🎶🎮 October 2025 Roundup
You know, I'm not really a fan of this time of year. The early sunsets, the bad weather, the grey and dull colors everywhere, and not to mention the creeping cold. It all just makes me feel so unmotivated and apathetic.
As a result, I've had a really hard time keeping up any productive or healthy habits this month. It's just so easy to backslide through the darker half of the year and not go on that walk, or sit down and study something, or eat more fast food cause you can't be bothered to cook.
I've tried taking Vitamin D and all that, it simply doesn't seem to do much. Usually I start feeling myself again once spring rolls back around, but I'm too old now to just roll over and use the lack of sunlight as an excuse. I try to remind myself that I can only compare myself to who I used to be, and then I try to do better, one day at a time.
I swear I'm not trying to bum you out, it's not like I'm all sad or anything. In fact, I'm fairly happy! I just find it fascinating how there's such an obvious change in mood and energy levels simply because the seasons change.
Anyway, my lack of drive otherwise in my daily life has not stopped me from playing some video games and listening to music. Maybe because escapism becomes that much more important when life gets you a bit down.
Let's go through all the good stuff, shall we? 😀
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The Games
MEGABONK
Horde Survival Roguelite, 2025 (PC)
I mean, at this point, probably every gamer and their grandma has heard about this game, but I feel like this is one of those that're "better late than never" to mention.
Imagine if Vampire Survivors took itself a little less seriously, had randomly generated levels, had more focused upgrades, had more charismatic and interesting characters, and was 3D! That's Megabonk!
At first, the change of going from an overhead flat 2D view to a third-person 3D one is a bit jarring. Enemies still come at you from all sides, but you can only look in one direction at a time, leaving you open for surprise attacks by a random elite spawn. However, it adds a way more engaging style of gameplay, considering that there is actually some movement tech to master here as well.
Another one of those games that just get better and better as you play it, as the unlocks and new characters keep providing reasons to just keep going and going and going. Quite addictive, and an easy recommend for that "dopamine fountain" rush that Vampire Survivors taught us to love.
For now it only seems to be available on Steam, and there's a demo that you can try before buying. You'll end up buying it though, 'cause it's good! I really wish this was on the Switch...
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The Music
Sanguisugabogg - Hideous Aftermath
Brutal Death Metal, 2025
Sanguisugabogg hasn't really been in the game for that long. Their debut album came out only four years ago, but there's always been a certain amount of buzz around them. I remember spinning their previous record Homicidal Ecstasy a couple of times in 2023, thinking that they certainly had a sound of their own, but it didn't quite grab me.
This album however, shot straight in as a sure candidate for my metal AOTY list this year. This album slaps, and I mean that in an almost literal sense. The bass drums on this record genuinely sounds like an angry gorilla slapping its chest, perfectly fitting the grim chugs and grooves that saturate the album. It's quite a stankface-inducing affair, and with a solid runtime of over 45 minutes it's quite a solid chunk of really good oldschool-influenced brutal death metal.
This genre of music has definitely become one of my favorites in recent times, and I'm so glad this band in particular managed to step up their game for this one, as I always felt like they had a whole lot of potential.
The blasting opener Rotted Entanglement, the more groove-laden Sanctified Defilement, and the industrial-tinged freight train Repulsive Demise should give you a solid idea of what this band is about. Then you can go buy the album on Bandcamp if you're so inclined.
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Orbit Culture - Death Above Life
Groove / Stadium Metal, 2025
For whatever reason this band has been very controversial in the metal scene in the lead-up to this album. Considering their very sharp rise in popularity the past year or so, I've no doubt that a large part of the scene considers them to be too "commercial".
And I have to admit, they sort of have a point; This band wears their influences clearly on their sleeve; Metallica, Gojira, In Flames, all the "standard" bands that those people who claim they're into metal say they like but have never bothered to explore the genre beyond what's headlining at their local festival.
The thing is, the sheer heaviness of this record puts this band on the very edge of what I think passes as palatable for the masses. The best parts of this record are insanely heavy, and even though they sprinkle in their clean vocal choruses (Gojira) and always keep their songs going for just a bit too long (Metallica), they consistently pump out some really fucking cool riffs and breakdowns that just makes most of this album a lot of fun to listen to.
Take the opening of the track Bloodhound as an example. It's an absolute destroyer of a track, and is way too harsh for someone like my "grew-up-listening-to-Linkin-Park" girlfriend to ever enjoy. Orbit Culture's music is right on the cusp of what I'd call culturally mainstream acceptable heaviness, and I think metalheads should be allowed to enjoy it with a guilt-free conscience.
I mean if it rocks, it rocks, regardless of popularity. It's not AOTY list material though, and the production on it could be better (clearly their producer is way too fond of compression).
Get it on Bandcamp if you don't care about being called a poseur. 😉
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Face Yourself - Fury EP
Deathcore, 2025
This young female-led deathcore band has a very technically proficient and atmospheric approach to the genre. There's character here, and a lot of hunger and potential.
The band has barely gotten off the ground, with their debut dropping as late as 2023, but from what I can hear on this record, they sure are off to a great start. It's dynamic, it's expertly performed, and it's interesting, as well as being pretty brutal and heavy.
I'm eager to hear their first full-length whenever they decide to make it. This is good stuff. Great album artwork too! My only gripe is that the production is a little thin, but that's only a nitpick.
Check out the singles Fractures or Ov Agony. If you dig it, Bandcamp has the entire EP available.
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Brotthogg - Ved Veis Ende
Norwegian Black Metal, 2025
Here we have some proper trve norwegian black metal for you cvltists out there.
Seriously though, this is pretty good stuff. The shitty AI artwork aside, the musicianship on display here is quite extraordinary. These guys have nailed this sound so thoroughly. The songs all feel like individual epics in their own right, the solos are great, and the drums are just firing on all cylinders constantly.
The energy in this record might be unmatched by any other black metal record I've heard this year, and probably won't be far behind Blackbraid III as one of my favorites of the year genrewise. Another one of the few albums of this genre that I can actually just sit and listen to from start to finish without having to take breaks.
Highly recommended for the real ones out there. Bandcamp has the stuff, and it's even pretty cheap for a full release!
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Bloodred Hourglass - We Should Be Buried Like This
Melodic Death Metal, 2025
I was craving some more good melodic dm this year, and I sure got it with this one. This finnish band delivers powerful fry screams, great melodies, soaring synths, pumping drums, even electronic beats are all mixed together here for a very cool and modern melodic death metal sound.
The title track We Should Be Buried Like This sounds exactly like how I would want a band like Soilwork or In Flames to sound today. High-octane grooves and insanely catchy melodic hooks accompanied by great riffs and even a great breakdown. I'm so happy that we have a band that can make music with this specific sound without sounding washed up and all out of ideas like most of their genre peers.
This record is just a damn good time. You should all listen to it! And then go buy it on Bandcamp!
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Hooded Menace - Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration
Heavy / Death / Doom Metal, 2025
Quick, I'll give you three guesses as to what that fucking album title is supposed to mean, cause I sure don't know!
This Finnish band has already made quite a name for themselves in the underground metal scene the past ten years, and I can remember seeing their two previous releases in AOTY lists in their respective release years. I have tried to listen to most of their material from previous years, particularly The Tritonus Bell which came out in 2021, and I have to say it wasn't really my bag.
Now, given that their last album didn't make that much of an impression on me, I couldn't tell you what's different about this album necessarily. What I do know is that the vibe on this record is immaculate, and despite the songs being fairly long, I never feel bored listening to it. It's melodic while still being grim, hard, lush, grandiose, and all with a clearly 80's-inspired tone.
And does this album cover remind anyone else of the Castlevania aesthetic? Must be the tombstone and the bats. Anyway, this is pretty fucking good. Check out Portrait Without a Face for a very clear example of what this record sounds like. Then you can get it on Bandcamp!
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Spiritual Ravishment - Exit Humanity
Grind / Groove Metal, 2025
A late addition to the list this month, but well worthy of a spot. This Romanian groove metal / grindcore crossover band has a pretty awesome and dynamic sound of their own. We're talking mid-tempo, rough-around-the-edges slash pretty-menacing-with-an-occasional-blast-to-the-face kind of metal where you consistently have to smile in surprise at the various twists and turns throughout the album.
Even though this is only their sophomore effort, the band has been around for a while. Their last album came out ten(!) years ago, meaning the band has had quite some time to hone their craft before dropping this one. Worth a listen for those that like some attitude in their riffage!
Interestingly, this new record is not available on Spotify, while their last album is. Whatever lead to this decision I do not know, but you can still listen to it and get it on Bandcamp (for quite a nice price too, I might add).
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The Acacia Strain - You Are Safe From God Here
Deathcore, 2025
We may just have the deathcore record of the year right here. Exceptionally heavy without the excessive use of demon growls and gurgles, and way more interesting song structures than most other deathcore offerings that I've heard in the past months.
This album leans way more into the "core" side of deathcore, which I appreciate. There's something about the way this band composes their rhythms and grooves as well, as I find myself quite often bopping my head while listening. I find it surprisingly dynamic and varied despite of its genre. Highly recommended for fans of the chug.
You should start out with Mourning Star to get a good idea of what this record sounds like. Unfortunately, this release is not available on Bandcamp, but you can listen to it in its entirety on both Spotify and Youtube.
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So, as for this month's honorable mentions they are as follows:
- 50 Lions - New Reality :: A nice hardcore / thrash crossover record from this Australian band. Plenty of punch and tough guy groove on this one.
- An Abstract Illusion - The Sleeping City :: A progressive death metal record that a lot of people are claiming is AOTY material for the subgenre. It's an impressive affair, and has a solid 60 minutes of runtime.
- Befell - To Mourn The Living :: This metalcore band from Pennsylvania does a great job at capturing the vibe and energy of the original metalcore sound of bands like As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, and Unearth.
- Carach Angren - The Cult of Kariba :: Some entertaining Dimmu Borgir-sounding black metal out of the Netherlands.
- Carcosa - The Axe Forgets, The Tree Remembers :: Very competent deathcore from this renowned four-piece out of Canada.
- Clique - Death Is Not Our Only Option EP :: Raw and industrial hardcore from California. Short, but sweet!
- Destiny Bond - The Love :: Some straight up hardcore punk with a delightfully old-school vibe and great energy.
- Graveripper - From Welkin to Tundra :: We got some really good blackened thrash metal here from Indiana. Genuinely one of the more engaging albums I've heard in this genre for a while.
- Last Retch - Abject Cruelty :: This Ontario-based band makes some pure, raw and groovy Death Metal. This record is phat, grimy and filthy (complementary).
- Mastiff - For All the Dead Dreams :: This is an insanely heavy and knuckle-dragging sludge / hardcore EP from England, with a massive sound. Pretty dark and menacing.
- Oromet - Oromet :: I usually don't dig on Death Doom, but for some reason I keep coming back to this one. The atmosphere and vibe here makes you want to sink in, and stay there. And that album cover is just 😗👌.
- Scorching Tomb - Ossuary :: This Montreal band has delivered a death metal debut album that I'd say is pretty damn impressive!
- Tempered - Cruel & Unusual Punishment :: Another debut offering, this time from a high energy crossover band out of Glasgow, Scotland. Shreds galore! Also; A really fucking cool album cover.
- Turn Cold - Violent Breed :: Straight up thrash metal goodness with an early 90s flair.
- Two-Piece - FLORIDA :: Sometimes simple is good, and this Floridian beatdown band can sure do a lot with very little. Gotta love the use of movie and TV samples throughout the record as well.
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Wow, time flies, doesn't it? My next roundup in November will be the last one before I have to start working on my AOTY lists in December! There's a lot happening next month for me personally as well; A bunch of social events and other stuff which I'm very much looking forward to. And I'm sure there will be plenty of games and music to enjoy as well, which I'll tell you all about once the time comes.
For now though, I'll catch you on the flipside. Peace! ✌️