{"id":53828,"title":"The Marsh Dot CA's Top Fifteen Albums of 2025","description":"It\u2019s that time, the time of year for numbered lists! Here's mine.","content":"

\"qcq4kplnbzlepoaqvinzldtujstweax8rkua7sprzsb47jpg.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"It\u2019s that time, the time of year for numbered lists where we all say how much we liked the same 10 or 20 albums ad nauseum with some variance between lists but it does get relatively predictable. This year I thought I would try something new. Rather than give all 10 spots to albums that really don\u2019t need any extra help, I thought I\u2019d dig a bit deeper into my listening for the last year and see what I could unearth.<\/p>

Whether this is a worth while experiment will remain to be seen, but hey, I hope at the very least there are some albums in hear you haven\u2019t heard and might take the time to check out.<\/p>

That said, I\u2019m not going to pretend there weren\u2019t some absolutely huge albums this year that I fucking loved. It was a big year for my nostalgia, with a lot of metalcore acts making me feel like I was first figuring myself out. I really enjoyed the releases from Of Mice And Men, Northlane, The Devil Wears Prada, Silverstein, and Architects - there\u2019s just no denying that I had fun listening to all of them.<\/p>

I also really enjoyed the latest from the ever-controversial Sleep Token, the omnipresent and fucking incredible Agriculture, and the returns of Propaghandi, Tallah, Thrice, and Tetrarch. Plus we had a new one from The Callous Daoboys, Chat Pile, Spiritbox, Dying Wish, The Acacia Strain, To The Grave, Turnstile, Panopticon, Unprocessed, Scowl, Clipping., I could go on and on and on and on and on.<\/p>

It was also an incredible year for soundtracks, Flying Lotus\u2019 ASH<\/em>, Ball X Pit<\/em> by Amos Roddy, and Lorien Testard\u2019s score for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33<\/em> were absolutely incredible and remain in my rotation even now.<\/p>

Some artists from this year who I only just discovered this year had some extremely strong outings too, the stunning Paris Texas, Ho99o9, Model\/Actriz, Heaven Shall Burn - again, I could go on.<\/p>

Hell, you even had some great new releases from MEGAFAUNA and VNRL\u2026 ;).<\/p>

I mean we are fucking spoiled for truly tremendous music this year.<\/p>

Of course, saying that, it\u2019s possible you\u2019ll see my top two or three and say \u201cwell those were also pretty huge\u201d and you\u2019re right - they were, but they also were unequivocally my favourite albums of 2025 and so there\u2019s really no good way to mention them in passing. I hope that this list is helpful, and brings to the surface some great stuff that you may have missed over the last year.<\/p>

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<\/p>

15 - Touching Grass - Nixonoise <\/em><\/strong>(experimental, noise - Philip K Discs)<\/p>

\"ybe5lcvcbhcwdt9pc6xms2nop6tj7fmrgb8z9feg7kae5kxu.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"As a person who makes experimental music, it should be no surprise that an album like Nixonoise from Touching Grass got its nasty little hooks in me. Inspired by the parallels between Richard Nixon and Donald Trump, Touching Grass creates a really unsettling and bizarre EP - even just across 14 minutes, there is something here that lingers. As with all experimental noise albums, your mileage may vary - but you\u2019ve not heard anything like this, I can almost guarantee it.

https:\/\/philipkdiscs.bandcamp.com\/album\/nixonoise<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>



14 - To Octavia - Melodrama<\/em><\/strong> (alt-metal, Independent)
\"htbpysg41gpqjihsokaoqwqw2hlbbc91nbyf8dtnjmc8leej.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"I said earlier that this was a really good year for my nostalgia. That\u2019s true of bands who were from my youth, and also to bands that I only just found out about this year. To Octavia is the latter, an extremely fun post-hardcore(?), post-metalcore(?) project from Australia that really manages to deliver quite a bit, and its not one I\u2019ve seen mentioned a ton in my little sphere of influence.

https:\/\/tooctavia.com\/<\/a>
<\/p>


13 - God Alone - The Beep Test<\/em> <\/strong>(Post-hardcore, Prosthetic)<\/p>

\"ouykj7qcmbcc1vi52hh0kw9bm0jlxcj0zddw3gx4tku68kmb.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"Being on Prosthetic Records might elevate God Alone to being a bit less obscure than some of the other\u2019s on this list, but it is one that I\u2019ve not seen a tone about this year. An absolute shredder of an album from these folks out of Ireland.<\/p>

https:\/\/godalone.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-beep-test<\/a>
<\/p>



12 - Idle Heirs - Life Is Violence <\/em><\/strong>(post-metal, Relapse)<\/p>

\"nw2ge5dshmcpwbhj5alncfjutizribrshimhmxmwswmxme8s.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"<\/p>

Ok, so a couple of these were on my mid-year check in list, and I\u2019m someone who doesn\u2019t like to duplicate work SO here\u2019s what I said back then:

Fuck me. This album is stunning. Honestly, just the way it moves from clean to screamed vocals is so satisfying and beautiful. The issue with post- genres is that there isn\u2019t a consistency to what that means but THIS is the post-metal that I love. Emotional and powerful from end to end.<\/span><\/em>

https:\/\/idleheirs.bandcamp.com\/album\/life-is-violence<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>


11 - keening. - you are so small and the world is so big<\/em><\/strong> (screamo, Independent)<\/p>

\"w3oxjgslrch6dohizascnqws3dl0jzlmg16yafuyr7vhxtnf.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"Between this and Emma Goldman\u2019s release, it\u2019s clear that the screamo scene is alive and well here in Canada - and thank god for that, because this absolutely rips. Clearly the shortest thing on the list, this EP runs 10 minutes but it still manages to be one of the best things I\u2019ve heard this year. No question.<\/p>

https:\/\/wearekeening.bandcamp.com\/album\/you-are-so-small-and-the-world-is-so-big<\/a><\/p>


10 - Voidscan - The Rubicon Saga<\/em><\/strong> (electronic, SHIFT+CTRL)<\/p>

\"ezo2ioldrlq69efz69w84kt6aivco7koblkgknvd4zdtnfyc.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"See, the problem with enjoying electronic music is that these motherfuckers tend to be prolific as hell, and VOIDSCAN can not stop putting stuff out, after this one there are FOUR MORE on their bandcamp page? I feel like I\u2019m deeply slacking. Anyways, you may know that I am a fan of the 1995 classic Hackers <\/em>and this takes me there with its retro-futuristic, cyberpunk vibes. On top of the album absolutely kicking ass, VOIDSCAN wrote accompanying stories for each of the 12 tracks. I mean really, what have YOU DONE this year?<\/p>

https:\/\/voidscan.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-rubicon-saga-lp<\/a>
<\/p>


9 - aya - hexed!<\/em> <\/strong>(electronic, Hyperdub)<\/p>

\"ujdjyxlb220wuyivfk1qanojvhbyjjd2xr9jy0hgsbf9rxn6.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"Another that survived from my mid-year check in, so here\u2019s what I said back then:<\/p>

Holy shit. An album as offputting as its cover that is also fun, danceable and experimental enough to feel superior about it when you listen? This was my first foray into the music of aya and I\u2019m stunned. It manages to confront \u201cInternalised phobias and suppressed traumas\u201d while also have some absolute bangers on it.<\/span><\/em><\/p>

https:\/\/aya-yco.bandcamp.com\/album\/hexed<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>


8 - Nuvolascura - How This All Ends<\/em><\/strong> (blackened hardcore, Independent)<\/p>

\"aw9l6usamvnh1g2d7knsfejerhkiuc3jtltnog335nsj2wy9.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"A straight up ferocious album that will relentlessly beat the shit out of you start to finish. Even in its rare quiet moments, there is a white-hot-fury that accompanies every moment, and god fucking damn if its not one of the best things in a while.<\/p>

https:\/\/nuvolascura.bandcamp.com\/album\/how-this-all-ends<\/a><\/p>


7 - Cell - I will Not Be Found Here After<\/em><\/strong> (blackened hardcore, Independent)<\/p>

\"vlfcaowoc9xhaaj0iaviajohgbrukevchedvpkpnntorfuq5.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"Sometimes album art seems like some random shit that a band thought would be cool. Sometimes it is supposed to be a subversion of what you would expect. Then there are the times like this, where the cover of this album sets up and perfectly delivers the entire vibe of this record. There is an oppressiveness to it, like the walls are closing in around you (hah, and the band is called Cell, get it?), and you, like them, will not be found here after.<\/p>

Full Album Stream<\/u><\/a><\/p>


6 - Foxcult - Watercolours: The Emerald Grove<\/em><\/strong> (post-hardcore, Adventure Cat)<\/p>

\"5v04xn4t45keojqt7vucc0kqmamwqokbjci7frbkfox5y6lc.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"This album is like wrapping yourself up in a deeply comfortable (and extremely pissed off) blanket full of nostalgia. This is the kind of band that a teenage me would have been JONESING for and fortunately for FOXCULT, adult me is also a huge fucking fan of it. Bringing in some elements of screamo, emo, post hardcore, math and all really all of those things that helped form me into the horrible monster that I am. According to the internet they are post-hardcore and shoegaze, so, further proof that I don\u2019t know fuck all about genre.

https:\/\/foxcultmetal.bandcamp.com\/album\/watercolors-the-emerald-grove<\/a><\/p>


Alright, I said earlier that I didn\u2019t like to duplicate work, but I figured for the top 5 I would maybe re-review things. All five of these were on my mid-year list, and while I was tempted to make that a disqualifying factor, the fact of the matter is these were fully my five favourite albums of 2025 and it would have been dishonest to put anything else here. <\/em>
<\/p>



5 - Emma Goldman - all you are is we<\/em><\/strong> (screamo, Independent)
\"fnave1i6twtfr0csefe26fznt9xipdya6yedlpuwwuxjoidv.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"A screamo band named after a famous and well regarded anarchist, from Canada, that comes out of the fucking gate with so much angst and anguish is just so completely up my alley that there\u2019s no way its a surprise this survived from my mid-year to my over-all year favourites. It\u2019s a fucking ripper of a record, and if you haven\u2019t heard it, then you haven\u2019t heard one of the best screamo records in the last five years. Full stop.<\/p>

https:\/\/emma-goldman.bandcamp.com\/album\/all-you-are-is-we<\/a>
<\/p>


4 - Am I In Trouble? - Spectrum<\/em><\/strong> (black metal, B\u00f6lverk Records<\/span>)
\"exclqgc4xubgshstloxwnxswtnyyn65p8om0s0kl12q3wwpy.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"There is a part of me that was tempted to put this lower on the list, if only to prevent Steve Wiener from receiving TOO MUCH praise this year, but the fact is that Spectrum <\/em>is a truly remarkable album and Steve and Chris Barber, as well as all of the guests on the record, deserve every ounce of praise that they receive. This album serves as a reminder that black-metal has the capacity for beauty in its brutality, and that it doesn\u2019t need to sound like utter and absolute shit to bring through the intensity here. The album is excellent, what else can be said?

https:\/\/amiintrouble.bandcamp.com\/album\/spectrum<\/a>
<\/p>


3 - Backxwash - Only Dust Remains<\/em><\/strong> (hip hop, Ugly Hag)
\"aejsjuk434d9xhdy5jgfng9juoenzbbmcycuhrqbnbzkkvtf.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"It is possible that I\u2019m physically incapable of including Backxwash on an AOTY list, but you can pretty safely bet that they\u2019re going to make an appearance if they put out music in a given year. There is an electricity and rage in this artists work that really isn\u2019t matched anywhere else. Similarly to Spectrum<\/em>, this album is a reminder of what hip hop can be if it wants to, and I will always love Backxwash for that.<\/p>

https:\/\/backxwash.bandcamp.com\/album\/only-dust-remains<\/a>
<\/p>

<\/p>

2 - Ethel Cain - Perverts<\/em><\/strong> (dark ambient, Daughters of Cain)
\"2esd2gtfvupe2tdasmz67gu39fdpxnduvtdql7djgetregj9.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"You know that feeling when you realize you\u2019ve stumbled on something that is precisely and exactly your shit? The goosebumps and the hair-raising that happens when something creeps into your bones? That\u2019s Perverts<\/em>, for me anyway. I confess to bouncing off of Ethel Cain\u2019s other work sometimes, even the other record they released this year didn\u2019t quite do it for me - this one though\u2026 it still sits in the back of my mind.

https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/mothercain\/sets\/perverts-2<\/a>
<\/p>



1 - Moor Mother & Sumac - The Film<\/em><\/strong> (avant-garde, Daymare)
\"yv59cdyb3iifdilixztr6n2mpoowrwyjyfwp3ns36b4emz7h.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"Sometimes you just know. I was in love with this record from the very beginning, and even now, it\u2019s the album that I think about when I\u2019m thinking about the stand-out work in 2025. The unlikely pairing of Sumac and Moor Mother almost feels like it shouldn\u2019t work, and instead it is one of the most interesting pieces of art I\u2019ve consumed all year and to be frank, if you disagree- you\u2019re absolutely wrong.<\/p>

https:\/\/sumac.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-film<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

And there you fucking have it really, my favourite music from 2025. I really hate whittling things down like this, and putting them in order hurts my heart a little bit. There is so much tremendous art out there, and if this list exposes you to something new that makes an impact - then I guess its worth it.<\/p>

FWIW, here\u2019s a 10\u00d710 LastFM grid for 2025 (up to the date of publishing this anyways).<\/p>

\"syrbrooepgkgqegixkxo4znmtyaha7qqj5dv5yu6inet6ofi.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"<\/p>

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