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The Staff's Top Picks of 2025
(2562 total words in this text)
(3790 reads) 
(Compiled by Duncan Glenday)
*** Please
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(Click on each writer's name below to go directly to his list.)
Summarized List Of The Top 50 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff
Pete Pardo
Eric Porter
Jose Antonio Marmol
Chris Reid
Steven Reid
Michael Popke
Simon Bray
Jon Neudorf
Aaron Steelman
PETER PARDO
Pete Pardo’s Top 75 Albums of 2025
1. Dream Theater : Parasomnia
2. Coroner : Dissonance Theory
3. H.E.A.T. : Welcome to the Future
4. Styx : Circling From Above
5. Between the Buried and Me : The Blue Nowhere
6. Green Carnation : A Dark Poem Part 1:The Shores of Melancholia
7. Amorphis : Borderland
8. The Night Flight Orchestra : Give Us the Moon
9. Agropelter : The Book of Hours
10. Testament : Para Bellum
11. Howling Giant : Crucible & Ruin
12. Wings of Steel : Winds of Time
13. Sodom : The Arsonist
14. Glenn Hughes : Chosen
15. Nankai TRIO : Antarctica
16. Helloween : Giants & Monsters
17. The Outernet : The Light & The Fury
18. Cea Serin : The World Outside
19. Magic Pie : Maestro
20. Pentagram : Lightning in a Bottle
21. The Hellacopters : Overdriver
22. Brainstorm : Plague of Rats
23. Epica : Aspiral
24. Echolyn : TimeSilentRadio
25. Avatarium : Between You, God, The Devil and the Dead
26. Destruction : Birth of Malice
27. Jethro Tull : Curious Ruminant
28. Arjen Anthony Lucassen : Songs No One Will Hear
29. FM : Brotherhood
30. Messa : The Spin
31. Steve Morse Band : Triangulation
32. Pagan Altar : Never Quite Dead
33. IQ : Dominion
34. Lars Fredrik Froisle : Gemle Mester
35. Primal Fear : Domination
36. Castle Rat : The Bestiary
37. Helstar : The Devil’s Masquerade
38. Haunt : Ignite
39. Wucan : Axioms
40. Burning Witches : Inquisition
41. Cheap Trick : All Washed Up
42. Helms Deep : Chasing the Dragon
43. Creatures : Creatures II
44. The Vintage Caravan : Portals
45. Phantom Spell : Heather & Hearth
46. Gruesome : Silent Echoes
47. Rivers of Nihil : Rivers of Nihil
48. Ghost : Skeleta
49. Void : Forbidden Morals
50. Teramaze : The Harmony Machine
51. Ambush : Evil in All Dimensions
52. Mob Rules : Rise of the Ruler
53. Jack the Joker : The Devil to Pay in the Backlands
54. Ring Van Mobius : Firebrand
55. Vicious Rumors : The Devil’s Asylum
56. Pareidolon : The Unattainable Shore
57. Leaf Hound : Once Bitten
59. Conan : Violence Dimension
60. Witch Hazel : V: Lamentations
61. Presto Ballet : Dreamentia
62. Philosophobia : The Constant Void
63. Evensong : Our Road to Dust
64. Giobia : X Aeon
65. Kadavar : K.A.D.A.V.A.R.
67. Wanted : Cutting Edge
68. Squeaky Feet : Overview Effect
69. Tremonti : The End Will Show Us How
70. Gin Lady : Before the Dawn of Time
71. Kryptograf : Kryptonomicon
72. Steven Wilson : The Overview
73. Sons of Ra : Standard Deviation
74. Retromorphosis : Psalmus Mortis
75. Spocks’ Beard : The Archaeoptimist
The Honorable Mentions:
Margarita Witch Cult-Strung Out In Hell
A-Z- A2Z
Jelusick-Apolitical Ecstasy
Krokofant-6
The Verge-The Verge
Bumblefoot-…Returns!
Jason Bieler & The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra-The Escapologist
Josh Meader Trio-Tides of Time
Circu5-Clockwork Tulpa
Avantasia-Here Be Dragons
Sometime in February-Where Mountains Hide
Tiktaalikta-Gods of Pangaea
Claymorean-Eternal Curse
Smith-Kotzen-Black Light-White Noise
Benthos-From Nothing
Yawning Balch-Volume Three
Cosmic Cathedral-Deep Water
Soft Ffog-Focus
Flame Drop-Beyond Cosmic Infinity
Hawkwind-There is No Space for Us
Goya-In the Dawn of November
Avkrvst-Waking the Sky
Little Feat-Strike Up the Band
Doobie Brothers-Walk This Road
Warlung-The Poison Touch
Nightstalker-Return From the Point of No Return
Motorpsycho-Motorpsycho
Jakko M. Jakszyk-Son of Glen
Bjorn Riis-Fimbulvinter
The Far Cry-Once There Was
Sheev-Ate’s Alchemist
Celeste-Anima Animus
Naxatras-V
Electric Citizen-EC4
Atom Juice-Atom Juice
EH3-Close to Nothing
Lightspeed-Delta
Asymmetric Universe-A Memory of What Came After
Chronojazz-Interplanetary Funkk
Time’s Forgotten-Songs of Awakening
Syrek-Story2
Top Live Albums of 2025
1)Beat-Neon Heat Dream Live in Los Angeles
2)Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks-Live Perpetual Change
3)Pat Travers-Heat in the Street Tour 1978
4)Siena Root-Made in Kuba
5)Haken-Liveforms
6)The Who-Live at the Oval 1971
7)Cirith Ungol-Live at the Roxy
8)Tusmorke-En Pakt Med Naturen
9)Leprous-A Night of Atonement
10)John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension-Montreux Jazz Festival 2022
11)West, Bruce, and Laing-Live at Circus Krone-April 13, 1973
12)Wishbone Ash-Live at the Capitol Theater-January 19, 1974
13)Dream Theater
14)Gentle Giant-Playing the Fool: The Complete Live Experience
ERIC PORTER
Eric Porter’s Top 10 of 2025
1. Andre Drage : Wolves
2. Echolyn : Time Silent Radio II & Vii
3. The Outernet : The Light & The Fury
4. NanKAI Trio : Antarctica
5. Garaj Mahal : Rotifier
6. Soft Ffog : Focus
7. Steve Morse : Triangulation
8. Umphrey’s McGee : Blueprints
9. McStine & Minnemann : III
10. Squeaky Feet : Overview Effect
JOSE ANTONIO MARMOL
My Best of Prog:
1. Magic Pie : Maestro
2. Moon Letters : This Dark Earth
3. Edensong : Our Road To Dust
4. Brass Camel : Camel
5. Chercan : Chercan
6. Pattern Seeking Animals : Friend Of All Creatures
7. Ring Van Möbius : Firebrand
8. The Far Cry : Once There Was
9. Spock’s Beard : The Archaeoptomist
10. IQ : Dominion
11. Lars Fredrik Frøislie : Gamle Mester
12. Discipline : Breadcrumbs
13. Jack The Joker : The Devil To Pay In The Backlands
14. Derev : Troubled Mind
15. Dream Theater : Parasomnia AZ 2
16. A-Z : A2Z 2
17. Styx : Circling From Above
18. Ozul : Man On The Shore
19. Philosophobia : The Constant Void
20. Jacob Roberge : The Passing
21. Sailor Free : Spiritual Revolution Part 3
22. Bjorn Riis : Fimbulvinter
23. Connect The Circle : Wolf In The Sky
24. Ambient Den : Ambient Den
25. Maestrick : Espresso Della Vita:Lunare
26. Moonsoon : East Of Asteroid
27. Presto Ballet : Dreamentia
28. Cheat The Prophet : Redemption
29. Gazpacho : Magic 8 Ball
30. Fading Echoes : Shadow Of Another
My Best of Hard Rock & Metal:
1. Volbeat - God Of Angels Trust
2. Ghost - Skeletá
3. Big Wreck - The Rest Of The Story
4. Blind Golem - Wunderkammer
5. Professor Emeritus - A Land Long Gone
6. Mob Rules - Rise Of The Ruler
7. The Vintage Caravan - Portals
8. Pagan Altar - Never Quite Dead
9. Warlord - The Lost Archangel
10. Messa - The Spin
11. Woodhawk - Love Finds A Way
12. Ace Monroe - Wild Card
13. Tremonti - The End Will Show Us How
14. Scorpion Child - I Saw The Wnd As It Passed Right Through Me
15. Majestica - Power Train
16. The Night Flight Orchestra - Give Us The Moon
17. Bonfire - Higher Ground
18. The Hellacopters - Overdriver
19. Spidergawd - From Eight To Infinity
20. Wucan - Axioms
21. The Band Feel - Into The Sun (EP)
22. Grey Czar - Euarthropodia
23. Century - Sign Of The Storm
24. Edge of Paradise - Prophecy
25. Purpendicular - Banned
CHRIS REID
Chris Reid’s Top 10 of 2025
1. Dream Theater : Parasomnia
2. Imperial Triumphant : Goldstar
3. Green Carnation : A Dark Poem, Part I: The Shores of Melancholia
4. Depravity : Beastial Possession
5. Retromoposis : Psalmus Mortis
6. Necromaniac : Sciomacy, Maledictions and Rites Abominable
7. Amorphis : Borderland
8. Ashen : Leave the Flash Behind
9. Coroner : Dissonance Theory
10. Hooded Menace : Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration
STEVEN REID
Steven Reid’s BEST OF 2025
1. Onmyoza : Ginmiou Gozen ---
2. IQ : Dominion ---
3. Thornhill : Bodies ---
4. Ghost : Skeleta ---
5. Sleep Token : Even In Arcadia ---
6. Mammoth : The End ---
7. Helloween : Giants And Monsters ---
8. Ghost Of The Machine : Empires Must Fall ---
9. The Hives : The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives ---
10. Styx : Circling From Above ---
11. Cheap Trick : All Washed Up ---
12. Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan : Public Works And Utilities ---
13. Wet : Apex ---
14. Lunatic Soul : The World Under Unsun ---
15. The Wildhearts : The Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts ---
16. The Halo Effect : March Of The Unheard ---
17. Giobia : X Aeon ---
18. Steven Wilson : The Overview ---
19. The Hellacopters : Overdriver ---
20. Avkrvst : Waving At The Sky ---
21. Mob Rules : Rise Of The Ruler ---
22. FM : Brotherhood ---
23. Tremonti : The Truth Will Show Us How ---
24. The Scaramanga Six : Dearth ---
25. Brass Camel : Camel ---
26. Burning Witches : Inquisition ---
27. Luke Morely : Walk On Water ---
28. Smith / Kotzen : Black Light / White Noise ---
29. Stereophonics : Make Em Laugh, Make Em Cry, Make Em Wait ---
30. H E A T : Welcome To The Future --- A
31. The Outernet : The Light And The Fury ---
32. Arjen Anthony Lucassen : Songs No One Will Hear ---
33. Imaginearium : Siege ---
34. Magic Pie : Maestro ---
35. Sparks : Mad! ---
36. The Scaramanga Six : Glut ---
37. Earl Of Hell : Earl Of Hell ---
38. Bioscope : Gento ---
39. Cardiacs : LSD ---
40. Jethro Tull : Curious Ruminent ---
LIVE/REISSUE/BOXSET
1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - TRACKS II
2. HAKEN - AN EVENING WITH HAKEN
3. KISS - DRESSED TO KILL DELUXE
4. NEIL YOUNG - OCEANSIDE COUNTRYSIDE
5. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - NEBRASKA 82 - EXPANDED
6. GIUFFRIA - THE UNRELEASED REMASTERED DEMOS
7. KISS - ALIVE DELUXE
8. THIN LIZZY - 74/75 (NIGHTLIFE & FIGHTING)
9. HAPPY THE MAN - CRAFTY HANDS
10. STATUS QUO - QUO LIVE! (8CD BOXSET)Â
12. GARY NUMAN - BERSERKER
14. HAPPY THE MAN - HAPPY THE MAN
15. SPARKS 1975-1976 (KIMONO MY HOUSE & PROPAGANDA)
16. GENTLE GIANT - PLAYING THE FOOL
17. THE ORIGINAL IRON MEN 1 & 2
18. JEAN MICHEL JARRE (& BRIAN MAY) - LIVE IN BRATISLAVA
19. KISS - OFF THE SOUNDBOARD - LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO 1985
20. STATUS QUO - ON THE LEVEL 50TH ANNIVERSARY
LIVE BAND
1. THE HIVES - GLASGOW ST. LUKE’S
2. FISH - NIGHT 1 - GLASGOW ACADEMY (2nd last show)
3. GHOST - GLASGOW HYDRO
4. FISH - NIGHT 2 - GLASGOW ACADEMY (final ever full show)
5. KID KAPICHI - GLASGOW KING TUT’S
6. SAXON - GLASGOW ACADEMY
7. THORNHILL - GLASGOW SLAY
8. FLORENCE BLACK (opening for Tremonti) - GLASGOW SWG3
9. WARRINGTON-RUNCORN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN - EDINBURGH - THE MASH HOUSE
10. TREMONTI - GLASGOW SWG3
MICHAEL POPKE
Mike Popke’s Best of 2025
1. Spock’s Beard : The Archaeoptimist
2. Pattern : Seeking Animals
3. Wytch Hazel : V: Lamentations
4. Royal Sorrow : Innerdeeps
5. Mantric Momentum : Alienized
6. Dream Theater : Parasomnia
7. Cosmic Cathedral : Deep Water
8. Umphrey’s McGee : Blueprints
9. Steven Wilson : The Overview
10. A-Z : A2Z 2
11. IQ : Dominion
12. Amorphis : Borderland
13. Ginerva : Beyond Tomorrow
14. Laguna : The Ghost of Katrina
15. Philosophobia : The Contant Void
Top 5 Reissues
1. Bruce Springsteen - Tracks II: The Lost Albums
2. Buckingham Nicks - Buckingham Nicks
3. Rick Cuevas - Symbolism
4. Cats In Space - Chapter 1
5. Art Nation - Re-Revolution
Top 5 Non-Prog/Non-Metal
1. Kingfishr - Halcyon
2. The Mascot Theory - Cosmic Hit and Run
3. The Speaker Wars - The Speaker Wars
4. Buddy Guy - Ain't Done With the Blues
5. Wilder Woods - Curioso
SIMON BRAY
Top 20 of 2025
1. Battle Beast : Steelbound
2. Amorphis : Borderland
#REF!
4. Cassidy Paris : Bittersweet
5. FM : Brotherhood
6. The Night Flight Orchestra : Give Us the Moon
7. John Lee’s Barclay James Harvest : Relativity
8. Those Damn Crows : God Shaped Hole
9. Sparks : Mad!
10. Arch Enemy : Blood Dynasty
11. Ghost of the Machine : Empires Must Fall
12. The Halo Effect : March of the Unheard
13. The Darkness : Dreams on Toast
14. Majestica : Power Train
15. Avantasia : Here Be Dragons
16. Lightspeed : Delta
17. Cardinal Black : Midnight at The Valencia
18. Cradle of Filth : The Screaming of the Valkyries
19. Dream Theater : Parasomnia
20. Steven Wilson : The Overview
EP:
Fireheart: RISE
Live Albums:
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman
Jimi Jamison: 1998 Live Hits
Romeo’s Daughter: Time of Your Life
Re-recordings:
Dirkschneider: Balls to the Wall Reloaded
Top Live Gigs:
Magnum @Manchester Academy, UK, January
Romeo’s Daughter @Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, UK, January and October
Toto/Christopher Cross @ AO Arena, Manchester, UK, February
Kamasi Washington @ Albert Hall, Manchester, UK, April
Uriah Heep, April Wine and Tyketto @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK, February
Cardinal Black @ Wax and Beans, Bury, UK, May
Battle Beast, Dominum and Majestica @The Ritz, Manchester UK, October
Foghat @ Band on the Wall, Manchester UK, November
Rhino’s Revenge/Craig Joiner @@Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, UK, December
Biggest disappointment
John Lodge cancelling @RNCM, Manchester, UK, April
Heavy Pettin cancelling @Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, UK, June
JON NEUDORF
Jon Neudorf’s Best of 2025:
1. Styx : Circling From Above
2. Karmakanic : Transmutation
3. Darktribe : Forgotten Reveries
4. Teramaze : The Harmony Machine
5. The Guildmaster : Gathering Of Souls
6. Kal-el : Astral Voyager
7. Gin Lady : Before The Dawn Of Time
8. Moon Destroys : She Walks By Moonlight
9. Borracho : Ouroboros
10. The Ossuary : Requiem For The Sun
11. Appalooza : The Emperor Of Loss
12. Christian Mistress : Children Of The Earth
13. Stargazery : Carnival Puppeteers
14. Crystal Spiders : Metanoia
15. Winds Of Neptune : Winds Of Neptune
16. Castle Rat : Bestiary
17. Wolftooth : Wizard’s Light
18. The Besnard Lakes : Are The Ghost Nation
19. Kauan : Wayhome
20. Darkness Is My Canvas : The End Of Times
AARON STEELMAN
Top 25 of 2025
1. Hooffoot : Phantom Limb
2. The Leavers : We Are the Leavers
3. Agropelter : The Book of Hours
4. Soft Ffog : Focus
5. Riis, Bjørn : Fimbulvinter
6. Wilson, Steven : The Overview
7. Thelen, Stephan : Worlds in Collision
8. Demo Remudo : Second Nature
9. Orcutt Shelley Miller : Orcutt Shelley Miller
10. Ekzilo : Quantum Phase Transition
11. Frøislie, Lars Fredrik : Quattro Racconti
12. Daal : Decoding the Emptiness
13. Penaguin, Tom : Beginnings
14. Chercán : Chercán
15. Avkrvst : Waving at the Sky
16. Uehara, Hiromi : Hiromi’s Sonicwonder Out There
17. Welcome Inside the Brain : Re Creation
18. Fulguromatic : Fulguromatic
19. Cosmic Reaper : Bleed the Wicked, Drowned the Damned
20. Dream Theater : Parasomnia
21. Frøislie, Lars Fredrik : Gamle Mester
22. Testament : Para Bellum
23. Hawkwind : There Is No Space for Us
24. Tritop : Tritop 120
25. Eckemoff, Yelena : Scenes from the Dark Ages
Summarized List Of The Top 50 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff
1. Dream Theater - Parasomnia
2. Amorphis - Borderland
3. Styx - Circling From Above
4. IQ - Dominion
5. Steven Wilson - The Overview
6. The Outernet - The Light & The Fury
7. Magic Pie - Maestro
8. FM - Brotherhood
9. Spock’S Beard - The Archaeoptimist
10. Pattern Seeking Animals - Friend Of All Creatures
11. Green Carnation - A Dark Poem Part 1:The Shores Of Melancholia
12. Soft Ffog - Focus
13. Coroner - Dissonance Theory
14. Agropelter - The Book Of Hours
15. The Night Flight Orchestra - Give Us The Moon
16. Umphrey’s Mcgee - Blueprints
17. Chercan - Chercan
18. Ghost Of The Machine - Empires Must Fall
19. Nankai Trio - Antarctica
20. Philosophobia - The Constant Void
21. Helloween - Giants & Monsters
22. A-Z - A2Z 2
23. Echolyn - Time Silent Radio Ii & Vii
24. The Halo Effect - March Of The Unheard
25. Brass Camel - Camel
26. Frøislie, Lars Fredrik - Gamle Mester
27. Testament - Para Bellum
28. Avkrvst - Waving At The Sky
29. Steve Morse - Triangulation
30. The Hellacopters - Overdriver
31. Sparks - Mad!
32. Lars Fredrik Froisle - Gemle Mester
33. Castle Rat - Bestiary
34. Cheap Trick - All Washed Up
35. Ghost - Skeleta
36. Teramaze - The Harmony Machine
37. Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Songs No One Will Hear
38. The Scaramanga Six - Dearth
39. Ring Van Mobius - Firebrand
40. Burning Witches - Inquisition
41. Jack The Joker - The Devil To Pay In The Backlands
42. Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant
43. Mob Rules - Rise Of The Ruler
44. Gin Lady - Before The Dawn Of Time
45. Squeaky Feet - Overview Effect
46. Andre Drage - Wolves
47. Battle Beast - Steelbound
48. Hooffoot - Phantom Limb
49. Onmyoza - Ginmiou Gozen
50. Retromoposis - Psalmus Mortis
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