WORMWOOD'S TOP 10 OF 2025

WORMWOOD CHRONICLES' WRITERS'S BEST OF 2024

Well, here we are again...it sure doesn't seem like a year since I put up the last one of these. But such is the fleeting nature of existence. So here we are with the Top 10 of 2025 lists from the Wormwood writers...including a couple of new kids on the block! See you at the bottom!

DARK STARR'S BEST OF 2025

1. GHOST                                          "Skeleta"

2. THE LAST DINNER PARTY                                      "From The Pyre"

3. STYX                                                                          "Circling From Above"

4. DREAM THEATER                                                    "Parasomnia"

5. ENVY OF NONE                                                       "stij(e(en wavz"

6. BOB HOLZ                                                               "Honoring Larry Coryell"

7. AEROSTATION                                                         "Rethink"

8.  ALICE COOPER                                                       "The Revenge of Alice Cooper"

9.  GABRIEL KELLER                                                    "Hope Despite Everything"

10.  CIRCU5                                                                    "Clockwork Tulpa"

DR. ABNER MALITY'S BEST OF 2025

1. ARKHAAIK     “Uihtis”    Stumbled on this astonishing work by total accident. A band that creates heavy metal for the Neolithic Age and succeeds brilliantly. Brooding and tribal, it transported me back to prehistoric times.

2.  HAVAKRUUNU     “Tavastland”   The best black metal band out there right now, bar none. A work of soaring majesty that still rips your face off, a trip to medieval Finland brought to life. Fantastic melodies and furious riffs!

3.  1914     “Viribus Unitis”     From the war-torn plains of Ukraine comes this masterpiece that dives into the horrors of World War I and holds up a mirror to modern times. Incredibly heavy both sonically and emotionally

4.  KOSTNATENI     “Prilsnost”  The mercurial Turkish guitarist DL returns with his heaviest and fiercest work yet. This guy is taking both the electric guitar and death metal itself into new realms. It will burn your ears off!

5.  CORONER     “Dissonance Theory”     What an amazing comeback from the Swiss wizards of technical thrash. 34 years between albums and this may be their all around best!

6.  CHRIS ROLLING SQUAD     “Damn You All...To Hell”     Another one I found by pure luck. What a scorching mix of punk, metal and roots rock from this French band. Fans of MOTÖRHEAD, NASHVILLE PUSSY and ZEKE are urged to check out this whisky-fueled ass-kicker!

7.  BENEDICTION     “Ravages of Empire”     Another bull-dozing album from the legendary British death metal squad. Riffs that last for days and the gravel-chewing roars of Dave Ingram make this a can’t miss album.

8.  INNUMERABLE FORMS     “Pain Effulgence”    Death-doom so thick and heavy you could suffocate in it. Like drowning in sonic tar. Recommended for those who like the heaviest of the heavy.

9.  SODOM     “The Arsonist”     Like CORONER and BENEDICTION, this is a band that just doesn’t quit or compromise. Classic German thrash delivered with vitriol and a great analog sound.

10.  PATCHWORK     “Scars”     A little hometown love for this long-running local group. A powerful and effective mix of classic thrash and modern groove metal, with few weak points to be found.

Honorable Mention:   CAUSTIC WOUND “Grinding Mechanisms of Torment”, KING PARROT “A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot”, CHAMBER MAGE “By Light of Emerald Gods”, TIGGUO COBAUC “Fountains of Anguish”

MERCYFUL MIKE'S BEST OF 2024

1. CORONER                                "Dissonance Theory"

2. KILMARA                                                             "Journey To The Sun"

3. CREATURES                                                        "II"

4.  PRIMAL FEAR                                                     "Domination"

5.  GREEN CARNATION                                          " A Dark Poem Part 1: The Shores Of Melancholia"

6.  THE HALO EFFECT                                             "March Of The Unheard"

7.  SIGN OF THE WOLF                                           "Sign Of The Wolf"

8.  PHANTOM                                                           "Tyrants Of Wrath"

9.  BEHOLDER                                                          "In the Temple of the Tyrant"

10.  INTERCEPTOR                                                     "Metal Death"

COLONEL ANGUS' BEST OF 2024

1. A - Z                                          "A2Z2"

2.  WYTCH HAZEL                                                 "V: Lamentations"

3.  CEA SERIN                                                        "The World Inside"

4.  GLENN HUGHES                                             "Chosen"

5.  GHOST                                                              "Skeleta"

6.  TESTAMENT                                                      "Para Bellum"

7.  MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP                         "Don't Sell Your Soul"

8.  HAREM SCAREM                                               "Chasing Euphoria"

9.  BONFIRE                                                             "Higher Ground"

10.  THE FERRYMEN                                                 "Iron Will"

BOB BURNER'S BEST OF 2024

1. HELLOWEEN                                    "Giants and Monsters"

2.  ELVENKING                                                                    "Reader of the Runes: Luna"

3.  OWLBEAR                                                                      "Feather And Claw"

4.  AVANTASIA                                                                    "Here Be Dragons" 

5.  MIDNIGHT CITY                                                             "Bite The Bullet"

6.  TIERRAMYSTICA                                                             "Trinity"

7.  SAVAGE MASTER                                                           "Dark And Dangerous"

8.  GLYPH                                                                             "Invictus" EP

9.  SACRED LEATHER                                                          "Keep The Fire Burn

10.  HELMS DEEP                                                                  "Chasing The Dragon"

Honorable Mention    ADAMANTIS                                  "Reforged"

LORD RANDALL'S BEST OF 2025

1. GORLEBEN                                     "Menetekel"

2.  OLDE OUTLIER                                                          "From Shallow Lives To Shallow Graves"

3.  KING WITCH                                                               "III"

4.  MESSA                                                                         "The Spin"

5.  BINAH                                                                         "Onkos"

6.  BASK                                                                           "The Turning Mist"

7.  PYROMANCER                                                           "Absolute Dominion By Fire"

8.  HEXVESSEL                                                                "Nocturne"

9.  INTERCOURSE                                                           "How I Fell In Love With The End"

10.  HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY                                            "Scorched Earth"

THERON MOORE'S BEST OF 2025

1. THE RODS                                "Wild Dogs Unchained"

2.  ATOMIC ROOSTER                                           "Circle The Sun"

3.  SACRED LEATHER                                            "Keep The Fire Burning"

4.  CORONER                                                         "Dissonance Theory"

5.  PARADISE LOST                                                "Ascension"

6.  UNLEASHED                                                     "Fire Upon Your Lands"

7.  VIOGRESSION                                                   "Thaumaturgic Veil"

8.  SANGUISUGABOGG                                         "Hideous Aftermath"

9.  CONDITION CRITICAL                                      "Degeneration Chamber"

10.  IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS                   "A Crack In Everything"     

THOR'S BEST OF 2025

1. AGNOSTIC FRONT                    “Echoes in Eternity”

2. BARREN PATH                                                         “Grieving”

3. CHEPANG                                                                 “Jhyappa”

4. CRYPTOPSY                                                              “An Insatiable Violence”

5. DOOMSDAY                                                            “Never Known Peace”

6. MOGREL                                                                  “Baptized in the Gutter”

7. MUTAGENIC HOST                                               “The Diseased Machine”

8. PUTRIDITY                                                               “Morbid Ataraxia”

9. SHOCK NARCOTIC                                                “My Flesh is Afraid but I am Not”

10. TESTAMENT                                                            “Para Bellum”

IRON SHEIK'S BEST OF 2025

1. PETER CRISS                           "Peter Criss"

The Catman proves there is another life left...and it's a rockin' one!

2. BLACK WATER RISING -                                “The Edge”

8 years in the making of this monster of an album.

3. DREAM THEATER                                          “Parasomnia”

The return of Mike Portnoy and DT is heavy again!

4. LADY GAGA                                                     “Monster”  

Harley Quinn aside, this is some fun dance music. Not that I can dance, but I wiggle in my chair.

5. ROBIN TROWER -                                         “Come & Find Me”

Is he Too Rolling Stoned and lost? Across The Bridge Of Sighs comes this laid back blues album. 

6.  YUNGBLUD                                                        "Idols"

 I am not concerned with anyone's opinion here because this is just some cool music and he has a good voice. Carry that torch and make Ozzy proud!

7.  ALICE COOPER                                                 "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper"

 It does not sound like the original group after 52 years apart has missed a beat since "Muscle Of Love". Classic ALICE COOPER GROUP album. Alice is showing the younger generation how it is done!

8.  HELSTAR                                                             "The Devil's Masquerade"

An unexpected heavy hitter of the year. It is jawdropping heavy metal.

9. BUCKCHERRY                                                      "Roar Like Thunder"

 More straight up heavy rockin'! They don't reinvent the wheel, but they rock with a swagger that is only Buckcherry.

10.  CORONER                                                        "Dissonance Theory"

32 years since Grin in 1993, and DT hits like a punch to the gut.  Heavy and definitely true to the Coroner sound.

5 extras that rate a shout out to close out 2025:

1.  STYX - "Circling From Above"

2.  L.A. Guns - "Leopard Skin"

3.  BUDDY GUY- "Ain't Done With The Blues"

4. DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG - "Babylon"

5.  BENSON BOONE - "American Heart"

OCTOPI MILLS' BEST OF 2025

1. FINNR’S CANE                        “Finnr’s Cane”

2.  KATATONIA                                                      “Nightmares as an Extension of the Waking State”

3. TEDDY HORSE                                                   “New Moon”

4. CROMLECH                                                       “Owls and Eels”

5. PAGAN ALTAR                                                 “ Never Quite Dead”

6. MY DYING BRIDE                                            “ A Mortal Binding”

7. KEYS TO THE ASTRAL GATES AND MYSTIC DOORS       “Anathema” 

8.IFERNACH                                                            “Dementia Praecox”

9. GOATMOON/DEAD REPTILE SHRINE             ”Summerforest”

10. NINKHARSAGE                                                ”The Black Swords of Winter”

And that does it for the hallowed year of 2025! If there was one band that popped up frequently, it was CORONER… what a comeback for them after more than 30 years off! Other than that, it was wild and woolly, especially with new contributions from Mercyful Mike and Bob Burner!

It was also quite a chore putting up the lists this year! But worth it!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!