Self-proclaimed Asia-core correspondent Kayla Hamilton lived up to her moniker this year by not just travelling between Japan, Thailand and Australia, but bringing us stories, reviews and interviews from across the region.
Always on the search of breakdowns and obsessed with finding the undiscovered gems of the Asia Pacific metalcore scene, Kayla shares with us her #WoSYearInReview...
TOP 10 RELEASES OF 2025
10. District 105 - Chapter 1: The Lost Creator
9. Volatile Ways - Perfect Dark
8. Ends In Tragedy - Beauty of Death
7. Theurgy - Theurgy
6. The Cards I Play - Diamond Avenue
5. Pincer+ - Who Are You When No One's Around
4. Heavensgate - A Heart Is A Heavy Burden
3. Stray From The Path - Clockworked
2. Within Destruction - Animetal
1. KNOSIS - GENKNOSIS
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2025
10. The Cards I Play - ‘The Sun’
9. District105 - ‘A Broken Symbol’
8. Ugoslabier feat. Tao (Sweet Mullet) - ‘Hallucination’
7. KNOSIS - ‘SHIN MON’
6. Stray From The Path - 'Kubrick Stare'
5. Orca - ‘OAD’
4. ANNALYNN - ‘White Flags’
3. Terminal Sleep - ‘They Circle Below’
2. KNOSIS - ‘Tanebi’
1. ANNALYNN - ‘Bios’
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2025
Have to jump in and shout out Japanese band The Cards I Play. Imagine if Linkin Park added in breakdowns while writing the Tokyo Drift soundtrack? That’s these guys.
(Also, without revealing too much, keep your eyes peeled for these guys in 2026)
GIG OF THE YEAR
I attended so many amazing gigs, so it would be really hard to narrow it down to three, so I need to go with number one ANNALYNN’s Unchained Redemption Concert. Purely because it was such a beautiful display of community, of seeing a band overcome such a devastating loss of their career, and just really tugged at my heartstrings. It reminded me exactly why I love music and why I became a music journalist.
FAV NEW BAND/MUSICIAN DISCOVERED IN 2025?
Hands down, Theurgy. An Adelaide band that plays metalcore just how I like it. Not only do they make great music, but they also are such good examples in our community of a band that is using their platform to stand up for what they believe in and support the local scene.
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2026?
It has to be Terminal Sleep. They have been making their way out onto the world stage now and I do not doubt in my mind that they are about to blow up huge. Insane energy, incredible music and once their next full-length drops, we aren’t going to know what hit us.
FAV ACHIEVEMENT AT WOS HQ?
Being able to do some backstage work and represent WoS at Converge Fest this year was definitely a career highlight, but once again, I have to go back to my interview with ANNALYNN. It was the perfect example of doing the right thing ethically and morally as a journalist, and being rewarded in the end. Telling a tale of triumph and giving a band space to be able to tell their story in their own words is absolutely why I got into this business in the first place.
I also can’t get past my interview with PK from PROMPTS. I was not expecting it to head down that route, but it was such an insightful chat.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026?
Doing more interviews and shining the light on so much talent in the Asia region that I’m sure is going to hit Aussie shores next year. I am also looking forward to kicking off the year at Froth & Fury, which is going to set the tone for what is sure to be a wild year. Also, even though Park Waves is cancelled, I’m sure Parkway Drive are going to do something mind-blowing next year and I can’t wait to see what they will do next. How can you top landing on the Opera House?
Words by Kayla Hamilton @kaylazomboid
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