You can find the Collective List as well as all our Best of 2025 content, including contributors’ individual lists and radio DJ shows here: CGCM’s Best of 2025 (Year in Review)
BEST OF 2025 – Mikael Norstedt (Writer/Contributor) 
What a great music year it has been. I could easily make a top 30 with great albums. I have to mention some of the albums that did not make my top 10 but came very close.
Night Flight Orchestra – Give Us The Moon
W.E.T – Apex
Amorphis – Borderland
Harem Scarem – Chasing Euphoria
Kardang – Bad Mistake
H.E.A.T – Welcome To The Future
Warkings – Armageddon
Spidergawd – From Eight To Infinity
I am now looking forward to what we will listen to in 2026 but I will for sure keep listening to my top albums even then.
#10
SARAYASIGN – Shadows Of The Dying Light
The third album from Swedish melodic/fantasyband Saraya
sign and it is an absolutely brilliant album full of great stories about a mystic place in time. Awesome guitar work and brilliant musicianship throughout the whole album. They will play at Malmö Melodic Festival in the summer of 2026. I can’t wait to see them there.
Check out my full CGCM review here
#09
STREETLIGHT – Night Vision
Swedish AOR band and their second album. Sounding very 80s inspired from bands like Survivor, Foreigner, Airplay and bands alike. Great songwriting with some twists here and there and that’s why I still enjoy listening to this album over and over.
#08 
HELLOWEEN – Giants & Monsters
I have been a fan of Helloween since their debut EP in the early 80s but I somehow lost them a couple of albums back. When I listened to this new album, I was knocked to the floor. What a great set of songs they have come up with. A cool thing about it is that the singers Kiske, Deris and Kai Hansen get to show their style of songs when they sing their songs. Their best album for many years imo.
#07 
BATTLE BEAST – Steelbound
BB is a fantastic live band and we just got the news that their singer Noora is quitting the band for a solo career and I think that’s a mistake. She really fit together with the band and their live shows are amazing. This album is one of their best yet and is filled with great songs with sing-along melodies but still heavy. I am always listening to this album with a big smile on my face. Good luck Noora.
#06
SACRED – Fire To Ice
This is a fantastic NWOHM band from Gothenburg, Sweden and it is their debut album. What a way to start a career! Blistering songs and the vocals are in the league of Queensryche / Crimson Glory. I saw them live at the Sweden Rock Festival and they were fantastic. They are really a band to keep an eye on if you like Melodic Heavy Metal as in the early to mid 80s. Check out the opening track “Into The Light.”
Check out my full CGCM review here
#05 
THE DARKNESS – Dreams On Toast
This is their best album since their debut. With a very diverse set of songs filled with their witty lyrics. Here we get rocking tunes, some country influences and classic The Darkness in “Walking Through The Fire” and Justin‘s vocals are as good as always. Fun album!
Check out Sparky’s full CGCM review here
#04 
GIANT – Stand And Deliver
This is their second album with Swedish vocalist Kent Hilli (Perfect Plan) singing and I think this album is one of their best since the first two classics. They also have the fantastic guitar player Jimmy Westerlund (One Desire) on board and wow can he play like the master Dan Huff himself. Amazing album and great production.
#03
GHOST – Skeletá
Ghost don’t need any introduction; they are now a world-renowned arena band. The cool thing about listening to this album is that you find new little cool parts all the time from the guitars to the drumming. Great songs and production. This album is still played a lot. It was also one of the best live shows I have been to this year.
#02
TREAT – The Wild Card
This was one of the most anticipated albums of the year for me and did it stand up to my expectations? Of course it did and it even exceeded my expectations. What a great way to finish the album year of 2025. Amazing songs and a fantastic production. TREAT have set a really high standard with their last couple of albums. The only thing I am thinking about is the effect you hear on Robert‘s voice. It feels a bit strange, otherwise this is top-notch.
#01
PERFECT PLAN – Heart Of A Lion
And here we have it, my top album of the year 2025. Classic, catchy, amazing AOR from the Swedish band Perfect Plan. I love it because it is diverse, great-sounding, amazing vocals from Kent Hilli and cool cover artwork. This is their best-sounding album so far and has really memorable songs.
Well done, boys! See you out there on the road, I hope.
You are heroes!
Check out my full CGCM review here
I wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Check out my other reviews and articles here
Mikael, MetalMike71
