Here we go again! It is 2025 already.

2024 was a challenging year, but alas a year of immense personal growth, changes, and a metric ton of new music.

This year I listened to the most new music I ever have, partially because I haven't worked on new music myself, but also because I made it a mission to listen to new music every week. As a result, a lot of it was good, but not great, some of it was from a different decade altogether, and some of it became immediate all-time favourites.

I tried to compile a list of 15 albums that were complete standouts, and most importantly, that I have revisited and will continue to do so.

Without furthering the ado, Let's get into it.

To Shoot Another Day - Rosalie Cunningham

Even though this is list is not in any specific order, I have to admit that this is HANDS DOWN my album of the year. I'm obsessed!

Rosalie Cunningham came up with a brilliant masterpiece, embracing rock and roll to it's core, with every nuance, every vocal decision, every part of the instrumentation, melody choices. This album goes places and it does it super well.

She continues to have that haunting energy, that cheekiness and disregard for the norm. 100% recommended for everyone that likes good music, period.

De Camino al Camino - Rita Payés

Rita Payés is a phenomenal singer/trombonist/songwriter out of Catalonia, in Spain, and along her mother, the incredible classical guitarist Elizabeth Roma, they have crafted some of the most beautiful organic tunes, perfect for any mood. If you're happy, they'll just add calm to that happines; stressed? this album will add a tint of calm, and so on.

Most of it was recorded live in the room like classic albums, and you can feel the musicians gaining from each other, sharing and adding to that chemistry.

Enn - Eivør

Eivør caught me by surprise. I did not have her on my radar at all. Holy smokes can she sing and create an atmosphere! Original from the Faroe Islands, she has been at it for the best part of the last 30 years. Better late than never, I guess!

This album covers a lot of moods. Primarily electronic, there is metal-like density in some of the tracks, lots of ambient and pop melodies throughout, all of it with an almost ethereal performace.

i H​ä​xa - i H​ä​xa

Unapologetic. The artist from the UK released this album in four parts throughout the year, this being the fourth and last, as well as the compilation of all other three parts. Each song different from the last, all over every part of the soundscape, making it an incredibly rewarding listening experience. Her voice, songwriting, poetry, all shine in this absolute gem of al album.

Hin Helga Kvöl - Sólstafir

Icelandic Post-Metal masters came out with this masterpiece, adding to their already impressive discography. Their music never fails to disappoint, delivering a dense ambient, yet somehow being incredibly calming and almost meditative. There is extreme aggression, but it never feels offensive. I use the word cathartic quite a lot, and that's precisely the term I would use to describe this album. There is a sense of purpose, it's driven, there are faster passages that make you make the angry metal face and headbang, and then you're brought straight back to that floaty resting mood. I got carried away...

Ocean Without a Shore - Weather Systems

I had no idea this project had started. I first found this album without any context, and it surprised me of how much the title and the artwork looked suspiciously similar to Anathema's own Weather Systems; I was then presented with the obvious realization that this was indeed Daniel Cavanagh's new project after splitting from his brother and each going their own way.

Ocean Without a Shore has that Anathema sound, and it offers that continuation to what must be one of my top 20 albums of all time. This was a worthy follow up, even if it misses the touch of Cavanagh's brother Vincent.

Endtime Signals - Dark Tranquillity

What year is it again? I don't think I have been as excited about a Dark Tranquility album since I first listened to 1995's The Gallery, which I took as canon for what Melodic Death Metal should sound like.

Endtime Signals cought me by surprise, while away on vacation, and it showed me how much the band has evolved its sound, perhaps thanking a renovated lineup, this album delivers a fresh yet known sound that once again brings depth to a genre that is now heavily overpopulated.

Under the Shadow of a Foreign Sun - Piah Matter

It's incredible that at some point, there was a band that existed in its own universe, having that unique dark and heavy sound, filled with melancholy and beauty. That band is obviously Opeth. And in a year in which they release an album, there is a band that actually takes all those characteristics and then make them their own, to the point that the other one becomes almost irrelevant. That is exactly what Piah Matter did with this album.

Everything about this album is beautiful, from the beautiful cover made by Romanian artist Rada Niță Josan, to the very last word and note. Want to go an oa journey and get lost in the forest? just listen to this.

Where Gods Fear to Speak - Oceans of Slumber

This band caught me with their previous release, Starlight and Ash, and even though their line up has changed considerably since. This album delivers that dense dark metal sound, while also retaining Cammie's intriguing vocals and melodies. This album goes places, and it's incredibly progressive in nature. Definitely recommended.

Hopium - Kingcrow

Kingcrow is one of those bands that will always sound familiar, with their super poignant prog rock, pop vocals, anthemic choruses, and that flair that takes you different places all within their 4-minute-long songs. Hopium has yet again delivered that sound, and it did so while adding this fresh polished sound that only a "Major Label" (Season of Mist) can add.

Quería Saber - Silvio Rodríguez

Silvio has been part of my life since I was born, I remember hearing his tunes, growing up with his ideas, and ultimately learning and singing his songs all over. And while for many he will continue to be a nostalgia artist, remembering the songs he wrote in the 70s, I admire his desire to always create new music, reinvent his previous classics, and always question the Status-Quo.

Quería Saber has a lot of the elements from his older material, rather minimal in instrumentation, but never shying away from experimenting, and it also adds the maturity of someone who has seen it all, and even then, stood by his cause and remained with his people.

Everyone Gets Bloody - Freak kitchen

There aren't many bands out there that love not taking themselves seriously, while being ridiculously technical and fun to listen to as Freak Kitchen.

This is yet another album full of incredibly complex yet easy to listen tunes, with lots of political commentary viewed from a more cynical point of view rather than a critical one.

Charismatic Leaders - Wheel

Wheel is another one of those bands that are fun to listen to, although a lot more serious in their approach, slow and methodical when they need to. Another Prog Metal hit from the last decade, memorable melodies, technical instrumentation, what's not to like?

Asleep or Insane - Bakelit

Another one of these Prog Metal bands I seem to like quite a bit. This band deserves far more recognition that it currently has. The overall sound of the album is quite atmospheric but rocking, if that makes any sense, science fictiony lyrics, a total nerdgasm!

Magna Matter - Mother of Millions

Modernized Black Metal, melodic passages, female vocals. Yeah, I'm in.

This album also covers a lot of passages, soundscapes, while maintaining that familiar line that is close to home. Dense guitars, tones that roar for days, groovy breakdowns when needed, the deep growls contrasting the angelic voices, choirs, gah! I'm sort of obsessed with this one as well...

So there's that. I shall edit when new thoughts come to mind, I shall listen to as much new music in 2025, and perhaps write some of my own again. Never discount that.

Love you all. Be well.