WARNING THIS CAME OUT A LONG LONGER THAN I ANTICIPATED. FEEL FREE TO SCAN THROUGH.

Hello and welcome to my very important and 100% objectively correct compilation of my favorite albums this year that is definitely not just an excuse for me to infodump about music I like. A couple disclaimers before getting into it: This list is in no particular order. It consists of albums of all release dates, not just albums that released this year. And most of these are albums I've enjoyed for a long time, but revisited this year and took a particular liking to. Also, I'm not a critic, I am a man with autism who listens to the same 5 artists on repeat. Finally, clicking the header will bring you to the album on YouTube. Now, let's get to the list. 

1. Ghost Reveries (2005) - Opeth

I got into Opeth earlier this year while learning about the history of Swedish death metal. Their debut album, Orchid (1995), is definitely a must listen as it was and still is a milestone for death metal as a whole. However, Ghost Reveries is the album that really stood out to me and wormed its way into my brain. I'm unsure if that's a controversial opinion as I'm rather out of the loop, but it's an opinion I'm willing to stick by. 

Favorite Track: The Grand Conjuration

2. Wallflowers (2021) - Jinjer

I revisited this album last year in anticipation for Jinjer's latest release, Duél (2025). Jinjer is definitely my #1 band at the moment. It feels like every time I listen to their music, I find another aspect to fall in love with. Wallflowers is a great example of that, as each time I listen to this album I love it even more. The entire band is incredibly talented, but Tatiana's vocals, both clean and unclean, along with her lyricism, are what really stand out to me. This album found me at an incredibly dark time in my life, and the lyrics brought me comfort that no other artist has in a very long time. I could go on about my love for this album and band, but I'll save some thoughts for the next Jinjer entry. 

Favorite Track: Dead Hands Feel No Pain

3. Impera (2022) - Ghost

This album released around the time I was getting back into Ghost. They were a favorite of mine some time ago, around the release of Prequelle (2018). I eventually got distracted by other artists, but revisited Ghost around the release of Impera. I'm slow to warm up to new music, so it took a while for the album to grow on me. To me, it is the most experimental of Ghost's albums, marking a shift in sound, budget, and production quality. I know Ghost is a controversial band, and many see them as sellouts. Though, that mindset has always come across as insecurity to me; starting to hate a band because they've become popular. Seeing Ghost's success has been interesting to me. While I, too, have that sort of gatekeep-y instinct, I'm also incredibly happy to see them getting the recognition they deserve. Impera is a gorgeous album with incredibly topical subject matter (see Twenties lol), and frankly it's an earworm. 

Favorite Track: Watcher in the Sky

4. Duél (2025) - Jinjer

As I mentioned previously, it takes me a while to warm up to new music, so I hadn't listened to Duél in its entirety until the end of 2025. But this album is truly such a masterpiece. This is the first of Jinjer's albums to involve Tatiana in the instrumental composition process, and you can really hear it. The placement of her vocals is cohesive and purposeful on this album, giving it a different sound to their past releases. Like Wallflowers, the lyricism on Duél is personal and introspective, something I'm particularly biased to. Just when I think Tati's writing can get any better, she continues to amaze me. This band is comprised of incredibly talented artists who inspire me to no end and have my endless respect. While their music may not be for everyone, if you get it, then you really get it. And because of that, I cannot recommend Jinjer enough. If you're a fan of progressive/groove/experimental metal, I urge you to give them a listen. 

Favorite Track: Kafka

5. Hybrid Theory (2000) - Linkin Park

I don't think I even need to elaborate on this entry. Linkin Park is one of the most well-respected and popular nu-metal bands for good reason. It's impossible not to love them. It's hard to believe Hybrid Theory was their debut album, due to how perfect it is. If you live under a rock and somehow haven't heard it, give it a listen as soon as possible. It's been in my head nonstop as of recent, and I cannot get enough of it. 

Favorite Track: Points of Authority

6. This Place Will Become Your Tomb (2021) - Sleep Token

Another controversial one. I'm going to completely disregard all of the discourse around Sleep Token in this entry, as like I said before in my Impera entry, it all stems from insecure men. Moving on. This Place Will Become Your Tomb is my favorite of Sleep Token's albums. I feel that it is the most consistent, in the sense that everything from the sound, production, lyrics, album cover, and imagery all feel incredibly cohesive. The theme of the ocean, drowning, etc. is prevalent in each aspect of the album and makes it feel especially well thought out. It says a lot coming from me, someone who is particularly lyric oriented, doting on an album with lyrics that primarily focus on romance and love, a topic that I am not particularly fond of nor do I find relatable. I've always described Sleep Token as a band that takes some warming up to, and while I know that's not for everybody, giving this album a chance might make you understand their growing popularity. 

Favorite Track: High Water

7. Vexovoid (2013) - Portal

This one is incredible. I've been absolutely enthralled with Portal as of late, and nothing else hits like them. It's definitely not easy listening, but it truly is horrific in the best way possible. If you're into extreme metal and haven't gave Portal a listen, I urge you to do so. They describe themselves as "horror metal", and that couldn't be more accurate. There isn't anything else out there quite like Portal, and I cannot recommend them enough. Particularly their music video for the track Curtain (content warning for disturbing imagery, eg. suicide).

Favorite Track: Curtain 

8. Hatred for Mankind (2009) - Dragged Into Sunlight

If this list was in order of most to least favorite, I think this album would be number one. Like Portal, there is nothing out there quite like Dragged Into Sunlight. Everything about this album, from the sound, the lyrics, to the gorgeous album art, feels catered to me. Fair warning, there are samples from very real serial killer confessions, and I know that's a pretty controversial and sensitive subject. But if that's something you're okay with hearing, and you're looking for what might just be the heaviest album out there, Hatred for Mankind is for you. It such a raw and unfiltered expression of hatred and anger, and it's been a great outlet for difficult emotions that this year has brought me. I have a lot of love for this album and band. 

Favorite Track: I, Aurora

9. Sjukdom (2011) - Lifelover

Lifelover, and frankly all of Kim Carlsson's projects are favorites of mine. They were my first foray into DSBM, and even now that I'm in the trenches of the genre, they are still one of my favorites. Sjukdom is an album I think a lot about, as it shows glimpses of the direction which Lifelover was headed. This album by far has the best production quality, and perhaps some of Lifelover's heaviest riffs. All in all, it competes with Dekadens as my favorite album of theirs, and leaves me wondering what could have been of the band. While I still follow projects of Kim Carlsson's such as Ritualmord and Consider Suicide, I can't help but mourn the loss of B, his incredible talent, and where the band could have gone. A rather depressing entry. 

Favorite Track: Homicidal Tendencies

10. Left Hand Path (1990) - Entombed

A classic landmark in death metal as a whole, but particularly important for the Swedish death metal scene. Left Hand Path is a must listen if your a fan of the genre. I could go on about the album's impact and legacy, but if you're familiar with the genre then you've definitely heard the tale a million times by now. Not a hidden gem by any means, but definitely deserves all of the love it's received. 

Favorite Track: Carnal Leftovers

Honorable Mentions

Epitome of Darkness (2006) - Repugnant

One of my favorite death metal albums/bands. 

Acceptance Speech (2013) - Dance Gavin Dance

My favorite album from this seemingly perpetually controversial band. 

Opus Eponymous (2010) - Ghost

Ghost's debut banger of an album that I never get tired of. 

Halloween (1996) - Kettle Cadaver

Actually damn good music that often get's overshadowed by Edwin Borsheim's shenanigans. 

Cursed, Scarred, and Forever Possessed (2008) - Celestial Bloodshed

Classic raw Norwegian black metal with the mandatory tragic story accompanying it. 

Alltid Allena (2018) - Consider Suicide

A nice downtempo album from Kim Carlsson's Consider Suicide, described as a series of rituals. 

Thanks for reading my bullshit lmao. This gave me an excuse to ramble about my favorite artists this year. It was a fun little project.