Carlo's Top 10 Albums of the Year

The time has come, the year has gone. What an amazing year for music. Making my top 10 albums for this year was very difficult, there was some last minute movement going on below the top 3, and day by day things can change, but I’m just gonna go with my gut. The top 3 have been locked for a while. I joined Decibel Warfare late in the year, some of these will have a link to reviews I have up already, but I am going to include some thoughts for each album on this list. I must warn the reader, well the gatekeeper reader. On an end of year album of the year list, anything goes, even here. It is okay to enjoy things other than metal, and it is good to have that diverse musical palette. I mean some of your favorite artists probably just listen to absolute garbage all the time (no wonder their music turns out that way too!). Anyway, nothing is more metal than enjoying what you enjoy, no matter what umbrella it falls under, and keeping true to that. Let’s go!

Number 10

Igorrr - Amen

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release Date: September 19th 2025

Score: 8/10

By all means, this record is a masterpiece in its own right. Unfortunately not everything can just be a 10/10, but personally, I could have that be the case. Except for bullshit like Sleep Token, 0/10, don’t even have to listen to that rubbish to score it. Now this bullshit right here though, this electronic ADHD bullshit opera death metal, I don’t know what it is, but it’s awesome. There actually is a song titled ADHD on here, and it honestly sums up the record in my opinion. Equally as hard and heavy on the electronics as it is the death metal. A must listen. Score should be higher, but I can’t keep mulling over scores and changing things multiple times a day, this would never get finished and posted. Dying to see this band live.

Number 9

Lady Gaga - MAYHEM (WARNING: NOT METAL) Label: Interscope Records

Release Date: March 7th 2025

Score: 8/10

I mean do I even need to say much about this one. Gaga doing what she does best, and better than she’s done it in quite some time. “This ain’t metal bro”. Yeah, well neither is half the shit people listen to that passes as “metal” these days. Lady Gaga is probably more metal than the motherfuckers at shows screaming “FUCKIN SLAYERRR!”. She shared shared the stage with Metallica yo. I think there’s a genuine argument to be had that Lady Gaga has been the Master pulling the strings all this time, and that James, Lars and company have always been the Puppets. This is the queen, NYHC icon, this is greatness, this is the self titled record Norwegian black metal legends never released (or have yet to release). We are all little monsters. Favorite tracks: Abracadabra, Killah, Zombieboy

Number 8

AFI - Silver Bleeds the Black Sun

Label: Run For Cover Records

Release Date: October 3rd 2025

Score: 8/10

Gothpunkcowboy. If I heard someone say that, l'd be like "oh, Silver Bleeds the Black Sun... by AFI". From pure hardcore punk, to the dark gothic arts draped in the blackest of pinks. The early days of punk, the commercial success, and the gothic, all blend here to create a most intriguing result. There are moments on the record that will give you an old school American Western vibe, which I like but these are not the high points. Ash Speck in a Green Eye and Nooneunderground are my favorite tracks on the album. After the conclusion, I am just left wanting more. In my opinion, this is their best album since Decemberunderground. This is AFI. 12 albums in, and the fire inside, has never burned brighter. This is a hardcore punk band that evolved into much more, but even in their current form, they will still put a lot of those fake ass hardcore punk bands to shame. This is an excerpt from my review of the album posted on Musicboard. For the full review, and more reviews that might not necessarily fit with what you expect from the Decibel Warfare platform, give me a follow over there @mr.melissa.

Number 7

Imperial Triumphant - Goldstar

Label: Century Media Records

Release Date: March 21st 2025

Score: 8.5/10

Death/Black Metal Jazz nerds rejoice. One of Imperial Triumphant’s shorter albums, 9 songs, only 38 minutes runtime, and this is exactly what I needed from them. I enjoy this band a ton, but I will admit, sonically, they’re a lot. Even going just 38 minutes with them could be enough to make your brain start to hurt. There’s a lot of shit going on. But what my fellow New Yorkers do on Goldstar, without losing any substance or the avant-garde weight that is Imperial Triumphant, is trim the fat, and lock in. The record is very focused, and to the point. It even has a grindcore song, NEWYORKCITY featuring Yoshiko Ohara from Bloody Panda. At just 48 seconds, it’s probably my favorite song on the album. The band successfully formulated a musical output that pushes limits, and even though there are still brief moments where it drags, my brain doesn’t start to tell me “that’s enough”, until the record is just ending. Might be my favorite record of theirs, certainly the one I listen to the most.

Number 6

Malevolence - Where Only The Truth Is Spoken

Label: Nuclear Blast/MLVLTD

Release Date: June 20th 2025

Score: 8.5/10

I love everything about this record, and this band. Malevolence are a band that hits almost everything I like and enjoy from guitar based music. Their 2022 record Malicious Intent didn’t quite connect with me as much as it should’ve at the time, but going back to it, I love it. That said, I believe WOTIS is a superior album in every way. The groove, the riffs, the solos, the batshit drumming, the beat your ass breakdowns that hit just as hard no matter how many times you hear them. I think this band is too great for their own good sometimes. It’s like holy shit chill for second. Killer riff after killer riff after killer riff after killer solo after killer breakdown and so on. It’s easy for shit to get lost or get overlooked. The band is at their best when they let the music breathe a bit more and let riffs really soak in before absolutely beating your ass. Fuck am I saying though, give me riff after riff, that works for me. Malevolence. Think Hatebreed, Pantera, Crowbar, Lamb of God. Really just some of the best pieces of heavy music all in one. But they aren’t just doing these bands, they make it their own. Trenches, Salt The Wound, and Counterfeit are probably my highlights from the record.

Number 5

Aephanemer - Utopie

Label: Napalm Records

Release Date: October 31st 2025

Score: 9/10

Symphonic Power Death/Black Metal, whatever the fuck you wanna call this. Utopie is packed with orchestral grandeur, the sharp bite of melodic death metal, lush polyphonic musical texture, blood curdling screams you’d find on a black metal release, and a driving force akin to power or epic metal. It’s hard to pick standout tracks because the record is very cohesive, all the songs are equally as important and interesting as the next. This album is peak cinema. Also, some of the melodies/harmonies on this album almost make it feel like a Christmas album, some Trans-Siberian Orchestra type shit. This is a must listen for anyone, at least once. Go here to find out the French titles of what are my top 3 songs from Utopie and read my full review of this amazing album.

Number 4

DRAIN - …IS YOUR FRIEND 

Label: Epitaph

Release Date: November 7th 2025

Score: 9/10

This is a positive, feel-good record with no shortage of gnarly riffs, breakdowns, skank parts, sing-alongs, and solos. DRAIN are another example of crossover being happy and healthy in 2025. This shit was made to satisfy your eardrums and put a smile on your face. Music is meant to and can make you feel a lot of different things, DRAIN always makes me feel in the best of ways while banging my head. Feeling like my favorite song on this album is Living in a Memory. Head here to read my full review of the record.

Number 3

Cradle of Filth - The Screaming Of The Valkyries

Label: Napalm Records

Release Date: March 21st 2025

Score: 9/10

Drama, drama, drama. No, not Chris Pfaff, Rob Dyrdek’s cousin. You probably know what I’m talking about, but if you don’t, whatever. Moving right on! Cradle of Filth are one of my favorite bands, and god be damned, The Screaming Of The Valkyries is a fucking amazing record. I’d say their best since Godspeed On the Devil’s Thunder. Though MOST the records in-between then and now have been pretty damn good. Their last record Existence Is Futile was great, but this one tops it. This album has pretty much everything you want from the band, gothic grandeur, horny vampiric overtones, quick blasts of black metal, riffs, fantastic drumming, Mr. Filth hitting some low growls on a death metal-esque breakdown on album highlight track Ex Sanguine Draculae, and of course classic emperor Dani’s lyrics. To Live Deliciously is such an awesome fucking song as well, I can’t stress it enough. I genuinely like every song on this record, can’t go wrong picking them out here. The band is so good live too, hearing some of these songs live this past year has been nothing short of “filthy”.

Number 2

WANTED - Cutting Edge

Label: Eonian Records

Release Date: June 27th 2025

Score: 9.5/10

Everything the term heavy metal is meant to mean. That’s how I feel about Detroit “hard & heavy” band WANTED, and their newest record Cutting Edge. You are instantly transported to the 1980s when you listen to this record and god damn it, there’s no other place I’d rather be. WANTED take everything that is sick about early heavy metal, and hair metal (yeah, I’ll admit there were sick parts of hair metal), and does away with all the other nonsense. Think Skid Row, Queensrÿche, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Ratt, and Dokken. Especially Dokken. Unbelievable guitar solos, tasteful grooves that drive the music forward, and an off the chart vocal performance. You will be scratching your head trying to figure out how their first album was released in 2022 and not 1982. The mighty mighty slick riffin’ Power, the smooth rockin’ Override, and the double kick action Knock It Down are my favorite tracks on the album. Heavy Fucking Metal.

Number 1

Messa - The Spin

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release Date: April 11th 2025

Score: 10/10

My unrivaled album of the year. This was my first full experience with Messa, and their brand of “Scarlet Doom”. I have not separated from the band since. This record is beautiful, menacing, full of energy, fantastic performances, love and despair. Please go read my full review for this masterpiece, as I’m not going to blow my load here, it deserves its own post.

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HONORABLE MENTION (WARNING: NOT METAL)

Nuovo Testamento - Trouble (EP)

Label: Discoteca Italia 

Released: July 25th 2025

Score 10/10

If this was a full length album, my #1 for this year would read a syntax error. Synth-pop, 80s dance style baby. Not metal, doesn’t have to be. This is hard as fuck. I’ll keep this shit on repeat 24/7 and never get tired of it. This is honestly some of the best music ever. The style, the mood, just everything about it echos/presents an era of music that cannot be beaten. They’re out here playing shows with bands like SUNAMI too, these some real ass mfs, making some real awesome music that everyone in the world should know, listen to, love, dance to, and enjoy. This should be what’s topping the pop charts instead of bs like Sabrina Carpentry and that scary bitch Taylor Swift. Anyway, Nuovo Testamento are that band. Every song on the EP is the best song on the EP, but Picture Perfect and Dream On are songs of the century.