Audio Addict Awards season 2026

Happy 2026 team, and with the new year, of course, comes awards season. As the nominations fly on in, it's my time to review the last year and decide what the biggest wins and losses were in 2025. The categories I'll be discussing this year will be; Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Production, The 'Rising Star' Award, The 'Whiffed It' Award, Best Live Performance, Most Anticipated 2026 Project and Favourite Throwback - no new categories this year, so let's get stuck in. As always, this is all just my opinion, and all for a bit of fun. No one actually wins anything. (That statement is legally binding, so if any of the winners do reach out the best I can do is a firm handshake/ high five).

(As always, an image of a Grammy award to illicit a feeling of needless grandeur)

The 'Rising Star' Award 2026

Honourable Mention: PRESIDENT

Winner: James Marriott

PRESIDENT have had an absolute scorcher of a year. After unearthing themselves in February of 2025, they went from strength to strength with their releases, and caught my attention in a heartbeat. Songs like RAGE, Fearless and Destroy Me carried their signature heft accompanied by some of the most earnest lyricism I'd heard. Although there wasn't much new content to hear, they released their debut EP King of Terrors and introduced new legendary track Convent to the mix. They took this record on tour, and have been tearing it up ever since.

Although 2025 was the year of PRESIDENT, a band I have a lot of love for and can't wait to see live in 2026, it was also a mammoth year for Youtuber turned musician James Marriott. He released his newest record Don't Tell the Dog in 2025, which catapulted it's way up to UK Number 1, and finally broke him into the mainstream. What came next came on fast, a tour spanning the US, Europe and UK, that was for the most part completely sold out, that cemented him as an amazing performer, bringing people onboard from across the world with his flamboyant showmanship and impressive live vocals. Having seen him twice now, the insane improvement in both his musical ability and confidence as a frontman are truly something to marvel at. He has gone from strength to strength this year, and truly deserves the Rising Star Award for 2025 - and I hope this energy continues on, he really does deserve the hype.

(Seeming as he has a No.1 trophy, he really doesn't need me to clog up his shelves more)

Best Production

Honourable Mention: Carl Bown (Even in Arcadia)

Winner: Paul Meaney (Breach)

Even In Arcadia is a beautiful soundscape of a record. From the tiny sonic details that round out tracks to the electronic drums still retaining that signature II feeling, Carl Bown has put some serious effort into creating and tailoring the audible landscape of Sleep Token's latest record. Both brilliantly concise and also mind bogglingly genre spanning, it proves not only the bands flexibility, but also his, and his talent in similarly shedding his skin to create a serious final product.

However, for the second year running, Paul Meaney takes home the award for Best Production. Full of intricate synths, insane instrument samples and enough dynamic soundscape to make even the most distinguished listener gasp, Breach is once again a masterwork of chaos and cohesion. Last year, I noted the adaptability to the genres spanned by the two piece, as well as the attention to detail in regards to the sonic texture of the record, and this brand new record does all that and so much more. Every song was tight, cohesive, but also not afraid to take new steps in the inclusions of something different, something that enhanced the dynamics and listening experience tenfold - look no further than the spoken word R&B reminiscent Centre Mass set starkly against the soft piano and marching snare of Cottonwood. If you thought Clancy sounded good, it hardly holds a candle to it's spiritual big brother.

(Two awards on the trot for Paul, nothing whatsoever to show for it)

Best Live Performance 2025

Honourable Mention: Twenty One Pilots (The Clancy Tour)

Winner: Iron Maiden (Run for your Lives Tour)

Twenty One Pilots really do know how to put on a show, don't they? Having never seen them before, I was engaged from the moment Tyler Joseph threw himself onstage to the moment the confetti launched. Immersive, fast paced and action packed, no one was ready for the two hour journey the band was going to take them on, all while sounding absolutely pitch perfect and never off beat. They have the spectacle and the chops, what more do you need? Plus, seeing the legendary denial of the jacket felt like a serious moment in time, and one I was very grateful to have experienced.

Seeing the rock legends Iron Maiden in the flesh was nothing short of a religious experience, so much so that they've pipped Twenty One Pilots at the post this time around. It felt like a once in a lifetime experience, seeing them grace the stage at London Stadium, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine to go to an Iron Maiden concert - let's be honest, they are all getting on a tad, they're not in the prime of their careers, but they sounded like they were. That night, they played out of their skin, slamming at breakneck speed through some of their most iconic anthems, all while eight foot Eddies staggered onstage, swinging axes and flipping the bird to the audience below. It was nothing short of superb, and was a truly special moment to be a part of. If they hung it up now, I'd have some comfort in the fact that I saw them at their most reinvigorated, and that I heard songs from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son live. They are by all means deserving of their legacy, and therefore take home the award for Best Live Performance.

(Iron Maiden's 2025 touring line - up, no Nicko, and also no physical award... sad times)

Favourite Throwback

Honourable Mention: Bring Me the Horizon, Post Human; Nex Gen

Winner: The Story so Far, Proper Dose

If you ever need a little bit of hyper-pop doom-core breakdowns to scratch the very specific itch in your brain, look no further than Post Human: Nex Gen. Sheer chaos, sheer insanity, and some of the heaviest breakdowns I've had the pleasure of hearing, I've had the record on repeat a disgusting amount in 2025. It's a marvel of genre warping madness, and I can't get enough of it, especially Bullet with my Name on, RIP and Dig It. Definitely deserving of the honourable mention.

The Story So Far are a band that I stumbled across in a Spotify generated playlist around October of last year. The second I heard their sound, I was caught by the brutally honest lyricism and engaging melodies. Over the last few months of 2025 I went on a serious deep dive, and listened to nothing but their music on repeat for weeks on end. From their earlier work that's more pop-punk centred with loud guitars and heavy drums, to their more pop-rock entries like Proper Dose, blending their signature edge and speed with a more balanced and retrospective feel. I did a similar thing with Post Human; Nex Gen, but have been so taken recently by TSSF that they take the cake this time around. If you haven't given their discography a listen, I'd really recommend giving it a go - it's some really special stuff.

(Good tunes and good vibes - shame I have nothing to fork over to show my appreciation)

The 'Whiffed It' Award 2025

Winner: Coldplay Jumbo Tron Incident

Now, in terms of crazy things that have happened in the music world over this past year, not much reached the insane viral status that the incident at the Coldplay concert in Massachusetts. If you somehow didn't know what happened, two co-workers from Astronomer were caught in an intimate embrace on the Kiss Cam, and instantly broke apart once their image was blasted across the big screen. What came next was one of the most hilarious cultural moments of 2025, spawning meme templates, thousands of articles attempting to get to the bottom of the moment, and even a spin off video game called 'Coldplay Canoodlers'. At the time, it was reported that the two were indeed married, just to other people - but it's never really been confirmed. All we do know is that the two of them resigned from their roles, and we haven't heard anything from them since. Crazy awkward, but also a little bit funny, those two win the Whiffed it Award.

(Chris Martin, international pop star, and of course extramarital affair exposer - good show)

Song of the Year 2025

Honourable Mention: RAGE, PRESIDENT

Winner: Caramel, Sleep Token

RAGE is a song that as soon as I heard I connected with. The electric opening, the gentle lyrics and sombre semantics, a yearning for something past, before slamming into an anger so defiant it uproots the calm of before. Beautiful in it's makeup, perfect in it's rise and fall, and so raw it gives me goosebumps, this was so close to being crowned the winner this year, and lost out just by a whisker.

Suddenly, Sleep Token have become one of the most polarizing bands in the Rock and Metal spheres. After releasing their new album Even in Arcadia, they've become a Marmite band overnight - you either love them, or you hate them - and if you hate them, you're seemingly very vocal about it. What is undeniable, however, is the impact that this new release made on the industry, especially Caramel. A clear take on the para-social ideals of some more hardcore 'fans', the song deconstructs lead singer Vessel's own insecurities on revealing his true identity, stripping back the onstage bravado and confidence to instead show a glimpse into his more personal landscape. It's catchy, cutting, and one of the most visceral yet enjoyable songs released in 2025, with some seriously impressive genre defying beats and grooves - jumping from R&B style reggaeton influences to a signature deathcore breakdown at it's emotional climax. Once again Vessel tugs at the heartstrings, asking 'Tell me did I give you what you came for? [...] Terrified to answer my own front door.' No wonder it made it to Number 10 in the UK charts, and Number 1 in the Rock and Metal charts. It walks a knife edge of impressive musicianship and candour that proves that this band is here to stay, and also ready to make music that's grounded in visceral reality rather than the lofty fantasy settings they sometimes lean towards.

(I personally think he's smiling because he's heard I gave them an award - but there is no trophy!)

Album of the Year 2025

Honourable Mention: Even in Arcadia - Sleep Token

A silver medal goes to one of my favourite bands of all time Sleep Token. Even in Arcadia is a crowning achievement of their discography, combining their best genre bending riffs and beats with some beautiful moments of intimacy and fragility. From the insane highs of Past Self to the crushing honesty of Gethsemane, this record does what Sleep Token have always done, defy your expectations. Polarizing, yes - the Daily Mail even went as far as to call it the worst release of this year, referring to it as 'turgid', and the irony is palpable. This record is divisive, it's volatile, it's a sheer doubling down on all the things that make this band so special, and so vital to the industry - and I can hardly fault it. It only looses out on the number one spot due to the fact I didn't replay the record as much as I did another album released in 2025 - but that by no means diminishes this album and it's impact on me. Vessel and II's impressive partnership continues to move an am impressive pace, pulling influences and moments of sheer beauty from thin air. I cannot wait to see what this band does next, and I'll be waiting patiently to see what happens - I'm manifesting a 2026 UK tour?

(Thank you Sleep Token for this incredible album - a truly special piece of work)

Winner: Breach - Twenty One Pilots

This probably comes as no surprise to anyone involved that Twenty One Pilots are walking away with the number one spot. Breach was an insane album, bringing together both the final narrative piece to the Trench Saga and some of the most dynamic and listenable music of the band's entire career. If you needed any evidence that this band are in a league of their own, look no further than this record. Ranging from heavy rock anthems to synth based pop numbers, this album has anything you could really want from Twenty One Pilots, chocked full of their signature style and finesse. It is also helped along massively by producer Paul Meaney, who injects so much sonic texture and soundscape to the record. It's a seminal piece of work, defining and tying up the last ten years of their careers, and I have had it on repeat since it's release both on streaming and on vinyl. From the second the massive bassline shoulders it's way into City Walls you know your in for a treat, and the record takes you on a beautiful and chaotic ride, both in Dema and the two's own real world. It builds that fantasy before knocking it down, reminding you of both the characters they play, but also the people behind the masks. Tyler is deeply introspective, reflecting on his life as a parent, as a human, its his brilliantly emotive lyricism dialled up to eleven, even going so far as to write a song for drummer Josh Dunn about his use of music as an escape. It's a testament to the artistry of this album that it's so replayable, so listenable, and so addictive and that's why it has won the Album of the Year Award 2025.

(Album of the Year, well done TOP - please don't press me for a real trophy, that was never part of The Contract)

Most Anticipated 2026 Project

Honourable Mention: Look Outside Your Window - Slipknot

Winner: Piss in the Wind - Joji

Yeah, I know - the first time the mysterious Look Outside Your Window project was talked about was in 2008, allegedly recorded before the sessions that led to All Hope Is Gone. Hinted at, teased, mentioned over and over, we have never gotten a concrete answer as to when this mysterious melodic art piece will drop, until recently when Shaun 'Clown' Crahan promised a 2026 release date - so will we finally get to hear this brand new, different record from four of the Iowan nine, or will it be another year gone without this mythical record being released? Only time will tell.

Something on my radar now that's really exciting me is the new Joji record Piss in the Wind. The singles we've gotten from this new album are superb, full of the dichotomy between insane digital instrumentals and sombre vocals. It walks a line that he has mastered over his career, hitting emotional dips whilst the soundscape behind ebbs and flows along with it. This record promises to be something new, something different, and personally I can't wait for it's release in February, I have zero doubts that it will blow me away. Last year, my most anticipated record was Violet by L.S Dunes, and although it was an enjoyable release, it really didn't hold too much of a candle to some of the releases in the latter end of the year, so let's hope Joji brings us some more replayable music in 2026!

(So am I giving the non existent award to Joe-G? Or will the man himself stand up to receive sweet fuck all?)

So, that's it for 2025, what a great year for music. I'm actually quite excited for awards season this year, because a lot of amazing bands are finally being recognised for their amazing work over the last 365 days. Here's to 2026, for more music, more fun, and more couples caught out at international concerts that become cultural phenomenons. Seriously, taking your sidepiece to Coldplay is like taking your Nan to a Chris Brown concert - but I digress. Happy new year everyone!