2025 has been an incredible year for heavy music, and for my own journey within the scene. I've covered some amazing shows, reviewed incredible albums, ticked off some bucket list items and most importantly I've found myself connecting with even more people than ever in the Australian heavy music community.
As I write this wrap up, I am so fulfilled with how this year has gone and I'm beyond pumped for 2026. Read on to see what stuck out to me this year.
TOP 10 RELEASES OF 2025
10. Justice For The Damned - Stay Relentless
9. Spite - New World Killer
8. Body Prison - Everything You Never Wanted To See
7. Paleface Swiss - Cursed
6. Bloom - The Light We Chase
5. Fox Lake - New World Heat
4. Mélancolia - random.access.misery
3. Signs Of The Swarm - To Rid Myself Of Truth
2. Whitechapel - Hymns in Dissoannce
1. Lorna Shore - I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2025
Because this year is stacked, I've decided to run with my top songs this year that were not released by artists in my top 10 albums list.
10. Poppy - 'Unravel'
9. Poppy, Amy Lee, Courtney LaPlante - 'End of You'
8. Blood Oath - 'Gauze'
7. Clay J Gladstone - 'Sunflower'
6. Hate Complex - 'Silence'
5. Zuko - Teeth To The Curb
4. Terminal Sleep - 'They Circle Below'
3. Reliqa - 'Your Touch'
2. The Gloom In The Corner - 'Assassination Run'
1. Future Static - 'There's Nowhere Else To Go'
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2025
Mélancolia - 'ALL_IS_RUST'
TOP GIGS OF THE YEAR
This is such a hard one because I've managed to make it to 26 incredible gigs this year. I'm going to include both Knotfest and Good Things 2025 festivals, Metallica, and Void of Vision's grand finale at the Forum. Seeing Evanescence in an intimate setting and Justice For The Damned at a house show too were crazy ideas that I could witness too.
FAV NEW BAND/MUSICIAN DISCOVERED IN 2025?
I'm doubling up here because early this year I discovered Synestia and Dismbodied Tyrant on The Poetic Edda. That release really scratched the symphonic deathcore itch.
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2026?
Blood Oath are quickly making a name for themselves. With their first single 'Gauze' only released in August and their first EP The Pattern of Pain out in November, they've found themselves on some cool as lineups such as the Boundaries sideshow in Melbourne next year.
FAV ACHIEVEMENT AT WOS HQ?
I'm tooting my own horn here, I've done a lot of cool shit this year. The biggest things by far include reviewing and photographing Evanescence's smallest show in 20 years, and my coverage of Lorna Shore this year. I was elated to interview Adam DeMicco, photograph Lorna Shore at their Melbourne sideshow, and contribute some words about their debut Australian festival appearance at Good Things this year.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026?
My gig spreadsheet for 2026 already has 21 entries, so the I'm keen to be busy on the live tour circuit. For some reason January and March are incredibly stacked, however I'm most looking forward to ticking off another bucket list item by seeing Linkin Park for the first time, and jumping on the Hellbound Cruise later in the year.
Written by Tyler Lubke @huntsman421
