J MAYS

2025 has been a year. A lot of things have changed during that time, especially the way I experience and consume music. My writing output has been poor this year for multiple personal reasons, but also because it seems to take weeks or perhaps even months for new music to resonate with me. That’s not conducive to the reviewing process, but please don’t think I no longer enjoy this. My list may be the shortest one on the staff, but rest assured, these albums are here because I feel them in my soul. I have to thank the other writers for being patient with me in many ways far beyond the realm of internet metal reviewing.

1. Spiritworld – Helldorado. (Century Media Records) This album was my soundtrack for the entire year. I went through good times, as well as awful ones, with this album playing. I could go into detail, but I won’t.
2. Astronoid – Stargod. (3DOT Recordings) This album hit me like a ton of bricks. There are so many lyrics that personally resonate, but they make depressing refrains sound happy.
3. Sanguisugabogg – Repulsive Demise. (Century Media Records)
4. Inhuman Condition – Mind Trap. (Listenable Insanity Records)
5. Graceless – Icons of Ruin. (Listenable Records)
6. Blackbraid – Blackbraid III. (Self-Released)
7. Paradise Lost – Ascension. (Nuclear Blast Records)
8. Tribunal – In Penitence and Ruin (20 Buck Spin Records)
9. Castrator – Coronation of the Grotesque (Dark Descent Records)
10. Jinjer – Duel. (Napalm Records)
11. Chevelle – Bright as Blasphemy (Alchemy Recordings)
12. The Acacia Strain – You Are Safe from God Here (Rise Records)
13. Victim of Fire – The Old Lie (Self-Released)

Honorable mention:

Novembers Doom – Major Arcana. This is an honorable mention because it’s very good. However, I expect far more from this brilliant band. Maybe that’s unreasonable being they’re so deep in their career, but I am difficult to please.

Live Shows of the Year: Maryland Death Fest

1. Primordial
2. Agalloch

Songs of the Year: The first song hit me at the most hopeful time of my life. When that blew up in my face, I had a difficult time listening for a while. That has changed. The second hit me nearer the end of the year in another “healing” phase, which finds me optimistic yet still mourning the loss of what could have been.

1. Spiritworld – “Bird Song of Death.”
2. Astronoid – “Third Shot.”