01) Killswitch Engage, This Consequence (Metal Blade)
Killswitch Engage wins album of the year for 2025. The New England natives never disappoint as they continue to bring riffs, carnage, and melody with every song. This might be the band’s shortest record in length since their self-titled debut, but every song is simply fantastic. The harsh realities within the lyrics really drive the record, along with the cave-stomping riffs from guitarist Adam “D” Dutkiewicz . Aggression and contempt are a focal point of the record even when the music doesn’t clearly present that. Of course, there are heavy and dynamic songs like “Broken Glass,” but there are others that express disdain and hardship through melody and catchy hooks. KSE isn’t rewriting the game or breaking the mold with this record. Instead they’ve shown that, even with 20+ years in the game, they aren’t slowing down.
Key Track(s): “Broken Glass”
Overall, 2025 several great releases but only a few really stood the test of time. I hope you give these records a listen!
These albums did not make my top five, but definitely deserve an honorable mention:
Trivium, Struck Dead EP (Nuclear Blast)
Soulfly, Chama (Nuclear Blast)
Whitechapel, Hymns In Dissonance (Metal Blade)
Architects, The Sky, the Earth & All Between (Epitaph)
Rivers of Nihil, Rivers of Nihil (Metal Blade)
