My Top 10 Albums Of 2025

 
Metal Metal Metal. Its the hard and heavy dominating this years top five. Commentary on old habits or a lack of diversity? Probably the later but in general, It hasn't felt like that great of year in the realm of popular music. Not many big names with big or successful records, so my list easily gives way to my personal preference for niche Ambience adjacent pleasures. Big shout out to C418 for making a big return with Wanderstop. A massive soundtrack with lots his distinct magic to enjoy. Great stuff!

(10) Trevor Something "The Anima" (2025) link

Sneaking in with a late entry, I feel like Trevor managed to hit a superb vibe with these songs. Some obvious influences converging into an indulgent space. Boosted by a couple of infectious earworms, I've found myself returning to its best numbers often.


(9) Gelure "Inner Sanctum" (2025) link

Highly anticipated, this did not disappoint. One of the finer Dungeon Synth artists, this continuous expanse into Fantasy, Medieval and Atmosphere plays masterfully. A compliment to the existing catalog, whilst tip toeing into Black Metal with a grandiose conclusion to the record.

(8) Old Sorcery "The Escapist" (2025) link

A similar sentiment to our other Dungeon Synth adjacent entry above, another master of craft, Old Sorcery delivers another solid entry to a remarkable catalog of genius music. Diverse and adventurous, its runtime a transformation to another realm. Its nice to see them continue this glorious craft.


(7) Yagya "Vor" (2025) link

A banging return to form, Yagya delivers on their iconic icy Icelandic downtempo beats. Vor executes this unique approach to chilled out electronic music with a soothing calm and mystic energy to wrap one up in its melty magic. Its two halves may have some conceptuality behind them but the end result plays like one continuous spell of tranquility.

(6) Krusseldorf "Mushroom World" (2025) link

Our first new artist on the list, this chance discovery of Krusseldorf landed a fresh record in my lap. Mushroom World is as strange and bizarre as its cover suggests. Another spellbinding Downtempo adjacent exploration of curious electronics aesthetics with Jazzy melodies. An engrossing if often subdued other worldly atmosphere to immerse within.

(5) Soul Blind "Red Sky Mourning" (2025) link

The only other new discovery, a late entry that hit so hard and swiftly I'd be tempted to throw it higher up the list. Full of banging riffs, 90s Grunge and Groove, Soul Blind take nostalgic influences and express them through a voice they can call their own! On analysis, Red Sky Mourning is quite the moody affair, a balance where the effectiveness of its break out riffs masks the continual burdensome tone.


(4) Deftones "Private Music" (2025) link

Their best effort since Koi No Yokan, Deftones capitalize on a resurgence in popularity with this masterful production, a craft built of decades of experience. Armed by this stunning aesthetic, their typical set of ideas and motifs meld with brief moments of experimentation on a powerful record that has really stuck around compared to the momentary excitement of their last couple of albums.


(3) IGORRR "Amen" (2025) link

Having evolved from an eccentric musician melding an eclectic range of time spanning genres, IGORRR's evolution as a band continues to impress with another banger. Refining production and composing, its another step in the right direction yielding moments of intrigue among great songwriting and hard hitting groves of brutality.


(2) Turnstile "Never Enough" (2025) link

Never Enough's prominence in this list has been bolstered by an unforgettable show at Ally Pally. One of the best gigs I've ever been really cemented my connection to these songs. Turnstile dial up subtlety here, not hitting one over the head with its underlying power, the riffs rock steady and melodies charm. Padded out by dreamy synth interludes that offer a respite. It all clicks into place when you hear it live. That build up and suspense between songs works so well and made me appreciate this aspect of the record even more.


(1) Ghost "Skeletá" (2025) link

What can I say? This band just know how to craft songs I adore. A step off their peak, Skeletá almost feels like a greatest hits as its numbers run through many of their now classic motifs. Its all executed with a mastery a decade of song writing will offer. The touches of 80s Ballad and 70s Rock worm well into record. A familiar warmth I still can't get over. Despite being criticised by some, Ghost are yet to dull for me.

Trevor Something "The Anima" (2025)

 

Quick of the heels of The Shadow, Trevor returns with a classy record, honing in on indulgent moods and soothing tones, executing this concept in confident stride. The Anima plays a tribute to love, lust and relationships, matters of the heart both painful and endearing, a sensual journey drifting through Ethereal emotive spaces.

With a woven tapestry of nostalgic influences, Synthwave and Dream Pop merge into an 80s fever dream, re-imagined for the modern day. Drifting by on easy tempos, touches of breezy Trap percussion drive its laid back engine. A Cloudrap akin ease brushes its lyrical casualness, as direct themes cross paths with the lingo of youth.

These eleven tracks feel naturally cohesive, each plays a different fracture of an overall chemistry. The albums spectrum feels built off simple beat production, looping instrumentals exploring vibes, occasionally crossing into grander territory as choruses and motifs elevate tracks, feeling like vague echos of unwritten Pop classics. 

Its reverb drenched nature, conjuring Vapourwave energy, possibly holds its melodies back from punching through. They and the gentle vocals meld into a singular flow, cloudy, melting forth as the minutes tick by in limbo, a precarious place of ambiguity between sorrow and sunshine. I personally interpreted this one with positivity.

Although darkness is housed within, rearing itself in Trevor's vulnerable singing, The Anima plays like intoxication, a smothering blanket luring one into its embrace. With each spin, a spell is cast, a sleepy trance of easy energy gushing forth. Its a delight tone but I could see how others might tap into deep pains with this one.

Rating: 7/10 

Trevor Something "The Shadow" (2025)

 

My introduction to Trevor Something was through his distinct covers of classic songs ranging from 80s Synthpop ear-bugs to 90s Alternative crooners and Industrial anthems. A treacherous terrain to navigate, traversed in complimentary nature to give those oldies a differed flavor. Comprised of original songs, The Shadow has to compete with those high standards. Taking such dreamy aesthetics to his own material, the chasm is felt raw across thirty tracks that fail to illuminate through melody, hook or lyricism. This record falls into the "vibes" category, establishing mood, then ruminating on it endlessly, without any spectacular musical ideas or deviation from the path.

Tracks play slow and sullen like sluggish fever dreams of self indulgent misery. Twisted to melodic might, reverb soaked synths delve into a cold Ethereal melancholy. Soft and soothing by design, these dreary yet absorbing synthetic soundscapes elongate melodies to the tune of sadness. Trevor's ghostly voice echos out above, downtrodden, drowning in the wounds of a self centered lifestyle's emotional loneliness. Heard best in his words, its catchier words echo a crude Manson.

 

The Shadow's architecture lacks diversity, its moods circle the drain. The title track catches an ear with some intriguing repeat cuts, caught between a record skip and digitized glitch, they create a momentary disoriented charm for attentive ears. Occasional vocal warbling encroaches into Mumble Rap vibes. Infrequent but a curious if only brief distinction. Spaced out percussion patterns occasionally go full Synthwave with gated tom drum fills. Once again a brief glimmer of deviation from the overall tone.

 

One can find a few favorite cuts that resonate well within this context. Numb The Pain and Die 1000x stood out for me. They seem a cut above the rest on a record devoid of hooks and memorable moments. Each song tends to melt into the next as feverish aesthetics overpower other fundamentals. A fair and entertaining listen for self indulgence that probably doesn't have the legs to stick in ones mind for too long.

 

Rating: 5/10

Trevor Something "Archetypes" (2024)

 
My introduction to one man band Trevor Something was through a handful of delightful re-imaginations of 80s Synthpop and Alternative classics. I wasn't pulled into his original music, so this new record of twelve cover songs suited me well.

Trevor's built a unique sound, treading a line adjacent to Ethereal, Synthwave and Electro-Industrial. Like a dream inducing sedative, subdued and sluggish, his soft, distant voice steers us through hazy atmospheres. Layered arrangements of textural synths dance, often with chunky bass wobbles. The usual culprit of echo and reverb masks an otherwise sharp set of steady melodies into a concussive daze.

In this reshaping of originals, a unique soothing, slightly dystopian crooning is birthed. You want to stick around and indulge. Not knowing a track wasn't a barrier to entry either, the warmly dystopian aesthetics, lingering tempo and Cyber-Goth vibes maintain across its duration. Closer and No Ordinary Love where my favorites.

All That She Want's is a surprising throwback but record ends with Change (In The House Of Flies), which I thought would be a lay up. On this occasion, a sterile overindulgence approach lost the original spark. Its smokey, cumbersome stride swiftly dulls. Strange ending to an otherwise unique and enjoyable record.

Rating: 6/10