{"id":480649,"date":"2025-12-30T18:54:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/480649\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T18:54:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:54:17","slug":"kenstrositys-top-tenish-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/480649\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenstrosity’s Top Ten(ish) of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"Well, here we are again! One of the longest, most eventful years in recent memory comes to a close. After all of the hardships my family, friends, and I endured at the end of last year, it was difficult to imagine what life would be like. For quite some time, it took everything in us just to continue our day-to-day existences, to reestablish or refresh our routines, and to build our lives back up. But we had tons of support, and we got through it. In fact, I\u2019d say that we came out of everything with a better understanding of who we are, what we want out of life, and a greater drive to live more fully, more intentionally, and without regrets. Personally, I learned the value of asking more questions, making fewer assumptions, and embracing the mess of being human in today\u2019s world. With practice in these areas, in time, I\u2019ll grow into a better person, a better friend, and a better partner to my loved ones.<\/p>\n

Musically, I experienced a bit of a shift. I don\u2019t know exactly when this shift happened, but I could feel my desire for unfamiliar or less-traveled territory build. I desired weird, long, or messy records that called to me on a more personal level above all else. I craved pieces that showcased artists who wrote what they wanted (or needed) to, regardless of what others might think or say. Authenticity, creativity, memorability, imperfection, and artistic integrity became my core values when approaching new music this year.<\/p>\n

Aside from all of that, the thing I want to do most is offer my deepest heartfelt thanks to everyone who\u2019s stuck by me and been my support system this year. To Alex, a wonderful and gorgeous man who continually shows me more love, patience, and attention than I ever dared to ask for\u2014and who challenges me to grow with every passing day. To Ally, Thea, Kaja, Ashe, Sophie, Chris (both of them), Sean, Malachi, Brandon, Michelle, and Jeff for being the best meatspace friends a guy could ask for, and who also show me more love than I ever dared to ask for. To new meatspace friends (Jhierry, Adrien, Forest, Logan, Nick, Zach, Brett, Blue, Brian, and Shawn) who further enrich my life with each interaction, I am excited to see how our relationships develop! To my therapist, Clint, who has helped pull me from the brink more times than I can count. To my family, Mom, Dad, and Kathy, I don\u2019t know what I would do if they were not here with me. To Lise and Victoria, who have been and continue to be the best supervisors\u2014and all-around cool, brilliant, creative, and inspiring people\u2014I\u2019ve ever known. To AMG Himself<\/strong>, Steel Druhm<\/strong>, Dr. A. N. <\/strong>Grier<\/strong>, and Sentynel<\/strong> for running the greatest blog on the planet and being an invaluable resource for my continued growth as a writer and contributor. To all of my fellow writers and editors, both active and inactive, who make this blog the wonderland it is and whose contributions and company continually uplift and motivate me. To the readers, our Discord members, and the metal community writ large, we wouldn\u2019t be here without you!<\/p>\n

Lastly, I\u2019d like to give a shout to all the bands who released awesome records this year that fought valiantly for a spot on my list\/HMs, in alphabetical order: 1914<\/strong>, Ancient Death<\/strong>, \u2026and Oceans<\/strong>, Astronoid<\/strong>, Aversed<\/strong>, Blind Equation<\/strong>, Bodybox<\/strong>, Buried Realm<\/strong>, Cave Sermon<\/strong>, Changeling<\/strong>, Death Whore<\/strong>, Gloombound<\/strong>, The Halo Effect<\/strong>, Havukruunu<\/strong>, Helms Deep<\/strong>, Inoculation<\/strong>, Maud the Moth<\/strong>, Mutagenic Host<\/strong>, Nephylim<\/strong>, Pedestal for Leviathan<\/strong>, Proscription<\/strong>, Rothad\u00e1s<\/strong>, Sarastus<\/strong>, Serenity in Murder<\/strong>, Structure<\/strong>, Tower<\/strong>, Tribunal<\/strong>, Vittra<\/strong>, Yellow Eyes<\/strong>. Despite these gems losing a place on my list proper for any number of reasons, I know I\u2019ll return to them with great relish.<\/p>\n

With all of that said, I invite all of you to bear witness to my absolutely unhinged Top Ten(ish) selections for 2025. May the rabble commence!<\/p>\n

\"\"#ish. Epica <\/strong>\/\/ Aspiral<\/a> \u2013 Epica <\/strong>is my favorite symphonic metal band. It\u2019s no secret. They\u2019ve been at the grindstone churning out quality records for almost 25 years with a remarkably stable lineup, and there\u2019s every reason to expect Angry Metal Guy<\/strong>\u2019s Law of Diminishing Recordings\u2122 to catch up with them someday. Today is not that day. Aspiral is easily my favorite record since The Quantum Enigma, full of memorable songs and standout performances. It may be hookier and poppier than anything they\u2019ve put out in the past, but accessibility looks great on Epica<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"#10. Citadel <\/strong>\/\/ Descension<\/a> \u2013 Every time I thought I knew how I felt about this record, I\u2019d go back to it and discover more reasons to love it. Descension follows the same school of melodic death metal with long-form constructions that bands like An Abstract Illusion<\/strong> practice, but there\u2019s a smoky, gothic twist to it that embodies darkness and light as a merged entity. It\u2019s a delicate balance that Citadel<\/strong> treads with grace and athleticism. That feat is what ultimately elevated Descension to my Top 10 proper.<\/p>\n

\"\"#9. Depravity<\/strong> \/\/ Bestial Possession<\/a> \u2013 Depravity<\/strong> really fucked around with my cutoff for list consideration, coming in clutch one week before Turkey Day. But I am the one who found out. Riffs made to break bones and minds alike, Bestial Possession is lean, mean, and bloodthirsty. And yet, it\u2019s smooth, refined, and streamlined. This is the work of a band that understands exactly what they want to write, and knows how to execute that vision with devastating precision. It\u2019s death metal as we know and love it, weaponized for mass destruction.<\/p>\n

\"\"#8. In Mourning <\/strong>\/\/ The Immortal<\/a> \u2013The Immortal surprised me. I fully expected it to be good. After all, In Mourning<\/strong> haven\u2019t released a bad album to date. But against all odds, they managed to capture lightning in a bottle here, with songs that are impossible to resist and even harder to forget. It represents everything I love about the sadboi side of melodic death without skimping on hooks or on teeth. The Immortal might just be the pinnacle of In Mourning<\/strong>\u2019s career. Who would\u2019ve expected that after 25 years?<\/p>\n

\"\"#7. An Abstract Illusion <\/strong>\/\/ The Sleeping City<\/a> \u2013 In recent years, I often found myself gravitating towards concise, to-the-point records. I wanted hooks. I wanted brevity. I wanted unrelenting intensity. In 2025, that shifted. The long form became my home away from home. Epic yarns and gentle movements brought comfort and warmth to my listening schedule. With The Sleeping City, An Abstract Illusion<\/strong> managed to capture both the intensity I craved before and the sweeping arcs that I look for now. That it is beautiful without compromising either of those traits is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And so, here we are.<\/p>\n

\"\"#6. Igorrr<\/strong> \/\/ Amen<\/a> \u2013 When I look at my Top 10ish, I notice two things. Firstly, a fair number of these selections are, in some shape or form, weird or niche. Secondly, the gaps that separate one album from the other at this point are paper-thin, aside from my AotY. For French wild cards, Igorrr<\/strong>, accessibility ultimately put Amen here with my faves of 2025. Whimsically weird, savagely smart, and wholly unpredictable, Igorrr<\/strong> achieved a buttery smoothness and an unflinching confidence with these 12 absolute bangers that they\u2019ve never shown before. A high-water mark for an act with an established reputation for excellence.<\/p>\n

\"\"#5. T\u00f3mar\u00fam<\/strong> \/\/ Beyond Obsidian Euphoria<\/a> \u2013 My relationship with Beyond Obsidian Euphoria followed much the same trajectory as my relationship with its predecessor, Ash in Realms of Stone Icons<\/a>. I felt confident in my score, then I started doubting its accuracy, then I\u2019d revisit the record and feel vindicated in my original evaluation\u2014rinse and repeat. It\u2019s a vicious cycle, but at the end of the day, Beyond Obsidian Euphoria was always destined for my Top 5. Its epic, sprawling constructs demand so many of my spoons; emotionally, physically, and spiritually. But it gives just as many back, plus just enough extra to compel me to spin it again. It\u2019s one helluva journey, but that\u2019s what makes it excellent!<\/p>\n

\"\"#4. Qrixkuor <\/strong>\/\/ The Womb of the World<\/a> \u2013 In the world of symphonic death metal, Qrixkuor<\/strong> is singular. Nobody else sounds like them, and I\u2019m convinced nobody else could. Dramatic, violent, and grotesque, but at the same time possessing a disturbing beauty, The Womb of the World sets a new standard for lushly orchestrated death metal. It\u2019s not for the faint of heart, nor for those looking for a quick fix. But once it\u2019s infected your mind, you belong to it. An album to be feared as much as it is to be adored.<\/p>\n

\"\"#3. Cam Girl<\/strong> \/\/ Flesh & Chrome<\/a> \u2013 Deciding where to slot this was a difficult process for me. The people-pleaser that lives in my brain\u2014who is jacked, devastatingly handsome, and incredibly charismatic\u2014tried to move Cam Girl<\/strong>\u2019s sophomore LP down a couple of notches, purely to protect me from those who would (and likely will) tell me this kind of record is undeserving of such high placement here. But the reality is I don\u2019t fucking want to. Flesh & Chrome is a staggering improvement on Cam Girl<\/strong>\u2019s already winning formula, with an invincible selection of super-sticky and subversive tunes that haven\u2019t left my brain since the first half of 2025. It\u2019s among the most fun records I\u2019ve had the pleasure of covering on this site. Above all, Flesh & Chrome earned its rightful place in my Top 3. So it is, so it shall be.<\/p>\n

\"\"#2. ByoNoiseGenerator <\/strong>\/\/ Subnormal Dives<\/a> \u2013 This was not on my bingo card for 2025. I used to despise everything about ByoNoiseGenerator<\/strong>\u2019s brand of brutal jazzgrind. After spinning Subnormal Dives roughly 10^230049 times in the span of a few short months, with a mind-broken grin plastered permanently on my face, something snapped. It wasn\u2019t a gradual affinity borne of a studious and painstaking process. It was a total, implosive disintegration of everything I held true. The result? BYONG<\/strong> is now one of my favorite bands, and I\u2019ve come to love their previous work, too. Not many albums wield that much power. Subnormal Dives does.<\/p>\n

#1. Flummox<\/strong> \/\/ Southern Progress<\/a> \u2013 This is easily my biggest surprise of 2025. I never heard of Flummox<\/strong> before seeing this cover art on my Bandcamp feed, and I was thoroughly bamboozled by my first spin. The mix was bizarre, the songwriting highly unorthodox compared to anything I\u2019ve heard this side of Devin Townsend<\/strong>, and Flummox<\/strong>\u2019s refusal to settle into any one style was confounding. Yet, I simply could not stop spinning it. All year long, Southern Progress was my go-to, even on days when I just felt so numb that I didn\u2019t want to listen to anything at all. With that commitment came understanding. Southern Progress is, simply put, a fully realized and inspired work of art, complete with relevant societal commentary. Steeped in messaging that spotlights systematic and social prejudices that plague the queer, and particularly the trans\/nonbinary\/gender-fluid, community (especially in the American South)\u2014and deftly integrating branched subplots that exhibit the wide-reaching complications that neurodivergence, late-stage capitalism, and religion-based upbringings contribute to that experience\u2014Flummox<\/strong>\u2019s fifth LP greatly affected me on a personal level. More so than any other record released this year, Southern Progress feels important, not just to me, and not just to Flummox<\/strong>. I strongly believe everyone could learn something from this bizarre, wild, and untamable barnstormer and have a blast doing it. For these reasons, and so much more, I gratefully award Southern Progress my 2025 Album o\u2019 the Year. Thank you, Flummox<\/strong>, for this wonderful gift!<\/p>\n

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Honorable Mentions<\/strong><\/p>\n