So it’s fair to say that 2025 was not a great year for me… Fortunately there was a lot of good released this year, which helped me through it! Much as I enjoy my difficult inaccessible music, I made a conscious effort to try and open myself up to more popular music; started getting into the Doechii back catalogue, trying out Yungblud, and enjoying the new albums from Lorde, Jade, Kesha, and Sabrina Carpenter (oh my goodness that album was not what I expected!). That said, my most listened to albums this year all weighed on the heavier end of the spectrum.
As for my top albums of the year (from most to least accessible 😉 );
New album by classic Zambian rock band WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havok) was not on my bingo card for the year. It’s a banger though, absolutely love it!
A Plague Upon Thee by Apocalypse orchestra
This was an unexpected surprise. No previous knowledge of the band before I cam across them last year, but makes me think that more bands should be using a hurdy-gurdy…!
Now, this was the release I was looking forward to most at the start of the year. Dropping at the start of September, it’s still one of my most listened to records of the year. Second album from LA fairy doom trio, they’ve had a really good year, and I couldn’t be happier for them. There’s an evolution in the sound since the first album (which was one of my favourites of 2022); heavy, ethereal, crushing.
No-one does black metal quite like the Finns (and these Finns specifically). With an eye towards history and drama, a melodic, epic, energetic and moody antidote to modern life that makes me want to run off and live in a forest (or at least dance around in corpsepaint frightening the locals).
Broken sword, Rotten Shield by Full of Hell
Oof… This (short) album is (I quote) “a meditation on love, loss, and the crushing inevitability of grief”. This one his me hard this year. I’ve often said that I feel that, when I’m really down, I need music that aligns with my mood rather than the opposite, and I’d like to think this helped a little this year. That said, there’s a real melding of elements including dungeon synth, black metal, punk and grunge to the grindcore, er, core…
(Honestly, take a look at the video - I’m aware that grindcore can be a bit of an acquired taste, but it’s worth watching the music video even if you turn the volume down)
Also, new albums from Skunk Anansie and Garbage, two old favourites from when I was growing up that I’m very happy to see still putting out new music.
Also, Igorrr (a nice return to form after their previous album that I didn’t gel with), Drumcorps, Sunrot, The Streets, Kate Nash (of course!), Aesop Rock, De La Soul (?!)… I might try posting some random music from the past year over the next few weeks or so.
Also worth mentioning The Spin, by Messa… Certainly one of the best albums of the year (even it it didn’t quite make my favourite list).
As for favourite video of the year…
(the Full of Hell video comes a very close second…)
romaincrisis
baratheonpilled
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dededos
