“In defiance of the shit burger we’re all eating every day while we wait for the AI drone war to start, 2025 was my best year in a while.” An oddly optimist AMG Himself has written a list.
Aephanemer
Sentynel’s and Twelve’s Top Ten(ish) of 2025
Sentynel and Twelve hit the streets with their Top Ten(ish) of 2025. You should read all about them.
Who Are These Clowns and Where Did They Put My Flesh Stapler? The AMG Staff Pick Their Top Ten(ish) of 2025
The AMG Staff Lists are ready for review, examination, and ultimately, rejection.
![Aephanemer – Utopie [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]](https://www.angrymetalguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Aephanemer-Utopie-01.jpg.webp)
Aephanemer – Utopie [Things You Might Have Missed 2025]
“I first encountered Aephanemer between Prokopton and A Dream of Wilderness, and it was love at first listen. Their classical flourishes seamlessly converge with aggressive riffing to develop complex layers of hook-infested earworms so inescapable that no prescription can rid me of their iron thrall. Four years after their last outing, Aephanemer returns with a mature interpretation of their signature sonic stamp.” Apes and hammers and melodeath.
Nightmare – Encrypted Review
“Starting out life as a classic heavy metal act, they reformed in the late ‘90s sporting a new Euro-power veneer. The addition of a rotating lineup of female vocalists in recent years has given the band a more modern, melodic direction, and Encrypted continues the path away from the Grotto of Gouda to the Cathedral of Corset. New vocalist Barbara Mogore aside, veteran bassist Yves Campion has led a mostly stable band lineup during Nightmare’s modern period, and if 2020’s Aeternam was any indication, these Frenchmen have a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to the RIFF.” To sleep, per chance to Nightmare.
Stuck in the Filter: January’s Angry Misses
It’s becoming apparent that our filtering systems work quite well! The crew has done a fine job pulling filth from the workings and releasing the pressure to the system. A second too late and the toilets would have backed up.
Astralborne – Across the Aeons Review
“There’s something special about a melodic death metal band unafraid to reach into the depths of brutality in the pursuit of killer tunes. Bands like Nawabs of Destruction and The Beast of Nod created some of my favorite metal albums of recent years by utilizing an equal measure of brutal and hyper-melodic elements. Now it looks like Astralborne, a melodic death metal trio hailing from Ohio, prepare themselves to officially join that exclusive category with their upcoming opus Across the Aeons.” Resistance is brutal.
Foretoken – Triumphs Review
“Foretoken take a particularly aggressive approach to melodic death metal, much like The Black Dahlia Murder do. Yet, this duo also share considerable affinity with more opulent acts such as Brymir, Mongol, Ephemerald, Stormlord and Aephanemer. Symphonics play a support role exclusively, however, as vicious riffing and ripping leads take charge and guide the record through battlefields of speedy tech-death percussion.” Wictory or death!
Fall of Stasis – The Chronophagist Review
“Extreme music and cheer have an uneasy relationship. Power metal is generally expected to be upbeat and not take itself too seriously, but when the growls and screams enter the building, such attitudes are wont to leap out the window. Death and black metal are serious business, dammit! Except when they’re not, and examples abound of bands that embrace both the dark and the light. At first glance, Fall of Stasis seem to be the serious sort. A faux Old English logo, a grim apocalyptic cover, and a title that literally means ‘the time eater.’ But is it all as dark as it seems?” Goro-core.
GardensTale’s Top Ten(ish) Album Art of 2021
The art we got in 2021 was the art we got. Now GardensTale hosts his annual gala ball and looks back on the best and worst moments of the year’s culture. Are you on the exclusive invite list?
