OK, so if there’s one thing less impactful than this list, it’s the preamble at the start of the list. But if you are a reader, and particularly if you’re a first-time one, then these lists are how I mark the year that’s been. I write them for me, not you, usually in the dying moments of the year, and as I do I can cast my mind back over another year. This one has been intense, and not always easy, but in the main I’ve loved it and it finishes a lot stronger than it started.

Maybe that’s why it’s been a much more metallic year than 2024; there aren’t very many mainstream picks on here; equally there isn’t as much extreme stuff. I guess my tastes are hardening as I get old…we like what we like and that’s an end to it.

Here we go then – ROTY time.

10. James Yorkston – Songs for Nina and Johanna

The lang cat’s namefather could release an album of found sounds of flatulence from the bars of Cellardyke and it would still go on this list. Happily this isn’t one of those. Nina is Nina Persson of the Cardigans and Johanna is Johanna Soderberg from First Aid Kit, and what they’ve all done together is a lovely wispy thing. Though if JY gets any more fey he might actually disappear up his own…well, you know.

9. Ghost – Skeleta

Impera topped the 2022 list; this isn’t anywhere near as good but Skeleta still has enough bangers to keep me coming back. Peacefield and Guiding Lights are standout tracks, and while I’m completely disinterested in Ghost lore, it’s kind of interesting to see Tobias Forge coming out from behind the mask a bit in both senses. And it has Missilia Amori to make teenage boys cackle.

8. Wolf Alice – The Clearing

Blame Steve for this; it was on the office stereo so much that it eventually wormed its way into my consciousness and I ended up loving it. Apparently they were brilliant live this year as well. Says Steve. Who is really into Wolf Alice. Anyway, this is a very good record.

7. Saor – Amidst The Ruins

Scottish atmospheric black metal, you say? I will be having me some of that. Origins turned up on the 2022 list, and this is even better, which makes it very good indeed. There are mayyyyybe a couple of overly tartan-shortbread moments, but that doesn’t stop this being a great listen, and surprisingly accessible even if blast beats aren’t your thing.

6. Jonathan Hulten – Eyes of the Living Night

Well this is a deeply weird record for the frontman of an extreme metal band to release, but Jonathan Hulten isn’t your typical Cookie Monster shouty man. This is a layered, immersive thing which doesn’t have anything to do with metal at all and is completely lovely. I saw him supporting The Cult, weirdly, and yes, he actually dresses like this, much to the consternation of the meat and potatoes crowd.

5. Eluveitie – Anv

One of the very best live bands that there is; Eluveitie this autumn in the Hammersmith Apollo even got things a little dusty. I’m not sure this is their best record, but when it comes to life it’s absolutely outstanding and the heavier tracks are proper great, plus Fabienne continues to just get better and better. You only think you don’t like Swiss folk metal sung partly in Ancient Gaulish. Give Eluveitie a go and it will all make sense.

4. Messa – The Spin

I only found out about this lot this year, and I’m very glad I did. It’s a mix of lots of different sorts of bits, some doom, some blackened bits, lots of gothy touches, a tiny bit of jazz and really amazing clean vocals. The standout track on this record is The Dress, which is a pretty strong contender for song of the year. I think I’ll be coming back to this all through 2026.

3. Paradise Lost – Ascension

I’ve loved grim-up-North doom metallers PL since Gothic in 1992, absent some of the cul-de-sacs they went down in an attempt to be, I don’t know, Depeche Mode or something for a while. Whatever, they’ve been at this for a very long time and if I could come up with something this good 30+ years into my career I’d be very happy indeed. An absolute belter that sounds like all the best bits of PL on one record.

2. we.own.the.sky – In Your Absence

Getting serious now, the first-loser spot goes to a Greek post-metal outfit who again I’d never heard of until I read this review and thought “oooh”. For those unfamiliar, this is like a heavier Mogwai or Mono; for the initiated this is pretty close to If These Trees Could Talk or maybe even Russian Circles. I have listened to this pretty continuously since I first heard it back in October.

1. Nephylim – Circuition

By a stretch this is my most played of this year. Nephylim are from Holland and last I checked they don’t even have a record deal. This hasn’t stopped them releasing the best melodeath record of the year, and one which pushes every button I have for heavy music. I absolutely adore this record and the title track in particular, which is easily my song of the year. Another one of those records where if you think you don’t like heavy music but you keep an open mind, you might find something to love.

So there you go. Honourable mentions go to Coroner, who I have also loved for 30+ years who nearly made the list and Amorphis, who also released a really good record but just didn’t grab me the way they usually do. They’ll be devastated.

Best gig of the year was the Marillion weekender in Utrecht. Everything about that made it one of the experiences I’ll remember forever. I don’t expect many other people to understand…

That’s it. See you 2025, in you come then 2026.