You know what time it is. Every single music publication, streaming site, etc. is publishing their end of year lists, and I’m nothing if not unoriginal. What follows are my five favorite records of 2025. They are arranged in no particular order, and, given the shift from being an exclusively heavy music site to the more generalized “whatever I dig” model, they’re all over the map. I’ve touched on a few before. Thanks for reading, and happy listening.
Wait. One more thing. I’m a human with motivation that ebbs and flows. If you’re interested in writing for this site and helping me keep it a bit more on schedule, get in touch.
Downward – Downward (LP2)
Released on March 5th, 2025.
It can be lazy to say a band reminds you of another band, but Downward reminds me so much of the best parts of Pedro the Lion that it’s hard to not draw the comparison. The vocals, the most obvious comparison point to David Bazan, drew me in, with the strong melodies and a timbre that always sounds in control and effortless, initially, but, over time, I’ve come to consider this a fantastic guitar record. There’s plenty of riffs, big tones, and dramatic hitches, tipping Downward’s hat to shoegaze as much as slowcore.
The perfect shoulder season record, Downward has been the soundtrack for many morning walks to work, the riverfront, or nowhere in particular. For me, the record is at its best on tracks three through five, and, if you want a taste to see if you like it, that’s where I’d start.
I’ve yet to dig through Downward’s back catalogue, but I plan to do that in 2026.
https://downwardok.bandcamp.com/album/downward-lp2
Bloodsports – Anything Can Be A Hammer
Released on October 17th, 2025
From the October/November 2025 in Review:
I was browsing post-hardcore (or maybe slowcore?) on Bandcamp one day and stumbled across Anything Can Be A Hammer. I went in completely blind, and I’m glad I did. I encourage you to stop reading and give it a spin right now.
And, we’re back. Bloodsports treats us to a sonic journey through angular dissonance, earworm hooks, and dramatic dynamic shifts on Anything Can Be A Hammer.
The riffs, tones, performances, melodies, etc. are all great, but it’s the songcraft that makes Anything Can Be A Hammer such an incredible record. I truly struggle to recall a more surprising release from a rock band, as it consistently takes the opposite path I expect at every junction. Case in point, after the harmonic chaos that is “Trio 2”, I hardly expect to get dumped into the quintessentially slowcore “Rot”, but that’s exactly what Bloodsports does to wonderful effect before bringing it back into an extremely dissonant space for the back half of “Rot”. These twists and turns create one of the most engaging listening experiences in recent memory.
https://bloodsportsbk.bandcamp.com/album/anything-can-be-a-hammer
Natalie Bergman – My Home Is Not In This World
Released on July 18th, 2025
From the September 2025 in Review:
I wish I had found My Home Is Not In This World before the weather turned cool in Washington, because this may be the perfect sunny summer record. Existing in an alternate version of the early 1970s that should have existed, Natalie Bergman’s newest record abounds with wonderfully melodic bass lines, vocal melodies that immediately worm their way into your brain, and warm guitar, wind, and key textures that simultaneously nod to R&B, western, and rock influences. Bergman’s delivery always sounds effortless, despite the vocal gymnastics throughout, reinforcing the leisurely vibe of the record.
The titular “My Home Is Not In This World” is my favorite track on the album. The melodic bass groove is a surefire emotional buoy for me, and I could gush about the tone of the bass for days. The keyboard textures on the bridge are wonderfully adventurous, and it’s quite the testament to the songwriting and musicianship that tones that abrasive work in such a tonally light song. I’ll be humming the vocal melody on my death bed.
I get it. For a blog that started exclusively covering heavy music, this is quite the departure, but I cannot recommend My Home Is Not In This World by Natalie Bergman more enthusiastically.
https://nataliebergman.bandcamp.com/album/my-home-is-not-in-this-world
Die Spitz – Something to Consume
Released on September 12th, 2025
Die Spitz’s Something to Consume may be the most fun guitar driven record to come out in quite a while. This record is part punk, part metal, part grunge, and all rock and roll. Chock-full of riffs, guitar solos, and vocals that range from earworm melodies to screams, it’s almost impossible to deny that Die Spitz have hit a unique and powerful synthesis. If you don’t enjoy the vibe of a particular track, have no fear. It will rubber band to a drastically different feel, as illustrated in the transition from “Voir Dire”, a ballad featuring only clean singing and an acoustic guitar, and “Throw Yourself to the Sword”, a track that opens with a thrash riff.
“American Porn” is the standout track on an album of standout tracks. I adore the drum and bass groove in the verse and the way the vocals ride on top has a dreamlike quality that I am a sucker for.
Highly recommended for anyone with a pulse.
https://diespitz.bandcamp.com/album/something-to-consume
Yellow Eyes – Confusion Gate
Released on October 31st, 2025
From the October/November 2025 in Review:
Yellow Eyes returns with their seventh full-length record. I previously covered the shockingly experimental Master’s Murmur in my first piece for this site, November 2023 in Review. Confusion Gate sees Yellow Eyes return to traditional metal instrumentation, and the result is a towering monolith of cold, atmospheric black metal. That is not to say Yellow Eyes have forsaken the melodic and textural ideas explored in Master’s Murmur. Instead, the band calls back, both stylistically and literally to Master’s Murmur, with synthesizer tones and melodies being reused. If there’s ever a double album set for these sister albums, sign me up.
Yellow Eyes should be viewed as the gold standard for atmospheric black metal at this point, and I think it’s tough to argue that anyone out there is doing it better. Most bands put out their most important work early in their career, but Yellow Eyes are still setting standards and expanding boundaries 15 years in.
Disparate Parts 
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