As we approach Summer, the amount of albums releasing gets crazy high, so it was tough to pick the best of the past month. Narrowing it down to a solid five recommendations of exceptional records, enjoy some top-notch metal, ranging from East Europe to South America and even the Middle East.
Bronze Tier: Metal Album of the Month – May 2025
Pridian
Venetian Dark
Released via Century Media Records
Based in Tartu, Estonia
Formerly known as ÆØNS, metalcore four-piece Pridian stands out with their industrial-tinged and ambient-laden modernity. Bundled in a somber futurism, Venetian Dark checks off all the boxes – thick riffs, eerie electronics, vocals hooks and growls, and a handful of cosmic breakdowns. Mixed by Matt Thomas (Kingdom of Giants, Invent Animate), this full-length beckons for constant listens, like the blissful edge of drug-induced insomnia.
FFO: Loathe, Spiritbox, 3teeth
‘Venetain Dark’ available on Bandcamp, vinyl, CD, and streaming services
Silver Tier: Metal Album of the Month – May 2025
Maestrick
Espresso Della Vita: Lunare
Released via Frontiers Records
Based in São Paulo, Brazil
Scooping up guest features from the likes of Tom S. Englund (Evergrey), Jim Grey (Caligula’s Horse), and Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot) on this latest record, majestic prog metallers Maestrick has me beyond words and in awe. All twelve tracks cumulate into a theatrical, locomotive journey. The winding path loops through cinematic genre-fusion from orchestral and Afro-Brazilian moments to headbangers and emotional ballads, while covering topics of addiction, prejudice, and the holocaust.
FFO: Haken, Oingo Boingo, The Deer Hunter
‘Espresso Della Vita: Lunare‘ available on CD and streaming services
Gold Tier: Metal Album of the Month – May 2025
Genune
Infinite Presence
Released via Consouling Sounds
Based in Bacău / Cluj, Romania
The black metal scene was forever changed upon the release of Sunbather – Deafheaven‘s pioneering record that proposed a blackened approach to post-rock and shoegaze. While Deafheaven continue to deliver outstanding albums, they’ve also inspired others globally, with Romanian quintet Genune‘s third offering beautifully demonstrating the uplifting and gnawing dichotomy of blackgaze or post-black metal. Every moment is purposeful on Infinite Presence; the intensity, the acoustic passages, unsettling synths, and overall shape-shifting elegance. From dynamic opener “The Sun Will Always Shine” to climactic closer “I Want You Here,” I am dragged through darkness and lifted back into the warmth of true comfort. This record is definitely a contender for my favorite of the year; I’m in love.
FFO: Deafheaven, Lantlôs, Pelican
‘Infinite Presence’ available on Bandcamp, vinyl, CD, and streaming services
Honorable Mentions
Needless
Premonition
Released via Inertial Music
Based in Pest, Hungary
With the technical chops of late Death and heaviness of The Black Dahlia Murder, Needless could easily command a horde of headbangers at a European festival. On their third full-length, vocalist Ádám Forczek’s melodic aptitude strengthens, particularly on the progressive tracks like “Twilight Cradle” or “Constellations.”
‘Premonition’ available on Bandcamp, vinyl, CD, and streaming services
Ohol Yeg
Shadows of the Future Converged
Self-released
Based in Ankara, Turkey
Fully composed, written and recorded by vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Sazakan (Karanlık), Ohol Yeg is a bestial black metal entity. Shadows of the Future Converged poetically unleashes nihilism to the tune of chaotic and dark music, including a temir komuz (Kyrgyz jaw harp) performance.
‘Shades of the Future Converged’ available on Bandcamp and streaming services