Extreme Metal Maniac Blog : 2026

EXTREME METAL MANIACS FAVORITE RELEASES OF 2025

To borrow a line from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (you might've of heard of him. He was once fairly famous.) for me as far as 2025 went, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". That's a two fold answer based on my year's opinion of Extreme Metal and my personal struggles this year. Before I get into the Music part let me explain something. For me 2025 was a tough year dealing with my work schedule, health issues and being too passionately involved in other things.

Be that the situation there was a lot of good and bad as far as Extreme Metal goes in 2025. There was also a continuation of a newer fad going on which matched 90's Post Punk with Metal whether it was Doom or Death Metal. Yeah I know they left Black Metal alone this time. Speaking of which when it came to new Black Metal releases by bands I've followed for years. I was pissed on how many of them just went to release borring shit by progressing themselves out of the genre. Thankfully I heard a new track from MAYHEM's 2026 release which gives me hope that the old guard ain't all dead.

As usual Death Metal was great in 2025. There were a ton of great chaotic releases to choose from. To me the top bands were the ones who either were pushing Blackened Death or keeping it old school, ancient and raw. I did have a problem with some past favorite bands since their contributions this year sounded cut and paste like what they did a year or two ago. I really didn't think much for Grindcore's output this year. I heard on some Youtube Metal program that Thrash made a comeback in 2025. I guess the guy was talking about more mainstream oriented fan base Thrash put out by the larger labels. Yeah they can have that because for me it's gotta be early raw old school sounding Thrash or non-generic throat slashing Blackened Thrash.

As far as straight up Traditional Metal (aka: TROO METAL) goes there was a favorite US band of mine who I knew were gonna put out a great album again this year and of course they did. But there were a ton of cool Traditional Metal bands who put out stuff this year. and it was not on the big labels. Moving on there were some other cool stuff out there this year. A great compilation from one of my favorite bands was released this year. I found some decent reissues which ya need to check out.

So like I've done over the past few years instead of trying to slam a top 40. I'm giving you a bunch of my favorites by genre and at the end I'm gonna slam a top ten list of releases which should go into every Extreme Metal fan's coffers. Here we go you motherfuckers!

BEST BLACK METAL RELEASES OF 2025

1. ENTHRONED - Ashspawn

Season of Mist

Belgium's Black Metal titans came out with one of the best albums of their career.

2. ZMARLYM - Wielkie zanikanie

Godz ov War Productions

Second album by this Polish band which pushes brutality with added progressive touches, some fuckin industrial metal punishment, clean vocal passages, electronica stuff and yet it's still icy, cold and cruel sounding BM.

3. DRUDKH - Shadow Play

Season of Mist

It's DRUDKH nuff said.

4. VRAG - Renduletlenul

Filosofem Records

One man Hungarian Black Metal act with a sound that's ripping 1990's era cold, cruel and icy.

5. HEXECUTOR - Where Spirit Withers in Its Flesh Constraint

Dying Victims Productions

A French Blackened something or other and just kicks ass doing it.

6. ANCESTOR OF KAOS - Animal Ritual

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Another one of those whatafuck is it kind of bands. Originally from Cuba, now in Florida. Their sound is Black Metal, Blackened Thrash, Blackened everything.

7. VARNHEIM - Void

Godz ov War Productions

Amazing atmospheric Black Metal from Poland.

8. IMPERIALIST - Prime

Transcending Obscurity Records

A USBM band from California that joins their lyrical love of Sci Fi with some melodic DISSECTION stuff.

8. MALUMMORTEM - Volume I

Black Mass Prayers

Depressive Black Metal which I haven't heard in a while and maybe I don't want to hear again after this guy,

9. JORDFAST - BlodsdAd och hor

Black Lion Records

A Swedish Black Metal band that continues their great nation's legacy.

10. BLUT AUS NORD - Ethereal Horizons

Debemur Morti Productions

French BM icons pushing the avant-garde atmospheric measure to the hilt of the templates' limits.

BEST DEATH METAL RELEASES OF 2025

1. TEITANBLOOD - From the Visceral Abyss

Norma Evangelium Diaboli

This Blackened Death band from Spain has been a favotite of mine for years. This their fourth album is the absolute best they've ever done.

2. VEILBURNER - Longing for Triumph, Reeking of Tragedy

Transcending Obscurity Records

A release to read Lovecraft to. This is atmospheric Blackened Death Metal by a two piece act from Pennsylvania. Amazing!

3. BENEDICTION - Ravage of Empires

Nuclear Blast Records

Five years ago vocalist Dave Ingram returned to this band which put out the fucking amazing Scriptures. This new one just shows it wasn't a fluke.

4. PERDITION TEMPLE - Malign Apotheosis

Hells Headbangers Records

Great US style Blackened Death from Florida with bassist Alex Blume from ARES KINGDOM in the band.

5. BLOOD OF THE WOLF - V: Indomitable

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Surprise DM release of the year for me. Imagine Eastern European Blackened Death performed by a four piece from Chicago, Illinois. So sorry to my friends in VADER and BELPHEGOR but this is cool as fuck.

6. DEMIURGON - Miasmatic Deathless Chamber

Transcending Obscurity Records

The new kings of Italian Death Metal. You'd be a fool not to check this release out.

7. GRAVE INFESTATION - Carnage Gathers

Dark Descent Records / Invictus Productions

Fucking Canadians doing first era USDM, Holy Shit!

8. DETERIOROT - Awakening

Xtreem Music

This one rules! Imagine early USDM combined with early Finnish DM influences. Oh Hell Yeah and they live here in my home state of North Carolina.

9. GLORIOUS DEPRAVITY - Death Never Sleeps

Transcending Obscurity Records

Great sounding Death Metal from this New York band.

10. GALGEBERG - Cerberus

Aftermath Music

Basically this is BLOOD TSUNAMI doing Death Punk infused with that crunchy Boss HM2 early Stockholm DM sound.

11. FELGRAVE - Otherlike Darknesses

Transcending Obscurity Records

Actual Prog Death from Norway.

12. UNBOUNDED TERROR - Something Is Rotten In Humanity

Xtreem Music

Diabolical sounding Death Metal from Spain.

13. LOATHFINDER - Broken Branches and Torn Roots

Godz ov War Productions

Nightmarish Blackened Death from Poland.

14. AVULSED - Phoenix Cryptobiosis

Xtreem Music

Old School Death Metal band from Spain returns with a punishing full length showing age does not stop extreme metal.

15. CROWN OF MADNESS - Memories Fragmented

Transcending Obscurity Records

A band to keep an eye on. Dissonant Death Metal from Canada.

16. DEATHGOAT - Dragged into Realms Below

Xtreem Music

Finnish Death Metal going old school.

17. HATE - Bellum Regiis

Metal Blade Records

Another strong DM release from this Polish band.

18. HEXEKRATION RITES - Misanthropic Path of Carnal Deliverance

Godz ov War Productions

Debut album by this French Blackened Death act. Keep an eye on this band.

19. CORRUPTER - Gloria in Profundis

Godz ov War Productions

Another great French Death Metal act to keep tabs on.

20. THORN - Nebulous Womb of Eternity

Transcending Obscurity Records

Late night Death Doom for insomniacs.

BEST THRASH (and Speed Metal) Releases of 2025

1. FRIGHTFUL - What Lies Ahead

Godz ov War Productions

Yeah this is the best Thrash album of the year. This Polish band combines great Death Thrash with some Swedish melodic DM and it's not "melo-deth".

2. SCRUDA - Fury Among Ruins

Godz ov War Productions

Blackened Thrash / Speed Metal by a three piece act from Poland. This is their amazing debut album.

3. GAROTA - Z mieczem na gwiazdy

Godz ov War Productions

Second album by this Polish Blackened Thrash three piece.

4. SADISTIC GOATMESSIAH - Violence

Dying Victims Productions

German Blackened Thrash and Hessian Speed Metal trio.

5. MORTAL SCEPTER - Ethereal Dominance

Xtreem Music

Teutonic Blackened Thrash from Dunkirk, France.

BEST DOOM METAL RELEASES of 2025

1. Paradise Lost - Ascension

Nuclear Blast Records

Their seventeenth full length and in my not so humble opinion another master class in English Gothic Doom.

2. CASTLE RAT - The Bestiary

King Volume Records

Second album by New York's female fronted Occult Doom act.

3. NAEVUS - Back Home

Dying Victims Productions

Doom Metal from Germany heavily influenced by US bands like TROUBLE, PENTAGRAM, SAINT VITUS & THE OBSESSED.

4. FER DE LANCE - Fires on the Mountainside

Cruz del Sur Music

Sophomore album from America's best export of Epic Doom.

5. CRYSTAL SPIDERS - Metanoia

Ripple Music

SABBATH - ian female fronted Doom from North Carolina.

6. SMOKE MOUNTAIN - The Rider

Argonauta Records

Second album by this Tallahassee, Florida female fronted Stoner Doom act.

7. ZOMBIE EATER - Faces

Argonauta Records

Good O'l Sludge Metal from Finland, yes fuckin Finland.

8. PENTAGRAM - Lightning In A Bottle

Heavy Psych Sounds

After a decade Bobby Liebling is back sounding great with a new lease on great Doom.

9. BEHOLDER - In the Temple of the Tyrant

Black Lion Records

Debut full length by this Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who combine Epic Doom and Power Metal to create a killer sound. A US Doom act to keep an eye on.

10. VOID KING - The Hidden Hymnal: Chapter 2

Argonauta Records

Classic sounding Midwest American Doom Metal. I mean these guys are from fucking Indianapolis, Indiana. Can you say GATES OF SLUMBER or APOSTLE OF SOLITUTUDE.

BEST GRINDCORE RELEASES of 2025

1.NAKED WHIPPER - Chapel Defilement

Iron Bonehead Productions

Blackened Grind that's an unholy soundtrack of filth, rage and sonic devistation.

2. KOSUKE HASHIDA - Outrage

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Japanese murder mayhem death grind!

3. PULPIT VOMIT - Hospital Lens

Rottweiler Records

Old School Grind from California (where it originated from).

BEST POWER METAL RELEASES of 2025

1. HELLOWEEN - Giants & Monsters

Soyuz Music

It's hard to beat out the German kings of this genre. Not as good as their last one but still great.

2. FIRMAMENT - For Centuries Alive

Dying Victims Productions

The second best Power Metal album of the year and they're also from Germany.

3. BRAINSTORM - Plague of Rats

Reigning Phoenix Music

The third best Power Metal album of the year and no shit they're also from Germany. Go Figure.

BEST VIKING METAL RELEASE of 2025

EREB ALTOR - Halsingemorker

Hammerheart Records

EREB ALTOR's tenth full length is probably the best sounding modern developed style of Viking Metal.

FAVORITE METAL ALBUMS of 2025

1. SAVAGE MASTER - Dark & Dangerous

Shadow Kingdom Records

This not only is the band's best album to date but it's a fuckin masterpiece as far as a Metal album goes. There's variety in speed, heaviness, melody and themes throughout. SAVAGE MASTER are the best US Metal band around right now.

2. TOWER - Let There Be Dark

Cruz del Sur Music

Another explosive album from this New York five piece. Sarabeth Linden is one of the better female vocalists in Metal today. If you've overlooked this band then catch up.

3. NITE - Cult of the Serpent Sun

Season of Mist

Surprise Metal album of the year for me. They're from San Francisco, California. Their sound is 80's MAIDEN and MERCIFUL FATE (minus the KD vocals) with Blackened influences. I liked this album at first. Then I saw em live and knew it was a winner.

4. LADY BEAST - The Inner Alchemist

Dying Victims Productions

This band has been around since 2009 and on this their fifth full length they show that time has not stopped em from kicking ass.

5. TIME RIFT - In Flight

Dying Victims Productions

More of a Hard Fuckin Rock album than Metal. But hey if this was the 1980's then TIME RIFT would be one of the coolest bands around. Well hell I remember the 80's so let's make em one of the great bands of 2025.

FAVORITE HARDCORE / PUNK album of 2025;

THE SLIME - Crab-Walk to Oblivion

Self Released

I think in 2025 and you're into Hardcore Punk then THE SLIME should be one of your favorite bands. They're from Canada and like DRI.

FAVORITE EPs of 2025:

1. OBSCUREVIOLENCE - Refuting the Flesh EP

Transcending Obscurity Records

This Russian band does Blackened Death Metal right. It's brutal, diabolical and inviting which is what want these days.

2. PALANTYR - The Ascent & the Hunger EP

Dying Victims Productions

A five piece Traditional Metal act hailing from France with MAIDEN-esque melodies and female vocals. Oh yeah this band deserves a full length.

3. ARMORY - Black Star EP

Dying Victims Productions

Great Swedish Speed Metal!

4. SERPENT CORPSE - Retaliate EP

Transcending Obscurity Records

SERPENT CORPSE is Quebec's Death Metal band for the future. This four song release fucking rules in every way.

5. AVENGER OF BLOOD - Revenge Is My Name EP

M-Theory Audio

This EP proves that this band needs another full length.

FAVORITE SPLIT RELEASE of 2025;

GAROTA / SCRUDA - Czern Połnocy Split

Godz ov War Productions

Two bands, both Polish, both Blackened Thrash, both have new albums out. Both are fucking great. Nuff said!

FAVORITE LIVE ALBUM of 2025;

CIRITH UNGOL - Live at the Roxy 2XCD

Metal Blade Records

Here you have a great opportunity to check out CIRITH UNGOL live and new. This is a double dink's worth of the band's material which covers the past to the present. This band, half of which is original members, delivers the goods.

FAVORITE REISSUES of 2025;

1. ORGAN DEALER - Visceral Infection Reissue

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

A true Grindcore classic that came out in 2015.

2. PERCUSSOR - Remnants Of Horror The Final Cut Reissue

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

PERCUSSOR have been the premier Death Metal band out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a decade now. This is their lost album which should've came out on HPGD but didn't until now.

3. DEFENDER - City Ad Mortis reissue

Hammerheart Records

The holy grail of Dutch Speed Metal.

4. SADISM - Tribulated Bells reissue

Hammerheart Records

Old School Death Metal from Chile.

5. ENDLESS DISMAL MOAN - Lord of Nightmare Reissue

Hessian Firm

Japanese Extreme Music which is a second chance to pick something up by an artist who unfortunately decided to take his own life a few years after it was originally released. You might even consider this a masterpiece. Nuff Said!

FAVORITE COMPILATIONS of 2025

1. DECEASED - March of the Cadavers: 40 Years of Death Metal from the Grave 2x CD Compilation

Hells Headbangers Records

Bias alert they're one of my favorite bands so of course I'm gonna like this one and you will to.

2. VARIOUS ARTISTS - King Of The Kill 3 compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

The sport of kings aka Wrasslin and Extreme Metal meet in a death match of blood, sweat and more blood.

3. BOCC - Obrint el taut The Ep Compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

BOCC are actually a three piece act from Barcelona, Spain who started out in 2019. For the record the band has been fairly prolific releasing a bunch of demo's, EP's, Splits, a compilation and a full length since starting out. I refer to this compilation from HPGD as spreading the disease.