Being a progressive metal fan is the best. By definition, it’s a genre with way fewer boundaries than the rest of the heavy metal family tree, meaning that each year will always bring fresh sounds from unexpected places. 2025 has been no different. From the djenty beatdowns of Jinjer to the high-flying sophistication of Dream Theater, enjoyers of all things avant-garde have been able to gorge this year. These are the greatest progressive metal albums to come out over the past 12 months, according to us here at Metal Hammer.
