Albums of the Year 2025

When we take stock of the events of any given year, we discover that our judgements are shaped not by what has occurred, but by the way in which we have been compelled to interpret it. The process of reflection is never a transparent window into the past, but rather a re-construction of reason out of the debris of experience, as an attempt to distinguish the essential from the ephemeral. There is, of course, a perennial temptation to value according to familiar hierarchies, to relegate what cannot be comprehended easily to already known categories. Yet, the real task of art critique is the confrontation of the uncomfortable, in resistance of the easy consolations of convention. While doing so, resulting verdicts are rarely uniformly agreeable, but always uncompromisingly authentic. Inside everyone's little mental pond of twilight, suddenly a music list makes sense.

Top 12 EPs of 2025

 

12. Soul Hater - Astral Malefactor

death metal, hardcore

listen

 

11. Skelethal - Transmogrification

death metal

listen

 

10. Fluisteraars - Grunsfoort

post-black metal

listen

 

9. Dripped - Utopia of Euphoric Envisionment

brutal death metal

listen

 

8. Panopticon - The Poppies Bloom for No King

atmospheric black metal

listen

 

7. Suffering Hour - Impelling Rebirth

avant-garde death / black metal 

listen

 

6. Disfiguring the Goddess - Galapagos

slam / brutal death metal, electronic

listen

 

5. Omnicidal Instinct - Catharsis in Blight

brutal death metal

listen

4. Crown Magnetar - Punishment

deathcore

listen

 

3. Profanatica - Wreathed In Dead Angels

black metal

listen

 

2. DEATHFUCKINGWOUND - Void MMXXV

black / death metal

listen

1. Imprecation - Vomitum Tempestas

death metal

listen

 

Albums of the Year 2024

When is it better to reflect than at the year’s twilight? Days shined brighter this time compared to the last one, but I can’t say the same about the sonic wreckage left behind after 12 months and 365 dawn to dusk sessions of intense and not so intense listening. Admittedly, I did not step too much out of my comfort zones, or at least not forcibly, just to elaborate on more eclectic practices while sprinkling ‘philosophized’ glitter all over my playlists. As a matter of fact:

Top 15 EPs of 2024

15. Castrated - Surgical Vissicitude
14. Father Befouled - Immaculate Pain
13. Emasculator - The Disfigured and the Divide
12. Gravenoire - Devant la porte des étoiles
11. Crucifixion Ritual - Desecration of the Archangels
10. Sortilegia - Sorcerous Communion
9. Killing of a Sacred Deer - Killing of a Sacred Deer
8. Black Funeral - Wallachian Voivode
7. Gorgasm - Sadichist
6. Hate Forest - Justice
5. Gutvoid - Breathing Obelisk
4. Disentomb - Nothing Above
3. Orgy of Carrion - Rusted Gateways
2. Cavern Womb - Stages of Infinity
1. Sedimentum - Derrière les portes d'une arcane transcendante

Albums of the Year 2023

It’s always the case that this procedure tends to seem easier than what it eventually is. All the preparations throughout the year, all the careful archiving of listens and albums from the first day, does not reduce the perfectionist’s angst for a conclusive round-up of the 12 months that just passed by. Or smashed through. I have to admit that keeping up with this, at this speed and at all the different directions it takes, becomes harder and harder the same way it’s more and more of an effort to stay up all night when you get older. I’m probably slowly turning into the aged grumpy man, sticking to a few favorite classics, and shaming all the youngsters and their non-knowledge.

Top 15 Greek metal albums of 2023

15. Wothrosch: Odium | Hammerheart Records

14. Διχόνοια: Στη Γκρίζα Πολιτεία | Self-released

13. Thromvosis: Proclamation of the Smegmatic Warcult | Self-released

12. Heretic Cult Redeemer: Flagellum Universalis | III Damnation Productions

11. Apovrasma: Archid​é​mon | Self-released 

10. Deviser: Evil Summons Evil | Hammerheart Records

9. Head Cleaner: The Extreme Sound of Truth | Vinylstore.gr

8. Allochiria: Commotion | Venerate Industries

7. Thlipsis: Dawn of Defiance | Floga Records

6. Menace: Open Fire | Razorbleed Productions

5. Drakon Ho Megas: Έλευσις Αντίχριστου | Floga Records

4. Συντρίμμια: Repulsive Inexpression | Self-released

3. Varathron: The Crimson Temple | Agonia Records

2. Auriferous Flame: Ardor for Black Mastery | True Cult Records

1. Thy Darkened Shade: Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya | 

World Terror Committee Productions

Top 15 split releases of 2023

15. Arallu & The True Werwolf: Arallu / The True Werwolf | Israel / Germany, Narbentage Produktionen

14. Fistula & Contaminated: Apex C.H.U.D. / Nigromancer | United States / Australia, Blood Harvest

13. Dead and Dripping & Prophecy of Suffering: Dead and Dripping / Prophecy of Suffering | United States, Lord of the Sick Recordings

12. Mortuary Ghoul & Blood Rage: Horror Worshipping Death | United States / Wales, 

Frozen Screams Imprint

11. Disillumination & Temple of Nihil & Angr: Ex Mundi Ad Nihil - Gnosis of the Unbeing | Russia / Russia / International, Self-released

10. Feral & Crawl: Made as Those Who Are No Longer Alive | Sweden / Sweden, 

Transcending Obscurity Records

9. Grabunhold & Circle of Shadows: Lamentationen | Germany / Austria, Iron Bonehead Productions

8. Azaghal & Black Faith: Immortalized in Luciferian Blood | Finland / Italy, Nero Corvino

7. Galvanizer & Morbific: Galvanizer / Morbific | Finland / Finland, Iron Corpse

6. Gormanudr & Hergandrom: Morbid Sorcery Under the Battle Moon | International / International, Narbentage Produktionen

5. Ancestors Blood & Heimdalls Wacht: Ancestors Blood / Heimdalls Wacht | Finland / Germany, Heidens Hart

4. Worm & Dream Unending: Starpath | United States / International, 20 Buck Spin

3. Heretic Cult Redeemer / Svartulven: Path of the Undead Ichor | Greece / Greece, Self-released

2. Undergang & Spectral Voice: Undergang / Spectral Voice | Denmark / United States, Dark Descent Records

1. Nefarious Spirit & Herald: The Omniversal Pulse | Greece / Greece, Death’s Ovations

Top 15 compilations of 2023

15. Execration: Excreted Guts | United States, Doomed to Obscurity Records
14. Blinding Sun: A Parade of Horribles | United States, A Parade of Horribles
13. Celestial Bloodshed: Blood Stained Evocations | Norway, Death Revelations
12. Funebre: Demo Tapes 1989-1990 | Finland, Morbid Cellar Records
11. Pestilength: Paragon of Necrotic Origins | Spain, Self-released
10. Putridarium: An Exploration of Burial Perversions | Germany, Headsplit Records
9. Attack: Human Souls | Czech Republic, Darker than Darkness Records
8. Torture Rack: Pit of Mutilation | United States, Headsplit Records
7. Sorcier des Glaces: Sous La Lune Noire | Canada, Osmose Productions
6. Kêres: Black for Blood / On Virgin Wasteland / Traitor's Mask | Finland, Satanik Requiem
5. Carnal Dissection: Complete Discography | United States, CDN Records
4. Hacavitz: Jun K'aal Xiutin | Mexico, Anti-Human Productions
3. Wombbath: Brutal Mights / Several Shapes | Sweden, Old Skull Productions
2. Immortal: The Northern Upir's Death | Norway, Darkness Shall Rise Productions
1. Morta Skuld: Nascency of the Prolific | United States, Sewer Rot Records

Top 15 EPs of 2023

15. Anéanti: Poison - Les formules diaboliques | Belgium, Death Prayer Records
14. Luxmori: Luxmori | Finland, Self-released
13. Undegang: De syv stadier af ford​æ​rv | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
12. Cave Moth: Paralytic Love | United States, Self-released
11. Wolves in the Throne Room: Crypts of Ancestral Knowledge | United States, Relapse Records
10. Aeon Furnace: Providence Desends | Finland, Ancien Culte
9. Mortual: Evil Incarnation | Costa Rica, Nuclear Winter Records
8. Hate Forest: Sowing with Salt | Ukraine, Osmose Productions
7. Ascendency: A Manifest of Imperious Destiny | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
6. Xibalba Itzaes: Under the Pyramids | Mexico, Self-released
5. Carcinoid: Encomium to Extinction | Australia, Me Saco un Ojo Records
4. Fluisteraars: De kronieken van het verdwenen kasteel - II - Nergena | Netherlands, Eisenwald
3. Hyperdontia: Deranged | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
2. Melissa: II | United States, Self-released
1. Spectral Lore: 11 Days | Greece, Self-released 

Albums of the Year 2022

"Aye", the eldest of the owls answers softly. "They are still glittering in the night of those who tread the path of solar solitude. To the rest - to the flock - they are already dead and all but forgotten."

- Lines from The Long Defeat.

Albums of the Year 2021

Delighted to point out that, we have now graciously realized Arson Cafe’s 500th post. Some have been lost along the way, yet it was planned and delivered to match this milestone with the most important entry of 2021.

Top 10 EPs of 2021

"An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. Contemporary EPs generally contain four or five tracks, and are considered "less expensive and time-consuming" for an artist to produce than an album. An EP originally referred to specific types of records other than 78 rpm standard play (SP) and LP, but it is now applied to mid-length CDs and downloads as well." (Source: Wikipedia)

10. Obscure Skuadron - Mysterious Existence

An EP as obscure as its name, these guys have an awesome thick wall of noise and a nerdy obsession with aliens, as one can tell from the titles of the tracks. Short and sweet, Mysterious Existence makes me wonder if it's an one time event, because I would enjoy a full release like that quite a lot. Screw variety.

9. Grinning Death's Head - Cataclysm

Blood War was a masterpiece, that I found too late. The first new move after four years, Grinning Death's Head new two tracks are equally menacing, and with delightful barbarity. This project doesn't need much to impress, and it's unquestionably energetic and in your face. Gotta love the extra, slight background synths too. It's a must to check out.

8. Spiral Staircase – Cellar Dream

You would say Cellar Dream is the first extended release of Spiral Staircase, not for its length but because it is the first EP after demos and splits, and with two years of space between their previous work. Apart from the fact that I'm fully into this name, logo and cover color, the bleached out fuzziness of this EP for some reason, totally calmed down my soul.

7. Serpent Column - Katartisis

This should need no introduction, especially after a series or really successful releases by this project. By now, you might already expecting what to listen to from Serpent Column, but once again it's equally strong, and reeks of talent and great musicianship. A lot of notable, tickling melodies and dried out riffs here. Pretty technical as always.

6. Somme - Prussian Blood

In case you were thinking that we have too many posterized, pixelized black and white lo-fi black metal projects in the last few years, you were right. In case you were thinking they all hide behind the fuzzy production without really having a solid musical idea, you were right. In case you were thinking they are all the same, they are. Somme from Finland come to teach us the actual meaning of playing "raw black metal", with a proper lo-fi attitude, out of truthful intention and not smugness. Impressive work, I loved every last slice of it.

5. Nocturnal Effigy - The Night's Sorrow

At this state, releases like these get sold out at the blink of the eye. The manpower behind this project is also responsible for some of the most treasured acts in the dungeon synth / raw black metal scene, therefore it's almost guaranteed it will be another treat for the ears: harsh, ominous guitar riffs and an even harsher sound, excellent instrumental pieces and more slower / melodic tracks make up for a wonderful release that forever belongs in the underground.

4. Ûkcheânsâlâwit - Alaskan Escape

Listening to Alaskan Escape, the name of Ildjarn is obviously the elephant in the room. Completely stripped down, repetitive, hypnotic black metal with raspy vocals and a middle finger to all that is nicely produced and friendly. The lyrics are as glacial-cold as you think, there's hardly any turns, but in the end it's so good. I could listen to this pummeling beating for hours, especially riffs like in "uanatshu". It doesn't have to be more complicated than this really.

3. Forsmán - Dönsum Í Logans Ljóma

If you're into Icelandic black metal, then you must already know this new band. If not, then you must listen to them and their debut EP, right away. Professionally made, Forsmán know the groundworks of their country's scene very well and present another piece of huge compositions, massive riffs, powerful vocals and guitar lines and excellent sense of composition. The best Icelandic release this year, with Mannveira closely behind.

2. Kvadrat – Ψυχική Αποσύνθεση

This mini-release alone saved the year for me when it comes to new extreme metal from Greece. Enjoyable and complex, with several exciting turns and unusual melodic structures, excellent aesthetics (and a unique logo!), Kvadrat picks up the label of "dissonant" and ultimately doesn't exhaust the listener with it. Ψυχική Αποσύνθεση (Greek for mental decomposition) is a great first sign from this band, which moved on by being part of a neat split with Moeror and Human Serpent later in the year. I can't wait to see a full length release from them now.

1. Lorna Shore - And I Return to Nothingness...

I never expected that my interest in deathcore would ever be considerably revived, but this EP made too much of an impact to ignore. While being aware of the previous Lorna Shore material, the change to a new singer has brought new light to the band, which could quite frankly reinvent the way the genre is played, especially in the breakdown sections. Epic symphonic parts go along proper doses of heaviness, and the fact that listening to "To the Hellfire" has such a reaction trend, means the band broke through. For better or for worse, this was by far the EP I enjoyed the most this year.

★★★★★

Top 10 Greek metal albums of 2021

Usually, there are a handful of releases from Greek bands that I fully endorse every year, however for 2021 I didn't find such an equivalent. In fact, I was not fully into some albums I expected to be, and newer stuff was not revolutionary. I'm still missing listening the new Diablery and Agnes Vein records because they come out next week, but it's anyway a legit wrap-up of the year from my side. Having decided to put all these lists a bit earlier than usual this year, it is what I get.

Arson Cafe's
top 10 Greek metal albums of 2021

10. Human Serpent - Heirlooms Eternal

9. Shattered Hope - Vespers

8. Eldingar - Maenads

7. Rapture - Malevolent Demise Incarnation

6. Spectral Lore - Ετερόφωτος

5. Caedes Cruenta - Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults

4. Mystras - Empires Vanquished and Dismantled

3. Drakon Ho Megas - Drakon Ho Megas

2. Nihilism - Cataclysme vers l'ascendance

1. Yoth Iria - As the Flame Withers

Top 20 dungeon synth albums of 2021

Discreetly, I have been following the modern, digitalized dungeon synth scene since the early 10's with Lord Lovidicus and early Erang. Elffor releases fell on my lap almost as early as black metal, and I have enjoyed a lot of the known Wongraven, Burzum and Summoning material. The most distinct was Depressive Silence, but now there is almost a saturation of popping projects, yet I think the DIY community and the authenticity of the artists, is for the underground, unmatched at the moment. I listened to more dungeon synth (forest synth, winter synth etc... all included) than usual this year, so here's 20 cookies.

Arson Cafe's 
top 20 dungeon synth albums

 20. Ghunjul – Freezing Breath
19. Forest Temple - Spectral Threads of a Cosmic Dream
18. Kyvon – Frozen Grimoire
17. Fridfull - Fridfull
16. Adrasteia & Celestial Sword – Split
15. Gelure – The Candlelight Tomes
14. Abholos – Where Cold Shadows Dream
13. Necrocachot - Forest Of Bones
12. Coniferous Myst & Erythrite Throne - Northern Stories of Frost
11. Knights of the Stygian Order – Strength and Valor
10. Oublieth - À l'Ombre du Royaume en Cendres
9. Mörka Skogens Vindar - Trollens Återkomst
8. Druadan Forest & Old Sorcery - Split
7. Trädvarelse - Cave
6. Redhorn Gate – Sires of Old
5. Varvitos – Forbidden Lost Lore
4. Snowspire – As if Wandering in a Dream...
3. Forlorn Kingdom - Alpine Black Magick
2. Ulk – Shellbound
1. Wallachian Cobwebs – Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased

Top 10 non-metal albums of 2021

I always like to fool myself that I'm diverse but I'm not. I tried to make a mixed list with all my music listens back in 2015, and only one non-metal album made it to the top 20, namely mouse on the keys' The Flowers of Romance, which I still listen to today, so it was well placed. After that, it was a Merzbow album at #47, so yes it wouldn't make sense for me. I listen to such albums at different times, but the real problem lies in that I can't properly compare all releases together, under the same perspective. Anyway!

Arson Cafe's
top 10 non-metal albums of 2021

10. Jess and the Ancient Ones - Vertigo

9. MONO – Pilgrimage of the Soul

8. Fire! - Defeat

7. Maybeshewill - No Feeling Is Final

6. Foudre! - Future Sabbath

5. Filmmaker – Vlad Tapes

4. Iceage – Seek Shelter

3. CHVRCHES – Screen Violence

2. cursetheknife – Thank You For Being Here

1. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage

Top 10 demos of 2021

There is a certain fixation to the demo format, and as I have tried to follow the mindset of full albums only, a lot of releases of truly great music are completely missed like that, especially in the underground. However, I have to admit I still don't spend as much time as in releases of longer duration every year, yet there's always some space for a newcomer's unfiltered and more spontaneous work. 

Arson Cafe's
top 10 demos of 2021

10. Μνήμα – Flesh Prison

9. Vel’HAR – Letania

8. Moortrieder – When Death Appeared

7. Blood Sorcery – Chapel of Blood Part I

6. Skeleton – Ordainment of Divinity

5. Gråinheim – Hexndeifl

4. Eternal Sword - The Cursed Land

3. The Suns Journey Through The Night – Demo  II

2. Necromantical Invocation – Dogme Et Rituel De La Haute Magie

1. Moon – On the Other Side of Daylight

Albums of the Year 2020

Last year, I closed this post by giving a shoutout "that's all folks, see you next year and stay alive". Ironically enough, I should never have opened my mouth and give any kind of wishes on a year that proved to be one hell of an amusement park ride, constantly feeling like a nightmare simulation you can`t wake up from. Misery and existential dread didn`t just knock on our doorsteps, it came in crushing down the house, left everything in splinters and locked down the pandemonium of the century.

Top 10 EPs of 2020

Welcome back. I'm kicking off this year's lists posts with one that I would post a bit later on usually but this time, it was actually the one that was finished first. At the same time, 2020 was the year I listened to the most EPs compared to past years, reaching 84 in number, when I normally go for half that. Many bands give equal attention to their Extended Plays as they do to full lengths, depicting important steps in their careers, and there were several ones this year that I considered to be great to listen to. The genre variation will not surprise you because there almost isn't any, so let's look into some 2020's fabulous extreme metal mini-albums.

Top 10 Greek Metal Albums of 2020

Since the very first years, to be on the lookout for new coming and underground bands from your whereabouts has been of vital importance, to encourage locally relevant quality. Two events to point out were the return of the ancient band Piranha, and the release of Revenge's Massacre In Heaven along with its story, an album that didn't get any coverage as far as I am aware of. To subjects closer to me, sadly I listened to Eriphion's second album (with its intriguing cover that refers more into some DIY post-punk than black metal) too late, and it would be a possible runner up for this list. 

Top 10 Greek Metal of 2020:

10. Nox Formulae - Drakon Darshan Satan

9. This Is Past - Labyrinth

8. Obsecration - Onwards the Mystic Paths of the Dead

7. Katavasia - Magnus Venator

6. Death Courier - Necrotic Verses

5. Revenge - Massacre in Heaven

4. Dephosphorus - Sublimation

3. Utkena - Nex Fornix

2. Kawir - Adrasteia

1. Mystras - Castles Conquered and Reclaimed

Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2020

Usually this part is all over the place, but this year I had a clear favorite and several albums I found fascinating, even in more mainstream genres. The list represents well the various genres I was into throughout the year and basically I somehow chose representatives of each, but there are still things I had to listen to but didn't manage. Some honorable mentions are the albums by The Strokes, Nothing, The Garden, Nine Inch Nails and Dua Lipa. Wait, what?

Top 10 Non-Metal of 2020:

10. Forndom - Faþir

9. Prurient - Casablanca Flamethrower

8. Steve Von Till - No Wilderness Deep Enough

7. Taylor Swift - Folklore

6. William Basinski - Lamentations

5. Lowrider - Refractions

4. Anna von Hausswolff - All Thoughts Fly

3. Puta Volcano - AMMO

2. Bohren & der Club of Gore - Patchouli Blue

1. Venus Volcanism - Rizitiko