What’s occurring, riff addicts? September rolled in with autumn storms and a proper storm of riffs to match. Thrash legends resurrected, goth lords descended into despair, nu-metal queens re-spit fire, and a masked mystery kept us guessing. This month was pure chaos—and we loved every second.
🎶 September 2025 Albums That Crushed Speakers
⚡ Thrash Resurrection
- Dark Angel – Extinction Level Event (Sept 5)
Thrash is back, butt! Their first album since 1991’s Time Does Not Heal is a savage, riff-heavy comeback, produced by Gene Hoglan himself and dedicated to late guitarist Jim Durkin. It’s fast, filthy, and violent—exactly how thrash should be.
🌑 Gothic Doom Majesty
- Paradise Lost – Ascension (Sept 19)
The kings of British gloom dropped their darkest sermon yet. Think Obsidian but heavier, bleaker, and laced with despair. Perfect for staring out of a rainy Cardiff window muttering, “Lush, that.”
🎸 Post-Punk Edge Meets Metal Mood
- Suede – Antidepressants (Sept 5)
Not strictly metal, but this guitar-led, atmospheric beast slides right into our playlists. Brooding, melodic, and dripping with gothic vibes—it’s a crossover hit for anyone who likes their eyeliner running.
🖤 Nu-Metal Nostalgia
- Kittie – Spit XXV (EP) (Sept 19)
25 years after their nu-metal classic, Kittie re-recorded four Spit tracks with today’s production muscle. Still raw, still furious, and still capable of making you want to crab-walk across your living room.
⚡ Early-Access Album Alerts
- Lorna Shore – I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me (Sept 12)
Symphonic deathcore titans doing what they do best—obliterating souls with gutturals and orchestra stabs. - I See Stars – The Wheel (Sept 12)
Electronicore insanity with breakdowns and synths colliding like a rave in hell. - Nevertel – Start Again (Sept 12)
Nu-metal angst reborn with big choruses and bigger riffs. Perfect for teenage bedrooms and grown-up tantrums alike.
🎵 Singles & EPs That Burned
- President – King of Terrors (EP) (Sept 26)
The masked mystery act struck again, following up Rage with a biblical slab of industrial-tinged doom. Creepy, heavy, and utterly addictive—this one’s destined for cult status.
⚡ Quickfire September Shred-Level Index
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Thrash Resurrection | Extinction Level Event – Dark Angel |
| Gothic Doom Return | Ascension – Paradise Lost |
| Moody Post-Punk Edge | Antidepressants – Suede |
| Nu-Metal Reignite | Spit XXV – Kittie |
| Symphonic Deathcore Mayhem | I Feel The Everblack… – Lorna Shore |
| Electronicore Chaos | The Wheel – I See Stars |
| Masked Metal Mystery | King of Terrors EP – President |
🤘 Final Riff
September wasn’t about cosy jumpers and pumpkin spice—it was about Dark Angel tearing thrash back from the grave, Paradise Lost drowning us in despair, Suede getting moody, Kittie spitting venom again, and Lorna Shore dragging us into symphonic hell. Oh, and President’s masked chaos just made things even weirder.
If this is autumn’s opening salvo, then the rest of 2025 is about to be absolute bedlam. So grab a pint, crank the volume, and scream with us: YESS MUN! 🍻🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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