Before 2025 fully wrapped up, we polled our readers to vote for their favorite metal album from a handful of our nominations.
The winner of The Best Metal Album of the Year is…
The Shit Ov God by Behemoth
Making a name for the metal scene of Poland since the early 90’s, Nergal and friends have had a nearly unstoppable arc. Behemoth unleashed some extremely notable blackened death metal moments earlier in their career (“Christians to the Lions,” “Conquer All,” “Slaves Shall Serve,” “Ov Fire and the Void”), but really have been on quite the quality streak since their magnum opus – The Satanist in 2014.
The Satanist, I Loved You at Your Darkest, Opvs Contra Natvram, and Behemoth‘s most recent release The Shit Ov God all heavily lean into the grandiose atmospheres
Alongside frontman Nergal (Me and That Man), The Shit Ov God is bolstered by bassist Orion, drummer Inferno (Azarath), and guitarist Seth, with mixing and mastering by the legendary Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Enslaved).
The title track as well as “Lvciferaeon” and “The Shadow Elite” are immediate live staples on the Gdańsk Satanist’s recent tours with Satyricon, Rotting Christ, Deicide, and Nidhogg, yet I’m hoping “Sowing Salt” and “Avgvr (The Dread Vulture)” will get some love onstage soon.
‘The Shit Ov God’ by Behemoth is available on vinyl and Bandcamp.