That's Not Metal

TNM talks bands we would have introduced to ourselves at an earlier age, a breadth of new tracks from Def Leppard, Exodus, Immolation and Haggard Cat, and Cryptopsy take to the UK with 200 Stab Wounds for 30 years of None So Vile.

Releases:
Megadeth - Megadeth
Poppy - Empty Hands
Crystal Lake - The Weight of Sound
Textures - Genotype
The Damned - Not Like Everybody Else
Backengrillen - Backengrillen
Barbarian - Reek of God
Ligation - After Gods

2025 Album Clubs come from the land where the mullet attacks: Sabaton's Swedish concept album Carolus Rex, Hatebreed's hardcore benchmark Satisfaction is the Death of Desire, Visigoth's dungeon-keeping The Revenant King, and Family Force 5 give us Business Up Front/Party in the Back.

This episode was originally published January 2025 on patreon.com/thatsnotmetal.

New album singles from Poison the Well, Lamb of God, and Static Dress keep 2026 starting up, along with a killer first band announcement from Damnation Festival, and announcement of our first Patreon special for 2026.

Releases:
Kreator - Krushers of the World
Kid Kapichi - Fearless Nature
Greywind - Severed Heart City
Ov Sulfur - Endless
Blanket - True Blue
Serpent Column - Aion of Strife
Rifle - Rifle
Push - Plowing Ahead
Crush Your Soul - Ice Water
I Promised the World - I Promised the World
Lights Out - Fall on Your Sword
Gylt - In 1,000 Agonies, I Exist
Sin Against Sin - Demo 2

TNM usher in the new year with hopes, questions and predictions for 2026, and some familiar faces already poking their heads above the parapets for the year ahead.

Releases:
Ulver - Neverland
Fuath - III
Woe - Legacies of Human Frailty
Paleface Swiss - The Wilted EP
Alter Bridge - Alter Bridge
The Ruins of Beverast - Tempelschlaf

Right before Christmas our last bash for 2025 is TNM Awards looking back over the highs and lows, the stories, the icons, the presidents, and the circuses that made the year in rock music what it was:
Most Improved Band
Song of the Year
Worst Song of the Year
Hero of the Year
Villain of the Year
Best New Band
Biggest Disappointment
Gig of the Year
EP of the Year
Artwork of the Year
Movie of the Year
Comeback of the Year
Surprise of the Year
Outstanding Achievement
Worst Band of the Year
Unsung Heroes
Story of the Year
Band of the Year