The Razor's Edge - Gig of the Year 2025
In terms of live music 2025 has been up there as one of the best years for both quantity and quality. Here at The Razor's Edge our team have brought to you coverage of as many of those shows as possible. Trying to pass on in words and pictures what an experience those shows were.
Now we discuss our favourite shows of the year. Which show made each staff members top pick?
Cat Finch - Editor in Chief
This year saw the whole heavy metal community come together to celebrate the career of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. A whole day in the bands home borough of Aston in Birmingham saw the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Halestorm, Guns N Roses, Mastodon and more celebrate the work that has influenced their career. Closed out by the emotional last stand of Ozzy and Black Sabbath. So moving at the time, even more so just weeks later when Ozzy left us all. A once in a life time opportunity to celebrate the band that started it all. Rest well Ozzy, your music will live on forever.
Tim Finch - Deputy Editor / Photographer
October saw Parkway Drive put in a contenter for best (and hottest) stage production ever seen, with a magical two hours full of fire and brimstone. But ultimatly there was only one show that could win Gig of the year honors this year. Black Sabbath's 'Back To The Beginning' celebrate their work and Ozzy's solo career in the ultimate tribute show. Hearing Ozzy - and fifty thousand dedicated fans - sing 'Mama I'm Coming Home' brought a tear to the eye. A fitting send off for our founding fathers.
Dan Barnes - Writer
Maiden’s Run for Your Lives show at the Co-Op in Manchester would have been my pick had it not been for my self-imposed rule not to anything Iron Maiden due to becoming predictable. As such, I contemplated both Igorrr at the Ritz and Deftones at Halifax, as well as Heilung’s easter show at the Apollo. But all things considered, the visual and musical spectacular that was Parkway Drive’s AO Arena show in October has to come out on top.
From the crowd walk opening, to the eye-searing lights and face-melting pyrotechnics, it was a two-hour-plus extravaganza for the senses. With a setlist taken from the whole of their back-catalogue, the Byron Bay metalcore mob dropped jaws and raised fists in equal measure, turning this into not only the gig of the year, but also up there with one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
Tom Atkin - Photographer
This was a tough one to pick. There has been so many great shows I have attended this year. However, to make me enjoy a show at this venue is something else. To quote a fellow photographer friend on the night "Holy Fuck, what was that!" which was a perfect description of the show. It was absolutely incredible and I am so pleased to see that the UK really turned out for them. It was an absolute onslaught from the word go, the third and best time that I have seen them. They definitely deserve gig of the year from me, and that's impressive considering some of the bands I have seen this year.
Oli Gonzalez - Writer
Wardruna @ Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
If a show makes you feel sad for a few days after and gives you those post gig blues, you know it was special. That was my case after I had seen Wardruna in March of this year. The production, the sound, everything was spot on. The Liverpool Philharmonic provided the perfect platform and immersive background to delve deep into the story of the ancient Pagan ways that the Norwegian neo folk legends told so elegantly. Nothing else mattered that night as I became lost in this world.
Martin Hingley - Photographer
This category is just as difficult, as I’ve seen so many incredible performances this year, each for very different reasons. Parkway Drive delivered a phenomenal show and were a strong contender for the No.1 spot, but looking back over the summer, I had to choose Feuerschwanz’s first-ever UK appearance at Bloodstock Festival as my standout gig of the year.
Not only did I never expect to see the German folk/power metal troupe play in the UK, but they also lit up the Ronnie James Dio stage with a killer set packed with hits, winning a huge number of new fans in the process. From the joyous dance-along duringKnightclub to a drunk Jesus joining them onstage for their cover of Dragostea Din Tei, Feuerschwanz proved that they have a real place in the scene and that there’s a UK audience eagerly waiting for their return (me amongst them!), hopefully sooner rather than later.
Nic Howells - Photographer
Letlive @ Electric Ballroom, London
Absence truly made the heart grow fonder for the LA’ group’s return. Select dates and a promise (whoops) of this being the last goodbye for Letlive meant that the most devout diehards descended on Camden for their one UK warmup before an unbelievable 2000trees set. The setlist, immaculate, the supports, perfect, Jason predictably jumping off everything in sight including the balcony? Never in doubt. The visual of 5 men from LA walking on stage as silhouettes before unleashing ‘Le Prologue’ and ‘The Sick, Sick 6.8 Billion’ will be burned into my memory. It was never going to be any other gig for 2025’s top spot. But it was close.
Sam Jones - Writer
Striking to think that another year is already over, where we now look back on what our personal favourite shows of the year were. For myself it has to be Blood Incantation’s performance at this year’s Incineration festival, held in London, Camden Town. Though a little walk from Camden Town itself, the Roundhouse is this modern building that once acted as a railway turntable, enabling train cars to swivel onto varying tracks. The interior of the venue itself is vast yet summarily offset by a stage adorned with cosmic pillars, a cracking light show and a band at the height of their prowess. Blood Incantation took to the stage like it was their birthright, a packed crowd awaiting, for they would play Absolute Elsewhere in full and given it had been difficult getting into other venues this performance was one i was not missing. For almost an hour straight the band did nothing but wow our unprepared minds as they played both tracks of twenty minutes each one after the other with zero break inbetween. I remember at the end having to remind myself to breathe, to process the grandeur I'd witnessed. Many others I've spoken to since regarding that performance relate the same response: Incredible.
Patrick O'Reilly - Writer
Another solid year of gigs saw me reliving my youth at Life of Agony and Biohazard in Nottingham, both bands sounding as good as I’ve ever heard them. Offal Fest was a ridiculously stacked show with some great performances, Skinless were absolutely flawless though! Speedfest, a local gig put on by local promoters Fenland Hsardcore Collective (Music | Fenland Hardcore Collective) went by in a blur, literally as all manor of fastcore, grind and powerviolence came together to cause chaos, whilst a different vibe at Kunt and the Gang had me coming away with aching ribs from laughing so much. Gig of the year has to go to UK Slam Fest though, sadly the last edition but what a way to go out! Malignancy were incredible there, Gorgasm too, just too many great sets to mention
Richard Oliver - Writer
There was only one contender for my gig of the year and it is possibly the most spectacular live music event I have ever been to and possibly ever will. Greek death metal heroes Septicflesh with the Athens State Orchestra performing in the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus - a venue dating back to AD 161 and one of the most breathtaking places you can see a concert. It was simply epic and had my arm hairs standing on end for the two hour show. The combination of Septicflesh’s death metal attack with the might and power of the orchestra plus throw in choirs and guest musicians playing traditional instruments. It was simply breathtaking and has quite possibly ruined live music for me forever.
Gareth Pugh - Writer
Such a majestic experience
Christ Taylor - Interviewer
Normally I'd be spoiled for choice on amazing shows. But not this year obviously. Being there for Back to the Beginning felt like heavy metal's Live Aid. The most incredible atmosphere and lineup giving Ozzy a true legend's send off. Metal feels a bit smaller now with Ozzy no longer with us, but he went out in the most fitting way possible. With the greatest concert in history.
Matthew Williams - Writer
This has proved to be a nigh on impossible task, as I’ve been to more gigs than ever this year. It would be easy of me to say it was the return of Slayer in Cardiff, as this was epic, and matched by the Thrash of the Titans tour that I saw in both Bristol and Manchester. Other notable shout outs go to Smote, 1000Mods, Slomosa, Wren, Firefriend, Wet Cactus and the wonderful Hot 8 Brass Band.
However, I’ve gone for the wonderfully named Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, who I saw on Sunday at Desertfest. The anticipation was palpable in the sweatbox more commonly know as The Underworld, and they delivered a high-octane set of anthemic songs that had the expectant crowd transfixed from the first to the last minute of their energetic performance.
