Out Of Rage - Top 20 Albums of 2025

As a long and tumultuous year draws itself to a close, we all tend to look back across that very year and reminisce. For some, they may look back at wonderful memories of their friends or family, or perhaps a beautiful place they visited, or even a brilliant new experience they had - but here at Out Of Rage, we don't care at all about any of that. We scrapped the family photos, forgot the weekends away, and don't recall a single experience OTHER than listening to all of the best music that came out this year! Our team have worked night and day, getting the opinions of a plethora of our contributors, and putting them all together to gather a list that represents all of Out Of Rage. From the underground to the enormous, the sublime to the extreme, nothing was off limits; did your favourite make it to the top?

20. Unself - Conjurer

Modern forward thinking metal at its best that touches on sludge and post-metal sounds. A beautiful and decisive album, full of brutality yet still able to include heart-warming moments throughout. The acoustic moments within stand as emotional linchpins and ground the album in reality, but the textures of the album are really where it shines - the contrast and depth of sound allow CONJURER to sound bigger and better than ever on Unself. They keep getting better with each release, and are defining what modern metal should be.

Words: William Freeman

19. The Spiritual Sound - Agriculture

The Spiritual Sound is well explained by its title. With the two sides of the LP being remarkably different, both offer a sonic baptism - one of fire, and one of water. The 'ecstatic black metal' sound that AGRICULTURE have made their own is one that rakes across the unprepared eardrum, whilst clutching ever so tightly onto the heartstrings of those who knew what was coming - an almighty release that is contemplative and welcoming, and more than worth every second of your time.

Words: Jasmine Longhurst

18. FADED INTENTIONS - False Reality

FADED INTENTIONS earns its place by feeling so fully formed and fearless. FALSE REALITY fuses hardcore physicality with atmosphere and cinematic intent, building songs that hit hard without sacrificing depth. The record moves confidently between aggression and unease, balancing serrated riffs with moments of haze and introspection. RACHEL RIGBY’s vocals anchor everything, shifting between venom and vulnerability with insane precision. It’s an album that understands its scene and triumphantly challenges its limits.

Words: Zuzanna Pazola

17. FEVEREATEN - Witch Fever

WITCH FEVER’s second album FEVEREATEN is a must-listen. It is an experience infused with gothic themes, gritty distorted guitars and newfound inner power. The lyrical content sung by vocalist AMY WALPOLE weaves tendrils of hope through despondency. This record is designed for those who want to find their voice - check out SEE YA NEXT TUESDAY. FEVEREATEN shows us all where the climb out of hell can lead, which is exactly what makes it one of our albums of the year.

Words: Shania Richards

16. The Darkest Place I've Ever Been - LANDMVRKS

French metalcore four-piece LANDMVRKS have delivered a sonic resurgence with The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been. This album stands as a testament to the bands evolution, fusing modern metalcore and the nu-metal elements that defined the early 2000s. Spanning everything from blistering tremolo picking and all-encompassing guitarwork in its earlier moments to the slow, sombre weight of later tracks, it showcases range and intent. It’s not only a career-highlight, but also one of the strongest heavy releases this year.

Words: Chloe Sodeau

15. Parasites & Butterflies - Nova Twins

PARASITES & BUTTERFLIES, the third album from the dynamic duo known as the NOVA TWINS, is an incredibly innovative album. The latest release from the two-piece features new fan favourites such as ‘N. O. V. A’, as well as ‘Parallel Universe’, both of which showcase how musically versatile NOVA TWINS really are, and this versatility is constant throughout. The extremely talented duo provide a wide range of different influences, from genres as wide-ranging as hip-hop, pop, jazz, and obviously alternative metal throughout the record, making PARASITES & BUTTERFLIES a must listen.

Words: Itay Gilad

14. The Sound a Body Makes When It's Still - Hot Mulligan

HOT MULLIGAN have been a big name in recent years, and they continue to prove why with the release of their fifth album The Sound A Body Makes When It's Still. It had everything you would want out of them - high energy, great song titles, and that twinkly guitar tone over soul-crushing song themes, especially on highlight track It like It Smells Like Fudge In Here. The band simply doesn't know anything other than writing festival bangers and albums that will be remembered for years.

Words: Lucas Grayson

13. God Save The Gun - Militarie Gun

TURNSTILE Summer over, we headed straight into MILITARIE GUN Autumn, where the band released their second full-length record, God Save The Gun, in mid-October. The four singles each hinting at a slightly softer release this time round, with the band leaning towards incredibly catchy choruses and massive sing along parts - B A D I D E A is still stuck on loop in our heads. God Save The Gun, quite rightly, released to widespread acclaim with MILITARIE GUN having perfected their unique breed of hardcore.

Words: Andrew Nile

12. Sanguivore II: Mistress Of Death - Creeper

Stepping out from the deepest shadows of England on All Hallow’s Eve, CREEPER brought a new offering of their dark rock to the world once more. Sanguivore II: Mistress Of Death is a successor to their previous release, named in the same manner, and indeed brought forward further revelations to do with the band’s narrative. Seething with WILL GOULD and HANNAH GREENWOOD’s macabre vocals, the release is an obligatory sacrificial composition for everyone seeking amusement, as well as retribution.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

11. private music - Deftones

DEFTONES made the most triumphant return this year, headlining festivals, their own tours in the US and soon the UK. Not only that though; they also dropped their first album in five years! private music grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, with some of the bands heaviest riffs, most intense drum beats, and chillingly ethereal vocals. This album is absolutely one of their best, and it’s proof that DEFTONES are only ever improving their craft, from the intensity of milk of the madonna to the slow and sombre i think about you all the time, this album delivered on all fronts of everything the fans want from them.

Words: Ben Blissett

10. My God Has Got A Gun - Vukovi

VUKOVI are a band that never stop pushing the boundaries of what their sound can be. The Scottish duo continue to experiment and push their limits, and that certainly didn't stop when they released their fourth studio album My God Has Got A Gun earlier this year. This album has everything to offer: heart-wrenching, emotionally cathartic lyrics, hard-hitting breakdowns, and hypnotic, twisting vocals. Sick guitar riffs race against the unrelenting beat of drums, all to the tune of groovy, science-fiction synth tracks. If you need a killer soundtrack that will drag you down into the depths of your darkest emotions, while still pumping you full of enough energy to get your heart racing, this album is one for you. 

Words: Naomi Colliar Duff

9. Lonely People With Power - Deafheaven

Deafheaven redefined metal once before, and yet somehow they've managed to do it again. On one of the heaviest releases they have ever put out, their signature combination of the best of black metal and shoegaze fill the album, but there's less focus on droning atmosphere and more on heavy, meaty riffage. This album shows off the direction that modern extreme metal should be taking, building on what came before yet defining its own path. It stands up with Sunbather as some of the most beautiful black metal adjacent music to ever happen. It's truly brutal and very dense, yet keeps an almost sentimental background emotion throughout. DEAFHEAVEN experiment in all the right places and don't stagnate, instead refining themselves again to make more beautiful art.

Words: William Freeman

8. Creature In The Black Night - Dayseeker

This is an album I have had on repeat since the first spin. With my favourite track being the epic cinematic rock ballad Crawl Back to My Coffin, a song I turn the volume up for every time, I may be a new fan, but this album has made me love this band. With Creature In The Black Night, DAYSEEKER have clearly evolved from their post-hardcore roots into something darker, and more mature. Crafting lyrics with raw emotion alongside seductive melody shows why they are considered to be a band whose songs continue to unfold across genres with heart and precision. If you love your music to have a theatrical edge, Creature In The Black Night is the album for you.

Words: Lou Viner-Flood

7. I Don't Want To See You In Heaven - The Callous Daoboys

The sonic tour of a lifetime, I Don't Want To See You In Heaven showcases every single brilliant part of the band we know as THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS. Taking us on a trip that bounces wildly between abrasive DILLINGER-esque mathcore, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE style pop, uneasy atmospheric soundscapes, and hints or references to just about every other genre you could name, it is an eclectic yet focused effort that magnifies the very strongest side of the act. Lemon stands up as one of the best songs released this year, whilst Two Headed Trout and Schizophrenia Legacy could energise the most lethargic listener. It's a sensational record, and tells us everything we need to know about a band on their way to the very top.

Words: Jasmine Longhurst

6. Breach - Twenty One Pilots

With the hype from the Clancy era not even completely fizzled out, TWENTY ONE PILOTS unexpectedly came out with Breach just one year later. The album feels like a homecoming, revisiting all the past works and sprinkling references all around like they do best. The opening track City Walls completes the storyline of 10 years with its $1 million-worth cinematic music video. Breach is experimental and genre-bending, with songs like Robot Voices and Centre Mass mixing a multitude of sounds into one, as drummer JOSH unveiling his hidden singing talents on Drum Show. Breach goes into depth on complex topics like grief and faith, while simultaneously being unserious and including inside jokes from the recent tour. This duality is precisely why TWENTY ONE PILOTS never miss the mark and will always be loved by their loyal fanbase.

Words: Mariia Bulkina

5. Bodies - Thornhill

Vigorous, fluctuating energy beams from Bodies, the album released earlier this year by prog-infused metalcore band THORNHILL. Since its release, it's been one of those albums that people won’t stop talking about. Bodies is an album to lose yourself in; the tracks flow into one another and induce a dream-like soundscape scattered with bouts of heaviness that really pack a punch. A far cry from their first album The Dark Pool in 2019, their journey has been remarkable to watch, always taking the best parts of their sound and turning them into something new without losing the original foundations. The album combines its melodies and riffs in such a way that it will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Words: Danielle Henderson

4. Even In Arcadia - Sleep Token

It's extremely unlikely that any alternative fan has gotten through this year without hearing the name Sleep Token, with huge tours and a first ever headline slot at Download Festival. They have had an incredibly successful year, and it was all first started off with the release of their album Even In Arcadia. The album spans genres from metal to pop and even to afrobeat, managing to really stretch the horizons of modern metal in doing so. The pre-release single Caramel was a huge success, with it going completely viral and ending up becoming an introduction to alternative music for many people - and now the album itself has garnered millions of streams, and has even got SLEEP TOKEN nominated for multiple awards at next year's Grammy's!

Words: Amy Smyth

3. Never Enough - Turnstile

Never Enough captures a band refusing to stand still at the exact moment it would be easiest to do so. With this album, TURNSTILE has pushed hardcore outwards rather than leaving it behind, weaving melody, texture, and feeling into songs that still move with urgency. The record feels big without being overdone, and is carefully paced so each change in mood has a clear purpose. New sounds appear throughout, but the core remains unmistakably TURNSTILE: communal, restless, human. The songwriting gives space for emotions to breathe, letting softer moments sit naturally beside bursts of momentum, and there’s a real confidence in how seamlessly different influences coexist; they never feel forced or out of place. Never Enough doesn’t chase trends, but instead documents a band comfortable with growth, grounded in their past while exploring exactly what the hardcore scene can hold.

Words: Zuzanna Pazola

2. Tsunami Sea - Spiritbox

Fans of SPIRITBOX sat longingly waiting for the band's second album Tsunami Sea, which was delayed after the Covid-19 pandemic - but as the world has eventually returned to normality, 2025 brought the album to us. The album showcases the band's talents, spanning from songs like Soft Spine that bring straight up metalcore devastation, to tracks like Crystal Roses that are more laid back and showcase the emotional vulnerability the band can harness in style. The album is a full scale onslaught and embodies the best of what modern metalcore has to offer to the world; having spent so long being cooked up by the band, every lyric and beat is perfectly polished. The band had a hell of a year too, playing support slots for LINKIN PARK at Wembley Stadium, playing their own tours throughout Europe and the US, and of course the release of Tsunami Sea landing the band their third Grammy nomination.

Words: Amy Smyth

1. Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party - Hayley Williams

HAYLEY WILLIAMS’ third solo album deftly blends genres to soundtrack confessional lyrics, making for a dynamic record that flows from the heartbreakingly soft to the unabashedly brutal. The PARAMORE frontwoman begins her new era as an independent artist with candid thoughts on mental health, relationships and fame, culminating in WILLIAMS’ writing at its best.

Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party’s impact can be somewhat credited to WILLIAMS’ emphasis on the listener experience - initially appearing for free as a collection of files on her website, it then launched on streaming as 17 individual singles, and fans were encouraged to choose their own order. This interactivity created an intimate sense of community that complemented the album’s diaristic nature - like catching up with an old friend.

Witty and at times unbearably raw, highlights include True Believer, a haunting and complex reflection on hypocrisy in the American South, viral break-up anthem Parachute, and Discovery Channel, a dark reimagining of BLOODHOUND GANG’s The Bad Touch.

A must listen for fans of any genre, and well-deserving of our album of the year title.

Words: Gabriella Bosticco

Editing: Jasmine Longhurst

With Thanks To: Our contributors, every PR team we worked with this year, every band we worked with this year, all of our readers, and most especially the Management Team!