Top 25 Heavy Underground Releases of 2025
Another year is in the books and you know what that means: Album of the Year Lists! As the unofficial representative of the softer side of the heavy underground/the resident alternative rock kid, I'm aware that my list might look a bit different than those of some of the other bloggers you may follow, but it's a spot that I'm elated to fill, and this is a list that I'm incredibly proud of.
I know you're chomping at the bit to get into it, but first, a little bit of information as to how I compile this list:
- First of all, my Top 25 doesn't necessarily have a lot to do with the albums that I picked for the Doom Charts over the course of the year. While you'll certainly see some overlap, the albums listed here are those that not only stuck with me, but in many cases, grew on me. If an album is in my Top 25, it not only means that I liked virtually every song it contains, but it resonated with me personally it some way.
- Secondly, there aren't a ton of rules as to which new releases can make my Top 25. I do try to keep them in the realm of stoner/doom, psychedelic rock, noise rock, and grunge, with all the artists here either independent or represented by indie record labels.
- With that said, two of my favorite albums from 2025 are absent from this list: Dax Riggs' 7 Songs for Spiders and Motorpsycho's self-titled album. Although these artists meet the criteria mentioned above, they do have substantially more listeners the bands that I typically cover. So, after much deliberation, and in the interest of keeping this list truly for the heavy underground artists, I've decided to leave those two little gems off of my countdown. (Just know that if they were here, they would have fared incredibly well as far as placement...so check them out if you haven't already!)
- Finally, both EPs and full-length albums are eligible for this list.
I hope that covers everything and answers any questions you may have. If not, feel free to reach out!
Now, let's get started with some honorable mentions:
Honorable Mentions
(no particular order)
The Pighounds - Tutti Frutti
Noisolution
Purple Strain - Live from Nowhere
(self-released)
Mad Chicken - Ab Ovo
(Limestone Records)
Skogskult - (self-titled)
(Bonebag Records)
Steinsopp - Goloka Sessions
(self-released)
Tao of Lucy - Lawless Lands
(Spencer Marsh)
Black Honey Cult - (self-titled)
(Heavy Psych Sounds)
An Evening With Knives - End of Time
(Argonauta Records)
Krptograf - Kryptonomicon
(Apollon Records)
Hebi Katana - Imperfection
(Ripple Music)
Red Mess - Hi-Tech Starvation
(Noisolution)
The Elven - Solstice
(Spinda Records)
Astralplane - Out of the Void
(Blues for the Red Sun)
Warchief - Toil and Trouble
(Argonauta Records)
Electric Jaguar Baby - Clair-Obscur
(Majestic Mountain Records)
Idol Lord - The Other Side
(Glory or Death Records)
Top 25 Heavy Underground Releases of 2025
(in descending order)
25.) King Potenaz - Arcane Desert Rituals Vol. 1
(Majestic Mountain Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Rivers of Death
24.) TIER - Backwood Blues
(Pink Tank Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Æther Ride
23.) Black Magic Tree - Terra
(Majestic Mountain Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Págos
22.) Tellemahookah - (self-titled)
(As the Crow Flies)
Favorite Track: The Rise of the Night Witch
21.) Apex Ten - Atom
(Tonzonen Records)
Favorite Track: Ruthless
20.) Palm Desert - Rays of the Gold and Grays
(Electric Witch Mountain Recordings)
Favorite Track: Son of the Wind and Dust
19.) Godzillionaire - Diminishing Returns
(Ripple Music)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Drowning All Night 18.) AcidSitter - Escape from Egoland
(self-released)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Psychopomp
17.) The Ossuary - Requiem for the Sun
(Supreme Chaos Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Altar in Black
16.) Black Charger - Small Town
(Clostridium Records)
Favorite Track: Super Ego
15.) Witchrider - Metamorph
(Fuzzorama Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Used to be a King
14.) Carson - When Gods Know Why
(Sixteentimes Music)
Favorite Track: The Itch
13.) Century - Sign of the Storm
(Electric Assault Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Sacrifice
12.) Witchcraft - Idag
(Heavy Psych Sounds)
Favorite Track: Drömmen om död och förruttnelse
11.) Grey Czar - Euarthropodia
(Argonauta Records)
Favorite track: Eschaton
10.) Paralyzed - Rumble & Roar
(Ripple Music)
Favorite track: White Paper
9.) Warcoe - Upon Tall Thrones
(Ripple Music)
Favorite Track: Octagon
8.) Daevar - Sub Rosa
(The Lasting Dose Records)
Favorite Track: Siren Song
7.) You Guitarprayer - I Am The Light/The Light I Am
(Worst Bassist Records)
Favorite Track: Ace of Wands
6.) Nepal Death - Pilgrims and Psychonauts
(Kali Psyche Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Freak Street Blues
5.) Drunken Crocodiles - Ægony
(Argonauta Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Autojektor
4.) Fish Hook Smile - (self-titled)
(Glory or Death Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Fields of Green
3.) Castle Atom - The Years of Blood
(Velvet Bark)
Favorite Track: Years of Blood
2.) Bentrees - Silver Veins
(Argonauta Records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Silver Veins
1.) Giant Lungs - Praise the Laze
(transporta records)
Review here.
Favorite Track: Resonora
That's it for 2025, fiends!
I hope you enjoy these albums as much as I do. If you hear something you like, be sure to show the artists some much-deserved support on Bandcamp if you're able, or simply just show them some love on social media...every little bit truly helps!
To end, I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for being here with me; whether you've been hanging out since day one or if this is the first Screaming from the Heavy Underground article you've ever laid eyes on, it means the world to me! Your support keeps me motivated and the blog going strong.
HERE'S TO A MASSIVELY HEAVY 2026!
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