2025 has quite possibly been the best year for heavy music in a long while with our community growing to incredible numbers and the music has probably never been more accessible for listeners to join the dark side of the force.
We've also had more international artists coming to our shores this year, and the energy has been truly palpable with more punters coming out to gigs and strengthening the sense of community that makes this scene so special.
This was such a hard list to put together as I've enjoyed so much of what 2025 had to offer, but here's what's been on heavy rotation for me in the past year.
TOP 10 RELEASES OF 2025
10 – CURRENTS - All That Follows EP
9 – INVENT ANIMATE & SILENT PLANET - Bloom in Heaven EP
8 – THORNHILL - Bodies
7 – SPIRITBOX - Tsunami Sea
6 – PRESIDENT - King of Terrors EP
5 – HEAVENSGATE - A HEART IS A HEAVY BURDEN EP
4 – SLEEP TOKEN - Even In Arcadia
3 – DAYSEEKER - Creature In The Black Night
2 – LOVE IS NOISE - To live in a different way
1 – ETHEL CAIN - Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2025
10 – THE PLOT IN YOU - ‘Silence’
9 – PERFECT DARK - ‘Red Lights’
8 – BILMURI - ‘More Than Hate’
7 – TURNSTILE - ‘NEVER ENOUGH’
6 – PALEDUSK - ‘I ❤️ YOU BABY!!!’
5 – RELIQA - ‘Your Touch’
4 – SILENT PLANET - ‘Wick’
3 – ETHEL CAIN - 'Tempest'
2 – LOATHE - ‘Gifted Every Strength’
1 – SLEEP TOKEN - ‘Emergence’
TOP 5 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2025
5 – LORNA SHORE - ‘Glenwood’ (Directed by Dylan Hryciuk)
4 – ARCHITECTS - ‘Black Hole’ (Directed by Jensen Noen)
3 – THORNHILL - ‘Mercia’ (Directed by Jon Pisani & Jacob Charlton)
2 – PRESIDENT - ‘In The Name of The Father’ (Directed by Our World Is Grey)
1 – SPIRITBOX - ‘No Loss, No Love’ (Directed by Max Moore & Mike Stringer)
TOP 3 GIGS OF THE YEAR
3 – Slipknot @ Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
2 – Void of Vision @ The Forum, Melbourne
1 – Bilmuri @ The Forum, Melbourne
FAV NEW BAND/MUSICIAN DISCOVERED IN 2025?
ETHEL CAIN by far. A legend I had the privilege of working with earlier in the year suggested I give her debut album Preacher's Daughter a listen and I cannot thank them enough for turning me onto such a phenomenal artist. Diverse songwriting and a haunting, harrowing story told with some of the most beautiful production I've ever heard.
Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You sees Ethel Cain (real name Hayden Ahnedönia) take all the best parts of Preacher's Daughter, then blanket it in this warm haze of drone and ambience explored on her previous record Perverts that serves to double down on the intense emotions that come with falling in love for the first time. Penultimate track 'Tempest' is the sound of staring death in the face while a tornado slowly gets closer and closer to destroying your home and your entire life. Powerful, powerful stuff.
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2026?
GLOW. They’ve had quite a busy year jumping on shows with bands like DREAM ON DREAMER, and they put out their sophomore record in September called ‘Bitter Disappointment’ that doesn’t hold back from dropping you into this disgusting, bleak, black hole of despair. Have a listen. Hug your mates. Tell them you love them.
FAV ACHIEVEMENT AT WOS HQ?
Having the opportunity to review the monumental Even in Arcadia. I’ve been in the very fortunate position to review their music ever since 2021’s This Place Will Become Your Tomb and I’m grateful to WoS and Sleep Token’s team for carrying that streak forward into 2025.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026?
Playing more shows with Earthbound, seeing more shows with friends and discovering more artists. Additionally, one thing that's put a big smile on my face is the return of All Ages gigs, and I hope more bands facilitate AA shows in 2026 so the next generation of legends have the opportunity to experience what our scene is all about and share in the joy of music.
Written by Ollie Midson @olivermidson
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