The Top 10 Most Disappointing Albums of 2025

Here's the second annual installment of this list that looks at that were more hype than substance for various reasons we can see here, ranging from nostalgia to wanting to offer a diverse or inclusive list rather than just focusing on which albums have the best songs. People live in such a warped reality bubble they can not handle disappointment and would rather pretend the emperor is wearing clothes than admit their favorite artists are falling short. My role has always been to call out things for what they are, as a form of quality. These are not bad albums, but they did not live up to what these artists did in the past, except for one entry that improved but was never that great and got a critical pass from mainstream music media for reasons that have nothing to do with music.  There are only three artists  that are favorites of mine that missed the mark a bit, but in the interest of honest journalism, those are the ones I must draw the most attention to, so here are the top 10 Most Disappointing albums of 2025

10-Dream Theater- "Parasomnia"

They ranked low on the list, as I expected this album to be bad since most have been after "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence." The fact they score an 8 is better than what they have done, but does not hold up against their best work.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/02/dream-theater-parasomnia.html

9-Militarie  Gun   -"God Save the Gun". 

They lost what made the previous album unique, despite having leaned in a more Tunrstile direction, they sound like every other California band that wants to be Blink 182. But it is well done for what it is, just not what I wanted it to be. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/12/militarie-gun-god-save-gun.html

8-the Haunted - 'Songs of Last Resor.t' 

This band might have come about after At the Gates ' 90s breakup, but clearly, their existence is reliant on Slayer as well. They bring the more melodic Swedish guitar solos to the party, but that really feels like the only thing that sets them apart from being a Slayer clone themselves. Some riffs are more Slayer-influenced than others, but the death metal intensity is tempered with the fun-loving thrashing. However, for as long as they have been at it I expect something more original.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-haunted-songs-of-last-resort.html

7-Fallujah -"Xenotaph"

 Guitarist Scott Carstairs is the only original member of this band. The last album I reviewed by them was "Undying Light," which I felt played it safe and moved in a more metalcore direction. Things are in a more progressive direction, though it does sacrifice some of the heaviness, and over-produced layers of vocals create an Opeth sound when they would be better served following the path of Cynic

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/fallujah-undying-light.html

6-Model/Actriz - "Pirouette"

The first song made me Google

"Is Jamie Stewert from Xiu Xiu in Model/ Actriz??

No, it turns out Colde Haden is doing his best impersonation. This album was released in May, and there has been some confusion among listeners who mistakenly believe it is industrial music. But no, it's not, and yes, I would rather listen to Xiu Xiu despite the hyper here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/modelactriz-pirouette.html

5- Machine Head - "UNATØNED" 

Not letting freedom ring like a shotgun blast here, and most songs are reduced to following current metal trends.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/04/machine-head-unatned.html

4-Billy Idol-"Dream Into It." 

This album gives the impression that his voice has not aged as well as live performances have shown, and the songson this album don't help, though he still scored an 8.5.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/04/billy-idol-dream-into-it.html

3-Turnstile - "NEVER ENOUGH." 

The original review was a 9.5, and I think a 9 might be more accurate as it did not keep my interest aside from a couple of songs and fell short of what they did on their previous album in terms of the punch it packed.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/turnstile-never-enough.html

2-Higher Power-There is Love in the World If you Want it." 

An 8 is a decent score, but the overall direction almost made them seem likea  different band as they are not playing to their strengths in this creative shift'/

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/higher-power-there-is-love-in-world-if.html

1-the Weeknd - "Hurry Up Tomorrow." 

This album scored a 7.5, when he is capable of creating 10s. "Beauty Behind the Madness" was his creative peak, and with "Star Boy" things began to become streamlined for radio audiences, and he has been on creative decline ever since, while shifting his focus to absurd things like movies and TV shows that failed. This should not have come as a surprise. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-weeknd-hurry-up-tomorrow.html

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