Consequence’s Annual Report continues with the 30 Best Metal & Hard Rock Songs of 2025. As the year winds down, we’ve got tons of awards, lists, and interviews about the best music, film, and TV 2025 had to offer, including our lists of the 50 Best Albums of the Year, the 25 Best Films of the Year, and the 30 Best Metal & Hard Rock Albums of the Year.
The world of metal and hard rock suffered some heartbreaking losses in 2025, as we said goodbye to the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Ace Frehley, Brent Hinds, and others. Yet, we can take solace in the fact that their music will live on forever.
While we lost a few heroes this year, a new generation of heavy acts churned out some great music in 2025. Notably, a number of strong women helped lead the charge, as artists such as Poppy, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen, Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante, Dying Wish’s Emma Boster, and BABYMETAL all released or contributed to some of the year’s best tracks.
Elsewhere, Puscifer gave us a mesmerizing preview of their 2026 album, while Deftones added to their stellar discography. Consequence’s Heavy Band of the Year Deafheaven brought back the heaviness of their earlier works, and our overall Band of the Year Turnstile continued their musical evolution. Meanwhile, AFI dove deep into goth, and Wolfgang Van Halen once again impressed us with his skills at multiple instruments.
Take a trip back through the year that was in heavy music with our list of the best metal and hard rock songs of 2025 below.
— Spencer Kaufman
Managing Editor, Heavy Consequence
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