. Comparisons to Power Trip are inevitable although Dead Heat are decisively heavier. The vocals are angrier and it's riffs after riffs of headbanging fun. The 36 minutes album ends with 3 highlights and especially the last, "Hatred Bestowed", where they truly go wild, with the most savage vocal performance, a short blastbeat and wild double kick drums. Super satisfying crossover for any fans of thrash!
-Raphael
What starts as a pleasant lullaby soon turns into an inferno. Dead Heat offer a speed-laden and brutal mixture of thrash and crossover not unsimilar to bands like Power Trip or Enforced. Occasionally they reduce speed, only to get out the demolition hammer to cause even more damage. The balance between old-school thrash and some more modern crossover tunes is well-done, making for one of the best albums in this genre I've heard in a couple of years. A track like "Annihilation Nation" with its brutal start and the barking chorus is a must-listen for every thrash metal maniac. Mosh or die!!!!
-Michael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10
8: Morke - To Carry On
True Cult Records
Bright guitars, lyrics about medieval castles and personal growth, warm atmospheres and relaxing melodies. Yes, I'm obviously talking about a black metal album. If you think the description above is a recipe that would not excite the usual kvlt black metal fan, you're right, (except the castle part) but wait, hold on a minute! There are still plenty of aggressive but tasteful blastbeats, fast bursts of double kick drums and a superb vocal performance by Eric Wing, who also plays every instrument. The voice is a piercing high scream that fits perfectly with the soaring melodies and sits a bit lower in the mix with plenty of reverb for max atmosphere. The album flows seamlessly and at a lean 36 minutes, it has incredible replay value, songs like "Coup D'oeil" will be engraved in your mind for weeks, it's that catchy. Lyrically you have songs about medieval fantasy but also, beautiful poems about love and personal growth. The song "To Carry On" particularly resonated with me: "Every battle within Is able to be won To overcome the pain Is freedom of the soul Your life is in your hands Your heart is yours to mend Your love is yours to share Until the very end". To overcome pain is freedom of the soul is such a powerful line, and my severely disabled body relates so much. Until you have known pain, whether it be physical or emotional, you appreciate life much more deeply once the pain is gone.
If you like your black metal a little less rough on the edges, full of melodies and atmosphere, you will love this album!
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.5/10
7: Coroner - Dissonance Theory
Century Media Records
Switzerland technical thrash pioneers offer us their sixed full length after 32 years! On Dissonance Theory, Coroner go full prog and bring their sound in a truly modern territory. They never forget the grooves, every riff has a great bounce to it. Being a massive Gojira fan, I hear many parallels, some of the breakdowns are as devastating and heavy. But Coroner also brings a touch of melody with shredding solos popping in almost every song. They also go very Meshuggah-esque on "Transparent Eye" with rhythmic heavy chugs but then throw in a great solo on top. They can do classic thrash as well, like with the epic climbing riff of "Trinity" or the classic, full speed riff of "Renewal" and that breakdown! Truly grimace inducing stuff. For three 60 years old men, this album sounds fresh, overflowing with energy and creativity and is probably their best album! Impressive stuff.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.6/10
6: Psychonaut - World Maker
Pelagic Records
Psychonaut is a Belgian progressive and post-metal band blending complex rhythms with ethereal atmospheres and the occasional burst of heaviness, counterbalancing their softer side. They are particularly strong with build ups, on the song "And You Came With Searing Light" for example, climbing slowly, increasing in volume and technical bass lines until it plateaus for a few instances and then explodes with harsh vocals and full heavy guitars and bass riffs. Harm Peters's drumming is out of control, slow grooves, complex fills and even tasteful blastbeats on "Origins". "Stargazer" begins as more of an upbeat prog rock piece but quickly gets heavier and continues alternating until a short atmospheric solo. I would compare the feelings you get listening to Psychonaut to bands like TesseracT, blending complexity and emotions with occasional aggressivity. Any prog fans should follow this band.
-Raphael
Raphael already beat me to this one, so I won't go on for too long, but this is one of my favorite albums of this year, period. I am a huge fan of The Ocean, Isis, Dvne, and psychedelics, so anything within those realms is going to get me excited, and Psychonaut checks all those boxes with aplomb. I was into Violate Consensus Reality, but World Maker has got me neck deep in their multi-faceted, progressive post-metal. There's a sludgy vibe that gives a viscous density, but my favorite moments on this album are when the band gets a little softer and leans into the post-rock. The off-kilter rhythms create extra space for this sublime ethereality to venture into. I definitely get the sense at least one of these guys - probably the drummer - is big into Tool and Porcupine Tree. Without laying on the purple prose too thick, this is an album that forces you to sit with dormant aspects of yourself, inspiring a level of thought and reflection that borders on transcendence. It's not often a piece of music can do that.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 8.6/10
5: Heteropsy - Embalming
Caligari Records
Boss HM-2 distortion pedal, slow crushing riffs and super melodic leads. Again with the Swedish death metal you might think, but no! Heteropsy are from Tokyo, Japan! What you get on this album is death metal, heavily flirting with doom, with incredibly melodic leads thrown in, just because they can and a monstrous cavernous vocal performance. And have you seen this cover art? I can't believe how sick it looks and how it represents the sound of this record perfectly, brutal yet beautiful at the same time, it's what I wished the new Hooded Menace sounded like.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.7/10
4: Blaze - Out Through The Door
No Remorse Records
This Japanese band is such a revelation for me, the kind of feel-good album that is perfect in every way. First, this sounds warm and organic, with every instrument shining in the mix, the drums sound big but subtle at the same time, the bass is thick and audible, the guitar is bright and super melodic and Wataru Shiota's vocal performance shines, it's heavy metal done to perfection. The number of great solos packed in this 46 minutes masterpiece is impressive but my absolute favorite song on here would be "Picture On The Wall" a nine minutes epic that begins really heavy, with a Sabbath inspired riff that quickly goes in the most catchy chorus of the entire album (which is something since catchy chorus are everywhere) and then the song goes in a over three minutes long epic solo! This album is like a warm blanket that will become a repeated play in your playlist for months if not years to come.
-Raphael
MetalBite's Rating: 8.8/10
3: Malakhim - And In Our Hearts The Devil Sings
Iron Bonehead Productions
Chant, Lucifer, chant!!! Spread your word all over the planet. Oh wait, this is already happening, otherwise we wouldn't have elected all these assholes that rule a lot of nations at the moment. He sang quite loud just yesterday when the Orange Emperor and Honey Infantino were creeping into each other's asses while the World Championship 26 became a joke that needs to be boycotted.
For such cases we have the second Malakhim album with its fitting title. The music truly is devilish, sinister traditional black metal with a lot of energy in it. Their debut was already a really good old-school piece of Swedish black metal, and this is even more intense. A lot of tremolo picking, not too much dissonance or other unnecessary experiments, just gloomy, vitriolic music. "And In Our Hearts The Devil Sings" is one of the best traditional black metal albums this year. Let your hearts sing!!!
-Michael
MetalBite's Rating: 9/10
2: Agriculture - The Spiritual Sound
The Flenser
Remember Liturgy? They've settled into their niche in recent years, but when I was really taking the plunge into the world of underground extreme metal in the late 00s/early 2010s, they were a very hot topic. Crusty black metal purists loathed them, as they rose to prominence in a time when "hipster black metal" was persona non grata - and they were the most hipster-y of the bunch. The mastermind behind the project, Haela Hunt-Hendrix, had a whole philosophical thesis behind the art they were making, adding an extra layer of pretension for people to sneer at. Even with all the controversy, though, there was no doubt they were making waves, and something…different was going on. You could argue their merit until you were blue in the face, but there was definitely something unique happening, especially with the later work. Did I personally enjoy it? Not really. But I did find myself returning to it on repeated occasions, because it was very clear they were thinking outside the black metal box, and the ideas they toyed with warranted additional exploration even if they didn't fully click.
If Liturgy is the Meshuggah of this genre, Agriculture is the Periphery - the band that grounds the style, makes it more accessible and potentially legitimizes it for a wider fanbase. It's very different, but you can still connect one to the other, and the origins are the same. It's indie rock kids flirting with black metal, approaching a very rigid, gate-kept style with an outsider perspective that casts the ideas in a novel light. But even that is an unfairly narrow description - The Spiritual Sound also incorporates turbulent mathcore, layered, standalone clean vocals and post-rock buildups, creating a real "full album" experience that sounds completely different by the end than it does when you start. What you categorize this as will depend on what song you're listening to, which is something increasingly rare in an era of hyper-specialization and Spotify playlist culture. This album starts out very aggressive, dissonant and chaotic, and evolves into something tender, cathartic and ethereal by its conclusion - and it all feels like the same band. You could call it "avant-garde" but nothing feels weird for the sake of it. Quite the contrary, in fact - there is a sense of necessity and purpose behind this album that draws you in to listen even if it's not your preferred style. This quickly convinces you to buy into its eclectic features and constant twists. It grabs you by the collar, forcing you to completely re-assess what you think black metal should be (and can be).
I'll cut myself off before I get increasingly pretentious - this is something that is better experienced than explained, anyways. Agriculture have made one of the most compelling albums of the year with The Spiritual Sound. This feels like a group of people creating genuine art, rather than a business-minded band creating another rendition of the same safe product on a conveyor belt. I think that's something we need more of in the current state of our oligarchical, AI-infested world.
-Nate
MetalBite's Rating: 9/10
1: Hooded Menace - Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration
Season Of Mist
Shamefully, this listener has slept on Hooded Menace until now, on the basis that they were surely run of the mill doom-death, and therefore it was not necessary to listen to a band treading ground so familiar that one could simply imagine the sound of their albums, with no real need to actually verify the fiction. However, it is now clear that a mistake has been made, and the silver lining of making such a big one, is the corresponding increase in the fervent joy experienced in the discovery that in fact Hooded Menace have made one of the most triumphantly outstanding albums of 2025. The basis of the band's sound is Icon-era Paradise Lost, with a tinge of early Katatonia, and this alone would be enough for a fairly deep well of inspiration. What makes this record really fly though, is the way in which Hooded Menace so effectively integrate traditional heavy metal elements into their sound – the majestic riff part way through 'Pale Masquerade' that segues into an instrumental passage straight out of King Diamond's Fatal Portrait, a section lit up by unusual chord voicings and palm-muted lead guitar runs, or the manner in which 'Daughters Of Lingering Pain' transforms from a snaking Candlemass groove into a Schuldiner-fulled death metal onslaught. Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration could so easily be simply a jumble of influences, but the band's ability to alchemically combine the disparate parts of their sound into something so cohesive and so memorable makes this album much more than the sum of its parts. Even if we could all have done without the Duran Duran cover.
-Benjamin
One of the more underrated bands around. Though they release good to very good albums consistently, they don't get the recognition they should have. Hopefully this will change with their new album. Still focusing mainly on bone-crushing doom metal, they have incorporated some more melody. This makes it easier to hook in some new fans, but also more entertaining in general. It is obvious they have listened a lot to "Gothic" by Paradise Lost especially with the track "Pale Masquerade". But many other influences are present, with the biggest surprise being the cover: "Save A Prayer". Never heard of it? Perhaps you're more familiar with "Wild Boys"…yep, it's Duran Duran. And if you think that such a song doesn't fit into metal, Hooded Menace prove the opposite.
-Michael
MetalBite's Rating: 9.1/10
Thanks as always for stopping by. Check out the previous lists for this year here:
September 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
And, of course, Follow MetalBite on Facebook, Spotify and Instagram so you can be there right when the next Top 10 list drops!
Entered: 12/11/2025 4:04:10 AM
1.96k
MetalBite's Top Albums Of 2024
This is becoming a yearly tradition here at MetalBite - we had the top 22 of '22, top 23 of '23 and...well, you know. If we keep this going until 2099 it's going to be a nightmare.
I read somewhere that more albums are released in one day than the entire year of 1989. Music is easier to make and release than ever, and it's easy to get lost in the deluge of year-end lists. But as reviewers, we're compelled to join the craze nonetheless!
I do make a point of only posting these in January, because even though we get access to promos ahead of time, there are always last minute releases that fall through the cracks. When people post their lists in mid-December it confuses me a bit.
Anyhow, on to what you're here for. If you want a more detailed breakdown month-to-month, be sure to check out our Top 10 AOTM column! Hope you had a safe and happy new year, and may you discover some of your all-time favorite albums in 2025.
RAPHAEL'S TOP 24 OF 2024
24. Apogean - Cyberstrictive
Toronto tech death that is progressive and brutal but with some earworm melodies thrown in the brutality.
23. Lord Dying - Clandestine Transcendence
It's a refreshing take on sludge in a real progressive form, with a lot of variety and is without a doubt their best album to date!
22. Undeath - More Insane
It's at times fast, at times brutal but also groovy and melodic but always technically proficient, high quality pure death metal.
21. Vitriol - Suffer & Become
A dizzying vortex of brutality and technicality with that thick and menacing atmosphere. Pure designed chaos.
20. The Black Dahlia Murder - Servitude
This record is very special, it's a testament of resiliency, the ultimate proof that humans can adapt and transform tragedy into something beautiful.
19. Necrophobic - In The Twilight Grey
Sinister and catchy melodies, pure and raw aggression, fast and precise drums, this perfectly homogeneous blend of black and death is more formidable than ever.
18. Gatecreeper - Dark Superstition
The best Swedish death metal album from Phoenix, Arizona. Clearly inspired by In Flames from the 90s, it gives an album where each song is a hit!
17. Dool - The Shape Of Fluidity
An album with multiple influences and sounds but that remains completely fluid (sorry), emotionally authentic and coherent. The album navigates between more accessible rock, heavier and more complex riffs with a dark atmosphere.
16. Ihsahn - Ihsahn
Ihsahn is a grandiose work of art! Cinematic, progressive, complex yet musical and emotional, and proudly avant-garde. The metal is in perfect symbiosis with the orchestration and if you're tired of sick riffs, you can listen to the orchestra alone on the second disk.
15. Immortal Bird - Sin Querencia
Immortal Bird are fully embracing their progressive side, with complex songwriting and musicianship with a wide array of styles and influence. For fans of dissonant style death and black with a big hardcore influence.
14. Dvne - Voidkind
Heavy, grandiose, aggressive yet melodic, with a sublime production. Everything sounds modern yet completely organic. Voidkind is an hour of music that goes by so quickly, with their progressive sludge mixed with post -metal, full of atmosphere and that gets better with each listen.
13. Chapel Of Disease - Echoes Of Light
Progressive rock with death growls? Yes please! But it's more than just prog rock, there's heavy metal, hard rock with a touch of death metal. This makes it super dynamic. Awesome discovery!
12. Borknagar - Fall
Epic is a word a bit weak to describe this album. I can say that ICS Vortex has never sounded so good! Musically, we are treated to a masterful performance, sometimes folkloric, sometimes black metal but always Viking!
11. Traveler - Prequel To Madness
Prequel to Madness is an awe-inspiring work of art, with lyrics that tell fascinating stories, masterful songwriting and a fantastic cover art. It has been on my playlist non-stop since February! For fans of REAL heavy metal.
10.5. Esodic - De Facto De Jure
The fact that this is only a 12 minutes, 4-song ep, is a crime against humanity! In the sense that it leaves me wanting SO much more and will be torture to wait for more material.
10. Alcest - Les Chants De L'Aurore
This album is all about warm atmospheres and melodies, that heals the soul, with a touch of extremity, provided by Neige's powerful, howling screams and the occasional blackened blast beats.
9. Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe
The melodies on Die Urkatastrophe will take you on a journey, through a wide range of emotions, all surrounding heartbreaking stories of war and its devastating effects. It's "accessible", blending black and death but in their more melodic forms.
8. De Mal En Pire - Sã Mo
Entirely written in French poetry, it not only sounds good when sung but the texts in themselves are beautiful. It has been such a joy to dive in the world of De Mal En Pire. A dark and gloomy world but still filled with beauty. If you like proggy post-metal and post-hardcore, you would be foolish not to give this band a listen.
7. Ulcerate - Cutting the Throat of God
Continuing where Stare Into Death And Be Still left off their signature dissonance and technicality, enveloped in mesmerizing atmospheres are still very much present, but this time, with a dash of melody, peeking out of this hypnotizing miasma of sounds.
6. Job For A Cowboy - Moon Healer
What an incredible comeback! 10 years after the excellent Sun Eater, Job for a Cowboy are back with a masterpiece of progressive death metal! Complex but musical and catchy rhythms and melodies, a bass always present in the mix, a modern production that makes the album sound immense, Moon Healer is a mature album that is peak artistic expression.
5. Oceans Of Slumber - Where Gods Fear To Speak
Striking, cinematic, grandiose, powerful, sorrowful, moving, vulnerable, emotional. There aren't enough words to describe Cammie Gilbert's voice. It's a voice you can feel, deep in your soul. This album is a remarkable work, every single song is unique, all with their own twists and turns, making the 57 min runtime a journey full of surprises and beauty.
4. Lowen - Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran
I can't find the words to describe the effect Nina Saeidi's voice has on me, it brings an authenticity, a soul, a character, it's so refreshing! She pays a touching tribute to her Persian ancestors, using traditional Iranian singing techniques, called tahrir. Her powerful voice is accompanied by heavy, melodic and complex riffs that sound very modern, perfectly contrasted by the divine light that is her voice. A wonderful discovery, for fans of all things “oriental” and progressive metal.
3. ANCIIENTS - Beyond the Reach of the Sun
It's rare an album leaves you speechless after your first listen. It feels like entering a special place, beyond this plane of existence, looking at vast cosmic entities. Sonically, it's like Mastodon and Opeth had a child, who is completely high. Each song stands out, while still being an inseparable part of the whole, making you want to restart the journey again and again.
2. Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere
What to say about this new Pink Incantation record, or is it, Blood Floyd? The album is essentially two songs, each divided in three segments for a total runtime of 44 minutes and let me tell you, few things can make time pass this quickly! This is a trippy voyage, inside the darkest corners of space and the human mind, questioning the very bases of what life is. Musically, the darkness is embodied by crushing death metal with touches of dissonance, that shifts quite dramatically and abruptly to straight Pink Floyd-esque psychedelic prog rock or even spacy ambient. Blood Incantation managed to combine all of their eclectic influences into a single masterful album that still, at least for me, feels coherent.
AOTY: Opeth - The Last Will and Testament
This is not Opeth going back to an older sound, I don't think Mikael is physically capable to move backwards. Musically the band never sounded so good, they continue to expand their prog rock sound but do it with that metal sensibility and heaviness that was missing. Mikael's growls are the best in all of metal and he continues to explore his clean vocals that sound better than ever! experience Incredible from start to finish.
BENJAMIN'S TOP 24 OF 2024
24: Winterfylleth - The Imperious Horizon
23: Primordial - How it Ends
22: Nails - Every Bridge Burning
21: Vitriol - Suffer & Become
20: Antichrist Siege Machine - Vengeance of Eternal Fire
19: Mayhemic - Toba
18: Julie Christmas - Ridiculous and Full of Blood
17: Concrete Winds - Concrete Winds
16: Pyrrhon - Exhaust
15: Gjendod - Livskramper
14: Cistvaen - At Light's Demise
13: Slift - Ilion
12: Spectral Wound - Songs of Blood and Mire
11: Full of Hell - Coagulated Bliss
10: Inter Arma - New Heavem
9: Black Curse - Burning in Celestial Poison
8: Hemotoxin - When Time Becomes Loss
7: Nile - The Underworld Awaits Us All
6: Ripped to Shreds - Sanshi
5: Demon Bitch - Master of the Games
4: Hamferd - Men Guds Hond Er Sterk
3: Thou - Umbilical
2: Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere
AOTY: Vemod - The Deepening
ADAM'S TOP 24 OF 2024
24: Vltimas - EPIC
23: Evergrey - Theories of Emptiness
22: The Vision Bleak - Weird Tales
21: Gaerea - Coma
20: Iotunn - Kinship
19: Myrath - Karma
18: Turbulence - Binary Dream
17: Necrophobic - In the Twilight Grey
16: Attic - Return of the Witch
15: Job for a Cowboy - Moon Healer
14: Vicinity- VIII
13: Darkest Hour - Perpetual Terminal
12: Judas Priest - Invinsible Shield
11: Ihsahn - Ihsahn
10: Eternal Storm - A Giant Bound to Fall
9: Aborted - Vault of Horrors
8: Hideous Divinity - Unextinct
7: Deception - Daenacteh
6: Blood Red Throne - Nonagon
5: Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project
4. Bornakagar-Fall
3: Caligula's House - Charcoal Grace
2: Big Big Train - The Likes of Us
AOTY: Madder Mortem - Old Eyes, New Heart
MICHAEL'S TOP 24 ALBUMS OF 2024
24: Svarttjern - Draw Blood
23: Lucifer - V
22: Necrophobic - In The Twilight Grey
21: Witchtrap - Hungry As The Beast
20: Kvaen - The Formless Fire
19: Drowned - Procul His
18: The Vision Bleak - Weird Tales
17: Ungfell -De Ghörnt
16: Vorga - Beyond The Palest Star
15: Necrot - Lifeless Birth
14: Spectral Wound - Songs Of Blood And Mire
13: Chaos Invocation - Wherever We May Roam
12: Temple Of Dread - God Of The Godless
11: Mayhemic - Toba
10: Vircolac - Veneration
9: In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
8: Yoth Iria - Blazing Inferno
7: Flotsam And Jetsam - I Am The Weapon
6: Saxon - Hell, Fire And Damnation
5: Judas Priest - Invincible Shield
4: Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project
3: Kerry King - From Hell I Rise
2: Hellbutcher - Hellbutcher
AOTY: Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere
VLADIMIR'S TOP 24 ALBUMS OF 2024
24: Amethyst - Throw Down the Gauntlet
23: Apocalypse - Pandaemonium
22: Voha - Majestic Nightsky Symphonies
21: Coldborn - The Unwritten Pages of Death
20: Nadsvest - Slovo meseca i krvi
19: Vanhelgd - Atropos Doctrina
18: Early Moods - A Sinner's Past
17: Iron Curtain - Savage Dawn
16: Hexenbrett - Dritte Beschwörung: Dem Teufel eine Tochter
15: Prognan - Sjene nad Balkanom
14: Morgul Blade - Heavy Metal Wraiths
13: Lord Goblin - Lord Goblin
12: Yoth Iria - Blazing Inferno
11: Oathbringer - Tales of Glory
10: Old Wainds - Stormheart
9: Borknagar - Fall
8: Necrowretch - Swords of Dajjal
7: Lucifer - Lucifer V
6: Vulture - Sentinels
5: Devastator - Conjurers of Cruelty
4: Hellbutcher - Hellbutcher
3: In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
2: Necrophobic - In Twilight Grey
1: Sear Bliss - Heavenly Down
NATE'S TOP 24 OF 2024
24: Uttertomb - Nebulas of Self-Desecration
Putrid old-school death metal vibes but feels fresh and novel. Dead Congregation fans will dig this one
23: Gatecreeper - Dark Superstition
I liked the shift to old In Flames / Edge of Sanity type melodeath, works really well with the "stadium death metal" thing they're going for
22: Exocrine - Legend
First time really diggin into this band, sounds like a mishmash of Archspire, Soreption and Beyond Creation
21: Misanthropy - The Ever-crushing Weight of Stagnance
There's like 87 riffs per song and they all bamboozle you
20: Ulcerate - Cutting the Throat of God<
Not their best album (that's a high bar to clear, tbf), but I don't hate that they're going down a more melodic path
19: Gaerea - Coma
Cathartic and powerful post-black, they just keep getting better
18: Devenial Verdict - Blessing of Despair
Nightmarish yet catchy dissodeath
17: Theurgy - Emanations of Unconscious Luminescence
All-star lineup and riffs for days. beat Malignancy at their own game (their new album just missed the cut)
16: Pillar of Light - Caldera
Like The Ocean's last gasp before they succumb to the elements. poignant and resonant
15: Bedsore - Dreaming the Strife for Love
Death metal meets 70s prog and the results are delicious. Blood Incantation who?
14: Engulfed - Unearthly Litanies of Despair
Mustafa is a RIFF KING, this is not up for debate
13: The Flight Of Sleipnir - Nature's Cadence
The "we have Agalloch at home" band does not miss. your soundtrack for dancing naked in the woods
12: Defeated Sanity - Chronicles of Lunacy
Lille Gruber is, and continues to be, the best drummer in extreme metal right now
11: Gigan - Anomalous Absractigate Infinitessimus
Like Hate Eternal in space. Seriously underrated band
10: Hemotoxin - When Time Becomes Loss
If an album with thrash elements is this high on my list, you know it's good
9: Vile Rites - Senescence
First full-length and they've already found their voice and know how to keep you coming back. proggy but still riffs hard
8: Hulder - Verses in Oath
Impeccable second wave vibes and earworm riffs
7: Job For A Cowboy - Moon Healer
The album that Sun Eater should have been, although at the same time this made me appreciate it more. Their best album yet, sounds like they're finally making the music they always wanted to
6: Vitriol - Suffer & Become
Batshit crazy. In a time where it feels like extreme music has gone as far as it can go, it's inspiring to find bands that can still push the envelope
5: Givre - Le Cloitre
Catholic DSBM? It would be silly if it didn't work so well.
4: Skagos - Chariot Sun Blazing
Cascadian black metal band spontaneously emerges after 12 years and drops an AOTY contender with no promo whatsoever. Unreal
3: Wounds - Ruin
Gets stuck in my head when I think about it. shit. now i gotta listen to this again
2: Obsidian Tongue - The Stone Heart
Makes you feel the presence of something greater than yourself
1: Adversarial - Solitude With the Eternal
Their riff style has always given them unlimited potential, and now they're finally hitting it. A career-defining album for an inimitable band.
Entered: 1/10/2025 4:02:15 PM
6.40k
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|
Immolation
(10)
|
Grond
(8)
|
Lamb Of God
(7)
|
Norrsköld
(8.9)
|
Sicarius
(9)
|
Ashes
(8)
|
Nazghor
(9)
|
|
Hell Trepanner
(8.5)
|
|
Towering
(8.5)
|