{"id":52018,"title":"Xadaa's AOTY Mid-Year Check-In","description":"Well folks, it\u2019s fucking June - somehow - which means it\u2019s probably time to check in with the music I\u2019ve been listening to and see if anything good has been released this year.","content":"

Well folks, it\u2019s fucking June - somehow - which means it\u2019s probably time to check in with the music I\u2019ve been listening to and see if anything good has been released this year (spoiler: so much has been) - as with all albums indicating something is good, my list is right and if your favourite record isn\u2019t on here it\u2019s because its bad. Obviously.<\/p>

So here they are, my 10 favourite albums of 2025 so far.<\/p>

Honorable Mentions: Propaghandi - <\/em>At Peace<\/em><\/strong>, Ashenheart - <\/em>Tales From Eternal Dusk<\/em><\/strong>, Messa - <\/em>The Spin<\/em><\/strong>, Magnolia Park - <\/em>VAMP<\/em><\/strong>, Scowl - <\/em>Are We All Angels<\/em><\/strong>, Flying Lotus - <\/em>ASH (OST)<\/em><\/strong>, Grima - <\/em>Nightshade<\/em><\/strong>, Paris Texas - <\/em>They Left Me with a Gun\/the Sword<\/em><\/strong>, Sleep Token - <\/em>Even in Arcadia<\/em><\/strong><\/p>


\"hsuiunfxs1dafsm21nck23xc7kcwka0ojjj7ccxugwpnqrfu.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"10. Lorien Testard - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (OST)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Not only did I not think that I was going to like this game as much as I do, I didn\u2019t expect to be as enthralled by the soundtrack, but Lorien Testard\u2019s work on Expedition 33<\/em> is on of the things that makes this game work as well as it does. The gameplay may be great, but this soundtrack is equally important, as far as I\u2019m concerned. It is wildly diverse and shows so many facets to this artist and if you haven\u2019t played the game - at least check out the soundtrack.<\/p>

\"at8juzvscgyd4liq4zab0hvwzmiyo8xx139wvv461behgksw.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"9. Mares of Thrace - The Loss<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

I\u2019m just now realizing how much Canadian music is on my list this year\u2026 (I\u2019m writing these in reverse order so that\u2019s not weird) and honestly, I\u2019m really grateful for that. There is such an incredible music scene across this country and I think sometimes we (Canadians) forget that. Mares of Thrace is a bracingly offputting record that whips so fucking hard. Listen to it.<\/p>

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\"mrk4q7idl3oh3biio0d8vochyubvssarhtshdjk01ne34qts.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"8. aya - hexed!<\/em><\/strong>
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.<\/p>

\"whjmarmyx5uh5swzxcor6xy94snxxlezwmhosgbzoq6780nt.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"7. Am I In Trouble? - Spectrum<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

First point of order, I don\u2019t like \u2026 most black metal. In particular raw black metal, but it does seem like there is a condition of making black metal that requires it to sound like absolute piss, and the more like piss it sounds, the blacker and cvlter it is. Then a band like Am I In Trouble? comes along and puts the whole fucking genre on notice. Not only can your black metal be beautiful and experimental, but also colourful and, frankly, beautiful. I can not say enough good things about this record, and if you haven\u2019t heard it then what the fuck are you doing?<\/p>

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\"n3gjh2tm3ean5ajynqzhenlvehhkbfuxes7dd3w9tgymj5oz.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"
6. Idle Heirs - Life is Violence<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

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.<\/p>

\"iit4l6ghcefbtl2hwkazfg8owdwtz8t3p74ofvihxrev02nx.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"5. clipping. - Dead Channel Sky<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Everytime I listen to clipping. I have the same thought: \u201cOh shit, this is the guy from Hamilton\u201d. It\u2019s such a wild disconnect from the liberal utopian view that Hamilton gives to the absolutely scathing and politically charged music that clipping. brings with every album. This one is no different, hitting hard as fuck, with a whole lot to say. There\u2019s also a lot of (at least in my view) influence from The Prodigy here which is extremely fucking cool.<\/p>

\"khsm3o6cmbifb6n9zq5bsjbx8hbmo8enfke0zyb5ripkf4pp.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"4. Backxwash - Only Dust Remains<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

If Montreal\u2019s Backxwash is releasing an album you can fucking bet on it being one of the best thing\u2019s you\u2019re going to hear all fucking year. Only Dust Remains is no exception. This experimental hip\/hop metal crossover masterpiece hits so hard and will linger long after its done. If you - for some reason - don\u2019t think you\u2019ll like it, listen to WAKE UP and then try and tell me you don\u2019t like it with a straight face.<\/p>

\"ptmfq0dbgblybk6e6fhpdy68f71bkmsvuqb3yryg61qhhuzg.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"3. Emma Goldman - all you are is we<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

One of the great things about making a weekly radio show is that I am constantly looking out for new music, and even more engaged if that music is Canadian. It is thanks to that that I stumbled across Emma Goldman\u2019s all you are is we<\/em>. This absolutely insane Vancouver-based group have released easily one of my favourite screamo records of the year, and probably the last 5. An album that brings to mind bands like foxtails in its raw emotion and at times it even starts to tread into grind. This thing goes fucking hard, and it is a must-listen without question.<\/p>

\"nsc4e5gyazksqzozeb6cmmzyjq5a0nocdifxvkprylvxxczm.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"2. Ethel Cain - Perverts<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

To be totally honest, I thought this was going to be the AOTY. It seemed impossible that anything would top it. This is one of those albums that is going to haunt the dark corners of my mind for a long time. I\u2019m sure it will trickle in to my own creative work going forward. There is something so compelling and sinister about this record and it\u2019s another great example of realizing you\u2019re inspired by an artist you hadn\u2019t heard before.<\/p>


\"te9a2nj40a0qatmpedv7dn139avugjtronbqbivby6gccx6x.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\"
1. Sumac & Moor Mother - The Film<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Sometimes you hear something and you know instantly that it\u2019s going to be your AOTY. Sometimes you hear it early as fuck in the year, but you just know that you\u2019re never going to recapture the feeling that this particular record hits you with. The Film<\/em> is that, it\u2019s the album, this is my AOTY. To be upstaged at the end of 2025, this one is going to need something truly transcendent to be dethroned. The collaboration between Sumac and Moor Mother almost seems like it shouldn\u2019t work, but holy fuck does it ever. The sludge metal creates so much emphasis and pathos to the spoken word and vice-versa, honestly, I think about this one a lot.<\/p>","urlTitle":"xadaas-aoty-mid-year-check-in","url":"\/blog\/xadaas-aoty-mid-year-check-in\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/xadaas-aoty-mid-year-check-in\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/themarsh.ca\/blog\/xadaas-aoty-mid-year-check-in\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1757628834,"updatedAt":1757629371,"publishedAt":1757629370,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":373295,"name":"The Marsh"},"tags":[{"id":3803,"code":"e-d-i-t-o-r-i-a-l","name":"EDITORIAL","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/e-d-i-t-o-r-i-a-l\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/uqnzg5cxzbcttf632rbon9ayekkz68m8tuec86vzdbzjuhwc.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/uqnzg5cxzbcttf632rbon9ayekkz68m8tuec86vzdbzjuhwc.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/uqnzg5cxzbcttf632rbon9ayekkz68m8tuec86vzdbzjuhwc.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":44872,"title":"SYRUP MOOSE RECORDS' 50 FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2024","url":"\/blog\/syrup-moose-records-top-50-albums-of-2025\/","urlTitle":"syrup-moose-records-top-50-albums-of-2025","division":373295,"description":"The objectively correct list of the 50 best albums of 2024.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zqqmbegwma71ra2wyua3pj0fxxyf89x2szgc6aowhfi67sfc.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zqqmbegwma71ra2wyua3pj0fxxyf89x2szgc6aowhfi67sfc.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":44873,"title":"SYRUP MOOSE RECORDS' 10 FAVOURITE EPS OF 2024","url":"\/blog\/syrup-moose-records\/","urlTitle":"syrup-moose-records","division":373295,"description":"SYRUP MOOSE RECORDS\u201910 FAVOURITE EPS OF 2024","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/srkh90qyf02bvcvtgcofg0o6ta4mmjsmoix2upnuk3tlouij.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/srkh90qyf02bvcvtgcofg0o6ta4mmjsmoix2upnuk3tlouij.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":53828,"title":"The Marsh Dot CA's Top Fifteen Albums of 2025","url":"\/blog\/aoty-2025\/","urlTitle":"aoty-2025","division":373295,"description":"It\u2019s that time, the time of year for numbered lists! Here's mine.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yuijy1kf4chh3rsop4gerahgngjxcgyw9mgqsrqgrsrxczie.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yuijy1kf4chh3rsop4gerahgngjxcgyw9mgqsrqgrsrxczie.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}