Veteran UK British metal and hard rock publication Metal Hammer have newly published a list of what they feel were the 11 metal songs that defined 2025. The publication admittedly didn’t entirely focus on songs released this year, shoehorning in the 1991 Ozzy Osbourne classic “Mama, I’m Coming Home” in light of its resurgence following the heavy metal icon’s July passing.
Also sneaking in from the 90s is Tool‘s “Stinkfist“, a song that was introduced to new ears after being featured in the rock heavy soundtrack for the new ‘Alien: Earth‘ TV series. Notably, not everyone was happy about songs of that ilk regularly closing out that hit sci-fi/horror show.
An early 2000s nü-metal anthem, Drowning Pool‘s “Bodies“, also hit the list. That song had a surprisingly big 2025, being featured on ‘The Tonight Show‘, ‘American Idol‘ and being covered and remixed, while also appearing on a video games soundtrack & more.
A potentially divisive pick is the inclusion of British alternative metal stars Sleep Token‘s “Caramel“, a song which recently topped the New York Times’ best songs of 2025 list. Elsewhere Metal Hammer also landed on “End Of You“, the collaborative pairing between Amy Lee (Evanescence), Courtney LaPlante (Spiritbox) & Poppy. That powerhouse combination landed Revolver‘s ‘Song Of The Year’ award for 2025.
Other oddball choices included Deep Purple‘s 1986 single “Child In Time“, thanks to its needle drop in the latest season of the Netflix hit series ‘Stranger Things‘. Decessus‘ “The Eve Of Severed Tongues” also placed on the list, thanks to the death metal band’s vocalist Ignacia Fernández being crowned Miss World Chile, after playing that song live during the semifinals for that beauty pageant.
You can dig into the complete list over at Metal Hammer, with their choices available below:
- Ozzy Osbourne – “Mama, I’m Come Home“
- Sleep Token – “Caramel“
- Amy Lee, Courtney LaPlante & Poppy – “End Of You“.
- Tool – “Stinkfist“
- Drowning Pool – “Bodies“
- BABYMETAL – “Kon! Kon!” (feat. Bloodywood)
- Castle Rat – “Wizard“
- Deftones – “My Mind Is A Mountain“
- Deep Purple – “Child In Time“
- Decessus – “The Eve Of Severed Tongues“
- Ghost – “Satanized“
