🎶 November 2025 Roundup
Alright guys, this is it! Last one before the AOTY posts at the end of December. I'm planning on releasing my list(s) in the timespan between Christmas and New Years, and I'm simultaneously dreading and looking forward to all the work and listening I have to do to get it done in time.
As of Saturday (Nov 29), I'm no longer recording any new entries for the year, otherwise I'd simply be overwhelmed, and I would like to try to avoid recency bias whenever possible.
I usually do a GOTY post as well, but to be honest, I have not been keeping up with my gaming enough this year to warrant a year-end list. I've been absolutely swamped with new music all year as a result of my one-roundup-a-month schedule. Combining that with my new job that I started in August which resulted in a lot less free time, gaming has taken a backseat in my life in a way that it's never really done before.
I lament the fact that gaming hasn't brought me the same joy as it has in previous years, because I do still pay attention to the scene and I'm painfully aware of just how many great titles that came out in the past months that I've missed out on. I can't seem to settle down for more than half an hour or so at a time to play games by myself anymore without something else demanding my time or attention, and it's very frustrating.
So, no new games this month, I'm afraid. I have a couple lined up that I'm hoping I'll get to play in December but we'll have to see whether my increasingly short attention span will allow it.
I'll admit it, I've had a spot of music fatigue the past month as well. I've been covering so much music this year that I've had a very hard time keeping up, but I managed to get over the hump last week and managed to focus enough again to get through most of the many, MANY releases of November. It was rough picking out my favorites of the bunch, but I got there in the end!
So let's get to the music, shall we? 😄
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The Music
Gabriel Jacoby - gutta child
R&B, 2025
We'll start things off nice and smooth with this fantastic upbeat and funky record from Gabriel Jacoby. This one is short but sweet, chock full of danceable and head-bobbing beats and basslines which will put a smirk on your face.
Pretty universally likeable music here, and a damn good time, so if you want something that goes down easy this month; This is it!
Available on both Qobuz and Bandcamp.
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Despised Icon - Shadow Work
Grind / Deathcore, 2025
The Montreal legends are back with their best record since The Ills of Modern Man almost twenty years ago in 2007! This is probably one of the biggest releases of the year within this specific subgenre, and it's going to be a tight race for deathcore AOTY, I can tell you that!
The scope and musicianship of this record is pretty striking. Not only is it hard as nails, but on a musical level we're dealing with a very experienced and talented band that know how to wield their technical prowess and also know how to write damn good songs.
This band is revered for good reason, and with the quality of the output on this record I sure hope we haven't heard the last of them yet. Hard to pick favorites from this tracklist, but I'd probably suggest starting with the opener Shadow Work for its instantly recognizable riff.
Interestingly, this album is NOT available on Bandcamp, but you can find it on Qobuz and YouTube.
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Heteropsy - Embalming
Melodic Death-Doom, 2025
The sleeper album of the month! This debut record from japanese outfit Heteropsy is grimy, heavy, dynamic, well written, and absolutely packed with mid-tempo grooves and riffs. Not to mention the very organic and live-sounding production on it. It's just an absolute blast to listen to and is sure to produce a stankface with almost every track.
I have a feeling not many people will even know this record exists, as I've only seen it mentioned once online. This is gnarly shit, and this band deserves all the recognition it can get when they release an album this solid on their first try.
Probably my biggest recommendation for you real ones this November. Go check it out on Bandcamp, or stream it on Qobuz!
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Pupil Slicer - Fleshwork
Progressive Mathcore, 2025
I was previously of the impression that Pupil Slicer was one of the more underrated underground core bands, but this record has a lot of people talking, and it's not hard to hear why.
This british trio has upped their game in pretty much every way since their last release. This album is dynamic, melodic, chaotic, intense, moody and brutally heavy all at the same time. One of the absolute best core bands out there, and I'd argue; Hardly underrated anymore.
Highly recommended for those that want a more mature and thoughtful metalcore-related release to enjoy before year's end.
Available on both Bandcamp and Qobuz.
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1914 - Viribus Unitis
Blackened War Metal, 2025
This Ukrainian black metal band does it again, with a black metal opus about the horrors of World War 1.
Perfect modern black metal mixed in with samples of extremely old vinyls from the beginning of the previous century, featuring old war tunes and folk songs. Masterfully written and performed, and I don't really know what else to say. This is another clear contender for AOTY, especially in this genre. Highly recommended!
You can get it both on Bandcamp and Qobuz.
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Netherwalker - Odyssey of Respair
Deathcore, 2025
Another late contender for deathcore AOTY. This is a very unique and interesting album with a big sense of character and identity, clearly inspired by high fantasy and TTRPGs. We have some pretty gnarly riffs and unhinged vocal performances, as well as great instrumentation, crisp production, and extremely heavy breakdowns.
Personally I prefer the more somber approach of Despised Icon for this genre, but you gotta recognize when someone is trying something new as well, which is why this one makes the list alongside Shadow Work this month.
This is unfortunately not available on Bandcamp, so you gotta check it out on Qobuz or YouTube, and I highly suggest you do.
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False Reality - Faded Intentions
Hardcore, 2025
My take on this is simple; This is the best hardcore album of November 2025, and there were plenty to choose from! This young band from London has a fire in their bellies, and the awesome lady by the name of Rachel Rigby who does their vocals has the perfect voice for this genre.
To do hardcore well, you need to sound angry and alive, and this band delivers that in spades. There's a great groove and momentum to the entire record, with two-step rhythms, screaming leads, and fantastic breakdowns to spare. Hell, there are even solos. I mean, just have a listen to Cost of Spite and it should remove any doubts of this band's versatility and talent.
A lot of fun to be had with this one, and I sure hope this band continues to produce music of this caliber going forward. I can scarcely believe this is only their second full-length. I am thoroughly impressed.
Go listen to it on Bandcamp or Qobuz!
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Stillbirth - Survival Protocol
Technical Death Metal, 2025
You know, you don't really see album art this colorful for a technical death metal record, and yet the more I listen to it, it sort of makes sense.
There's a playfulness and vibe here that I can't quite put my finger on. It's brutal shit, and yet it has this element of fun. Like the band is just having a blast playing this music (quite well I might add), and that energy has simply transferred to the music, making it really contagious and engaging.
There are plenty of smaller moments and details on this album that just puts a smile on my face every time I listen to it, and for that reason I can't deny it the top spot among a sea of very good death metal releases this November.
Have a listen on Bandcamp or Qobuz, then buy it cause it's really good.
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Rolo Tomassi - In The Echoes Of All Dreams EP
Progressive Hardcore / Mathcore, 2025
With this EP we could argue whether Rolo Tomassi is metal or just metal-adjacent, but that would do both the band and the music a disservice, 'cause regardless of genre this music is beautiful.
The entire opening track is a blissful melodic landscape of pads, strings, muted drums and serene vocals from the brilliant Eva Korman. Then we blast off with thundering and almost electronic sounding drums, djenty guitars and gut wrenching raspy fry vocals.
This EP is dynamic, with great musical prowess and variety, and sounds great. I'm actually kind of sad that it's not a full-length album.
Check it out on Bandcamp or Qobuz right now!
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And of course, we have this month's honorable mentions, and plenty of them!
- Avralize - Liminal :: Probably the most sonically interesting metalcore album I've heard all year. Very diverse and interesting stuff. Still not my favorite genre, but game recognize game, so these guys get a recommendation anyway.
- BleedSkin - Homicidal Therapy :: I discovered this after coming across the band's guitarist/vocalist's YouTube shorts where she absolutely shreds a whole heap of new and classic metal songs. Turns out her band also makes really good brutal death metal!
- Bore - Feral :: Pretty wild and intense hardcore/crossover band out of New York City.
- Cemican - U k'u'uk'ankil Mayakaaj :: Mayan folk metal(!). Probably the most unique record of the month with incredible instrumentation and great chanting vocals.
- Cold Steel - Discipline & Punish :: A very good and groovy thrash metal record from this pretty established band from Florida. Packs quite a punch, and probably up there as one of the best thrash records of the year.
- De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky :: The hip-hop legends are back with a cheerful tribute to their lost friend and group member Dave. Undeniable quality, with tons of amazing features.
- Depravity - Bestial Obsession :: Very competent brutal death metal on par with the likes of Cryptopsy et al. Quite impressive!
- Flesher - Gore On Gore :: This band suddenly decided to release a new album very shortly after I discovered their last one. Unfortunately, I'm not as fond of this followup. Doesn't have quite the same menacing and gritty grooves of the last record, but still very decent modern death metal.
- Heavensgate - A Heart Is A Heavy Burden :: A brutal and heavy record from this Aussie metalcore band. It has its softer moments, but the heavy parts more than make up for it.
- Hive - Conduct of Flies :: Deathcore by a band clearly inspired by Mick Gordon's DOOM soundtracks. The songwriting is a bit one-note to my ears, but their sound is pretty cool!
- Invoke - Enemy Of The Sound Perception :: From this North Carolina band comes this pretty damn heavy and hard-hitting hardcore / groove metal album.
- Insidius - Vulgus Illustrata :: A death metal album that was barely beaten by Stillbirth and Heteropsy this month. I love this one, but it didn't quite make the cut in a month full of great stuff.
- Omnium Gatherum - May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way :: One of the most discussed melodic death metal releases of the month, but for some reason didn't hook me personally. Shouldn't neglect mentioning it though, as it's getting a lot of praise.
- Oromet - The Sinking Isle :: Well, look at that! Oromet released an album the month after I discovered them and their last album from 2023. Haven't really had the time to digest this one, but from what I can tell it's more of the same, which is good!
- Primal Scourge - End of Eden :: Very competent death metal debut full-length from this duo from Knoxville. Very impressive for a first proper full album, and just like with Insidius I had a very hard time making the choice to bump this down to an honorable mention.
- Soulfly - Chama :: Very good album from these veterans of groovy and powerful thrash metal.
- Struck A Nerve - Struck A Nerve :: Fast and chugging thrash metal with a classic sound. Actually enjoyed this album more than Testament's effort this year. Yeah, I said it!
- Sworn To Death - Pillars of Morality / Ruins of a Mind :: Some decent groove metal here out of Croatia. Perfect for those that like their metal a bit more laid back but still hard.
- The Crimson Armada - Ceremony EP :: Riffy hardcore/deathcore from Ohio. These guys broke up in 2012 and suddenly decided to start back up in 2024, and they came back with a bang!
- Unprocessed - Angel :: I'll admit, I have a hard time pinning a genre to this. It's progressive rock, but not really. It's metalcore, but not really. It's djent, but not really. It is pretty enjoyable though, and has some funky bass riffs in there.
- Vulture Blood - Die Close :: Great progressive stoner/heavy metal from So-Cal. Mid-tempo chugs, heavy grooves, melodic leads and choral like vocals.
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*dusts off hands* Well, that's it, that's all of them. Holy crap, the last few roundups have been quite something haven't they? I'm almost in disbelief myself of how much music I try to digest each month. I can't seem to help myself though; As soon as I hear about an album that's in a genre that I remotely enjoy, straight into the sorting playlist it goes, merely based on the off-chance that it turns out to be one of those amazing albums that end up defining key moments and times in your life.
Welp, I hope I'll see you all reading my AOTY list on December 28th. At least, I really hope it'll be done by then. I guess we'll find out.
Peace! And Happy Holidays! ☃️✌️