Another year has tried — and failed — to kill me, but here I am once again, crawling out of the crypt to sift through the wreckage that 2025 hurled at my face. And what a year it’s been. I’ve been battered by Black Metal, flattened by Death Metal, steamrolled by Doom, brain-mangled by Thrash, spiritually assaulted by Sludge, confused-but-delighted by Prog weirdness, and blindsided by more unexpected underground gems than any sane human should reasonably endure.

But that’s the gig.

That’s the joy.

That’s the madness that keeps this whole thing alive.

So now, as tradition demands, it’s time to carve the list into the stone tablets of the Black Metal Archives — not just the frostbitten elite, but the albums across every twisted branch of extreme music that burned brightest, hit hardest, cut deepest, and reminded me exactly why I drag myself out of bed each morning to do this stupid, glorious job.

Welcome to the Black Metal Archives Albums of 2025.

Enter at your own fucking risk.

“Christopher Thomas Elliott has done it again. Everything is Not Going to Be Alright is the bleakest, boldest, and most brutally beautiful work of his career — a Doom Folk sermon for the end times. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: this man is one of the most essential voices in underground music right now. And if this is what the end sounds like, then I’ll gladly listen as the sky caves in.”

“Unholy & Unmissable — a suffocating, violent slab of Blackened Death extremity that leaves you broken, battered, and begging for another round.”

NUMBER 8: Fantazmaz – Fantazmaz

“Fantazmaz don’t just reinvent punk — they set it on fire, piss on the ashes, and build something feral and fearless from the smoke. A furious, vital, genre-obliterating debut that hits like a riot in your bloodstream.”

NUMBER 7: All That We Know – Mini Skirt

“​Mini Skirt’s All That We Know is a chaotic, utterly brilliant piece of intelligent punk rock. It rejects simple labels, favoring the complex, unsettling energy of Dead Kennedys and Bauhaus. Fused with an undeniable, aggressive Australian swagger, this is furious, essential noise. Forget the pub—start the riot.”

NUMBER 6: Wolves Of The Underworld – Helvitnir

“A towering, vicious, awe-soaked triumph. Wolves of the Underworld isn’t just a debut — it’s the kind of Black Metal masterpiece that bends the year around it. Helvitnir haven’t entered the scene; they’ve seized it by the throat.”

NUMBER 5: The Spectrum Of Human Gravity – Hellfox

“A flawless debut forged with power, elegance, and absolute conviction. The Spectrum of Human Gravity isn’t just impressive for a first album — it’s the sound of a band arriving fully formed, kicking the doors off the hinges, and demanding the spotlight they’ve already earned.”

NUMBER 4: Ordo Acherontis – Codex Nero

“A razor-edged triumph of modern Black Metal ferocity. Ordo Acherontis doesn’t imitate the old flame — it feeds it, shapes it, and hurls it forward with lethal intent. Codex Nero aren’t just honouring the tradition; they’re elevating it. A ruthless, soul-devouring statement of future dominance.”

NUMBER 3: Hexenbrand 1486 – Mystic Circle

“A triumphant, blasphemous return to form from one of Germany’s most enduring Black Metal legions. Hexenbrand 1486 burns with purpose and precision — a ritual sacrifice that proves Mystic Circle still command the powers of darkness with unholy mastery.”

NUMBER 2: Archon – Archon

“A monumental achievement in Atmospheric Black Metal. Archon is cold, vast, feral, and utterly flawless — a masterpiece that will be talked about, worshipped, and imitated for years. If 2025 has a king, it’s this album.”

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2025: The Immortal – In Mourning

“The Immortal isn’t merely the album of the year — it’s the new gold standard. A towering, devastating triumph where melodic death metal becomes scripture and In Mourning ascend to the pantheon as undisputed masters of their craft. Records like this don’t just raise the bar — they redefine the entire landscape.”