This year was too much; I constantly felt like I was trailing behind, and very overwhelmed. However, this “excess” was a positive too, I cannot recall a year where so much fantastic music was released, and so many phenomenal shows took place.
Personally, I felt I lagged professionally and creatively. Some of the reasons for this were well beyond my control, and still are. However, my aim for 2026 is to try to progress wherever and whenever I can. Without too much Willidiot behaviour, only some.
Please know, I despise doing these lists, I always miss multiple important releases, tours, or news.
TOP 40 RELEASES OF 2025
(#1 in place, remaining in random order)
40 – King Yosef – Spire Of Fear
39 – IDLES – Caught Stealing Soundtrack
38 – Barriers – Decay EP
37 – Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve
36 – King Parrot – A Young Person’s Guide To
35 – Mawiza - ÜL
34 – Wardruna - Birna
33 – Underoath – The Place After This One
32 – Turnstile – Never Enough
31 - Sundrowned - Higanbana
30 – Stray From The Path - Clockworked
29 – SpiritWorld - Helldorado
28 – Sigh - I Saw the World's End – Hangman's Hymn MMXXV
27 – Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath
26 – PUP – Who Will Look After The Dogs?
25 – Pig Pen – Mental Madness
24 – Paleface Swiss - Cursed
23 – OSI AND THE JUPITER - Larvatus
22 – LANDMVRKS – The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been
21 – La Dispute – No One Was Driving The Car
20 – Killswitch Engage – The Consequence
19 – Jenny Hval – Iris Silver Mist
18 – Iron Mind – Test Of The Iron Mind
17 – House Of Protection – Outrun You All EP
16 – HO99O9 – Tomorrow We Escape
15 – Heretoir - Soalstagia
14 – HEALTH – CONFLICT DLC
13 – Drain - …Is Your Friend
12 – Deftones – Private Music
11 – Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power
10 – Deadguy – Near-Death Travel Services
9 – Bore - Feral
8 - Boneflower - Reveries
7 – Bon Iver – Sable, Fable
6 – Black Braid - III
5 – Behemoth – The Shit Ov God
4 – Anna Von Hausswolff - ICONOCLASTS
3 - Agriculture – The Spiritual Sound
2 – AFI – Silver Bleeds The Black Sun
1 – THRICE – Horizons/West
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2025
10 – SwordfishTrombone feat. Misstiq ‘Fort Kiowa’ (self-plug)
9 – Uncultivates - ‘Flatley’
8 - The Southern River Band – ‘Fuck You Pay Me'
7 - Cog – ‘Walk The Line’
6 – Perturbator Feat ULVER – ‘Apocalypse Now’
5 – Better Lovers – 'The Impossible End'
4 – Better Lovers – 'Don’t Forget To Say Please'
3 – Converge – ‘Love Is Not Enough’
2 – Poison The Well – ‘Trembling Level’
1 – Totally Unicorn – ‘Hard Feelings’
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2025
Fit For An Autopsy – ‘It Comes For You’
TOP 3 GIGS OF THE YEAR
1. The Dillinger Escape Plan with Ho99o9 at The Gov, Adelaide, SA – August 12th 2025
2. Refused at Northcote Theatre, Melbourne, VIC – December 4th 2025
3. Baroness at The Odeon Theatre, Hobart, TAS – June 8th 2025
FAV NEW BAND DISCOVERED IN 2025?
HÉR from Poland. Nordic Fusion/Jazz/Post-Punk all fused into poetic magnificence. Imagine Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds collaborating with Wardruna.
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2026?
Melbourne’s ScarnOn; very fun metallic-punk trio, including a father and son in the line-up. Along the lines of a mix between Mutoid Man and The Chats.
FAV ACHIEVEMENT AT WOS HQ?
Too many. Interviewing Davey Havok from AFI was certainly a highlight. The entire Wardruna experience, and being invited to meet Einar Selvik backstage was truly remarkable. The entire Dark Mofo festival again. The Dillinger Escape Plan, and meeting them in person (plus hanging out with Ben again). Any time the best bossman Paul “Browny” Brown sends me an email/message saying “I need your words on this” – fills my heart.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2026?
Thrice tour, Froth & Fury, Dark Mofo, The Horrors, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Adelaide Festival, the HÉR album, Better Lovers tour, King810 tour – there seems to be already an excess of tours and new music, but it is so exciting.
SwordfishTrombone are taking a bit of downtime due to our axe-man Dan being blessed with a new baby girl Willow. So, I will be looking at other outlets of creativity. Besides that, more movies, being the best partner I can be to my beautiful girlfriend Sarah, and a friend and helping adult (well…. adult is a push) to her tremendous three daughters. Surf more (go away algal bloom), care more, FUNCLE better, and keep progressing forwards.
Words by Will Oakeshott @teenwolfwill
