CONTENT ADVISORY: This episode’s main discussion (Top 5 Records of 2025) includes an analysis of an album with sensitive subject matter, including mental health crises, panic disorders, sleep deprivation, and suicide. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Welcome to the rock history class you actually want to take!

The year is done, but the music lives on! Join Michael and his dad for our annual deep dive as we reveal the albums that dominated our playlists and defined 2025 in the world of heavy music. We’re running down our personal Top 5 Records of the Year, talking the biggest surprises, and discussing what these albums mean for the future of the metal scene.

We also bring back the best of the independent spirit with our 2025 Best of The Art of Discovery segment, featuring 5 electrifying killer tracks from Caustic Waves, Bragging Rights, Am I In Trouble?, meanue, and Megg Jacobs. Finally, we take a detour from the mosh pit to the dance floor as Michael explores the history and infectious synth-pop groove of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” in Michael’s Journey.

And before we go, find out which surprise full album and song Michael has to study for the next episode!

Press play to discover your new favorite record and celebrate the best music of 2025!

·(00:00:00) – Intro/What Have You Been Listening to this Week?

·(00:18:21) – The Art of Discovery

·(00:19:04) – Caustic Waves “Neon Claws”

·(00:24:23) – Bragging Rights “Quake”

·(00:28:28) – Am I In Trouble? “White”

·(00:35:25) – meanue “Anthropocene”

·(00:42:21) – Megg Jacobs “Break the Mirror”

·(00:46:40) – Main Topic:Top 5 Records of 2025

·(01:18:44) – Question for the Audience

·(01:19:07) – Can’t Wait

·(01:22:42) – Michael’s Journey:Discussing Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”

·(01:27:17) – On the Next Episode

·(01:27:28) – Contact Info/Outro

THE ART OF DISCOVERY:

·Caustic Waves – “Neon Claws” (From the album:Echoes)

·Bragging Rights – “Quake” (From the album: Carpe Jugulum)

·Am I In Trouble? – “White” (From the album:Spectrum)

·meanue – “Anthropocene” (From the EP: The Divine, Evolution, Extinction And Other Modern Prophecies, Vol. 2)

·Megg Jacobs – “Break the Mirror”

OTHER BAND MENTIONS:

·The Tea Club

·Lynch Mob

·Dyssidia

·Nine Inch Nails

·Trivium

·Northlane

·Persefone

·Tesseract

·Earthside

·Rivers Of Nihil

·Coheed and Cambria

·Dream Theater

·An Abstract Illusion

·The Reticent

·Spiritbox

·Between The Buried And Me

·Killswitch Engage

·Deftones

·Cea Serin

·Allegaeon

·Jinjer

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Recorded on 12/14/2025

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