Easily some best-of-the-year contenders, this past month saw a handful of exceptional releases from the most top notch metal artists around the world, from Greece and India to New Zealand.
Bronze Tier: Metal Album of the Month – March 2025
Alien Weaponry
Te Rā
Released via Napalm Records
Based in Waipu, New Zealand
With Māori ancestry and language flowing through their groove, folk, and metalcore, brothers Henry Te Reiwhati and Lewis Raharuhi de Jong as well as Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds have earned global acclaim in Alien Weaponry‘s charting records, Tū and Tangaroa. For their third times the charm release, the trio keep digging at their modern Sepultura Roots-like sound, finding a half-indigenous and half-2000’s metalcore hybrid. Their energy, pride, and expression cuts grooves into the rich soil of Te Rā‘s colossal sound, while also finding radio metal accessibility and a vengeful feature by Lamb of God‘s Randy Blythe.
FFO: Gojira, The Hu, Avenged Sevenfold
Silver Tier: Metal Album of the Month – March 2025
Bloodywood
Nu Delhi
Released via Fearless Records
Based in New Delhi, India
After the act’s international success from their debut Rakshak, expectations were rooftop high. Nu Delhi is the perfect sequel, doubling down on their Indian folk-fusion heaviness – vocalist Jayant Bhadula is showcasing vocal techniques I haven’t even fathomed before, while rapper Raoul Kerr’s aggression has cooled off for a more pointed, provocative intellect. There’s the occasional American nü and groove metal influence emerging, however composer Karan Katiyar has and always will create an incomparable sound. Although the lead singles like the hit title track, Indian cuisine themed “Tadka,” or Babymetal collab “Bekhauf” are the obvious stand-outs, there are some huge moments sprinkled throughout the tracklisting – personally, the sublime, melodic verse in “Dhadak” always blows me away. The band may not have yet hit their magnum opus, but every release from Bloodywood is a blessing; Nu Delhi is equally inspiring as eye-opening.
FFO: Slipknot, Electric Callboy, Demonic Resurrection
Gold Tier: Metal Album of the Month – March 2025
Euphrosyne
Morus
Released via Black Lion Records
Based in Athens, Greece
Dedicated to the passing of guitarist Alex Despotidis’ mother, Morus is suspenseful and macabre, yet strangely uplifting. Like other post-black metal groups, Euphrosyne finds light in the dark atmosphere. Orchestral suspense and borderline industrial build-ups erupt into clawing catharsis. Each track is soaked with pain, dripping in emotion and beauty, making for an overall elegant, heavy ego trip.
FFO: Alcest, Ghost Bath, White Ward
Honorable Mentions
Shrine of Denial
I, Moloch
Released via Transcending Obscurity
Based in Ankara, Turkey
Warm death metal riffs, a stellar drum showcase by Berk Köktürk (Molested Divinity), and blackened vocal cries meld together for a volcanic, blissful, and dissonant debut album alike Hate or Belphegor.
Vokodlok
The Egregious Being
Self-released
Based in Timișoara, Romania
Triumphant and unforgiving, the Transylvanian werewolves unveil their first full-length since their decade-long hibernation, with Hecate Enthroned haunting melodies upon truly grim music.
‘The Egregious Being’ on Bandcamp