Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
The influence of metal on global culture remains substantial, extending from mainstream fashion trends to its prominent presence in major television productions. Its cultural impact is pervasive and enduring. This year witnessed the dominance of metal bands on music charts and the passing of a paramount metal icon. These events underscore the genre’s ongoing significance within the broader cultural landscape, as per loudersound.
The death of Ozzy Osbourne in July, shortly after his final performance, marked a profoundly emotional moment for the heavy metal community. Public mourning and tributes during this period were comparable to historic moments of collective grief. The summer was notably defined by tributes to Ozzy, particularly surrounding the Back To The Beginning concert in Birmingham. Selecting a single track to encapsulate this period is challenging, but “Mama, I’m Coming Home” was chosen as emblematic of the collective sentiment. Attendees of his final performance recognized the emotional weight of the power ballad, realizing its significance in retrospect. The event underscored the lasting legacy of Ozzy Osbourne within the genre.
Meanwhile, contemporary metal acts are making notable advances. Sleep Token‘s 2025 achievements include releasing a chart-topping album, “Even In Arcadia,” setting new vinyl sales records in rock music, and headlining the Download Festival for the first time. Central to their success was the track “Caramel,” characterized by its smooth, shimmering, and overly sweet modern metal sound. This highlights the genre’s evolving landscape and its capacity for innovation.
The phrase ‘breaking the internet’ has become nearly as ancient as the digital realm itself, yet if any musical release from 2025 warranted this expression, it was this anthem by three highly esteemed artists in the industry. The excitement surrounding the collaboration between Amy, Courtney, and Poppy was palpable, and the song itself featured enough memorable hooks to ensure it remained ingrained in listeners’ minds throughout the latter months of 2025.
Initial reviews of the film Alien: Earth indicated the potential for a fresh and innovative contribution to the franchise, succeeding Ridley Scott’s complex yet somewhat muddled prequels and Fede Álvarez’s straightforward sequel, Alien: Romulus. Amidst the intense action and grotesque creatures, the soundtrack emerged as a standout element, incorporating metal and alternative rock needle-drops that, despite initial expectations of dissonance, conveyed a sense of raw power and coolness. Among the soundtrack selections, the casual inclusion of Stinkfist during a tense scene at the conclusion of episode two was particularly notable.
Nu metal, often dismissed as superficial, experienced a remarkable resurgence in 2025, propelled by eclectic dance remixes by Electric Callboy and Sofi Tukker, as well as its use in prominent media such as the horror series Yellowjackets and AEW wrestling events. Most unexpectedly, a collaboration between rapper Offset and the band Drowning Pool, featuring J.I.D, delivered a compelling performance of “Bodies” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, surpassing all other efforts in impact and reception.
Following the historic collaboration between Babymetal and Bloodywood on the track “Bekhauf“, released at the end of 2024, “Kon! Kon!” marked a significant milestone for Asian music. The live performance at Madison Square Garden, featuring the continent’s two leading metal bands, exemplified a pivotal moment in the genre’s global expansion. This event underscored the increasing dominance of metal music worldwide, demonstrating its growing cultural influence.
The presence of masked bands enriches the metal genre, and this perspective extends to the prominence of sword-wielding Rat Queens. Castle Rat, already prominent within the underground metal scene prior to the release of their acclaimed album The Bestiary, gained widespread recognition through their viral stage battles. Metal reaches its peak when it is loud, entertaining, and visually vibrant, qualities that are exemplified by these formidable rat warriors.
While many bands from the nu metal era experienced decline or disbandment, Deftones continued to maintain their relevance and appeal. Unexpectedly, they have been embraced by Generation Z as the archetypal figures of baddiecore, elevating their 2024 album “Private Music” to their most anticipated release in decades. The lead single, “My Mind Is A Mountain“, exemplifies the band’s signature sound with its energetic and anthemic qualities. This release foreshadowed a year in which Deftones issued one of their most critically acclaimed albums and performed some of their most extensive and significant concerts.
Season 4 of Stranger Things demonstrated that needle drops were becoming as essential to the series as nosebleeds and unconventional hairstyles. Although season 5 has not yet produced moments as instantly iconic as those featuring Kate Bush and Metallica, its teaser trailer employed a dramatic rendition of Deep Purple‘s “Child In Time” to significantly elevate anticipation levels.
Model Ignacia Fernández gained viral attention in October after revealing a surprising talent during her participation in the Miss World Chile beauty pageant: she is also a death metal vocalist. Her intense performance of her band Decessus‘ new track, “The Eve Of Severed Tongues,” evidently left a strong impression on both the judges and the broader audience; she subsequently secured victory in the competition two weeks later.
Among the announced participants for Black Sabbath‘s substantial “Back To The Beginning” concert, one name generated considerable excitement within certain online communities. This was the unexpected confirmation that Ghost’s new frontman would be known as Papa V Perpetua. A few weeks thereafter, the band introduced him through one of their most immediate singles to date. “Satanized” marked the commencement of a new chapter in Ghost‘s narrative, featuring arena tours worldwide, appearances on shows such as Jimmy Fallon, and their first Billboard number-one hit with the track “Skeletá.”
