This list from Ben is pretty impressive in size and girth
I found quite a few things that were new to me that I loved (Internal Rot are NASTY)
Thanks Ben. Happy post-Christmas everyone
JERM'S AOTY, SOME OTHER COOL ALBUMS, AND SOME NEWS
So it's been a minute. Don't think I've posted since last year at this time. Been busy with work and grandkids. Yes I'm old. Shut up. I don't really seek out as many new bands as I used to. No more deep diving into the depths of the Bandcamp cesspool. Don't get me wrong, I love that site but my God is there a ton of garbage on there. I also haven't kept up with new releases as much this year. Again, too busy. Eh that's life. Anyway here's my album of the year. Also listing some other favorites but no ranking. News wise, I have a post coming in the next week or so about something else I'll be contributing to that i think most of the readers here will be interested in. Anyway, here goes...
Deadguy- Near-Death Travel Services
This album has no business being this good. It shouldn't be possible for a band to drop an all-time classic album, fuck off for almost 30 years, and then show back up and drop another album that rivals the 1st album. These guys are all in their mid-fifties, yes older than me, and sound more alive, more authentic, more urgent, and more real than most bands half their age. Near-Death Travel Services rips from beginning to end.
The others..
Adam's Best Of 2025
Hey everyone, how's it going? First of all, I know I missed a ton of releases this year and it's nearly impossible to keep up with everything, so if there's somethat you can't believe I didn't mention, It might just be because I missed it. Feel free to drop your favorites in the comments or in the chat.
I try to never put these lists in any kind of order but there are two releases this year that are clearly in the top-two for me, problem is that I can't pick a #1. But those two releases are Deafheaven's "Lonely People With Power" and Secret Cutter's "///". On one hand, the Deafheaven show I saw in Seattle was really fucking fun and sounded incredible, and this album is a sonic work of art. But to be fair, I've never seen Secret Cutter so what do I know. I will tell you that I love that they just dropped their new album with no warning or fanfare whatsoever, and the fact that it is better than 2018's "Quantum Eraser" is insane.
So, I'm just going to put these two up top in no particular order. After that, everything will be in aphabetical order so nobody's feelings get hurt. Take care everyone.
A feral grindcore assault steeped in blackened chaos:
"Non omnis moriar..." Compilation
From the Hypaethral Records Bandcamp: Welcome to our 2025 compilation, where we once again highlight some of our favourite bands from the southern Ontario scene -- spanning cities, genres, and eras. Fulfilling one of our core aims as a label: to document and champion the best that our scene creates.
Price of Redemption - Demo 2025
Instagram - Bandcamp - Spotify
Price of Redemption is a hardcore/metalcore band from Springfield, Massachusetts, and they’ve just put out a debut Demo. This release is raw and direct, showing off heavy riffs, sharp breakdowns, and tons of no‑frills energy. You can really hear both the hardcore urgency and the darker metalcore edge in the way the songs are put together.
FFO: Shadows Fall, Unearth, Hatebreed, Earth Crisis
Armus - Mirror Image
Instagram - Bandcamp - Spotify
Armus from Portland, Maine just put out Mirror Image and it’s heavy as hell. They’ve always had that slow and kind of hypnotic creepy doom vibe, and this record keeps it going by mixing in elements of sludge and death metal. This new one clocks in at just under half an hour, but every track feels massive.
FFO: Electric Wizard, Conan, Primitive Man, Coffins
GRAY STATE - S/T
Facebook - Instagram - Discogs - Bandcamp - Spotify
Formed in 2015 in Finland, Gray State blends blackened hardcore, metalcore, and punk influences into a furious wall of riffs and breakdowns. With themes rooted in veganism, animal rights, and death, their music carries a social conscience and relentless aggression.
FFO: Brutality Will Prevail, Jesus Piece, Malevolence, Arkangel
FALSETRIP - S/T
Instagram - Facebook - Bandcamp - Spotify
Formed in 2016, FALSETRIP from Ebern, Germany quickly built a reputation for blending hardcore punk, thrash, and black metal influences into a sound that is both abrasive and cathartic. Their self‑titled album, released in June 2025, features tracks like Push It On, Soulripper, and Nazi scum, each brimming with relentless riffs and politically charged aggression.
FFO: Integrity, Power Trip, Ringworm, Municipal Waste
FOSCO - TRES ESTACAS
Instagram - Facebook - Discogs - Bandcamp - Spotify
Emerging from Spain’s underground hardcore scene, FOSCØ blends screamo, post-hardcore, with hardcore punk, and plunges listeners into a heavy, atmospheric sonic journey. TRES ESTACAS showcases their ability to balance chaotic aggression with moments of atmosphere.
FFO: Jeromes Dream, Funeral Diner, Celeste, Lentic Waters
foxglove - labyrinthine
Instagram - Bandcamp - Spotify
Seattle’s Foxglove have quickly become one of the city’s most compelling heavy acts, and their newest EP Labyrinthine shows why. Blending screamo, post-hardcore, emo, ambient, screamo and punk, the band crafts a sound that is both chaotic and atmospheric. This release captures raw emotion with crushing riffs and haunting melodies.
FFO: Converge, Orchid, City of Caterpillar, Hewn
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