The prog mathy-metalcore maestros from Kentucky return with another sensational record. 2022’s This Bright and Beautiful World came second on this List (sandwiched between Ithaca’s They Fear Us and Metric’s Formentera – which is some company). For me, Keep It Quiet doesn’t quite match This Bright and Beautiful World but it comes pretty darn close, and has kept growing in my estimation after a slow start when it was released in early October – ultimately forcing itself all the way into the top 3. After their heavier, more simplistic early releases, Greyhaven have now evolved into something fairly unique. They combine intricate, technically proficient passages (especially on the guitar – Nick Spencer is simply on fire here), with catchy choruses, all while retaining plenty of skull-mushing riffage. Brent Mills certainly does his fair share of screaming on Keep It Quiet (see, e.g., the album’s opening track ‘Prelude: Evening Star’ – the only weak link here, weird choice to start with it...). But, actually, his default setting on this record is something closer to soaring power ballad. And, more generally, while there’s nothing as overtly radio friendly as ‘All Candy’ this time around, as a whole Keep It Quiet is a more accessible album than This Bright and Beautiful World. At its most metalcore it’ll still be far too much for Jo Indie, but by rights it should open Greyhaven up to a larger audience. Add to that the fact that album-closer ‘Cemetery Sun’ is my favourite track of 2025 bar none, and you get the first truly essential record on this year’s List.