RB Writer Picks: Top Albums of 2025

It’s that time of year again. Time for holiday festivities and end-of-year reflection as we start looking ahead to 2026. Each year the RB Writing Team joins in on the fun by participating in a three-part series consisting of their top tracks, albums, and breakout artists of the year. Last week we kicked off the series with Top Tracks of 2025, so without further ado let’s get into our writers’ top albums of 2025 below: 

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Hana Hamdan

Chris Lake’s Chemistry is a masterclass in modern house music — confident, playful, and undeniably timeless. This album lived on repeat for me all year, and seeing it live last week at Rawhide only deepened my love for it. It captures the feeling of a packed dancefloor at its peak while still leaving room for groove, wit, and experimentation. Every track feels intentional and engineered to hit at exactly the right moment. 

With Return to the Intergalactic Spectrum of Happiness, Zeds Dead remind us why they’ve always existed in a lane entirely of their own. The album feels like a journey through nostalgia, emotion, and forward-thinking bass music, seamlessly weaving together genres without ever losing its sense of soul. 

Origo marks a powerful evolution in Martin Garrix’s artistry, blending emotional depth with the polished energy that made him a global force. This album felt personal yet massive, balancing euphoric melodies with refined production that showcases his growth beyond festival anthems alone. Each track contributes to a cohesive story of origin, inspiration, and creative freedom. 

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Dayne Harris

As a die-hard VOYD fan, VOYD 2.5 (Part 1) was everything I wanted. Hearing the iconic tracks like “Dream Sequence” and “Laughing Track” get constructed into something even heavier was the best gift. It takes a legendary album and makes it feel fresh all over again while giving us a few new tracks. For me, it’s the perfect sequel, and the best album of 2025.

The other has to be Distinct Motive’s EP Hypnotize. Multiple songs from it instantly became my favorite Distinct Motive tracks, he absolutely went off on this one. Every time I listen, it truly does hypnotize. It’s the perfect example of why he’s a master of low dub.

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Chase Courtney

Fox Stevenson is one of my favorite genre-benders. His multiple talents and extensive genre knowledge result in epic hybrid albums and singles. The newest Fox album, Sunk Cost Fallacy, was released in late June of this year and is my favorite album of 2025. It features tracks that blend various genres of EDM with pop-punk vocals and delivery. Highlights from the album include: “Yas!”, a door-busting introduction with lyrics about letting go of what you can’t control over DnB breakbeats. “Curtain Call” is a jazzy Tropical House wonderland with funky guitar riffs, while “Exile Is A Habit” features the strongest lyrics and metaphors on the album. Acoustic guitar, wobbly basslines, and a mix of old school/modern production add depth and complexity to the rest of the album. Fox’s upbeat tempos and rapid genre shifts make each track their own adventure. “SCF” closes with the title track, a six-minute shimmering epic that gives me chills. Strong lyrics, a varied soundscape, and endless genre-blending potential crown this album as my favorite of the year!

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Kade Kleinschmidt

ANOTR’s On a Trip is my favorite album of 2025. It marks a sharp departure from the minimal tech house sound ANOTR has been known for, and trades it for a funky, psychedelic tone. The album sounds as if Khruangbin were to make a dance project, with some tracks utilizing soft vocals and instrumentation and others built upon a more conventional club groove. On a Trip feels like a breath of fresh air and is an easy standout among dance projects this year. 

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Marcus Arrieta

INFEKT brought so much heat this year and his VEGGIE CARGO LP comes loaded with favorites from his live sets that are truly chef’s kiss. Each track on the album has a unique sound design and of course all the bass. As one of the forefathers of riddim or trench, VEGGIE CARGO highlights INFEKT’s special talent and his legendary original sound. 

Sub Focus gifted his album Contact recently and although fresh, Contact is up there for album of the year for me. Sub Focus never fails to bring high energy anthems with fast rhythms and ethereal melodies. This album features collaborations from a plethora of artists with each of their vocals and sounds layering perfectly within Sub Focus’ iconic beats. Every track on Contact is a banger and I guarantee it will get you moving. 

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Jake Kwapiseski

This year, Svdden Death has brought his iconic alter ego, VOYD, across the United States in a way that he has never before. From unique festivals like Summoning of the Eclipse and Lost Lands to the Tacoma Dome, this year has been the year of VOYD for dubstep fans. His three-part remix release series (VOYD Vol. 2.5 Part I, II & III) includes a multitude of singles and is one of the largest released albums for any electronic artist with 76 total songs.

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Courtney Longhurst

Since the team has already nailed this list (I had RSIH and Chemistry on mine as well), I’d like to take the chance to highlight BLOND:ISH’s album, Never Walk Alone. The album was released in February but I had standout tracks like “How Does It Feel,” “Different Way,” and “Garba Dance (Majajan)” playing in my head all year long, putting this album into my top three this year. BLOND:ISH has a knack for building infectious energy, both on stage and in the studio, and I’m excited to see more of her in the coming years.