2025 has been a good year for Metal. There were plenty of excellent releases across genres, which makes it as usual almost impossible to select a top 10 list. I mainly focussed on bands which are not mainstream, but I do want to mention at least the releases from EPICA, TESTAMENT, BEHEMOTH, HELLOWHEEN, or PARADISE LOST, who constantly drive their Metal genres forward and who are inspirations for many Metal bands throughout the world. I reviewed most of the albums in my top 10 list for Metal Temple. Enjoy my selection of the best Metal albums in 2025.

Number Ten:

Band Name: Frantic Amber

Album Name: Death Becomes Her

General Information:

Genre: melodic Death Metal, Death Metal
Year of Formation: 2008

Record Label: Roar / Rock Of Angels

“Death Becomes Her” is probably the most complex album in FRANTIC AMBER’s history. The album continues the journey of darkness that they started with the previous album. Devastating guitar riffs and blast-beats go hand in hand with doom-laden, epic, and melancholic melodies. The addition of symphonic Death Metal elements enhances the album sound and make the album to an intense sonic experience. “Death Becomes Her” is melodic Death Metal at its best!

Number Nine:

Band Name: Elettra Storm

Album Name: Evertale

General Information:

Genre: Power Metal
Year of Formation: 2023

Record Label: Scarlet Records

The sophomore album of ELETTRA STORM has been one of the Power Metal highlights of 2025. There have been many Power Metal releases this year, with many of them coming from Italy. However, “Evertale” stood out for me, as it has all the ingredients of excellent Power Metal: the pace, the guitar riffing, the melodies, the solos, and it offers a large versatility in the sound. The vocals are the outstanding element of the album, where Crystal Emiliani utilizes her huge vocal range and gives the tracks a different dimension.

Number Eight:

Band Name: Serenity In Murder

Album Name: Timeless Reverie

General Information:

Genre: symphonic Death Metal, melodic Metal
Year of Formation: 2009

Record Label: Apostacy Records

What is a top 10 list of Metal albums without a symphonic Metal release? The fifth album of Japanese symphonic Death Metal outfit SERENITY IN MURDER ticks all the boxes to make that list. “Timeless Reverie” is a multi-faceted album, blending symphonic Death Metal and melodic Metal album, with the guitars, the vocals, and the orchestral arrangements driving a unique sound. The album is crushing, melodic, and bombastic at the same time, and offers a brought variety of different songs. A real gem of an album.

Number Seven:

Band Name: Ravager

Album Name: From Us With Hate

General Information:

Genre: Thrash Metal
Year of Formation: 2014

Record Label: Iron Shield Records

Thrash Metal albums must be part of my top 10 list and there were some strong contributions coming from – where else – Germany. My pick is not DESTRUCTION, it is not SODOM, it is RAVAGER! Their album “From Us With Hate” has all ingredients of a great old school Thrash album: pace, aggression, flesh-ripping guitar riffs, and great solos. The album is pure Thrash Metal mayhem at its best. The guitars take the centre of the stage with tight riffs and comprehensive lead guitar solos, but also the basslines are crushing and the drumming is relentless, while the vocals keep the sound perfectly together. RAVAGER prove that traditional Thrash Metal is well and alive and “From Us With Hate” has been my Thrash Metal highlight of the year!

Number SIx:

Band Name: Whitechapel

Album Name: Hymns In Dissonance

General Information:

Genre: Deathcore
Year of Formation: 2006

Record Label: Metal Blade Records

WHITECHAPEL are around for 20 years already and with their nineth album, they prove that they still have it in them to deliver Deathcore at superb quality. “Hymns In Dissonance” contains all the best elements of modern Deathcore: devastating riffs, hammering blast-beats, bone-chilling atmospheres, and huge breakdowns. It is a very compact album, well thought through in terms of songwriting, and it sounds fresh and dynamic. For me, WHITECHAPEL released their best album during the last decade, and it is a band on top of their game. The album is a must-have for Deathcore fans.

Number Five:

Band Name: Phobetor

Album Name: A Solitary Vigil

General Information:

Genre: melodic Death Metal, Death Metal
Year of Formation: 2018

Record Label: Independent

When I wrote my review on PHOBETOR’s release, I already guessed that journalists would come back to it in “Best of” reviews, and here we are! “A Solitary Vigil” dives deep into the waters of traditional Death Metal with blackened Death Metal twists built upon a grim and sometimes melancholic melodic framework. All tracks are intense and aggressive. The vocals are the standout contribution of the album. Vocalist Debora Conserva adds an extra layer to each track with her versatility and her vocal range. “A Solitary Vigil” is a grim Death Metal assault and one of those releases to be remembered.  

Number Four:

Band Name: Black Spikes

Album Name: NIL

General Information:

Genre: modern Metal, melodic Metal
Year of Formation: 2018

Record Label: Independent

BLACK SPIKES were a little bit of a surprise package. The modern Metal outfit from Lithuania revamped their sound in recent years and the result was a banger of an album, which is mainly a collection of their latest single releases. “NIL” represents experimentations with different Metal subgenres ranging from modern Metal via melodic Metal to more extreme Metal styles. Their powerful sound is embedded into a theatrical stage presence. The result are nine songs, which remind on INFECTED RAIN and IN THIS MOMENT at times. BLACK SPIKES are the one to watch out for the future and European Metal fans have the opportunity to do so next year.

Number Three:

Band Name: Katakomba

Album Name: The Second Death

General Information:

Genre: Death Metal
Year of Formation: 2016

Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records

Since the late 80s/early 90s, the term Swedish Death Metal describes a well-defined Death Metal sound, most prominently represented by the characteristic chainsaw guitar sound. It has been made popular by iconic bands like ENTOMBED and DISMEMBER, KATAKOMBA belongs to the next generation of those bands. Their second album “The Second Death” offers pure excellence of the traditional Swedish Death Metal sound and they combine this with modern elements. The album has pace, rawness, aggression, devastating chainsaw guitars, and a blood-freezing, doom-laden melodic framework. “The Second Death” attracts not only lovers of the Swedish sound, but it is also a must-have for every Death Metal fan.

Number Two:

Band Name: 5Rand

Album Name: Ordhalia

General Information:

Genre: melodic Death Metal
Year of Formation: 2015

Record Label: Art Gates Records

Italian melodic Death Metal outfit 5RAND dug deep into the songwriting process of their third album. The result was “Ordhalia” and it offered a multi-dimensional sound and a mixture of different genres and styles. While the basis of the album is melodic Death Metal, there are also Groove Metal and melodic Metal elements, as well as some Gothic twists. The album songs are very versatile but follow a clear structure and a dark melodic sound. The outstanding performer of the album is vocalist Julia Elenoir as she blends various vocal styles perfectly together and delivers some emotional performances. “Ordhalia” is my melodic Death Metal highlight this year, since it goes beyond genre boundaries.

Number One:

Band Name: Castrator

Album Name: Coronation Of The Grotesque

General Information:

Genre: Death Metal
Year of Formation: 2013

Record Label: Dark Descent Records

While my top 10 list puts a lot of weight on melodic Death Metal, my number one pick is clearly different. So, let’s get brutal with “Coronation Of The Grotesque”, the second album of US all-female outfit CASTRATOR. As the name suggests, the sound of CASTRATOR is more on the brutal side of Death Metal. The album offers 10 bludgeoning and intense tracks with aggressive guitar riffs, cool solos, pummeling drums, and vocals straight from the abyss. There is a great versatility among the tracks ranging from dissonant leads towards fast Thrash Metal inspired riffing and crushing breakdowns. The gutturals often come polyphonic and send shivers down the spine. “Coronation Of The Grotesque” is a kick-into-the-face from the first to the final note. If you listen to the album, it will never let you go!