March 2025 Best Heavy Metal Albums

Here are our picks for March 2025’s best heavy metal albums.

1. Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power (Roadrunner)

Four years after Infinite Granite saw a shift in Deafheaven‘s sound to incorporate more clean vocals and a shoegaze influence, 2025 brings the band’s sixth full-length, Lonely People With Power. It’s their first release for Roadrunner Records. The band returns to its black metal past with the harsh and heavy “Doberman,” and it’s not a one-off. The intensity continues on “Magnolia,” but this is a diverse and well-rounded album, evident with the post-metal approach of “Heathen” and the three “Incidental” compositions, the second which features Boy Harsher’s Jae Matthews on a track that’s mellow and laid back for the first two-third before the intensity cranks up. The third installment, ethereal and quiet, includes spoken word contributions from Interpol’s Paul Banks.

“Winona” is one of the album’s highlights, a dynamic song that’s a slow build with a cinematic feel that goes from introspective to ferocious and back again. George Clarke uses mostly harsh vocals this time around, but melodic singing is also utilized periodically. With Lonely People With Power, Deafheaven revisit the potency of their earlier work without losing the experimental aesthetic and eclectic songwriting they’ve embraced over their career. This album is ambitious, but Deafheaven are up for the challenge, delivering a powerful and memorable record. It’s our pick for March’s best album.

2. Imperial Triumphant – Goldstar (Century Media)

Imperial Triumphant‘s sixth album Goldstar is complete with cigarette packaging artwork again featuring Zbigniew Bielak (Ghost/Carcass) and the generally dark and mysterious vibe that are this band’s stock in trade. Wobbly bass playing and growled vocals helping to further the cryptic and eerie sounds juxtaposed against general bombast, making this collective more and intriguing with each additional note.

Imperial Triumphant have done a great job of bringing to life New York City, both its modern version and one of a bygone era. If you have never been to the city, consider this a fully-fledged advertisement for a visit. By bringing in guests and some unique histories to create an album that’s one of the band’s easiest to digest without robbing the band of their unique identity, Goldstar unfurls to reveal one of the band’s strongest efforts to date.

3. Rwake – The Return Of Magik (Relapse)

Over 13 years between albums hasn’t stifled Rwake’s otherworldly sludge metal on The Return Of Magik. This record is the reincarnation of a group that never fully went away. The origins of their sixth studio album dates back to 2017, and they were in no rush to churn out subpar material. There are familiar faces involved along with some new members, yet their swampy mystique has only intensified since 2011’s Rest.

When Rwake were going strong in the 2000’s, there weren’t many others mixing Southern rock, psychedelic prog and earth-rumbling sludge the way they did. The Return Of Magik is like welcoming an old friend in for a few shots of hard liquor; there’s a lot to talk about, and it’ll get weird at times. Rwake have strengthened their awe-inspiring creativity as they inch closer to their 30th anniversary.

4. Cradle Of Filth – The Screaming Of The Valkyries (Napalm)

It has been more than 30 years since Cradle Of Filth burst upon the scene with their debut album The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh. They quickly became one of extreme metal’s most high-profile bands, generating plenty of controversy along the way. The Screaming Of The Valkyries is their 14th studio album, and first with guitarist Donny Burbage and keyboardist/vocalist Zoe Marie Federoff.

CoF’s trademark blend of extremity, melody, atmospheric orchestrations and Dani Filth’s distinctive vocals are clicking on all cylinders. Tracks like “The Trinity Of Shadows” are dynamic, ominous and catchy. They change up tempos and intensities, adding even more variety, as does Federoff’s vocal contributions on songs such as “White Hellebore.” One of the more intriguing tracks is “You Are My Nautilus,” a dramatic number utilizing spoken word and harsh vocals with its gothic underpinnings augmented by ’80s style guitar harmonies and solos. The Screaming Of The Valkyries wraps up with “When Misery Was A Stranger,” mixing in some thrashy riffs alongside the symphonic majesty. The album delivers what the band’s fans expect, while adding in a few new twists and turns along the way.

5. O.R.k. – Firehose Of Falsehoods (Kscope)

It’s hard to believe Firehose Of Falsehoods is O.R.k.’s fifth album already. It’s even harder to believe these guys still seem to fly under the radar. Pedigree alone (bassist Colin Edwin, ex-Porcupine Tree, and drummer Pat Mastelotto, of King Crimson and Mister Mister fame are the marquee names) demands an audience, and the band has never failed to deliver.

This album is no exception, as O.R.k. lay into progressive metal with more than a hint of Soundgarden/Chris Cornell flair. The music is insanely tight and catchy, with Carmelo Pipitone slaying it on guitar, and LEF continues to display incredible vocal skills. Their previous album Screamnasium made it into our Best Of list in 2022, and this album is at least as good.

6. Christian Mistress – Children Of The Earth (Cruz Del Sur)

With their first album in ten years, Christian Mistress pick up right where they left off on Children Of The Earth. Powerful frontwoman Christine Davis’s husky vocals help add an edge to the heavy guitar arrangements on “City Of Gold”. The song ebbs and flows in a rocking manner with plenty of flash and flourish giving layers to this opener, setting the stage for what is yet to come. “Demon’s Night” chugs along while the guitar lines bounce in and out of the forefront as Davis continues to bellow beautifully, helping to lift this song up higher and higher.

“Lake of Memory” showcases more melody and dark arrangements as it sinks deeper and deeper in the musical abyss. This allows for the band to continue to soar at what they do; rocking tunes with ample subtlety. They do so without having to give into Satanic heavy metal tropes; Christian Mistress explore the dark side of life. Children Of The Earth is as solid as it gets for hard rock/heavy metal.