(written by Islander)
We posted the last of our many 2025 year-end lists yesterday. As in previous years, the volume was extensive. As usual, some of them were re-postings of lists that appeared at “big platform” web sites and print magazines, and others were prepared by our own stable of race-horse writers. And once again we had a large group of lists from other guests and old friends. Plus, we’ve again received valuable, extensive lists in reader comments on THIS POST (new lists can still be added there).
In this article I’m setting forth links to all of the 2025 year-end lists that we published, divided into categories and listed within each category mostly in the order of their appearance. For people who are looking for the best metal that 2025 had to offer, these lists and our readers’ lists provide a tremendous resource, as they have in past years.
Heart-felt thanks again to everyone who contributed to 2025 LISTMANIA and to everyone who made time to read what we pulled together. A lot of people put a lot of effort into this series, as we do every year, but I can tell from the page views that it continues to mean something to fans of heavy music, and so we’ll continue doing it.
P.S. We still have one kind of 2025 list that continues to roll out, day-by-day — my own list of last year’s Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs. I will force myself to stop at the end of this month. If you want another way to re-engage with the metal of 2025 and perhaps still make some new discoveries, hopefully you’ll find that a fun way to do it.
NCS STAFF, OTHER NCS CONTRIBUTORS,
AND OTHER FRIENDS
Andy Synn (The EPs)
Andy Synn (The Disappointing)
Andy Synn (The Good)
Andy Synn (The Great)
Andy Synn (The Critical Top 10)
Andy Synn (The Personal Top 10)
DGR (50-41)
DGR (40-31)
DGR (30-21)
DGR (20-11)
DGR (10-1)
Wil Cifer
Chile
Professor D. Grover the XIIIth
Gonzo
Todd Manning
SurgicalBrute
The Goat Tavern
To the Teeth
Rafi Yovell
Daniel Barkasi
BAND MEMBERS
Neill Jameson (Krieg, Poison Blood)
Seb Painchaud (Tumbleweed Dealer)
Johan Huldtgren (Obitus)
MAGAZINES AND “BIG PLATFORM” SITES