Let’s be honest—2025 was fucking weird. As the world’s equilibrium never fully stabilized, that imbalance often extended to our beloved extreme music. Just revisit Decibel’s first issue of the year, which included our Top 21 Most Anticipated Albums of 2025 feature. Only 12 of those records included in the list were released this year (our lowest percentage in the piece’s history), illustrating just how 2025 rarely stuck to its original script.
In the end, those surprises are what defined 2025. Whether that was a band who formed just four years ago challenging for our #1 spot or multiple members of the old metal and hardcore guard who recorded their groundbreaking albums 30 years ago, returning with new music that rivaled their seminal works, this year’s greatest gift was its unpredictability.
Maybe the only thing unsurprising about the Decibel’s Top 40 Albums of 2025 is the fact that you are almost certain to have strong opinions about them. If you’d like to express your discontent about what is not included—or the ranking of what is—have at it. After 21 years of this, we can handle every take at any temperature. Just don’t lose sight of what is there, as there could be a record in our Top 40 you haven’t heard that’s about to become one of your favorites of 2025. And wouldn’t that be a nice surprise? —Albert Mudrian
40 Sodom, The Arsonist, Steamhammer
39 Ossuary, Abhorrent Worship, Me Saco un Ojo
38 Nyredolk, Barndommens Hjem, Styglyd
37 Dead Heat, Process of Elimination, Metal Blade
36 Biohazard, Divided We Fall, BLKIIBLK
35 Sanguisugabogg, Hideous Aftermath, Century Media
34 In the Company of Serpents, A Crack in Everything, Self-released
33 Morbikon, Lost Within Astral Crypts, Tankcrimes
32 Agriculture, The Spiritual Sound, The Flenser
31 Wode, Uncrossing the Keys, 20 Buck Spin
30 Havukruunu, Tavastland, Svart
29 Shearling, Motherfucker, I Am Both: “Amen” and “Hallelujah,” Mishap
28 Testament, Para Bellum, Nuclear Blast
27 Hooded Menace, Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration, Season of Mist
26 Nite, Cult of the Serpent Sun, Season of Mist
25 Blut Aus Nord, Ethereal Horizons, Debemur Morti Productions
24 Terror Corpse, Ash Eclipses Flesh, Dark Descent
23 Coroner, Dissonance Theory, Century Media
22 (16), Guides for the Misguided, Relapse
21 Species, Changelings, 20 Buck Spin
20 Blackbraid, Blackbraid III, Blackbraid
19 Castle Rat, The Bestiary, King Volume
18 Haggus, Destination Extinction, Tankcrimes
17 Volahn, Popol Vuh, Crepúsculo Negro
16 Decrepisy, Deific Mourning, Carbonized
15 Eternal Darkness, Eternal Darkness, Pulverised
14 Teitanblood, From the Visceral Abyss, Norma Evangelium Diaboli
13 Imperial Triumphant, Goldstar, Century Media
12 One of Nine, Dawn of the Iron Shadow, Profound Lore
11 Tribunal, In Penitence and Ruin, 20 Buck Spin
10 Lamp of Murmuur, The Dreaming Prince in Ecstasy, Wolves of Hades
9 Deafheaven, Lonely People with Power, Roadrunner
8 Tower, Let There Be Dark, Cruz Del Sur
7 Cryptopsy, An Insatiable Violence, Season of Mist
6 Evoken, Mendacium, Profound Lore
5 Rwake, The Return of Magik, Relapse
4 Ancient Death, Ego Dissolution, Profound Lore
3 Paradise Lost, Ascension, Nuclear Blast
2 Messa, The Spin, Metal Blade
1 Deadguy, Near-Death Travel Services, Relapse
Now, if you’d actually like to read editorial on these releases (for, you know, context), interviews with the artists who rank near and at the top of the list as well as dozens of hilarious, contributor-conceived, year-end Top 5 lists, a cover story celebrating the legendary GWAR’s 40th anniversary and a Hall of Fame on Pallbearer’s debut doom metal game-changer, you can grab a copy of the full issue here. It comes with an exclusive new Morbikon flexi disc. You’re welcome.
The post SPOILER: Here Are Decibel’s Top 40 Albums of 2025 appeared first on Decibel Magazine.