Power Metal in 2025
Two months overdue, but whatever. I pulled back quite a bit this year due to my new job sucking away most of my free time, but I still got around to quite a few releases. I'm sure I missed some, but I did the best I could. |
| 1 |  | Helms Deep
Chasing The Dragon
Heavy metal played the way it should be. Pure metal majesty.
Verdict: Must listen |
| 2 |  | Wings of Steel
Winds of Time
Barely power metal, but who gives a shit. I want more people to check this out.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 3 |  | Redshark
Sudden Impact
I genuinely can't believe this album is actually good.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 4 |  | Sacred (SWE)
Fire to Ice
Very strong debut record right here. A delightful power-trad fusion with songwriting straight out of the late 80s, sure to satiate any metalhead's hunger for the good old days.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 5 |  | Helloween
Giants & Monsters
Happy to report the self titled wasn't a fluke, and the chemistry the band had on said album is very much intact. Definitely a worthy follow-up, even if the production is muddy as hell.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 6 |  | Primal Fear
Domination
Surprisingly strong release from Primal Fear. Definitely deserves to stand alongside albums from their golden era like Nuclear Fire and Black Sun.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 7 |  | Dynazty
Game of Faces
If you are looking for anthemic arena power metal with some exceptional guitar solos, you really can't go wrong here.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 8 |  | Warkings
Armageddon
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 9 |  | Avantasia
Here Be Dragons
Their strongest collection of songs since Ghostlights. It's nice to see Tobi becoming more direct with his songwriting, and not overdoing it with a ridiculous amount of guest stars. A lot less whimsical than the past few albums, and I think that really works to the record's advantage. Fingers crossed we get an Edguy album next, because we are long overdue.
Verdict: Strongly recommended |
| 10 |  | Aedan Sky
The Universal Realm
Verdict: Recommended |
| 11 |  | Leverage
Gravity
An adventurous little record. It's all over the place stylistically, but these mad lads actually manage to make it work. Bonus points for capping it at 8 tracks; wish more bands would stop overcramming their albums.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 12 |  | Sex Machineguns
Heavy Metal Commander
No joke, one of their best albums to date. Impressive comeback.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 13 |  | Majestica
Power Train
the Majestica SWEEP?????
Verdict: Recommended |
| 14 |  | 1st0
2nd Chapter
Really solid underground Japanese pm. If you like Galneryus, you will fuck with this album heavy.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 15 |  | Arion
The Light That Burns The Sky
Best Evergrey album in quite some time
Verdict: Recommended |
| 16 |  | Owlbear
Feather and Claw
I got scolded for accidentally misgendering this band’s front(man/woman/person)? Cool album though
Verdict: Recommended |
| 17 |  | Labyrinth
In the Vanishing Echoes of Goodbye
Verdict: Recommended |
| 18 |  | Isiliel
Moonbow Rebellion
There are more than a few dry spots to be found here, but the highlights are absolutely fantastic. 'Black Moon' and 'Serpent's Aubade' are some of the best tracks of the year.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 19 |  | Paradox
Mysterium
If it wasn't for the uber-compressed production job, I probably would have given this a 4.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 20 |  | Fairyland
The Story Remains
Delightfully gay orchestral pm with all the bells and whistles.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 21 |  | Warmen
Band Of Brothers
Bodom after 4pm
Verdict: Recommended |
| 22 |  | Elvenking
Reader of the Runes - Luna
So much better than their previous album. So much better.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 23 |  | Alestorm
The Thunderfist Chronicles
These guys genuinely do not give a shit. Frozen Piss 2 is a banger.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 24 |  | Unlucky Morpheus
Gate of Heaven
If any of you guys have a single Japanese sister, please get in touch with me
Verdict: Recommended |
| 25 |  | Hagane
Top of the Tower
If any of you guys have a single Japanese sister, please get in touch with me [x2]
Verdict: Recommended |
| 26 |  | Moonlight Haze
Beyond
I typically do not care for this style of power metal, but this is undeniably solid. Short, sweet and to the point fem-vox power metal.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 27 |  | Panthalassan
From the Shallows of the Mantle
Another one man band, but a pretty promising one at that. While some of the tracks feel a little long-winded, they at least have enough going on to make the experience a positive one. Trimming the fat, and a better vocalist could have earned this a 4.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 28 |  | Vicious Rumors
The Devil's Asylum
Their strongest release in almost two decades.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 29 |  | Judicator
Concord
Much better, Judicator. Much better.
Verdict: Recommended |
| 30 |  | Terra Atlantica
Oceans
Goofy fun with a decent amount of melody and a HEAVY dose of cheese.
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 31 |  | Exvamon
Odyssey of Fate
Short and vicious, just like my penis.
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 32 |  | Arcane Tales
Ancestral War
These guys are gradually getting better with each release,
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 33 |  | Trick or Treat
Ghosted
The musical embodiment of a 3rd grader's class Halloween party.
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 34 |  | Seven Sisters
Shadow Of A Fallen Star Pt.2
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 35 |  | Bloodbound
Field Of Swords
A bit of a letdown for me, but still above average. There are some catchy tunes to be found here
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 36 |  | Queen of Dreams
Subnivium
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 37 |  | Dragonknight
Legions
Gets off to a rocky start, but really redeems itself once it gets to the halfway mark. Worth checking out if you need a power metal fix.
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 38 |  | Dragon Skull
Chaos Fire Vengeance
beef and cheese
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 39 |  | The Ferrymen
Iron Will
I wanted to like this more than I did, but I do feel like some of you guys would get a kick out of it
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 40 |  | Rage
A New World Rising
AI cover art pisses me off, but the material is alright. Some highlights, but nothing you need to seek out if you aren’t into pm
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 41 |  | Sabaton
Legends
A noted improvement over the previous record. Definitely not gonna change any minds, but I enjoyed it.
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 42 |  | Battle Beast
Steelbound
Verdict: Light recommendation |
| 43 |  | BABYMETAL
Metal Forth
I'm glad they sound like they enjoy being alive again, but it feels more like a compilation than a proper studio album.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 44 |  | Insania
The Great Apocalypse
This is in that grey area of being very professional and well put together, but also being incredibly forgettable.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 45 |  | Frozen Land
Icemelter
Verdict: Toss up |
| 46 |  | Helstar
The Devil's Masquerade
A pretty derivative and uninspired record that luckily manages to end with a bang. The last track elevated this out of being completely mediocre.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 47 |  | Elettra Storm
Evertale
Verdict: Toss up |
| 48 |  | Epica
Aspiral
it's aight
Verdict: Toss up |
| 49 |  | Master Sword
Toying with Time
Some of the material does feel a tad self-indulgent, but tracks like Dance of the Demon help make it a serviceable pm experience.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 50 |  | Sculforge
Cosmic Crusade Chronicles...
Really fucking stupid, but kind of fun in an ironic way.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 51 |  | Brainstorm
Plague of Rats
probably one of the Brainstorm albums of all time
Verdict: Toss up |
| 52 |  | Human Fortress
Stronghold
Verdict: Toss up |
| 53 |  | Mob Rules
Rise Of The Ruler
Verdict: Toss up |
| 54 |  | Anguish Project
What's Believing?
The vocalist sounds like Bruce Dickinson on Fear of the Dark. Just Fear of the Dark. Very specific.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 55 |  | On Atlas' Shoulders
Aion
Despite this being fairly enjoyable, I couldn't help but feel there's something missing here.
Verdict: Toss up |
| 56 |  | Hammer King
Make Metal Royal Again
yeahhhh, don't tell me what to fucking do
Verdict: Skip |
| 57 |  | Ebonheart
Face Our Fear
Verdict: Skip |
| 58 |  | The Storyteller
The Final Stand
Verdict: Skip |
| 59 |  | Ashes of Ares
New Messiahs
its fine
Verdict: Skip |
| 60 |  | Dragonsfire
Rebirth of the Beast
Verdict: Skip |
| 61 |  | Katagory V
Awaken a New Age of Chaos
This is some inoffensive shit right here. Totally unremarkable, but okay while it's on.
Verdict: Skip |
| 62 |  | Grailknights
Forever
My tolerance for tongue-in-cheek goofiness seems to be dwindling.
Verdict: Skip |
| 63 |  | Amalgama (RU)
Icewind Tales
Verdict: Skip |
| 64 |  | Fathomless Skywalker
Anthems of the Resilient
Some solid musicianship and songwriting, but I genuinely cannot stand this style of female vox. Like for the love of God, hold a fucking note for longer than a nanosecond and knock the vibrato shit off.
Verdict: Skip |
| 65 |  | Balhell
The Way of Our Life
I appreciate the enthusiasm, but the songwriting just isn't there.
Verdict: Skip |
| 66 |  | Black Majesty
Oceans Of Black
Verdict: Skip |
| 67 |  | Burning Witches
Inquisition
Starts strong, but lays on the snooze heavy in the second half.
Verdict: Skip |
| 68 |  | Ancient Bards
Artifex
Operatic female vox and death growls with never be a good combo.
Verdict: Skip |
| 69 |  | Lycanthro
Remnants of Rapture
Verdict: Skip |
| 70 |  | Grave Digger
Bone Collector
The AI artwork is about as good as the music. Not a compliment.
Verdict: Hard skip |
| 71 |  | Rigorious
Kingdom Unfold
Verdict: Hard skip |
| 72 |  | Kilmara
Journey to the Sun
Slightly more creative than white noise, but just as boring.
Verdict: Hard skip |
| 73 |  | Feuerschwanz
Knightclub
Absolutely ridiculous, but not the good kind. That Gangnam Style cover genuinely made me suicidal. EASILY the worst thing I listened to in 2025
Verdict: Avoid at all costs |
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