Prowl radio's top albums of 2025
Written by: Prowl members |January 25th, 2026
Rivers of Nihil - Rivers of Nihil
Jacob Allen
Progressive death metal is a very specific title for a subgenre, but very much one befitting Rivers of Nihil. This powerhouse of a band has come a long way, producing a tetralogy of albums based on the different seasons. Their previous two records, Where Owls Know My Name and The Work, were far more progressive than their older work which made them the very best the band had to offer for some time. With their new self-titled album, there is a new best. The record features 10 songs with a total runtime of 50 minutes, making it slightly shorter than The Work thanks to the band cutting back on the lengthy songs and transitions. This album excels in capitalizing on its runtime, with far less fluff than the band would do previously, and far higher highs. The songs from this album go as far back as when The Sub-Orbital Blues released in 2023, a choice which most of the time I’d see as a band just throwing in extra songs for the sake of it, but I think the choice fits well with the rest of this album, especially with the song acting as the opener. Other previously released singles like Water and Time and American Death excel in heavy and melodic moments, but the absolute standout on this record is the massive single that was House of Light, a song which features the best melodies the band has ever released, especially in the chorus. Even with the songs that were released with the record, there isn’t really a single dull moment. In my opinion, Rivers of Nihil provides the best grooves, the best melodies, the best screams, and the most variety out of any metal record that was released this year.
Ain't No Damn Way! - Kaytranada
Fiona Hendrickson
My favorite album in 2025 was easily Ain’t No Damn Way! By Kaytranada. I got into Kaytranada mostly off of KAYTRAMINÉ, which is an album/group that was made by producer Kaytranada and rapper Aminé. After that album was released back in 2023, I’ve been following Kaytranada’s music since. Kaytranada is a producer and it shows through all of his work. Producing wise, he has worked with Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar. On this album specifically, he showcases his classic instrumental dance music that follows house beats. Overall, this album was easily my #1 for the year because personally I think there are zero skips on this album. Every song is fresh and full of energy.
Grey Hour - Frantic Repair
Gray Dolgin
Although it’s not an album, Milwaukee’s very own Frantic Repair released their EP “Grey Hour” which had to be my favorite release of 2025. It’s so hard to pick a favorite song, so I wont, but the transition between So Far and Blindfolded Driver is beautiful. It’s just filled with this ambience sound that flows perfectly within each other. It was also amazing to see the impact after their release in the scene. They had back to back shows that all the same heads, including me, would go to. Even though it was shortly after the release everyone would be screaming the lyrics and that just warms my soul. I love beautiful emoness music and cannot wait for more Frantic shows next year. They also named the EP after me so I am kind of bias, they just had to spell it with an “e” so I wouldn’t sue (don’t fact check me).
The Passionate Ones - Nourished By Time
Stephanie serrano
Nourished By Time released his sophomore album The Passionate Ones in August. The record explores themes of love, self-expression and creation of art through a mix of R&B with synth-pop sounds. Once I discovered this album, I could not put it down. NBT explores themes of self-identity, love and art. Each song does a good job of creating an airy atmosphere that is reminiscent of lo-fi beats. It’s a shame I discovered NBT after his performance at the Vivarium in September, I would have loved to experience this live, this album is seriously lacking the hype it deserves.
Getting killed - geese
Espen Hammes
It’s near impossible for a college writer like me to explain the impact that “Getting Killed” had on the music world this year. Written off by some as another cliché alternative group with no real musical agenda, Geese has stirred a discourse this year that’s impossible to ignore at the bare minimum. A fan for almost three years now, I saw Geese and Cameron Winter, their lead singer, for the first time live this year. Both performances were impactful, carving out space not only in the music world but also in my individual experience of witnessing music that I deeply connect with. “Getting Killed” stands as Geese’s third full-length release: a record that fuses Winter’s woozy, baritone vocals and mystic lyricism with traditional fast-paced, melodic rock grooves, being provided by the band’s other members, Max Bassin (drums), Emily Green (guitar), and Dominic Fulco (bass), who all put in fantastic efforts. I could write a whole essay, but I’ll leave it there; Geese’s music speaks (maybe honks) for itself, so if you haven’t yet, give it a listen.
Addison - Addison Rae
Ethan Ainley
Addison Rae wants to be a pop star. Tik Tok and social media was just a launching pad for her career, and even with all the barrage of jokes at her expense, she has finally reached a level of pop stardom. In times like these, you can never be sure who is clout-chasing or who has talent and something to say. After the release of her debut album, I believe Rae has taste and is interested in creating a pop legacy for herself. Her debut EP “AR” contained fun but overall non-offensive pop music. It even had “Nothin’ On But The Radio” which was an old unreleased Lay Gaga song from “The Fame.” However, in “Addison” the former Tik Tok star is “all that” and more. The music and album aesthetic is reminiscent of the early 2000s, which is an immediate bonus for me. Outside of the nostalgia, there is Lana Del Rey and Charli XCX inspired production, but with a fresh twist brought by Rae and her producer Elvira Anderfjärd. This exciting direction for Rae has earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and starts her own exciting musical career.