My Fav 2025 Digs
Excluding new releases (see prior list), this is the music that most "grabbed me" this year. |
| 1 |  | Mushroomhead
Call The Devil
Although this album came out in 2024, I bought this album in early 2025. Another excellent MRH release - resulting in me going back and listening to several of their others (e.g., XIII, The Righteous & The Butterfly) over the course of the year. |
| 2 |  | Poppy
Negative Spaces
Similar to above, purchased this 2024 album in Dec 2024 - and spun this into the 2025 new year. Really digging the sound that Poppy and Jordan Fish have gravitated to. |
| 3 |  | theSTART
Shakedown!
In Feb 2025, was reaching back into early nu metal - and jamming some Human Waste Project. Have had e-lux for a while now, but was trying to find some of their demos on MP3. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at that; but did find out that Aimee Echo, as well as Mike Smith and Jamie Miller of Snot fame, formed a band called TheStart. A bit more on the Orgy and Deadsy side of nu metal - but early TheStart is a great listen. Aimee Echo doesn't get enough recognition, as one of the first female vocalists in nu metal. |
| 4 |  | Mark Morton
Anesthetic
Had been looking for this solo album from Mark Morton (Lamb of God guitarist) for a while, and finally found it at McKays in Chattanooga, TN in Feb. Alot of great tracks and guest spots on this album - but the track "Cross Off" including Chester Bennington is truly a gem. |
| 5 |  | Linkin Park
Papercuts
My youngest two boys were really into the album "From Zero" in 2024, so I decided to introduce them to the classic lineup. Although they don't like the classic lineup as well (as the current lineup), we jammed (in the car) several of the songs from this album in early 2025. |
| 6 |  | Five Iron Frenzy
Upbeats and Beatdowns
In February, was still on a Ska Punk kick, that started with revisiting No Doubt's early discography in late 2024. Lot of great Ska bands out there, but definitely like mine with some punk bite. Five Iron Frenzy hits the mark. |
| 7 |  | Hand of Juno
Psychotic Banana
Had been streaming this for a while on Bandcamp, before finally purchasing in March. An incredible band from IT - doing great things with nu metal and industrial flavors. |
| 8 |  | Dogma (UNK)
Dogma
Jumped on this bandwagon a hair before some of the others - in March. A great album - and very talented band with strong metal chops. Unfortunately, their management appear to be chauvinistic pigs - and most of the starring lineup (vocalist and two guitarists) left the band this fall. So although a great album and band, having a hard time promoting this band now. And really interested in Vindicta, the band that the three members formed after leaving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YItkVhyvLOw&list=RDYItkVhyvLOw&start_radio=1 |
| 9 |  | Walls of Jericho
Redemption
Not really into their other albums, but this Corey Taylor-produced, melodic album stayed in heavy rotation from March to about Fall. Corey has some great guest spots on two tracks - but, all in all, this is quality. |
| 10 |  | Beyond The Black
Songs Of Love And Death
Picked this album up in May while used media shopping - on a whim. Although not trailblazers, thought that this album had some really good tracks. Spent some time checking out their live show and later albums, but dropped off in the second half of 2025. Need to come back to this band. |
| 11 |  | Volbeat
Servant of the Mind
Purchased GOAT in June. And took a long drive through their discography, before seeing them live in Aug. I tend to gravitate to Outlaw...but forgot how much this album rocked hard. They only played 1 or 2 songs off this album live, but the songs they did hit hard. |
| 12 |  | Hollywood Undead
Desperate Measures
This one was a surprise. I had purchased Swan Songs shortly after release - and promptly sold back. On a whim, I picked this up this CD/DVD used in March, to check out the DVD primarily. And damn if it didn't rekindle something - the enjoyment of their multi-vocalist attack. Got into American Tragedy - and the Redux album - in Summer and 3rd Qtr 2025. This band was hitting my rap metal spot in 2025... |
| 13 |  | Limp Bizkit
Results May Vary
...as well as the Bizkit. Went through their discography in 3rd Qtr and early Fall. Have really come to understand where Fred Durst was coming from, with the Results May Vary tracks - couldn't see this back in the day. Appreciate this band more now, than I did in the early to mid 2000's. |
| 14 |  | The Warning
Keep Me Fed
Shortly after seeing The Warning live in May, purchased this album. This album, as well as their prior album (Error), were great showings. Listened to this band a good bit in late 2nd and early 3rd Qtrs. |
| 15 |  | Bad Omens
The Death of Peace of Mind
Had skipped out on this band in the past, but started streaming their remix album "Concrete Jungle" in the Summer. As a long-time fan of remix albums - really enjoyed what I heard. Purchased both in June/July. Also went into their back catalog, but none stuck with me like their recent output. |
| 16 |  | Will Smith
Big Willie Style
In September, was down at IRB - and purchased this for a $1, if that. I had been a big fan of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince as a young kid - and barely had paid attention to his solo output (as Will Smith). Honestly, Will Smith has great flow - and I applaud him for purposefully not filling his rhymes with expletives. picked up Willenium and Lost&Found at various used media stores later in 2025. |
| 17 |  | Ozzy Osbourne
Memoirs Of A Madman
Ordered and saw Back to the Beginning from home in July. Was on a later-career Ozzy binge for a while afterwards - and also when Ozzy passed away shorty after. Sad days - but he left behind an amazing amount of great music. Including this collection of live videos over his career. |
| 18 |  | Soundtrack (Film)
8 Mile Soundtrack
Not sure how and why - cause never have been a fan (for the last 25 years [1999 - 2024]). And then I recently saw 8 Mile - loved the track Lose Yourself. Then got on a kick. Purchased this soundtrack in September - and found Blaze Audio's mash-ups of Eminem and Linkin Park in October - and jammed that for several weeks - great stuff. https://blazeaudio.bandcamp.com/music |
| 19 |  | Fozzy
Boombox
Was out and about in November, and checked out Housewolf records in Woodstock, GA. Found this album for $8. Hadn't listened to Fozzy since the early 2000's - but generally support anything that Rich Ward is involved in (e.g., Stuck Mojo, Guardians of the Jukebox). Bought this - and spent about 30 minutes talking with Housewolf's owner about Stuck Mojo in the 1990's. On the prowl for more Fozzy albums, finding Happenstance at McKays in December. |
| 20 |  | Stuck Mojo
Southern Born Killers
...and listening to Fozzy put me in the mood for some Stuck Mojo - and I kinda lost track after Declaration of a Headhunter. So been jamming their more recent albums. Lord Byron was a hella good replacement for Bonz. |
| 21 |  | The Doors
In Concert
Saw a Doors cover band in November - and they played some great deep cuts (see prior list). Put me in the mood for live Doors. Jammed this both digitally and on DVD. |
| 22 |  | Far
At Night We Live
…December remains to be seen… |
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