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 Michelle Rosales.
Dear readers of Tuonela Magazine, I wish you nothing but the best of times in whatever it is you do this holiday break. Hopefully, for me, this time will be filled with rest. After a very hectic (sure, beautiful, but also hectic) year, the mind and the body long for reflection and time to process all that has been lived.
Periods of reflection are as important as periods of activity. Without having planned it that way, musically, this year turned out to be mostly one of reflection. My most listened to (according to last.fm) were artists and bands that didn’t even bring out an album this year (except for PALLBEARER’s “Foundations of Burden (2025 Redux)” and NINE INCH NAILS’ “Tron OST“). Among them were TEARS FOR FEARS, NINE INCH NAILS, PALLBEARER, and VOLA.
For this reason, I would like to make a special mention of some of the albums that I keep coming back to, despite all the new musical delights that arise from year to year: “Elemental” & “Raoul and the Kings of Spain” by TEARS FOR FEARS; “Hesitation Marks” & “The Slip” by NINE INCH NAILS; “Foundations of Burden” & “Mind Burns Alive” by PALLBEARER; and finally, “Inmazes” and “Witness“ by VOLA.
Moving on to what I was supposed to write about: the fact that I spent most of my time listening to older favorites doesn’t mean that I didn’t discover music that has, once again, changed my life in a way and expanded my musical horizon—which, by that, changed my overall perspective of this weird trip we call life.
The first band on that list is MESSA with their beautifully composed “The Spiral.” Next in line are PALLBEARER with the remix of their critically acclaimed “Foundations Of Burden,” first released back in 2014, an album that across time, keeps enlightening the mind.
Following closely are NAILED TO OBSCURITY with “Generation of the Void,” which is their most mature album to date. There is just one downside to this band’s music: if you ever hear the new songs live, you most likely won’t be able to enjoy them the same way through the album, and yes—they are THAT good.
Then came PARADISE LOST with “Ascension,” an album that seems to blend seamlessly all the different styles that this band has given us through decades of great music.
Now a shout-out is in order, and it goes to Euroblast Festival in Cologne, Germany (our editor-in-chief’s live report.) On their website you will find a warning saying: Legend has it that no one ever returned from Euroblast without a new band discovery. That statement couldn’t be truer. Because of this festival I discovered three bands that I couldn’t stop listening to through the last three months of the year: ESOTERICA with “Ether Metal,” whose music, (together with the previously mentioned MESSA) forced me, and I literally couldn’t stop myself, to pick up the very poor musical education I had in my childhood in a terrible attempt to cover bits and pieces of their compositions. When I say terrible, I mean it so much that I can tell you with certainty my neighbors wish I was kidding.
The next life-altering events were accompanied by the music of the following newcomers, whose debut albums are so good that I really can’t imagine how much better their future releases will be: ROYAL SORROW with “Innerdeeps,” and VIANOVA with “Hit It.” As proof of their effectiveness, I am not joking when I tell you I have ran and hiked my fastest paces in years thanks to these last two albums.
And last but not least: LADY GAGA with “Mayhem,” DEFTONES with “private music,” FKA TWIGS with “EUSEXUA” and the unexpected highlight that turned out to be ROSALÍA’s “Lux.“
Top 10 International albums
10. FKA twigs – EUSEXUA
9. Deftones – private music
8. Rosalía – LUX
7. Lady Gaga – Mayhem
6. Esoterica – Ether Metal
5. Paradise Lost – Ascension
4. Vianova – Hit It!
3. Pallbearer – Foundations Of Burden (2025 Redux)
2. Nailed To Obscurity – Generation Of The Void
1. Messa – The Spiral
Top 10 Finnish albums
10. Warmen – Band Of Brothers
9. Slow Fall – Blood Eclipse
8. Dawn Of Solace – Affliction Vortex
7. Sara – Hallava
6. Bloodred Hourglass – We Should Be Buried Like This
5. Before The Dawn – Cold Flare Eternal
4. Auri – III – Candles And Beginnings
3. Amorphis – Borderland
2. Luna Kills – Deathmatch
1. Royal Sorrow – Innerdeeps
Top 3 EPs
3. Blackshape – PRISMER I
2. Car Bomb – Tiles Whisper Dreams
1. Zagreb – In Time
Top 5 music videos
5. Benthos – Let Me Plunge
4. Nailed To Obscurity – Spirit Corrosion
3. Paradise Lost – Tyrants Serenade
2. Vianova – Squier Talk
1. Messa – At Races
Top 5 international songs
5. Esoterica – Burn
4. Nailed To Obscurity – The Ides Of Life
3. Rosalía – Reliquia
2. Deftones – Ecdysis
1. Spiritbox – Black Rainbow
Top 5 Finnish songs
5. Amorphis – Dancing Shadow
4. LUNA KILLS – slay ur enemies
3. Royal Sorrow – Innerdeeps
2. LUNA KILLS – sugar rush
1. Royal Sorrow – Evergreen
Top 5 best last-minute songs
5. Lifeless Past – Vamos A Bailar
4. Hällas – Face Of An Angel
3. Fire In Her Eyes – Sooner Or Later
2. Alissa White-Gluz – The Room Where She Died
1. Holosoil – Cracks
Top 5 Album Covers
Top 5 Album Covers, or the albums we couldn’t squeeze into our top albums list? your choice, dear reader!
5. Jack The Joker – The Devil To Pay In The Backlands
4. Benthos – Let Me Plunge
3. Carbomb – Tiles Whisper Dreams
2. Pallbearer – Foundations Of Burden (2025 Redux)
1. Mirar – Ascension
Best collaboration
Karmakanic – Transmutation
If a wild mixture of a ton of prog legends isn’t enough to make Transmutation a great collaboration, then I don’t know what will ever be.
Best concert
Vola – “Inmazes” 10 Year Anniversary @ Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
Most promising act
Vianova and/or Royal Sorrow. Both bands have released top-notch debut albums; it makes you wonder how they will evolve.
Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2026
5. Car Bomb – TBA
4. Karnivool – In Verses
3. Gojira – TBA
2. Type O Negative (Live Album)
1. At The Gates – TBA
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!
Written by Michelle Rosales.
