2025 was yet another year where I spent a Sunday in November sweating buckets trying to cut down all of the music I’ve listened to in the current year to twenty albums as part of the Ghost Cult staff voting. Each year is a mix of pain and pleasure, and 2025 was certainly a difficult one. Before I unveil my Top 20, here are some Honorable Mentions, in no particular order, that you should add to your library if not done already.
Photo credit: Olivia Bastone
Southern California quintet, Spite, have announced headline tour in North America, for Spring and Summer 2026. It comes in support of their latest album, New World Killer, released last Halloween, via Rise Records. Support comes from Emmure, Psycho-Frame, and Reverent. Find the live listings and more below.
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Being from the New England area, I have been absolutely spoiled in both professional sport team championships and local music. One of the absolute titans of that discussion, The Acacia Strain, continues to march forward with their thirteenth album, You Are Safe From God Here (Rise Records). The depressing nature of both the instrumentals and the lyrics makes you feel the grief behind each beat.