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 – Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall (Head of Graphics/Contributor) 
Here we are yet again. Another year is coming to a close, and here we are with yet another one of those “Top Ten Lists” that everyone seems to do. Well, you can’t say I didn’t offer my two cents on the music of 2025, and there was loads of it! Not all of it sat well with my personal tastes, and that’s okay; we aren’t all meant to like the same thing. Many of us here in the CGCM meetings can have some heated debates about what’s good and what isn’t. One thing, however…We all love music. It’s a passion, a calling, and what keeps me personally motivated.
These are the albums that motivated me this year!
#10 
CYANIDE – 21 Gun Salute
Cyanide is a Las Vegas-based hard rock and metal band known for blending classic metal sounds with melody. They also feature guest performances from notable guitarists. The album is high-energy all the while giving a huge nod to their ’80s metal influences. 21 Gun Salute stands as a celebration of heavy riffs, aggressive vocals, and uncompromising hard rock. If you’re a fan of Motley Crue, RATT or any of that era music that came from the Vegas area in the Heyday, then for sure you need to check out this band.
#09 
SISTERS DOLL – Scars
Sisters Doll are an Australian hard rock band made up of four brothers. Since their formation in the late 2000s, they have focused on emotionally driven rock with strong melodic hooks. The album Scars brings together emotionally charged vocals and compelling rock instrumentation. The album explores personal themes with a melodic hard rock foundation that focuses on personal growth, resilience, and unity, capturing both vulnerability and strength in its songwriting. Also, it’s just a kick ass album that makes the listener move and just simply smile because the music moves you. Isn’t that what good music is meant to do?
#08 
THUNDERMOTHER – Dirty & Divine
Thundermother are a Swedish hard rock band formed in 2009, known for their stripped-down, riff-driven sound inspired by AC/DC and classic rock. Led by guitarist Filippa Nässil, the band emphasizes raw energy and no-frills rock. Dirty & Divine continues their mission of delivering straightforward, high-voltage rock ’n’ roll, and is also in its fourth variation (I Believe) of the band. Thundermothers’ previous album, Black And Gold, features three former members of the group, leaving only Filippa Nässil to reform with new members. As much as I liked the album previous to Dirty & Divine, I could not refute how good this album was also, and it does get continuous play from me regularly.
Check out my full CGCM review here
#07
WICKED SMILE – When Night Falls
Wicked Smile is an Australian heavy metal band formed in Melbourne in 2016. Drawing influence from traditional heavy metal and melodic hard rock, the band has steadily built a following through energetic live performances. When Night Falls marks their second full-length album and represents a more confident and aggressive sound. This album shows growth in the band in its writing, the playing is phenomenal, and I personally recommend to many people that they check them out.
Check out my full CGCM review here
#06
GHOST – Skeletá
Now, here is an album that shocked me, and many others who know me, which made my list for 2025. I’ve been a casual fan of Ghost for many years now, but Skeletá took me to a new level of fandom. Founded in 2006 by Tobias Forge, Ghost is a Swedish rock band known for its theatrical imagery, anonymous lineup, and blending of hard rock, metal, and pop sensibilities. Ghost achieved mainstream success while retaining underground credibility. Skeletá continues their exploration of darker themes with refined songwriting and expansive arrangements.
#05 
MIDNITE CITY – Bite The Bullet
Midnite City formed in the UK in 2017 and quickly established themselves as a modern melodic rock act with strong glam influences. Featuring members with extensive experience in the rock scene, the band combines heartfelt ballads with punchy anthems. Bite The Bullet reflects maturity in songwriting while maintaining their signature emotional and melodic impact. This album might find itself a little higher on my list if it were just a bit harder-edged. While I like melodic hard rock, this one just fell a bit short of falling into the top three.
#04 
ANIMALYZE – Powerhouse
Animalyze are a Danish glam rock band that emerged in the early 2020s, channelling the spirit of the classic sounds of the much-loved (by me) 1980s glam and hard rock. Powerhouse is their debut full-length album and serves as a bold introduction, highlighting flashy guitar work, infectious choruses, and youthful energy that positions them as rising newcomers in the scene.
#03
H.E.A.T – Welcome To The Future
H.E.A.T formed in Sweden in 2007 and quickly became leaders in modern melodic hard rock. Known for soaring vocals, keyboard-driven arrangements, and arena-ready hooks, the band bridges classic AOR with contemporary power. The most interesting thing about H.E.A.T is the camaraderie with former singer Erik Gronwall. Erik replaced the former, and original singer Kenny Leckermo, then Leckremo returned, and Erik joined Skid Row. He has since left Skid Row but continues to make his covers and is making his own music as well. Kenny has literally handed the microphone to Erik during live shows on this current tour and let Erik surprise the fans and sing a song or two. Many bands could learn a thing or two from these actions for the fans’ sake. It’s a great thing to see. Meanwhile, the band’s latest album, Welcome To The Future, showcases their continued evolution while remaining rooted in melody-first songwriting.
#02
CRAZY LIXX – Thrill Of The Bite
Crazy Lixx is a hard rock band formed in Malmö in 2002. Widely regarded as pioneers of the New Wave of Swedish Sleaze Metal, the band blends 1980s glam metal with melodic hard rock. Thrill Of The Bite reinforces their reputation for hook-heavy songwriting, anthemic choruses, and polished production, continuing their legacy as one of the genre’s most consistent acts. This is one band where I eagerly await each release. This album might have come out in 2025, but I am already wanting more from Crazy Lixx. I know…Greedy right?!
#01 🇦🇹
MADHOUSE – Plead The Fifth
Sometimes you hear a new album or even just a new single before the album is even dropped, and you just know it’s your number one of that year. Well Plead the Fifth was that album for me. From the moment I heard the first single I knew I had my number one album for the year. Formed in the early 202s, Madhouse are an Austrian glam metal band that is inspired heavily by classic Sunset Strip-era acts such as Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, and Ratt. The band quickly gained attention for their high-energy image, sleazy riffs, and unapologetic dedication to traditional glam metal aesthetics. Plead The Fifth represents a major step forward in songwriting and production, positioning Madhouse as one of the modern torchbearers and future leaders of the genre.
Psychotic Thoughts
Readers of my yearly top ten lists might notice a glaring change from other years. This is the first in the last few years where an album containing David Reece hasn’t appeared. While he has been a busy guy in the music world and did have contributions in 2025, the latest will only get an honourable mention. Bangalore Choir‘s 2025 album, titled Rapid Fire Succession: On Target Part II was a good album; it just slid off the list into the 11 slot. However, last year’s number one, the Kissin’ Dynamite album titled Back with a Bang! could still have been my number one this year, as it got as much airplay as this year’s number one on my personal player, and that’s really saying something!
Other honourable mentions go to Creatures, NY Fury, Treat and Blackyard Riot. All the newest albums from these bands are worth checking out! So much great music came out in 2025, and if we allowed reissues in our lists, mine might have been completely different. With AI coming into music, and the tech age allowing anyone to make music professionally out of their garages, just keep seeking new stuff. It’s all out there to discover…Or just listen to CGCM Rock Radio, and let us introduce it to you!
Peace to all, Happy New Years too you0 all, and Keep Rocking into 2026
Check out my other articles and reviews here. Trevor.
