Best of 2025: Quarter 1

The seasonal overview of the 20 best singles, EPs and albums releases that defined the first three months of 2025.

20. Devil May Care - 'Black Box' (ft. The Oklahoma Kid)

A surprise entry and a brilliant German collab sees newcomers Devil May Care teaming up with The Oklahoma Kid on the exemplary newcore rager 'Black Box'.

19. Paleface Swiss - 'Love Burns'

Kickstarting the year with a blast, Paleface Swiss delivered their signature dose of vulnerable phychosis on 'Love Burns' from their latest studio album CURSED.

18. Bleeding Through - 'I Am Resistance' (ft. Comeback Kid)

The O.C. OGs Bleeding Through returned to their signature blackened metalcore, teaming up with Comeback Kid on 'I Am Resistance' from their latest LP Nine.

17. Annisokay - 'Inner Sanctum'

Annisokay's latest screamer 'Inner Sanctum' raised the heat as the last step before their upcoming second installment of the Abyss EP series, set for 11 April via Arising Empire.

16. Afterlove - 'Shape Of My Mind' (ft. Bite Down)

Faultless contemporary alt metal from the heart of Denmark, 'Shape Of My Mind' lead the way to the fantastic Copenhagen Closure by Mirza Radonjica's Afterlove.

15. Stick To Your Guns - 'Spineless'

Stick To Your Guns once again reminded us why they are on the top of the modern melodic hardcore chain with 'Spineless' from their latest Keep Planting Flowers LP.

14. Hands Like Houses - 'ICU'

Approaching the grand finale of their brilliant EP series, Aussie alt rock heroes Hands Like Houses shared 'ICU' with the last part of the complete ATMOSPHERICS.

13. Memphis May Fire - 'Overdose' (ft. Blindside)

Late scene days legends Memphis May Fire dropped yet another instant smash hit 'Overdose' from their brand new collection of metalcore bangers Shapeshifter.

12. A Day To Remember - 'Make It Make Sense'

A surprise return by easycore godfathers A Day To Remember, sharing the supercharged single 'Make It Make Sense' from their massive new Big Ole Album.

11. Underøath - 'All The Love Is Gone'

Another living scene icon making loud noise in 2025, Underøath returned to their best form with 'All The Love Is Gone' from their tenth LP The Place After This One.

10. Samurai Pizza Cats - 'Pandastruck'

Operating under the radar until now, German party crew Samurai Pizza Cats raised the volume on their fresh electronicore anthem 'Pandastruck'.

9. Acres - 'Bloodlust'

A massive evolution from UK newcomers Acres, their fantastic new singe 'Bloodlust" teasing a huge upcoming LP The Host for 2 May via Solid State Records.

8. Bury Tomorrow - 'Let Go'

A staple of British metalcore excellence, Bury Tomorrow are cooking quite the record with 'Let Go' from Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, set for 16 May.

7. Electric Callboy - 'Elevator Operator'

A welcome return from Electric Callboy and their wonderful world of eccentric electronicore bangers, delving even deeper into the ridiculous with 'Elevator Operator'.

6. Thornhill - 'TONGUES'

One more killer bouncy single 'TONGUES' to add to the bill, courtesy of modern Aussie trendsetters Thornhill and their upcoming release Bodies, set for 4 April via UNFD.

5. Balance Breach - 'Save Our Souls'

Finland's best kept modern metalcore secret, Balance Breach raised the bar even higher with their brilliant latest album Save Our Souls and its epic title track.

4. Imminence - 'God Fearing Man'

Almost a year since their hauntingly beautiful The Black, violincore maestros Imminence returned with 'God Fearing Man' from its befitting Deluxe Edition.

3. Spiritbox - 'No Loss, No Love'

Another determined step towards heavy music immortality, Spiritbox delivered the crushing 'No Loss, No Love' leading to the premiere of their huge Tsunami Seas LP.

2. LANDMVRKS - 'A Line In The Dust' (ft. While She Sleeps)

A modern metal match made in heaven sees French flagmen Landmvrks joined by While She Sleeps' very own Matt Welsh on the outstanding 'A Line In The Dust'.

1. Architects - 'Black Hole'

Easy top spot for the audio-visual superhit 'Blackhole' from Architects' massive new album and early AOTY contender The Sky, The Earth & All Between.

Find all those ragers and many more in our wide selection of Modern Metal Playlists.

The Most Anticipated Releases For Quarter 2 of 2025 (confirmed dates):

Bleed From Within - ZENITH (Nuclear Blast), 4 Apr

Thornhill - Bodies (UNFD), 4 Apr

Once Awake - Far Out And Beyond (Self), 9 Apr

Annisokay - Abyss Pt.II (Arising Empire), 11 Apr

Landmvrks - The Darkest Place I've Been (Arising Empire), 25 Apr

Caliban - Back From Hell (Century Media), 25 Apr

Acres - The Host (Solid State Records), 2 May

Sleep Token - Even in Arcadia (RCA Records), 9 May

Bury Tomorrow - Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience (Music For Nations), 16 May

Novelists - CODA (Ackor Music), 16 May

Wildcard: Sleep Token - 'Emergence'

Increasingly hard to keep track of all cryptic teasers and intertwined metaphors, Sleep Token returned with the signature beauty 'Emergence' from their upcoming Even In Arcadia LP.