The ones I really like released in 2020-July 2025
One reason this list took so long is because I dug plenty of albums back in the past 5 years and it was drastically hard to pick which ones clicked me the most. But we’re not in 2021 anymore; It’s July 2025, and time’s zoomed by so fast I no longer feel enthused about Synthwave or some albums I've praised by other people in social media; I’m real picky about my music taste, and you’ll notice that when you see how many albums I picked for the list below; I usually listen to an album or EP from beginning to end than listening to a hit song; This is my personal list, and I'm not trying to convince anyone to agree with it. Others will have their own music tastes, and some albums I love may change over time. |
| 1 |  | The Weeknd
After Hours
2020
Alternative R&B, Synthpop, Synthwave, Future Garage and Trap |
| 2 |  | YUKIKA
Soul Lady
2020
City Pop, K-Pop and Dance-Pop
An unusual pick from this artist. Even though, she's not bringing any new breathtaking sound on the table, her album is a fun album to listen to for a while. |
| 3 |  | Linea Aspera
Linea Aspera LP II
2020
Darkwave and Synth-pop |
| 4 |  | Kelly Lee Owens
Inner Song
2020
Techno and Art Pop |
| 5 |  | Kero Kero Bonito
Civilisation
2021
Indie Pop, House, Experimental, Synth-pop |
| 6 |  | Loathe (UK)
The Things They Believe
2021
Ambient |
| 7 |  | Dead Astronauts
Silhouettes
2021
Darkwave, Synthwave and Post-Punk |
| 8 |  | King Woman
Celestial Blues
2021
Doom Metal, Atmospheric Sludge Metal and Doomgaze |
| 9 |  | Kaelan Mikla
Undir Köldum Norðurljósum
2021
Darkwave and Post-Punk |
| 10 |  | Perturbator
Lustful Sacraments
2021
Synthwave, Darkwave and Post-Punk |
| 11 |  | Charli XCX
Crash
2022
Dance-pop and Synth-pop |
| 12 |  | Life on Venus
Homewards
2022
Shoegaze and Dream Pop |
| 13 |  | M!R!M
Time Traitor
2022
Darkwave and Synth-pop |
| 14 |  | Death Loves Veronica
Corruption for the Insidious
2022
Darkwave |
| 15 |  | Bleached Cross
Bleached Cross
2022
Darkwave, Shoegaze and Post-Hardcore |
| 16 |  | Carrellee
Scale of Dreams
2022
Darkwave, Synth-pop and Dream Pop |
| 17 |  | Frayle
Skin & Sorrow
2022
Doomgaze or Doom Metal |
| 18 |  | Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn
Pigments
2022
Ambient, ECM Style Jazz and Neo-Classical |
| 19 |  | Shad Shadows
Prismatic
2022
Darkwave |
| 20 |  | Bedless Bones
Mire of Mercury
2023
Darkwave and Synth-pop |
| 21 |  | Alva Noto
HYbr:ID II
2023
Ambient, Minimal and Experimental |
| 22 |  | Cicada Sirens & 1000 Eyes
SIGNALIS (Original Soundtrack)
2022
Soundtrack, Dark Ambient and Industrial |
| 23 |  | Saigon Blue Rain
Oko
2023
Darkwave and Post-Punk |
| 24 |  | Mega Drive
200XAD
2023
Synthwave and Electro |
| 25 |  | Twin Tribes
Pendulum
2024
Darkwave and Post-Punk |
| 26 |  | Crippling Alcoholism
With Love From a Padded Room
2024
Gothic Metal, Noise Rock, Post-Punk and Darkwave |
| 27 |  | Dead Astronauts
Ghosts
2024
Darkwave and Synthwave |
| 28 |  | Feyleux
Midnight Hearts
2024
Darkwave and Synth-pop |
| 29 |  | Skee Mask
Resort
2024
Techno, Ambient, Breakbeat and Drum n Bass
I forgot to mention Compro on my old 2010s list. Skee Mask's music is compelling. |
| 30 |  | Uboa
Impossible Light
2024
Experimental, Noise, Death Industrial and Dark Ambient |
| 31 |  | alva noto
HYbr:ID III
2024
Ambient, Experimental, Glitch, Minimal Techno and Modern Classical |
| 32 |  | Crying Vessel
Sepulchers - The Servant
2025
Darkwave and Post-Punk
I didn't like The Maiden, but The Servant clicked me. |
| 33 |  | Mareux
Nonstop Romance
2025
Darkwave, Coldwave and Electro
If Mareux didn't release this album, Lovers from the Past would be on this list. |
| 34 |  | Messa
The Spin
2025
Doom Metal, Gothic Metal and Doomgaze |
| 35 |  | Hangman's Chair
Saddiction
2025
Doomgaze |
| 36 |  | Greet Death
Die In Love
2025
Shoegaze and Alternative Rock |
| 37 |  | Hante.
Morning Tsunami
2021
Darkwave |
| 38 |  | Baby Jane
A Grave Marked Strange
2025
Alt-Pop, Euro-Trance, Slap House and Witch House |
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