What’s occurring, riff fiends? May 2025 wasn’t about daffodils or Maypole dancing—it was about riffs, rage, and records that hit harder than a Valleys pub lock-in. From blasphemous blackened death to chart-smashing alt-metal, this month was stacked with noise, chaos, and more than a few hangovers. Let’s dive in. 🍻
🎶 May 2025 Albums That Broke Skulls
- Behemoth – The Shit Ov God (May 9)
Poland’s blackened death-metal overlords returned with their thirteenth studio album, and it’s as subtle as a dragon crashing through your roof. Kerrang! hailed it as “transcendental musical darkness,” while Blabbermouth crowned it their “finest in a decade.” If you want blasphemy with blast beats—this is it. 🔥 - Sleep Token – Even in Arcadia (May 9)
The mysterious masked collective smashed the charts, landing a No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and putting all ten tracks on the Hot 100. That’s pop-star level madness from a “metal” band. But critics reckon it drifted too far into rap/pop territory—less riffs, more TikTok vibes. Love it or hate it, this album owned May. - Hate – Bellum Regiis (May 2)
Fellow Poles Hate kept it bleak with walls of blackened death fury. Still ferocious, still devastating, and still the sort of record that makes your nan mutter, “Turn that bloody noise off.” 🖤 - Swans – Birthing (May 30)
Nearly two hours of crushing experimental soundscapes. Swans don’t write albums—they build sonic black holes. Word is this could be their last colossal “all-consuming” statement. If you’ve got the patience (and strong ears), it’s a masterpiece. 🌌
🤘 Critics’ Picks – The Mayhem Favourites
The tastemakers went wild for:
- Nightfall – Children of Eve
Greek blackened death with atmosphere and rage. One of the month’s most praised releases. - Cwfen – Sorrows
Scottish doom-shoegaze that sounds like My Bloody Valentine got trapped in a mausoleum. Gorgeous misery. - Slow Fall – Blood Eclipse
Finnish melodeath that balances savage riffs with piano-led balladry. Who knew corpse paint and melancholy could be so lush?
🎵 Singles That Smacked Hard in May
The one-offs that rattled skulls and playlists:
- Part Of The Theory – “Famished Mammon” – proggy, symphonic, Balkan folk-tinged metal that won Metal Hammer’s poll.
- Parkway Drive – “Sacred” – the Aussie metalcore kings returned swinging.
- Orbit Culture – “The Tales of War” – furious melodeath carnage.
- Attack Attack! – “Dance” (feat. Will Ramos) – yes, the crabcore lads roped in Lorna Shore’s beast for a breakdown fest. 🦀🔥
- Full Of Hell – “Broken Sword, Rotten Shield” – grind madness.
- Mawiza – “Wingkawnoam” – Colombian thrash blending native rhythms with metallic rage.
And that’s not all—early May saw chaos from Loathe, Death Angel, Shadows Fall, Signs of the Swarm, Heaven Shall Burn, and Immortal Disfigurement. Basically, every Spotify “New Metal” playlist was on fire.
⚡ Quickfire May Shred-Level Index
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Extreme Metal Albums | The Shit Ov God (Behemoth), Bellum Regiis (Hate) |
| Chart-Smashing Madness | Even in Arcadia (Sleep Token) |
| Experimental Mammoth | Birthing (Swans) |
| Critics’ Darlings | Children of Eve (Nightfall), Sorrows (Cwfen), Blood Eclipse (Slow Fall) |
| Singles That Ripped | “Famished Mammon”, “Sacred”, “The Tales of War”, “Dance”, “Broken Sword, Rotten Shield”, “Wingkawnoam” + tracks from Loathe, Death Angel & more |
🤘 Final Riff
May 2025 was pure carnage: Behemoth blasphemed, Sleep Token conquered charts, Swans swallowed galaxies, and Hate refused to slow down. Add in a flood of savage singles, and you’ve got one of the most stacked months of the year so far.
Forget sunny days and BBQs—this was about riffs, pits, and pint-fuelled destruction. And butt, if this is only May, June’s about to tear our heads off. YESS MUN! ⚡🍺
