Greetings, fellow metalheads!

I've recently noticed that my way of getting older is definitely getting more lazy. And before I noticed it's already February in 2025 and I am only sitting down to write a few words about latest releases. I hope I have enough energy to write the whole thing, lol. But as usual, I hope you were visiting Metalbite profile on Spotify occasionally to notice that at least playlists were updated. Also occasionally.

Well, it's time to give you an update on the first month of 2025 and already plenty of interesting productions to at least check out once to see how all subgenres are developing. Unless something becomes a track on repeat or an album on repeat and before you notice you're sitting with the latest CD or digital version bought directly from a band, a t-shirt or a hoodie and hands on keyboard searching for the upcoming shows. The ones definitely worth mentioning are - Patriarkh, Plaguewielder, The Halo Effect, Rudra, Wardruna, The Hellacopters, Consumption and All That Remains. Check all these and more by checking out the list of full-lengths here:

Quite a few EPs came out in January, we've got Beatrix, Thundermother, Lumnos, EP promoting movie "Pink" (collaboration or Pawares Ongprasert, Nathagrit and Jinjer), we also have Moonthoth, Torture Pig, Ex Deo, Wynter Myst, Mourir, Arion, Sunrot, Exul, Enterprise Earth, Tyrann, The Third Grade and Repugnator. All ready for your ears here:

The list of singles is already making me very excited about 2025, some of the biggest and among them some of my favourites will be releasing some material and I like what I've heard so far. The highlights are Nephylim, Crown Magnetar, Obscura, Sadist, Ereb Altor, Cytotoxin, Nite, Hinayana, Whitechapel, Heaven Shall Burn, Alien Weaponry, Imperishable, Scour, Bleed From Within, Cradle of Filth, Coffin Feeder, Killswitch Engage, Bury Tomorrow, Lucifer's Child, Aborted, Jinjer, Fractal Universe, Deserted Fear, Behemoth, Walg and Mantar. I'm sure there are a lot more gems, I'm still discovering some new bands which got my attention and I hope you can find some, too. Here's the full list:

Now the list of live albums. I'm really sad that Dark Fortress decided to disband, I'll definitely miss their own take on black metal, but we have a good-bye live album from them. Other bands which released some live tracks in January are Heathen, Interceptor, Magnum, Nunslaughter, Riverside, Shores of Null, Sobernot and Temperance:

We've got some interesting re-releases as well. We've got remastered "Nothing Stays the Same" and "Dancing with the Dead" from PAIN, Rhapsody (re-released EP which originally came out under bandname Thundercross), Amaranthe, Madrost, Gurthang, Dying Phoenix, Orphaned Land, Antti Martikainen, Mroh, Emil Bulls and Al-Namrood. If you want to listen to new version or get the old version but with few bonus tracks head over here:

I've got one more playlist in January as Antimatter decided to release a compilation of their rarities from 2001 to 2024, so here is the compilation:

I'm glad I went through and actually finished this summary, believe me, I had October and November 2024 done about half-way before I gave up. Anyways, remember to check out our profile on Spotify for more regular updates, no matter if you want to compare your notes with reviews on Metalbite website, check what your favourite artists are doing or just searching for something new.

IJust a little note - I've only recently found out that some contracts that artists have to sign include cut from merch being sold at the live shows which is being taken from their pockets. And apparently it's becoming a new norm, so it's not an easy choice if all contracts the bands are presented with have the same clause. As if until now artists, especially in niche genre like ours, weren't being ripped off enough. So again I encourage you to buy stuff from sources as close to the band as possible if you want your favourite creators to keep on doing what they do best.

Keep on visiting our website, check our profile and remember to mosh responsibly \m/

Your fellow metalhead,

Maciek