Mike Portnoy, the drummer of Dream Theater, has revealed his annual Top 10 list for 2025, which includes albums, films, and TV shows, while also paying tribute to influential musicians and figures lost throughout the year.
Portnoy is not only one of the world’s elite drummers but also a passionate fan who continually seeks out new music that excites him and keeps his enthusiasm alive. This quality makes him relatable; when he’s not performing with incredible fills and precise time changes, he shares a love for music just like everyone else.
Unsurprisingly, Portnoy’s unranked list of the best albums this year leans heavily towards progressive rock. However, progressive rock and metal encompass a wide range of styles, from the avant-garde unpredictability of Igorrr to the jazz-infused extreme metal of Imperial Triumphant and Steven Wilson’s two-song space rock journey.
READ MORE: Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy Lists His 10 Favorite Albums of 2024
He also highlighted the latest release from Tallah, featuring their first album with Max Portnoy (Mike’s son) transitioning from drums to bass. It seems that dad is quite impressed!
The yearly wrap-up includes a list of Portnoy’s own releases over the year. Before rejoining Dream Theater, it was common to see several titles in this section. However, with the prog metal legends touring for their 40th anniversary and supporting their new LP Parasomnia, this section was noticeably shorter than in previous years. In addition to the new studio album with Dream Theater (Portnoy’s first since 2009), the band released a live album titled Quarantième: Live à Paris.
Below, discover which albums made Portnoy’s Top 10 of 2025, and check out his selections for the best films and TV shows in his Instagram post.
Mike Portnoy’s 10 Favorite Albums of 2025
Listed in no particular order…
- Igorrr, Amen
- Cardiacs, LSD
- Sloan, Based on the Best Seller
- Moron Police, Pachinko
- Steven Wilson, The Overview
- Biffy Clyro, Futique
- Cosmic Cathedral, Deep Water
- Spock’s Beard, The Archaeoptimist
- Tallah, Primeval: Obsession // Detachment
- Imperial Triumphant, Goldstar
Loudwire’s Best of 2025 Lists — Prog Rock + Prog Metal
Loudwire is also a big fan of progressive music. In our reviews of this year’s best albums and songs from the progressive rock and metal genres, we found several overlaps with Portnoy’s selections.
Dive deeper into those lists below.
Looking ahead to next year, don’t forget to check out the most anticipated progressive rock and metal albums of 2026.
If you want to revisit the full scope of progressive metal history, we have outlined it through 21 significant albums!
The History of Prog Metal in 21 Albums
Dive into the diverse and captivating history of progressive metal!
Gallery Credit: Jordan Blum
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