Top Ten Of 2025: Reza Mills
Has another year really passed? It doesn’t feel like five minutes since we were seeing in 2024. Much has happened to yours truly in the past 12 months. The Great Escape will inevitably be shown during Christmas here in the UK, and this is coincidental to what’s happening to me on a personal level. While I don’t want to disclose too much at this stage for fear of jinxing it, it looks like this will be my last Christmas in Lancaster. In even better news, it looks like the evil Islamic Republic’s days are also numbered. Believe me, this will benefit the entirety of not only that country and region but the world as a whole.
In music news, gigs were attended by the likes of Mclusky, Light of Eternity (feat. Big Paul Ferguson of Killing Joke), Peter Hammill (Van De Graaf Generator), She The Throne and NYHC legend Vinnie Stigma. Additionally, I have booked a ticket to see noise-rock crew Unsane next April at the New Continental in Preston, stoked to say the least! Anyway, what you’re really wanting to know is who made it to my Top Ten. Well, here goes…!
10. Jean Claude Vannier ‘Jean Claude Vannier et son orchestre de mandolines’
Probably best known for his collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg, this isn’t the first time Jean-Claude Vannier has featured in my top ten. His 2019 collaboration with Mike Patton on Corpse Flower impressed me greatly, and so here he is once more. It’s lush, masterfully constructed French pop and one far removed from the likes of Joe Le Taxi as you can get. Vive La France!
Label: Ipecac Recordings
9. Lavisher ‘Aligned & Vital’
From the windy city comes grungy space-rockers Lavisher and their sophomore release Aligned & Vital, which definitely is aptly named considering the music is exactly that. The elegant, attention-grabbing cover art and expansive, progressive Failure-influenced tones should be enough to lure in newbies in what is a fascinating, if at times challenging, listen.
Label: Nefarious Industries
8. Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter ‘Forever, I’ve Been Being Born’
It’s been a decade and a half since we’ve heard from former Hominy member Jesse Sykes and while the departure of key members of The Sweet Hereafter may have temporarily disrupted the band’s momentum, it was never totally destroyed. This is evidenced by the beautiful drone, psych and folk sounds to be found on Forever, I’ve Been Being Born. A triumphant return.
Label: Ideologic Organ | Southern Lord
7. Negative Blast ‘Destroy Myself For Fun’
A quieter year for hardcore punk nonetheless produced one of its more intriguing releases courtesy of San Diego’s Negative Blast. Destroy Myself For Fun demonstrated that hardcore doesn’t need to be load of boring Hatebreed style breakdowns and trite lyrics about being ‘true to yourself’. Instead, you get wild musical diversions ala Devo and Nashville Pussy to keep you hooked throughout.
Label: Three One G
6. Ministry ‘The Squirrely Years Revisited’
I’ll be honest, Ministry’s post-2003 work has been profoundly underwhelming for yours truly, heavy handed political sloganeering and an overdriven thrash attack never excited me much. Imagine my amazement then when The Squirrely Years Revisitedarrived, re-working the band’s post-punk, new-wave and EBM past that spanned the years ‘81-’86. I was always going to be onboard for that.
Label: Cleopatra Records
5. Swans ‘Birthing’
When Swans appeared on The Shaman’s promo list, there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was not going to review it. The band’s post reunion work has been dense and hard going, even for the most dedicated fans; however, for those with the requisite stamina, Birthing produces exquisite results. If you choose to persevere, you’ll be amply rewarded with an enriching, life-enhancing experience.
Label: Young God Records | Mute Records
4. Mac Gollehon & The Hispanic Mechanics ‘Pistoleros’
Mac is back! Well, he never really went away. The session musician extraordinaire has been producing material in recent years that has been nothing short of stunning, and Pistoleros continues this rich vein of form. His last two releases made it into my end of year top ten, so it’s no surprise he’s back here again. free-jazz, funk and Latin vibes which would make Stanley Crouch turn in his grave. Stunning.
Label: World Funk Orchestra
3. Bag People ‘Bag People’
Those with a penchant for Rat At Rat R, early Sonic Youth and Live Skull will be delighted with this unearthed long-lost gem by Bag People featuring Swans/Of Cabbages And Kings member Algis Kizys. Comprised of archival material, the good folks over at Drag City have made available this wonderful collection of no-wave, noise-rock and post-punk goodness for our listening pleasure.
Label: Drag City
2. Venamoris ‘To Cross Or To Burn’
Venamoris’ debut Drown In Emotion made my end of year top ten for 2023 and To Cross Or To Burn is just as good, hence its inclusion here. Dream pop goodness featuring one-time Slayer, Fantômas, Philm and currently Mr Bungle drumming legend Dave Lombardo with his wife Paula. So good is the project that it even managed to make me enjoy a Scorpions tune, now that’s impressive!
Label: Ipecac Recordings
1. mclusky ‘the world is still here and so are we’
the world is still here and so are we is mclusky’s first album in twenty years, and it’s like they’ve never been away. Kickass Shellac-esque noise-rock and post-hardcore is the order of the day with the same sarcastic lyrical content recalling that of the late, great Steve Albini. They were just as great live when I saw them, and you know the album must be great as they beat Venamoris to the top spot.
Label: Ipecac Recordings
Honourable Mentions:
The Chameleons ‘Arctic Moon’
Sleepbomb ‘The Sleeping Dead’
Melvins 1983 ‘Thunderball’
Anna von Hausswolff ‘Iconoclasts’
Dazzling Killmen ‘Dig Out The Switch’ [Reissue]
Scribed by: Reza Mills
