TOP ALBUMS OV 2025 W/ 365 DAYS OF HORROR & JOE THRASHNKILL
On one of the posts, one of the “writers” (who – unlike me – is too pussy to write under his real name) gets permission from his parents to invite some of his weird TovH friends (a collective of failed musicians and Mega-Man gifs) over to weep in sorrow for over an hour while they play the LISTMANIA 2K25 DAY VI greatest hits. Although I’ve been dying for someone to respond to the merciless abuse I’ve been dishing out, and admire these children for having the guts to sort of do so despite hiding behind pseudonyms guaranteed to preserve their virginity (365 Days of Horror and Joe Thrashnkill!), the “attack” on list season is really just a demonstration of their poor education as they struggle to read (let alone comprehend) the intellectual supremacy of our articles.
365 Days of Horror
10. Menace Ruine – The Color Of The Grave Is Green
Union Finale
French Canadian band Menace Ruine have always gone against the grain with their brand of avante-garde folk drone. I suppose there really is no grain when you make an album like The Color Of The Grave Is Green. It’s a deep, dark and complex album dripping with dread and uncertainty. Oppressive droning guitars, fuzzed-out drums, and hypnotic keys blend perfectly with singer Geneviève’s mellifluously haunting voice. The best way to describe this album is that it’s like chamber music for witches. Each song is a fascinating journey for the mind, heart, and soul with rich textures and arrangements that reward the adventurous and curious listener. It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth it for those that crave more.
9. The Halo Effect – March Of The Unheard
Century Media Records
While the members of The Halo Effect may be forefathers of the genre, the band itself is still relatively new. They easily could have fallen off or even called it quits after their killer debut album Days Of The Lost. Instead, they keep the momentum going on March Of The Unheard. Much like Days, March is a very obvious blending of their original bands, Dark Tranquillity and In Flames. Classic melodeath sounds, flickers of memorable riffs and undeniable melody, and that familiar gritty vocal bark. It’s fast, loud, heavy, and forceful. Is this album better than Days? Hard to say, as that album had that “new band” shine. It’s better to think of March Of The Unheard as a complimentary album. An addition to the first one, fitting in nicely without deviating from the form. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and that works for The Halo Effect.
8. Astronoid – Stargod
3DOT Recordings
Dream metal returns with Astronoid’s Stargod. This time, though, Astronoid are leaning more into the “dream” side of things and that’s a good thing. The progressive, almost pop, stylings of Stargod accentuate the band’s ability to make pleasant-sounding tunes that send the listeners soaring through the clouds on wings of hope. It’s fast, technical, and creative, but without the aggression typically attributed to the genre. 6 years ago, I spoke with Brett of Astronoid and he said they’re not a metal band. And you know what? He’s right and we’re better for it as Stargod breaks free of that claustrophobic confines of “metal.” This album is far beyond the rigidity of heavy metal, placing it above and beyond.
7. Omnium Gatherum – May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way
Century Media Records
Sweden’s Omnium Gatherum have always been a reliable melodic death metal band. While they may not get as much recognition as some of their contemporaries, the band has been holding the melodic death metal banner high over their career. May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way lifts up the stagnating genre with blazing guitars and unrelenting growls, creating a cohesive and solid performance. I’m always hopeful for a Gothenburg-sound revival as we’re long overdue. Omnium Gatherum should be at the forefront of the New Wave Of Melodic Death Metal and May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way would be a prime example of what new bands should try to achieve.
6. Fleshwater – 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky
Closed Casket Activities
The nu-alt rock/grunge revival is in full swing and I’ve been really enjoying it. It’s so nice just to hear high-quality guitar-driven rock bands making catchy music again. It makes me feel young again, like I’m listening to the radio late at night, soaking up all this musical knowledge in the pre-Internet days. Fleshwater are the tops of the revival as I really, really enjoyed their 2022 album We’re Not Here To Be Loved. The band follows suit with 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky, continuing on with their new-but-retro hard rock sound. If the music industry still catered to rock bands, you’d hear these songs on the radio and on popular movie soundtracks. Marisa Shirar’s voice glides across the band’s tight instrumentation, complimenting each member and forming a solid, catchy, memorable, cohesive album that can be enjoyed by young and old rock fans alike.
5. The Birthday Massacre – Pathways
Metropolis Records
The Birthday Massacre have been at this a long time. They know exactly how to mix goth sensibilities, pop hooks, and just the right amount of ear-candy synths to create great songs. This is extremely evident on Pathways. While I may not be the target audience, this album makes me want to go to a goth prom and have the time of my life. Each song is a bop that could make even the most ardent metal fan want to dance. Not to say it doesn’t get heavy or harsh because it does, but the success in Pathways is in the unrelenting and unrepentant joy of being a little bit spooky and a little bit cutie. Shine brightly in the dark.
4. Katatonia – Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State
Napalm Records | Review
Jonas Renske and Katatonia have honed their sound over their 30+ years to become the much-beloved progressive goth metal band they’ve become today. While some other albums or songs may twist and wind off the usual path, all roads lead back to that emotionally vulnerable and intense ‘Katatonia’ sound. Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State pulsates and writhes with a beautiful intensity. Although original member Anders Nystrom left, the band does not miss a step and, in some ways, improves upon previous recent releases. At times gentle and other times forceful, Nightmares is perfect for longtime fans and newcomers to appreciate what Katatonia is capable of creating.
3. HÆRESIS – Si Vis Pacem Para Bellvm
Vendetta Records
It’s always a pleasant surprise when you give a previously unknown band a chance and they really impress you. That goes double for a band in a genre you may sometimes shy away from. Germany’s HÆRESIS only give us 4 songs on their debut album Si Vis Pacem Para Bellvm, but that’s all they need to blow me away with their wild-eyed post-black metal fury. Each lengthy song is an unrelenting maelstrom of tremolo, blast beast, symphonic flourishes, and fierce screams. Those symphonic bits help elevate the song, break up the usual black metal monotony, and give the band a depth that puts them above the typical band. Each successive listen to this album reveals new intricacies, rewarding us with a new appreciation every time. HÆRESIS are brimming with potential and you’d better latch onto them now while you can still say “I was a fan even before they became big.”
2. Dawn of Ouroboros – Bioluminescence
Prosthetic Records
Oakland’s Dawn of Ouroboros are just a cool band and I’m not saying that because I interviewed vocalist Chelsea Murphy earlier this year. I’m saying that because Bioluminescence picks up where another previous Top 10 album Velvet Incandescence left off and improves upon everything that made that album great. The band is firing on all cylinders with this album, whether it’s through technicality, ability, or in songwriting. Lying somewhere between progressive metal, technical death metal, and post-black metal, Dawn of Ouroboros excel in blending each genre, bending it to their will, and making it their own. Bioluminescence is a fantastic album and shows that the band is a force to be reckoned with for a long time to come.
1. Deadlock – Buried Alive (EP)
Independent
Deadlock have always been a “should have been” band. They had all the right tools as a European melodic death metal band to fit perfectly with a Nuclear Blast or Century Media. For one reason or another it never happened and it was a miss for the larger metal community. Ever since I heard “Awakened By Sirens” off a Lifeforce Records sampler in the early 2000’s, I’ve been cheering for Deadlock. After numerous lineup changes and breaks, the band has somewhat restarted with longtime guitarist/keyboardist and now vocalist Sebastian Reichl and the return of singer Sabine Scherer. Despite only being a 5-song EP (well, really three new songs, one older acoustic song, and an instrumental), Deadlock remains a powerful melodeath force as they continue to deftly weave harsh ferocity with gentle beauty. At its core, Buried Alive is a showcase of good songwriting and passionate playing. And really, anything with Sabine gets an automatic 10 out of 10 from me. I hope this is the beginning of the new chapter for the band and I have my fingers crossed they tour the US soon.
Joe Thrashnkill
This year I had a baby and started a graduate program. Frankly, I should be applauded for listening to anything that isn’t a lecture on endotracheal tube insertion or a nursery rhyme. Here are albums I heard and liked, ranked in absolutely no order. [OTHER THAN THE ONE I’M PLACING THEM IN hehehehe -Roldy]
10. Messa – The Spin
Metal Blade Records
I have placed The Spin on my end-of-year list, as has every other Toilet ov Hell contributor. We’ll be taking that payola check now, Metal Blade.
9. Agriculture – The Spiritual Sound
The Flenser
I’ve been an Agriculture booster since the goddamn fertile crescent The Circle Chant. All along the band has championed themselves as “the spiritual sound of ecstatic black metal” but to be honest, they’ve mostly sounded like a pretty good blackgaze band. Until now. Agriculture have finally wrangled their heady genre self-categorization into something tangible. The Spiritual Sound whirls and careens with a religious fervor. I’m calling my shot now: this will be the next once-underground band to have crossover success.
8. Ancient Death – Ego Dissolution
Profound Bore
Man, what a great record. If you like the concept of death metal, Death, death metal retro-futurism, death metal and death metal accessories, Ego Dissolution should be right up your alley. Ancient Death takes the early-day classics, disassembles everything, and builds it all back together again after experiencing ego death.
7. Wytch Hazel – V: Lamentations
Bad Omen Records
I do not approve of the subject matter here BUT THE RIFFS.
6. Sleep Paralysis – S/T
I, Voidhanger | Review
Sleep Paralysis, a one-man concept about sleep paralysis is, admittedly, a difficult listen. Here is Stephen Knapp of Cerulean orchestrating night terrors in intricate detail for you to enjoy in your waking moments. It’s agonizing. Why would anyone do this? I’m not sure but this is by far the most interesting record of the year to my ears. It is at times playful, at other moments grating. Primarily, it is extremely sinister. If you enjoy Cursed Music, Sleep Paralysis may just be what you need.
5. tottomori – Shoreline Mistward
Independent
I found this Swedish dungeon-ish artist while looking for baby-appropriate dungeon synth. Dream Merchant, tottomori’s 2024 full-length, is a household favorite with copious Legend of Zelda vibes. Shoreline Mistward, this year’s full-length, sounds like Erik Satie by the sea. You get sparse, sunny sounds slowly rolling in and out of the surf like a lost Super Mario beach level. It’s baby-tested, dad-approved.
4. Lathe of Heaven – Aurora
Sacred Bones
Years ago I heard Peter Godwin’s “Images of Heaven” on the local college radio station and I decided it was probably a perfect song. Imagine my surprise when I learned that it wasn’t even a minor hit. I get the impression that Lathe of Heaven also heard a few of those how-did-this-miss-the-charts new wave deep cuts and decided, hell, why not make an album that sounds like an overlooked New Romantic classic? If you don’t like this one you should probably troubleshoot your ears and maybe your heart.
3. Effluence – Pianistic Dismemberment
Independent
I’ve listened to a ton of Effluence over the past few years. On more than one occasion(!), a coworker has tried to make me listen to AI music and I always make them listen to Effluence in retaliation. Salt is to snail as Effluence is to philistines. But what’s not to like? Especially Pianistic Dismemberment, a one-man gorejazz odyssey that flexes the piano so brazenly it’d make Herbie Hancock poop.
2. Steröid – Chainmail Commandos
Independent
No, I do not know why the vocals are like that, nor do I care. Chainmail Commandos sounds like a ball-pit full of tiny li’l NWoBHM toddlers getting tipped over. It’s fucking awesome.
1. Esoctrilihum – Ghostigmatah – Spiritual Rites of the Psychopomp Abxulöm
I, Voidhanger
This is the record and band I listened to most in fiscal year 2025. It’s a French🚩 one-man black metal project🚩 completely suffused with esoteric themes🚩 and despite all of those red flags I cannot deny that Asthâghul, the creative font behind Esoctrilium is on a goddamn tear. This record feels like someone tapped into a well of previously-unknown heavy metal elixirs and mixed up a cauldron full of exotic riffs and jams. I cannot recommend playing this album for your infant. They are simply too new to appreciate how refreshing it all sounds.
Make sure to check out LISTMANIA 2K25 Days I | II | III | IV | V as well!
