The 2025 Album Roundup

It was a pretty quiet year for music, and I didn't really try to keep up with every single new release. But, as per tradition, I’ve put together a list of the albums that stood out to me. The order here is totally random since each one is unique in its own way. I decided to skip individual singles and focused only on full-length records. Just sharing what’s been on repeat in my headphones.

Dream Theater — Parasomnia#

The big news here is the return of Mike Portnoy. In my opinion, this is their best work in about fifteen years. While Portnoy was away, the band's music felt a bit too clinical. Now, everything sounds exactly like it should again.

Favorite tracks:

• Midnight Messiah
• Bend the Clock

Nospūn — Ozai#

This is solid, high-quality progressive metal. The album itself is pretty short—it feels more like an EP than a full-length record.

Favorite tracks:

• Out With a Bang
• The Effervescent Power

Novelists — Coda#

I’ve been following this French band for quite a while now. They’ve gone through some major changes this time around, with a female vocalist taking over the lead.

Favorite tracks:

• Say My Name
• Coda

Ihlo — Legacy#

Good old progressive metal with some very clear djent influences.

Favorite tracks:

• Replica
• Cenotaph

Perturbator — Age of Aquarius#

This is retrowave, but it’s done in the artist’s signature dark style.

Favorite tracks:

• Apocalypse Now
• Venus

Marko Hietala — Roses From the Deep#

A solo project from Nightwish's bassist. It turned out incredibly melodic, and the songs are super catchy—it only takes one listen for them to stick.

Favorite tracks:

• Frankenstein's Wife
• The Dragon Must Die

Amorphis — Borderland#

A Finnish band I’ve been listening to for ages. I’ve always loved their unique atmosphere and the way they work with melodies.

Favorite tracks:

• Bones
• The Strange

Unprocessed — Angel#

Modern metal with a unique sound and an interesting take on riffs. The mix really grabbed me: the bass isn't just buried in the background; it’s just as loud and clear as the rest of the instruments.

Favorite tracks:

• Sleeping with Ghosts
• Snowlover

Defecto — Echoes of Isolation#

Technical progressive metal. It’s got some thrash elements and some killer vocals.

Favorite tracks:

• Eternal Descent
• Sacred Alignment

The Algorithm — Recursive Infinity#

An instrumental project sitting right at the intersection of retrowave and metal. I love the aesthetic, and the fact that the track titles come straight from IT terminology is a great touch.

Favorite tracks:

• Race Condition
• Endless Iteration

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my playlist. Happy listening and have a relaxing evening, everyone.