“The arrows are set, is there such thing as the end?“
As we head towards the end of the year, it can often seem as if the out of singles and quality tracks can begin to slow down. Yet the likes of The Throwaway Scene, Cult(ure), From Ashes At Last and Vivarium showed that even at this time of the year, strong contenders for some of the best tracks of 2025 can still emerge. Around all these, there were also plenty of standout tracks we didn’t get the chance to highlight in October, yet still more than impressed us.
incaseyouleave – Ink Labyrinth (Independent)
This is a new single from this London dream/screamo band which points towards a bright future for the band. Aaron Akeredolu’s voice is utterly unique, going from frantic yelps to impassioned cleans between heartbeats as the instrumentals require. His lyrics are perhaps a forth-wall break into the vulnerability of the songwriting process, coming as a stream of consciousness that is as unpredictable as the rhythmic patterns. Lush guitarwork comes through with stark stereo divide between the two guitarists, allowing you to soak in their differing contributions, especially pretty as the track slowly ends. Their EP, Dedications to a Devoted Past, collects all their tracks since 2021 into a highly effective package. “Ink Labyrinth” is the closer, which might make it end-of-an-era for the band (do screamo bands have eras?). – Dobbin T
FFO: Dad Thighs, Gillian Carter & Graywave
Sawtega – Tower (Independent)
On their debut “Tower“, Sawtega offer up what has to be one of the strongest debuts of this year. The self-described nettle-core unit showcase their brand of grunge styled nu-metal, with soaring vocals and expansive riffs. Sawtega give a taste of their bold sound, which is the first of three singles, each sampling a different flavour of their upcoming EPs. – Joe E
FFO: Kittie, Chevelle & As Everything Unfolds
Redgrave – Echo Chamber (Independent)
Visceral metalcore now seems to be very much the order of the day, with the likes of Graphic Nature, HEAVENSGATE, and Terminal Sleep offering up some of the strongest material in the genre at the current moment. Adding to that come REDGRAVE, who slice at the jugular with their vicious metalcore sound, alongside a blend of Thornhill-esque cleans, there is a lot here for any metalcore fan to indulge in, and REDGRAVE should be one to keep on your radar. – Joe E
FFO: Wires, Thornhill & Graphic Nature
In Loving Memory – Dead Stars (feat. Rila Ogawa of February) (Independent)
In Loving Memory choose the nuclear option on “Dead Stars”. On other recent tracks they’ve juxtaposed their anger with a curious and morbid pace, but not so here – this is powerviolence territory, music so incendiary it prompts no coherent response. The screams get so, so tortured by the end, with a vicious feature from Rila Ogwaway of February. All this shows their reactivation since the glory days is more than living up to the hype. – Dobbin T
FFO: Heavenly Blue, Foxtails & pageninteynine
Pastel Faces – Vacant (Independent)
Blending the style of post-hardcore and melodic hardcore into a track that is equally as hard-hitting and melancholic, the contrasting and soaring post-hardcore cleans alongside the harsh on “Vacant” make for an inspired listen from Pastel Faces, who seemingly finding their true sound on this and earlier single “Transmigration“. Pastel Faces could be one of the breakout bands of 2026. – Joe E
FFO: Harm, pulses., & Love Rarely
Gloombringer – Drowning Your Sorrows in Flesh (Independent)
For what do we listen to slam for if not to indulge in complete filth? That’s precisely what you get with Gloombringer’s latest single “Drowning Your Sorrows in Flesh”. Aptly named, the instrumental skin listeners will be immersed in is rife with dysentery and coated with glazed gangrene. With signature sledgehammer slams and vocals that sound like a fart took a shit and died, what more could you possibly want out of a true slam showcase? – Shane C
FFO: Through Their Eyes, POTATO & FUCKED WITH RATS
Voices In Vain – Fragments of Regret (Independent)
It’s difficult not to see Voices In Vain as one of the more underappreciated metal bands in the “scene“, with a fierce cut and Dillenger-esque style that has seen the likes of Your Spirit Dies garner exposure in recent memory. Following on from last year’s the Only Love I Know, their latest offering in “Fragments of Regret” shows Voices In Vain continue to make their sound bolder and heavier, with a gnarly breakdown to summon the abyss. – Joe E
FFO: Your Spirit Dies, Wounded Touch & Boundaries
Stay In Nothing – Cloud (Independent)
Blending the world of emo and shoegaze comes Stay In Nothing, who have crafted together an absolutely captivating listen on latest single on “Cloud“. Placebo-esque vocals weave through the track in contrast to more expansive, shoegaze-style vocals. While gorgeous reverb guitar strums echo throughout the track, Stay In Nothing have to be seen as one of the most intriguing shoegaze acts currently. – Joe E
FFO: Slow Crush, Nothing & Be Forest
Ghold – Place to Bless a Shadow (Human Worth)
Finishing up with the absolute weirdest single of the week, Ghold saw fit to make this ten minute nightmare reverie a lead single for their upcoming record, Bludgeoning Simulations. Truly a seance for the modern age, “Place To Bless A Shadow” oozes tension with all its ghostly guitar work and subtly shifting rhythms. I’ll keep the ultimate conclusion of the track a surprise (how loud do they go?), but suffice to say the record will please anyone after something both dark and meditative. – Dobbin T
FFO: White Suns, Master Musicians Of Bukakke & lowercase boris albums