Linkin Park From Zero

BEST OF 2025…SO FAR

We are coming up to the halfway point of 2025 and I thought now would be a good time to do a Best Of 2025… So Far. In here you’ll find what I think are the best albums released so far as well as the best concerts I’ve seen all year!

Best Albums Of 2025… So Far: ALBUMS!!!!

01) Idle Heirs- Life Is Violence
This album is my absolute favorite of the year so far and I don’t think anything is going to over take it unless Nine Inch Nails puts out their new album this year. I love this album and everything it entails. The sheer rawness and atmospheric nature of it all as well as the devastating nature of it and how real it all comes to life.




02) Linkin Park- From Zero (Deluxe Edition)
From Zero is already a great album. It’s not the best thing this band has ever done (Meteora and A Thousand Suns take that prize) but, this album is phenomenal. And I’m being absolutely serious. When it came out towards the end of 2024 it left a lasting impression on me and now with the 3 additional songs added, it just takes it to a whole other level. It’s criminal how good this album is!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qr6-55oCrM&list=PLlqZM4covn1HF92FlF7W5nUI_Ixh2m3Rk

03) Guiltless- Teeth To Sky
This album is another that is still in rotation and I keep finding more and more to love about this record. As I mentioned in my album of the week feature, having a band play music like this but, flipping the script and making it optimistic instead of straight doom and gloom, really puts this album up high.



04) Spiritbox- Tsunami Sea
I’ve quite enjoyed this album. It’s a really well put together album with some really killer songs on it. It’s a really solid second album as well that is quite cohesive. I just recently went to see Spiritbox live and they are a really good live band and these songs definitely go harder than on album as one would expect. It’s going to be interesting to see and hear where they go next.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mfdx_C0pR6XdVKoGGoXHVRdQlvEVtjw0c

05) Coheed And Cambria- Vaxis III: The Father Of Make Believe
Coheed is back!!! Not that they went away, I mean it more in that after the past two albums which felt kind of long and more of a collection of songs, they are back with an “album” that really kicks ass. If you are a fan of albums such as In Keeping Secrets and Good Apollo Part IV, then you’ll really dig this one. It’s a really good album that has a great flow to it. And there also feels like a renewed sense of the band on this one too as the performances really are kicked up a few notches!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSckI-66MsI&list=OLAK5uy_kYxvSUMUzqSpw6MFitvmIBeXjFosoWKzI

06) Youth Code- Yours, With Malice
I’ve been a Youth Code fan for quite some time so, when it came time for this record to arrive, I was pretty stoked and it’s a banger! Though only an EP, Yours, With Malice doesn’t lose a beat with the punishing and menacing beats pulsating along with vocals that reflect the trying times and harsh reality of it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBBf9p6ihs&list=PLH22-xSMERQqIMClz-_xiQWZZ9yx0Kx1K

07) Tonguecutter- Minnow
When I first heard Tonguecutter’s Minnow, I thought I was in a time machine back to 1993 in a great way. This band and album have been a really cool surprise to hear in 2025. They make music that I’ve always loved and give it a bump in energy. Really look forward to more from Tonguecutter. They are one of those bands if the right people hear it will really resonate!



08) Black Map- Hex
I’ve been a fan since the first single dropped and Black Map keeps getting better! Hex is one hell of an album. It’s short, concise and very direct in its approach. Throughout the 9 songs and 32 minutes, you are taken on a ride of great riffs and rhythms along with soaring melodic vocals. I keep finding myself listening to this album as whole more so than picking songs. Give this one a good spin!!

09) SOM- Let The Light In
I remember seeing SOM open for Holy Fawn a couple years back and I was hooked from that point. Their new album, Let The Light In, is a tremendous album that really expands upon their already epic nature. I find myself listening to this a lot when I need something a bit more calming or relaxing as their post-metal sound reaches new heights.

10) Machinekit- Goddamn Vanity
This LA techno-punk band is awesome! The new album, Goddamn Vanity, strikes quite hard. It’s abrasive and quite powerful. The way this album gut punches you is superb. The aggressive nature of this album is harks back to late 80’s Ministry and Broken era Nine Inch Nails. Also, their live show is one of the most fun and energetic shows you can see!

BEST CONCERTS OF 2025… SO FAR:

01) Poison The Well, Glassjaw, Better Lovers at Hollywood Palladium
02) Snot at SoHo Santa Barabara
03) Helmet and Slomosa at The Regent Theater
04) Jerry Cantrell and Filter at Ventura Theater
05) Danzig and Down at Forum
06) Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse & Carcass at Forum
07) Deftones at Forum
08) Spiritbox at Hollywood Palladium
09) Kerry King at Fonda Theater
10) All Cobalt/Audioeclectica shows!

What I’ve Been Listening To: November Edition


Since I took a break I’ve been trying to catch up on everything I’ve missed out on. I’m still catching up but I thought I’d put together a list of a few albums that I’ve been listening to. I recommend you all check these bands and albums. I can guarantee you’ll find something you like! Also on a side note, if any of you out there are graphic designers, Audioeclectica could use a new logo! Hit me up!

Enjoy The Tunes!
Brian

What I’ve Been Listening To:

Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible:
This album is what it must feel like to be shot out of a cannon. It’s explosive and full of twists and turns that will leave you wanting more. It might even cause you to spontaneously start jumping up and down due to the energy this album emits. Listen to this as loud as possible!



Jerry Cantrell- I Want Blood:
Jerry’s new album feels like it picks up where Degredation Trip left off. The dark brooding vocals mixed with Jerry’s signature guitar playing makes this a great album. As much as I would love to have a new Alice In Chains album, this one will definitely hold you over till then!! Check out the track “Echoes Of Laughter” it’s my favorite on the album!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_krvAUGLYK3GCL81obV1c-TpojnXdxeBxc

Linkin Park- From Zero:
I never thought this day would ever come but here I am praising a Linkin Park album. I’ll get into how this all came to be in an article to come. This new album featuring their new singer Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara and drummer Colin Brittain is fantastic. It’s a short and concise album that runs the gamut on all that the band has done and then some. There’s some really great throwback moments on this album as well as all sorts of new things to enjoy. Really give this one a shot. In a world where so many bands have tried to cop their style, the originators return to show how it’s done!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_llu148Ny0qF6bSApqzcVOQ9MaiCYySEG8



The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghori Mhori Mei:
I love this album. It’s The Smashing Pumpkins through and through. It’s a great rock album that we’ve been wanting from them since their “reunion” was announced. Each listen makes me love this album more and more. This is another one that really deserves your attention!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nRnbe2-k5CxdkxL140Fs1baQuL8Dmrgf4

Iress- Sleep Now In Reverse:
Iress is one of my favorite bands I’ve heard in a long time. Each release of theirs gets better and better. This new one adds a heavier and darker vibe to their already dark atmospheric dreamy doomgaze sound. This is an album YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO!!!



Gouge Away- Deep Sage:
This is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year. I love this album. Every song on it is impactful and meaningful. This is another album that might find your spontaneously breaking out into a one person mosh pit. Listen to this album!!!



Common Wounds- All Night Blood:
I love a good post-hardcore band and Common Wounds has all the ingredients that I enjoy about the genre. This is their first full length and it delivers quite the punch. The latter half of the album is my favorite part as it tends to be a bit more experimental and epic which I love. I’m very excited to see where this band goes as I quite enjoy them!



Drug Church- Prude:
I’ve been a fan of Drug Church for a while and they keep getting better and better. Their new album continues on the path they’ve been on with some really cool new elements that remind me of Refused a bit. Sadly I just missed their LA show. I’ll have to catch them next time!



Planes Mistaken For Stars- Do You Still Love Me:
This one is a little bittersweet. I have been a Planes fan for many years and when the news came that Gared had passed away it was quite a sad moment. Thankfully though, we have one final album from this very underrated band. This album has all the classic elements that made Planes Mistaken For Stars such a great band as well as some really great melodic moments that will have you raising your glass in cheers!



Spirit In The Room- Passengers:
If you’ve been reading Audioeclectica long enough, you know that I absolutely love Spirit In The Room. I love that each release brings in something different yet it’s still volatile and dangerous, which is something that’s seriously missing from music these days. This EP is a little more subdued and introspective, showing off a different side of Dennis Sanders. Another really enjoyable album to check out!



Kerry King- From Hell I Rise:
I really like this album. Musically it sounds just like what you think it does but, that doesn’t stop it from being an all out assault. Kerry has quite the band backing him with Phil Demmel on guitar, Kyle Sanders on bass, Paul Bostaph on drums and the underrated and awesome Mark Osegueda on vocals. Live this band and these songs are so damn good. I saw Kerry and Co open for Lamb Of God and Mastodon a few months back and it made me really give this album a now outlook.



Cold Gawd- I’ll Drown On This Earth:
I’ve heard of this band for a while now and finally sat down to check them out and I enjoyed what I heard. Their shoegazey Deftones side really comes through in a good way. The dreaminess that this album has to it makes it a great driving album as well as one to put on while working. There’s some definite love for Siamese Dream on this album and that’s totally ok!



Unto Others- Never, Neverland:
The moment I put this album on the first thing I thought of was Type O Negative only a bit more positive. This album is one of the most surprising I’ve heard this year. I love the post-punk goth vibes this album has. I’m quite interested to see what they are like live and I would love to hear them take on a Type O songs to hear what it would be like.



Pearl Jam- Dark Matter:
I’ve been waiting a long time for Pearl Jam to come back with an album like this and FINALLY it’s here. This record has a very old school PJ vibe (Ten and VS with a dash of Vitalogy). The guitars are back to being at the forefront and everything finally clicks for the first time in a long time. This album really doesn’t have the usual filler either. Each time I listen I like this one more and more and find it climbing up my ranking chart for Pearl Jam.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltWvB2Aqnf32SbAI0fhvx8l5O87oruvS0

Category 7- Category 7:
John Bush (Amored Saint, ex Anthrax), Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex Machine Head), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, ex Overkill), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) and Jack Gibson (Exodus). On paper this band is killer and on their self titled debut they slay! I’ve always loved John Bush as a vocalist and to have such a lineup of great players writing some killer riffs and metal, this band has everything they need to rip it up!