Now that 2025 is coming to a close, we at Tuonela Magazine want to share the releases that we have most enjoyed. Each of our staff members will share their own list, so here is the list of Hector Sanchez.
2025 was an interesting year for the music industry in many ways: bands returned after long hiatuses, new albums were released, some legends unfortunately passed away, a few acts peaked in popularity thanks to years of hard work, and the sheer volume of music became a bit too much to keep up with. Let’s be real, a lot of changes are happening in metal music worldwide, but one trend persists, and that’s that the availability of music (releases and live music) is getting difficult to handle. While I think this means more independent artists are getting visibility without a record label contract, on the other hand, consumers have more difficulty keeping up with releases in both physical and digital formats, and gigs are popping up almost every weekend. I, myself, couldn’t easily summarize my lists for this post, as I kept thinking, “Damn, but wasn’t that release better than the previous one?”
When it comes to metal music, I think it has never been as popular as live music as it is now, and at this point, I have experienced almost all my favorite metal bands at live shows. I must admit, it is getting quite difficult for me to be impressed by a live band enough to say, “This was the concert of the year!” That said, I cannot really include a metal music concert as my favorite live act this year. Nonetheless, a few good gigs happened, and as I ventured into a variety of live genres besides heavy metal, they still reaffirmed my love affair with guitar riffs and unconventional dress codes.
In a similar vein, I didn’t include this year’s top 10 of my favorite Finnish acts for two reasons: Finnish metal bands are already popular enough to be classified as international acts, and there were not many lesser-known bands to give them room in a Finnish top ten. So I split my favorite Finnish acts across the other classifications. This does not mean there are not enough high-quality releases coming from this country; on the contrary, even those from extreme metal genres are big names in the global metal music scene. All things considered, it just sheds light on the virtuous momentum that Finnish metal music is experiencing these days.
As for my personal experience, I had plenty of material to review in 2025, fell in love again with black metal thanks to releases from mythical figures like GAAHL’S WYRD to up-and-coming acts such as 1914, revisited the legendary NINE INCH NAILS’ “With Teeth” album (2005), discovered new bands that are part of my daily playlists now, and wrote live reports for the majestic CANDELABRUM FESTIVAL, where I got to see bands not so easily found live like THE 3rd AND THE MORTAL and THE KOVENANT. Was it a good year in music? Definitely yes! Here is my summary:
TOP 10 ALBUMS
10. Novembre – Words of Indigo
9. Amorphis – Borderland
8. …And Oceans – The Regeneration Itinerary
7. Heaven Shall Burn – Heimat
6. Katatonia – Nightmares As The Extention Of The Waking State
5. 1914 – Viribus Unitis
4. Metsatöll – TÖRI
3. Harakiri For The Sky – Scorched Earth
2. Paradise Lost – Ascencion
1. Gaahl’s Wyrd – Braiding The Stories
TOP 3 EPS
3. Mokoma – Tyyni
2. Lord of the Lost feat. Infected Rain – Would You Walk With Me Through Hell
1. Within Temptation feat. Jerry Heil – Sing Like A Siren
TOP 5 MUSIC VIDEOS
5. Lord Of The Lost feat. Within Temptation – Light Can Only Shine In The Darkness
4. Remina – Silence And The Silver Sea
3.1914 – 1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)
2. Gaahl’s Wyrd – Time and Timeless Timeline
1. Heaven Shall Burn – War Is The Father Of All
TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL SONGS
5. Gaahl’s Wyrd – Braiding The Stories
4. Remina – Silence And The Silver Sea
3. Trivax – To Liberation And Beyond
2. Hällas – Face Of An Angel
1. Heaven Shall Burn feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage – Numbered Days
TOP 5 FINNISH SONGS
5….And Oceans – Prophetical Mercury Implement
4. Luna Kills – LEECH
3. Amorphis – Dancing Shadow
2. Bloodred Hourglass – The Crown Is Permanent
1. Käärijä feat. Lord Of The Lost – Raveyard
TOP 5 BEST LAST-MINUTE SONGS
5. Pyogenesis – All I Am Is Bleeding
4. Kreator – Satanic Anarchy
3. Wolfchant – Goddess Of Fire
2. Shining feat. Sargeist and Horna – Petturi
1. Hällas – Face Of An Angel
TOP 5 ALBUM COVERS
5.Novembre – Words of Indigo
Author: Travis Smith
4. Eleine – We Stand United
Author: Nestor Avalos
3. Harakiri For The Sky – Scorched Earth
Author: Bruno Gonzalez Art
2. Trivax – The Great Satan
Author: Nestor Avalos
1. … And Oceans – The Regeneration Itinerary
Author: Adrien Bausson
BEST COLLABORATION
Lord Of The Lost feat. Käärijä – Raveyard
I think we can all agree that Käärijä stands alone in his ability to blend industrial rock and hip hop so seamlessly, especially with LORD OF THE LOST joining him to elevate this work even further here. A masterpiece!
BEST CONCERT
Kylie Minogue – Tension Tour 2025
You might wonder what Kylie Minogue‘s name is doing in a heavy metal e-zine blogpost, but she has more relevance here than you might expect. After all, who can forget NORTHERN KINGS’ cover of “I Should Be So Lucky”? Kylie is an artist whose influence extends across contemporary music genres. Metal itself is now shaped by outside influences more than ever, with genres like pop metal and rap metal emerging. It’s hard to argue that “metal music” stands alone, since all genres intersect.
Returning to Kylie Minogue, her concert stood out as my top live performance this year for several reasons. Nowadays, it’s rare to see a performer who can pack five decades of music into one setlist, deliver flawless vocals amid choreography, lighting effects, and costume changes for over two hours, and still command the stage with charisma. Her recent TENSION TOUR was a burst of energy I’ll never forget, and I’d recommend her shows even to the baddest metal fans. If you need convincing, just check out her live rendition of her classic “Confide in Me” (audio and official live visuals below) featuring thunderous electric guitars—you’ll be glad you did.
MOST PROMISING ACT
TRIVAX: This band surely is an act to keep an eye on. Originally from Iran and currently based in the UK, TRIVAX gained international recognition in 2025 after the release of “The Great Satan.” Combining fierce growls and mystic lyrics inspired by the Middle Eastern lore, this album has made me headbang in a way that no other black metal band has done in recent years. TRIVAX is a band with an interesting history of resilience against social norms and censorship. Still, even better, they are shaping up to become a remarkable act in the global extreme metal scene.
REMINA: As an alternative project beginning in 2022, REMINA was created by Heike Langhans (formerly of DRACONIAN), Mike Lamb (SOJOURNER), and Shayne Ross. After leaving DRACONIAN that same year, Heike dedicated herself fully to this venture, which blends classic doom elements with powerful electronic beats, maintaining the melancholic style she was known for in her previous band. Their debut album, “Osteopenia,” arrived in 2025 and showcases a unique blend of nostalgia and vigor. I’m excited to see what REMINA will bring in 2025!
TOP 5 MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES OF 2026
5. Kreator – Krushers Of The World
4. Clawfinger – Before We All Die
3. Beseech – TBA*
2. Hällas – Panorama
1. Nine Inch Nails -TBA*
*No confirmed release for 2026
Want to share your lists with us? Comment below with your lists.
The whole Tuonela Magazine team wishes you an inspirational 2026 filled with a lot of new music to discover. We hope to see you back next year!
