This year, I thought I would do something a little different compared to a standard ‘end-of-year list’. There have been plenty of awesome albums, EPs and songs released this year – so for the 24 days of advent, I will be sharing some of my favourite cuts of 2025 along with a short review of each.
Paul Bartolome – Fake Hollywood
With this feature, I haven’t really put my picks in any sort of order – except for the final two. Today it is time to feature my 2025 album of the year, which is the incredible Fake Hollywood by Paul Bartolome. So with that in mind, I think it’s only right to write a full review, isn’t it?
To put it simply, Fake Hollywood is absolutely stunning. We first got a taster of it in mid-2024 in the form of a six-track EP entitled Fake Hollywood Part 1, and I played the shit out that when it got released and eagerly awaited the full release. Of course, it was worth the wait – and running at eighteen tracks in duration (featuring thirteen original tracks and five re-imagined/acoustic tracks) there’s plenty to sink your teeth into.
Poison Tree is an early highlight, with one of those choruses that will be stuck in your head – it’s just one of those songs you’ll want to replay after listening to it! Meanwhile How Did We Get Here? is a stunningly emotive track that will really give you goosebumps; it’s such a beautiful inclusion and the gentle simplicity to it really makes it stand out. Additionally, Fake Hollywood also features a couple of bonus ‘re-imagined’ tracks which give the songs a fresh and unique spin – and whilst they were all great, I particularly enjoyed the new take on Poison Tree.
All in all, an utterly excellent album and certainly my favourite release of 2025. What’s crazy is that he is already looking to the future, as 2026 will see the release of another new album God Complex – and needless to say, after hearing some new songs both live and in the form of a sneaky preview, I think it’s safe to say that the full release is going to be one to watch out for!
So…with day 23 being my album of the year, what can we expect from day 24? Well, you’ll have to tune in tomorrow to find out…!
Songs to check out: Poison Tree, Fake Hollywood, How Did We Get Here?
Purchase here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fake-Hollywood-Explicit-Paul-Bartolome/dp/B0FHGZ8YJJ
Day 01: Orbit Culture – Death Above Life
Day 02: You Win Again Gravity – Don’t Leave Me Here, Part 1
Day 03: Pithy – Agonizing Plexus
Day 04: Septicflesh – Amphibians
Day 05: Karl Casey – White Bat EPs
Day 06: Paradise Lost – Ascension
Day 07: Metamalice – Symphony of the Knife
Day 08: I Prevail – Violent Nature
Day 09: Sheep – Forbidden Fields
Day 10: Dance With The Dead – Psycho Disco
Day 11: Bleed From Within – Zenith
Day 12: Cyberpriest – Cliff The Headhunter (Remixed)
Day 13: Kelluvat Ikkunat – Kelluvat Ikkunat
Day 14: Memoremains – Toxic Devotion
Day 15: Rootbrain – Mothertomb
Day 16: Project Silence – Rotten
Day 17: Labyrinthus Stellarum – Rift in Reality
Day 18: The Villains Have Wings – Not Enough
Day 19: Feuerschwanz – Knightclub
Day 20: Vast Slug – Driving Music
Day 21: Lik – Necro
Day 22: Windwaker – Hyperviolence (Expansion Pack)
