At this point, I feel like a broken record…because yet again, choosing my top ten this year was very difficult. The year was filled with a ton of great releases and on top of that I got to witness so many amazing gigs, actually more than in any other previous year, and have so many great shows lined up for next year that I’m convinced that next year might start with a very similar sentence. Anyways! Let’s dive in!
#10 Sleep Token – Even In Arcadia
This might come as a shocker to some, but while Even In Arcadia is a great record, and I was very much involved in the hype before the release, it didn’t blow me away as much as its predecessor. Nevertheless, Sleep Token delivered a solid album.
#9 SUN – Krystal Metal
Our southern neighbors have two entries in toda’s list, with the first one being the first full length by SUN. A record that feels like a trip down memory lane while still sounding super fresh. A lot of anthemic songs can be found on here, with Warrior RiotGirl probably being my personal standout. Not to forget, SUN’s an absolute beast on stage!
#8 Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea
While Tsunami Sea doesn’t feel quite as focussed on writing anthems, it is a very strong second full length entry into a, hopefully ever-growing, catalog. I reckon there is no need to tell you to listen to Spiritbox, at this point…but do it.
#7 Novelists – Coda
Late last year I went to see a Northlane gig and while I enjoyed the main band, the support act, Novelists, took me by surprise and I had been anxiously awaiting the release of their new album. While I knew about the band before, I wasn’t really into them because back then they sounded to me like any other metalcore band of that era, which I already had enough of on my roster. However, the change of the vocalist elevated them to a whole new level for me and Coda is a brilliant album.
#6 Hayley Williams – Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
Being a moderately big fan of Paramore, I was delighted to find out that Hayley Williams was working on her third solo record; and it certainly did not disappoint. While it feels familiar enough, it also goes down routes that I would have never expected from her and I truly hope that I will find some tickets to her European tour next year…somehow.
#5 Turnstile – Never Enough
If I had to cite one concert experience that blew my mind, it would probably be Turnstile playing a one thousand (-1000-!) people cap room in Luxembourg. The air was palpable and everyone was excited to be there in order to celebrate the band and their amazing new record Never Enough. Further expanding their sound into the, dare I say, softer spectrum did upset a few people, but the evolution simply makes sense to me and it was a perfect summer album.
#4 Lights – A6
Truly a constant across all the years I’ve been writing these top ten (and by extension reviews), Lights released a new album this year, simply titled A6…and when the first song, Damage, came out I already knew that it would end up quite high on this list. The album encapsulates everything perfectly that I like about her music and shows no sign of her slowing down. A truly fantastic pop record!
#3 Hail The Sun – cut. turn. fade. back.
Ever since discovering Hail The Sun’s first full length many moons ago, I’ve been observing their musical journey with great interest and I don’t think there has been a record of theirs that reached the same heights for me…until this one. cut. turn. face. back. feels both familiar and new, with the quintet taking a few new approaches. Add to that the fact that, after seeing them once this year, I will get to see them live twice next year and you can imagine my enthusiasm.
#2 Eidola – Mend
Dance Gavin Dance – Pantheon
Honestly, this year was impossible to decide without cheating quite a bit, but I have no regrets. Second place goes to Eidola’s second part of their double album Eviscerate/Mend and managed to pull me in with its experimental approach, definitely a grower! And since DGD and Eidola now share the same main vocalist, I figured that their new record, Pantheon, goes hand in hand with this one. While the two don’t resemble each other that much in genre, they deserve to be enjoyed together.
EP-Special
Hail Your Highness – Wonderdust
Marcy – Backwoods
Many Eyes – Combust
Synestia – Premonitions
Quick intermission for the EP special!
Hail Your Highness are a fairly small band from the US, but their dreamy new EP has been on repeat quite a few times since its release. Worth a listen!
Marcy was a name I wasn’t familiar with until I saw her play at Fête de la Musique in Dudelange, and I’ve been looking forward to her debut ever since. For fans of alternative pop!
Many Eyes were part of my top ten last year and they deserve their spot this year just as much. While it doesn’t quite hit the highs of the debut album, this EP satisfies my hunger for Keith Buckley songs.
Synestia’s newest EP is basically nineteen of being punched in the face with almost no end, and it feels great. This deathcore project is one to keep an eye on if you’re into the genre.
#1 The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven
Greyhaven – Keep It Quiet
The first spot is another cheating spot, but I have zero regrets because while they are fairly different, both The Callous Daoboys and Greyhaven released absolute bangers of albums for the fans of chaotic metalcore. I think if I had to make a decision, gun to my head, I would give the edge to Greyhaven’s Keep It Quiet, but only by the smallest of margins. Both albums should be listened to by everyone that is even remotely into metalcore!
I mentioned at the beginning that 2025 was the year where I visited the most shows, but if the list of planned gigs for next year is an indicator…I might top that in 2026. Thirty-seven gigs are already planned and I’m fairly sure there will be plenty more to come! Albumwise…I actually have nothing that I’m super excited about for now, except the new Poppy record, but I’m 100% sure that it won’t be a boring year. Read you then!