This year’s combined list came together a bit differently. Not every list followed the top-ten format: some were longer, others shorter, and a few were left unranked. With that in mind, we compiled a unified list by recognizing albums that appeared more than once across the thirteen lists we received for the best albums of 2025: Meryth, Emily, Elise, Chris A., DJ Alex Kayne, Lisa, Zenae, Ian, Chris L., Matt, Kyle O., Jordeana, and Jillian. Don’t forget our Metal By Numbers 2025 special, analyzing the whole year in album sales.
To create a unified ranking from all submitted lists, we assigned a point system for albums appearing on two or more lists. Each appearance on a list automatically counts as a duplicate and earns one base point. If that album was ranked on a list, it earns one additional point. Ranked placements then receive extra points: albums ranked #6–higher receive no extra points, albums ranked #2–#5 receive an additional 2 points, and albums ranked #1 receive an additional 3 points. Unranked list appearances receive only the base duplicate point. All points from each list’s appearance were then totaled to produce the final combined ranking.
Scoring Recap:
#1 = 5 points
#2–#5 = 4 points
#6– higher = 2 points
Unranked = 1 point
Only albums appearing on multiple lists are included
Ties broken by highest ranking first, then average placement
Unranked placements are treated as #45 for averaging
Here’s the Metal Insider combined list of top albums for 2025:
20) Igorrr, Amen (Metal Blade)
Zenae: #39 = 2 points
Emily: unranked = 1 point
Total: 3 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Daemoni,” “Limbo,” “ADHD”
19) An Abstract Illusion, The Sleeping City (Willowtip)
Zenae: #36 = 2 points
Emily: unranked = 1 point
Total: 3 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Frost Flower,” “The Sleeping City,” “Blackmurmur,” “Emmett”
18) Amorphis, Borderland (Reigning Phoenix)
Zenae: #14 = 2 points
Emily: unranked = 1 point
Total: 3 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Bones,” “Fog To Fog,” “Tempest”
17) Blood Red Throne, Siltskin (Soulseller Records)
DJ Alex Kayne: #10 = 2 points
Zenae: #24 = 2 points
Total: 4 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Necrolysis,” “Scraping Out the Cartilage”
16) Cradle Of Filth, The Screaming Of The Valkyries (Napalm)
Lisa: #9 = 2 points
Zenae: #20 = 2 points
Total: 4 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Malignant Perfection,” “White Hellebore”
15) Scour, Gold (Housecore Records)
Jordeana: #7 = 2 points
Zenae: #18 = 2 points
Total: 4 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Gold,” “Infusorium,” “Coin”
14) Wednesday 13, Mid Death Crisis (Napalm Records)
Chris L: #7 = 2 points
Lisa: #8 = 2 points
Total: 4 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Decease and Desist,” “Blood Storm,” “When the Devil Commands,” “No Apologies”
13) Lunatic Soul, The World Under Unsun ( Inside Out Music)
Meryth: #5 = 4 points
Emily: unranked = 1 point
Total: 5 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Mind Obscured, Heart Eclipsed,” “Torn in Two,” “Confession”
12) Omnium Gatherum,
May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way (Century Media)
12) Omnium Gatherum, Zenae: #5 = 4 points
Emily: unranked = 1 point
Total: 5 points
Combined Key Track(s): “Ignite The Flame,” “Barricades,” “The Darkest City,” “My Pain”
11) Saor,
Amidst the Ruins (Season Of Mist)
11) Saor, Zenae: #1 = 5 points
Emily: unranked = 1 point
Total: 6 points
Combined Key Track(s): ”Amidst the Ruins,” “Rebirth,” “The Sylvan Embrace”
