Best of 2025: Quarter 4

The final seasonal overview of the 20 best singles, EPs and albums releases that defined the fourth quarter of 2025.

20. Poppy - 'Guardian'

Band: Sumerian Records' biggest wildcard paving the way to a huge Q1 release

Song: A trademark contemporary Poppy-infused alt metal anthem

Album: Empty Hands, Out 23 Jan

19. Waves Like Walls - 'They Preach, We Burn' (ft. Dead Like Juliet)

Band: A disarmingly suitable, no-bs, Trans Alpine teamup

Song: Modern European melodic hardcore of the utmost quality

Album: TBC for 2026

18. Future Palace - 'Deep Blue'

Band: Preparing an exciting new chapter under the Century Media flag

Song: Unmistakably captivating and multifaceted FP banger

Album: TBC for 2026

17. Save Us - 'Zero'

Band: Solid State's latest discovery and one of the biggest scene hopefuls for 2026

Song: Raising the bar with a relentlessly slick metalcore rager

Album: TBC for 2026

16. The Pretty Wild - 'zero.point.genesis'

Band: Topping up an eventftul year with an undeniable release milestone

Song: The leading track off their irrestistible high-octane breakthrough

Album: zero.point.genesis, Out Now

15. Ice Nine Kills - 'The Laugh Track'

Band: Expanding their immersive catalogue of modern audio-visual classics

Song: The frenzied Joker tribute we did know we need so badly

Album: TBC for 2026

14. Paleface Swiss - 'Everything Is Fine'

Band: Jumping right to new music following their killer early 2025 drop

Song: Classic modern metalcore teerjerker of the highest order

EP: The wilted, Out 2 Jan

13. Avoid - 'Sour Apple'

Band: Never ever a dull moment when the Seattle boys are around

Song: An invigoratingly bouncy trademarj alt goodness

EP: Creature of Habit, Out Now (review)

12. Rising Insane - 'Error' (ft. Steven Jones off Bleed From Within)

Band: Finally returning with a blast following a somewhat quiet year

Song: A predictably furious team-up with Steven Jones (Bleed From Within)

Album: TBC for 2026

11. Devil May Care - 'Caving In'

Band: One of 2025's freshest discoveries and heavyhitters in the making

Song: The examplary centerpiece of an album to remember

Album: Limit, Out Now

10. Aviana - 'Void' (Full Album)

Band: Continuing their turbulent ascend towards modern metal peaks

Song: A turbulent journey inside a volatile black hole

Album: THE WHEEL, Out Now (review)

9. Avralize - 'liminal'

Band: Seamlessly topping their outstanding 2024 debut

Song: An exemplary title track to kickstart the funky-djent-core extravaganza

Album: liminal, Out Now (review)

8. Silent Planet - 'under your skin'

Band: Teasing another huge year for the band in 2026

Song: A trademarked end-year release to pave the way of a killer upcoming LP

Album: TBC for 2026

7. Currents - 'Rise & Fall'

Band: Coming back with a surprising yet predictably faultless EP drop

Song: A signature Currents-infused modern metalcore experience

EP: All That Follows, Out Now (review)

6. 156/Silence - 'Our Parting Ways'

Band: Making a fantastic return to arguably their best form to date

Song: As hauntingly alluring as brutally punching

Album: TBC for 2026

5. Orbit Culture - 'The Storm'

Band: Mustering all primal forces into an instant modern metal classic

Song: The epitome of their relentlessly devastating masterpiece

Album Death Above Life, Out Now (review)

4. Electric Callboy - 'TANZNEID'

Band: Maintaining their stellar reputation with admirable ease

Song: The latest blockbuster Halloween special of the EC show

Album: TBC for 2026

3. The Devil Wears Prada - 'Eyes'

Band: Effortlessly delivering a statement of genre mastery and scene stature

Song: Just one of the mezmerizing pieces from their multifaceted puzzle

Album Flowers, Out Now (review)

2. Annisokay - 'Splinters'

Band: As always, as triumphantly brilliant as criminally underrated

Song: The symbollic climax of their immersive Abyss tale

Album: Abyss - The Final Chapter, Out Now (review)

1. Bad Omens - 'Dying To Love'

Band: Back to dominating global attention with unapologetic charm

Song: The unrivaled peak from the recent chain of irresistible promo singles

Album: TBC for 2026

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

The Most Anticipated Releases For Quarter 1 of 2026 (confirmed dates):

Paleface Swiss - The wilted EP (Blood Blast Distribution), 2 Jan

Nanowar Of Steel - The Genghis Khan EP to End All Ghenghis Khan EPs (Napalm Records), 7 Jan

Poppy - Empty Hands (Sumerian Records), 23 Jan

Crystal Lake - The Weight Of Sound (Century Media), 23 Jan

Sylosis - The New Flesh (Nuclear Blast), 20 Feb

The Gloom In The Corner - Royal Discordance (SharpTone Records), 27 Feb

Varials - WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES (Fearless Records), 27 Feb

Yonaka - Untill You're Satisfied (Distiller Records), 13 Mar

Wildcard: Yonaka - 'Cruel'

Band: Gearing up for a solid new year and potential career high

Song: A tasteful nod to the glorious alt-metal past

Album: Until You're Satisfied, Out 13 Mar