The 2025 Extreme Music Awards Show, held on January 11 at Empire Live, was filled with excitement, great music, and endless smiles. From the buzz of the Black Carpet and the All-Star Jam to the diverse local talent taking home EMAs gold, the evening celebrated the vibrant music supported by hundreds of enthusiastic attendees.

This year’s award show had surpassed last year’s inaugural show attendance, while the truly awesome list of metal and hardcore luminaries there to present and lend their chops to Jason Bittner’s All-Star Jam grew exponentially.

Albany hometown heavyweights Concrete kicked off the weekend on Friday night, January 10, with a sold-out EMAs Pre-Party show at Empire Underground for their new release on Upstate Records, Mortualis.
Another classic blistering set from the band – paired with direct support from Brick by Brick, Smoke AxD, Dysentery, Faded Line, Hope For Now, and Against The Reign – made for an unbeatable night of live music even before the first award was presented.
Then on Saturday, January 11, bands from the greater upstate NY Capital District and Western Massachusetts regions convened upstairs in the big room at Empire Live, where they were acknowledged for their 2024 accomplishments, amid a star-studded lineup of guest presenters.
The evening concluded with a scorching extended set by Jason Bittner’s EMAs All-Stars, led by drummer Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall), and featuring iconic guest players/presenters like Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus), Dave Ellefson (Megadeth), Erick A.K. (Flotsam & Jetsam), Dan Lilker (Anthrax, S.O.D., Nuclear Assault), Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall), Craig “Ahead” Setari (Sick of It All), Matt Byrne (Hatebreed), and many more. Building upon the amazing performances from the 2024 installment, this year’s jam was even larger and more ambitious.

The 2025 EMAs Winners:
Best Death Metal Band – Invoke Thy Wrath
Best Black Metal Band – Malefic
Best Doom/Goth/Stoner Band – Flatwounds
Best Power Metal Band – The Antarctican
Best Prog/Math Metal Band – The Phoenix and the Raven
Best Hair/Glam/Sleaze Band – Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band
Best Thrash Metal Band – Hate The Adversary
Best Grindcore Band – Horse Grave
Best Metalcore Band – Oakheart
Best Punk Band – The Hauntings
Best Hardcore Band – Fromwithin
Best Hardcore Beatdown Band – Torn Out
Best Hardcore Punk Band – Murderer’s Row
Best Metal Video – Concrete – “Cyber Vermin”
Album of the Year – Invoke Thy Wrath – WORMS
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jeff Caro (Malefic)
Best New Band – Gateway
Best Veteran Band – Concrete
Best Bassist – Justin Stupplebeen (The Phoenix and the Raven)
Best Guitarist – Jared Weed (Concrete, Futility)
Best Drummer – John Glassbrenner (Malefic, Concrete)
Best Vocalist – Joe Mansman
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