Best vinyl records of 2025: The rock, metal, prog and alternative albums you need in your collection

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If you're just starting out on your vinyl journey or are looking to bolster your collection with some of the best albums of 2025, I've picked out a selection of records covering rock, metal, prog and alternative that have lit up the music scene over the last 12 months.

Below you'll find everything from Ghost masterpiece Skeleta to Classic Rock's album of the year, The Overview by Steven Wilson, with several other crackers in-between that'll make your record player sing.

We also have guides covering portable record players, budget turntables and record players for beginners. And, if you want to listen to your records in private, we also have a list of the best headphones for vinyl listening.

Scott has spent 36 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 11 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.