My Top 10 Rock and Metal EPs of 2025

Written: 6th December 2025

EPs remain an important part of music releases. They allow new bands to share their work without the cost of a full album and give established artists the freedom to try ideas that may not fit on a longer record. Some appear as companion pieces to recent albums while others stand alone. Whatever the reason, EPs offer listeners a quick way to discover new music or enjoy extra material. This year has been full of strong releases and here are my Top 10 EPs of the year.

10: Tallboy – House of Glass

Mainly anchored in alt-metal, House of Glass delivers a debut that feels both relentless and considered. Across five tracks, the band navigates themes of anxiety, betrayal and societal strain with precision. Brad Crook’s vocals veer from venomous growls to melodic shouts while guitars grind and twist without sacrificing clarity. At times claustrophobic and punishing, at others groove-driven and unexpectedly melodic, the EP (full review here) maintains cohesion without predictability. Fans of Lamb of God, Gojira and early Slipknot will find much to admire in this disciplined, visceral release - a statement of intent that signals a future worth watching.

Favourite track: Name and Shame

9: Aeonian Sorrow – From The Shadows

Marking a decade of existence, Aeonian Sorrow returned with From The Shadows, an EP (full review here) steeped in gothic doom tradition yet rich in atmosphere and nuance. Across four tracks, the band weave mournful melodies with crushing weight, alternating between ethereal passages and surging crescendos. Dual vocals from Gogo Melone and Joel Notkonen create a striking interplay, moving from lament to ferocity. Themes of isolation, decay and fatalism permeate the lyrics, while keyboards and guitar motifs add depth and texture. Fans of Draconian, Swallow The Sun and When Nothing Remains will find this a compelling listen.

Favourite track: Your Blackened Forest

8: Tumble – Lost In Light

Toronto trio Tumble channelled the spirit of late 60s and early 70s rock on Lost in Light, a debut steeped in proto-metal swagger and psychedelic colour. Recorded live in the studio, its five tracks exude immediacy and raw energy, from the hypnotic opener Laid By Fear to the infectious closer Wings of Gold. Blues-infused grooves and riff-driven momentum dominate, while vocal harmonies and extended jams add texture and flow. Fans of Blue Öyster Cult, Budgie and early Pentagram will appreciate this authentic throwback that feels vibrant rather than nostalgic.

Favourite Track: Wings of Gold

7: Sisters Of… - Marie / Michel

Sisters Of… returned with Marie / Michel, a two-track EP (full review here) that spans seventeen minutes and merges post-metal weight with post-rock expansiveness. Designed as a single narrative, it moves from the brooding tension of Marie to the surging force of Michel, balancing atmosphere with intensity. Layers of guitar, synth and percussion evolve gradually, creating space for reflection before erupting into passages of raw power. This is music that invites immersion, rewarding patience with moments of striking emotional clarity.

Favourite track: Marie

6: Underking – Dungeon Crawler

Underking’s Dungeon Crawler is steeped in fantasy, drawing inspiration from epic tales while delivering a muscular blend of heavy metal, thrash and hard rock. Each track feels like a quest, propelled by galloping riffs and choruses that surge with heroic energy. The songwriting balances aggression with grandeur, creating vivid, driving music. Not just an exercise in nostalgia; it is a modern interpretation of classic metal spirit, crafted with conviction.

Favourite track: Danger! Darkness! Dwarves!

5: Edit The Tide -  The Space Between Sounds

Edit The Tide’s The Space Between Seconds is a striking blend of alt-metal weight and emotive clarity. Across five tracks, the band weave dynamic contrasts, pairing soaring melodies with bursts of aggression and intricate rhythmic shifts. Clean and harsh vocals interplay with confidence, while polished production enhances the EP’s sense of scale without sacrificing intimacy. Themes of time, fear and resilience run through the writing, giving the music a personal edge. It is a release that feels ambitious yet grounded, marking a significant step forward for the band.

Favourite track: Time and Error

4 – Sypha – Borderland

Sypha’s Borderland is a taut, three-track statement that fuses metallic bite with melodic allure. Hooks coil around jagged riffs, while Alicia Pilling’s vocal shifts between clarity and ferocity, lending each song a sense of volatility. Lyrical themes of confinement, identity and defiance underpin the music, giving weight to its urgency. Dynamic contrasts are handled with precision, ensuring moments of aggression never eclipse the EP’s infectious character. It is a release that feels both immediate and deliberate, signalling a band intent on carving its own space.

Favourite track: The Afterparty

3: Plague Pit – A Whispered Curse

Plague Pit announced themselves with A Whispered Curse, a debut steeped in blackened death metal ferocity. Across four tracks, the band conjure a sound that feels oppressive yet dynamic, shifting between breakneck assaults and slower passages that grind with grim inevitability. Riffs churn like machinery, drums dictate with ruthless precision, and guttural vocals carve through the dense mix. Occasional atmospheric touches add tension without softening the impact.

Favourite track: The Weeping God

2: Fireheart – Rise

Fireheart’s Rise is a defiant surge of modern hard rock, forged from resilience and shared struggle. Across five tracks, the band channel raw conviction into anthems built for connection, pairing muscular riffs with choruses that demand to be shouted back. There is grit in the grooves, urgency in the rhythms, and a sense of catharsis woven through every lyric. More than a debut, this feels like a rallying cry  - a testament to perseverance and the unifying power of rock played without pretence.

Favourite track: Wild Hearts; Wild Nights

1: Ashenheart – Tales From Eternal Dusk

Ashenheart’s Tales From Eternal Dusk (full review here) is a brooding convergence of blackened atmospherics and death-laced ferocity, steeped in mythic darkness. Across four tracks, the trio summon narratives of necromancy, spectral realms and cosmic rebellion, weaving intricate guitar motifs with orchestral synth flourishes and relentless percussion. Vocals shift from guttural incantations to venomous snarls, amplifying the sense of ritualistic menace. This is music that thrives on tension and transformation, balancing chaos with design. For fans of Immortal, Emperor, Satyricon and Darkthrone.

Favourite track: Apparitions of the Abyss

Listen to my Top 10 EPs of 2025 sampler (my favourite track from each release) below. Note: No track by Ashenheart is featured as the EP is not on Spotify but you can listen to them at https://ashenheart.bandcamp.com/album/tales-from-eternal-dusk