Prologue: No one can say that they have listened to almost everything that was released during 2025. Everyone who claims that is wrong, so we will speak just about favourite releases and albums we enjoyed in 2025 and will keep listening to for a long time. The “best” metal albums of 2025 according to Crystal Logic. You won’t read about some major or over-hyped releases you will mostly read about in mainstream media because they just didn’t meet our expectations. On the other hand, you probably won’t see some of the releases presented below in mainstream media, so this is your chance to listen to something different too. 2025 wasn’t a very good year for traditional metal, definitely not as good as previous years of the current decade, but we know for sure that 2026 is going to be most excellent.
10. VIGILHUNTER – Vigilhunter
Vigilhunter’s debut full-length is an ode to the old US heavy / power metal and classic bands such as Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory, Lethal, Leatherwolf and Vicious Rumors in their prime.
9. PRECENTOR – Eternal Life
True Doom Metal Anno 2025. The best and purest Doom Metal album of 2025. This is highly recommended for souls who seek salvation and people that praise The Temple’s Of Solitude Triumphant and Warning’s Watching from a Distance.
8. HAVUKRUUNU – Tavastland
Another addition to an excellent catalogue. This is not a traditional black metal album, but a charming epic black metal offering. A soundscape with acoustic guitars, massive riffs and an iron fist on bass and low end, singing folk-tales and Finnish paganism.
7. YELLOW EYES – Confusion Gate
Urban black metal from New York City exploring non-black-metal themes. Abstract at times, heavy all the time, this is an evoking album that dwells in solitude, spiritualism and melancholy.
6. TOWER – Let There Be Dark
One of the best-sounding traditional metal albums of 2025 with flaming power and dynamics, the wonderful performance of singer Sarabeth Linden and the best power ballad of 2025 (“And I Cry”).
Check also: SAVAGE MASTER – Dark & Dangerous
5. LAMP OF MURMUUR – The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy
M. Part I: M. is a unique artist, the man behind the music and performance of Lamp of Murmuur, and he did it again, presenting another ambitious black metal face adding diverse and unpredictable elements, with the second part of the album (“The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy” trilogy) being one of the highlights of 2025.
4. ONE OF NINE – Dawn of the Iron Shadow
The page turns, and so old sorceries fade… Highly recommended for those who are waiting for a new Stormkeep album, this is captivating Nazgûl metal forged in flames, ruins and darkness. A glorious offering of mostly uplifting melodic, epic black metal, as opposed to the minimal nihilistic side of the darkest genre, also features M. of Lamp of Murmuur on “Behold the Shadow of My Thoughts” (M. Part II).
3. MAGUS LORD – In the Company of Champions
M. Part III: This was a surprise, composed and performed by M. (except the Gods Tower cover), where he leans to a more atmospheric and epic side, adding a heavy influence by Bathory (Twilight of the Gods era) on the album’s same-titled opus. Melodic, atmospheric, epic black metal with long songs and a hypnotic, dreamy vibe, like you’re part of a transcending journey to the unknown.
Both albums that share the first spot are coming from Greece. Both of them are sacred metal forged by fans for the elite of the few. Not recommended for fans of modern-age Sabaton and Battle Beast, they also don’t aim for a streaming championship and arena festival spots.
BLACK SWORD THUNDER ATTACK – Black Sword Thunder Attack
Epic in nature and soul, Black Sword Thunder Attack is the closest thing you can listen to the majesty of WarLordianGuard and the legacy of William J Tsamis, also keeping the same high quality. Still, though, there is plenty of originality in their music and the lo-fi production might be a thorn in the ass of Napalm Records buyers, but we have to admit that a different approach could ascend the album to godlike levels.
IDMON’S AEGIS – Under the Auspices of Idmon
Adventurous epic metal featuring present and past Wrathblade members Nick Varsamis (vocals) and Chris Mosalos (guitar) next to bassist Yiannis Tsountaros and Areti Pornara on drums, who has now been replaced by Manos Kehagias. Pure, true, brave metal from the heart, highly recommended for fans of Wrathblade, DoomSword and Manilla Road. The kind of album that (unfortunately) is not for the many, but for the few that will keep listening to this music forever.
Check also: DOLMEN GATE – Echoes of Ancient Tales
EP – Mini Album of the year: MYTH CARVER – Twist of Fate
Exception: TALES OF MEDUSA – Relentless Tragedy
A unique case of a band. We’re talking many times about music “for the few” but here is the true essence of that, since the band keeps anonymity and sends their physical releases (only vinyl and cassette tapes, never compact disc) to the people they believe should have them. That album is magnificent, but of course, we can’t add to a best-of list something that not anyone can listen to.
Ten more albums released in 2025 you should give them a listen: BEHÖLDER – In the Temple of the Tyrant, BLAZE – Out Through the Door, DRAGON SKULL – Chaos Fire Vengeance, PENTAGRAM – Lighting in a Bottle, PHANTOM SPELL – Heather & Hearth, SIGN OF THE WOLF – Sign of the Wolf, SÖLICITÖR – Enemy in Mirrors, STEEL ARCTUS – Dreamruler, VOID – Forbidden Morals, VULTURES VENGEANCE – Dust Age.
