The 2025 Extreme Music Awards show, held on January 11 at Empire Live was a huge success, surpassing 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. It was a weekend filled with great music and endless smiles, from the excitement of the black carpet and all-star jam, to the vast array of local talent who took home Extreme Music Awards gold, to the hundreds who came out to support this vibrant music scene.Albany hometown heavyweights CONCRETE kicked off the weekend on Friday night, January 10 with a sold-out Extreme Music Awards 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, before the first award was even presented.Then on Saturday, January 11, bands from the greater upstate New York 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.2025 Extreme Music Awards winners:Best Death Metal Band: INVOKE THY WRATHBest Black Metal Band: MALEFICBest Doom/Goth/Stoner Band: FLATWOUNDSBest Power Metal Band: THE ANTARCTICANBest Prog/Math Metal Band: THE PHOENIX AND THE RAVENBest Hair/Glam/Sleaze Band: JOE MANSMAN AND THE MIDNIGHT REVIVAL BANDBest Thrash Metal Band: HATE THE ADVERSARYBest Grindcore Band: HORSE GRAVEBest Metalcore Band: OAKHEARTBest Punk Band: THE HAUNTINGSBest Hardcore Band: FROMWITHINBest Hardcore Beatdown Band: TORN OUTBest Hardcore Punk Band: MURDERER’S ROWBest Metal Video: CONCRETE’s “Cyber Vermin”Album Of The Year: INVOKE THY WRATH’s “Worms”Lifetime Achievement Award: Jeff Caro (MALEFIC)Best New Band: GATEWAYBest Veteran Band: CONCRETEBest Bassist: Justin Stupplebeen (THE PHOENIX AND THE RAVEN)Best Guitarist: Jared Weed (CONCRETE, FUTILITY)Best Drummer: John Glassbrenner (MALEFIC, CONCRETE)Best Vocalist: Joe MansmanThe evening then concluded with a scorching extended set by Jason Bittner’s Extreme Music Awards all-stars, led by drummer Bittner (OVERKILL, SHADOWS FALL),and featuring iconic guest players/presenters like Gary Holt (SLAYER, EXODUS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Eric “A.K.” Knutson (FLOTSAM AND 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, making history a second time.The Extreme Music Awards is the culmination of the collaboration between Upstate Black And Blue Productions, RadioRadioX, 93.9 WABY, That Fuzzing Rock Show and 518Scene.com. 2025 marks the second year of this amazing event, which celebrates all things metal, punk and hardcore in the greater 518 Capital Region of upstate New York. The second-annual EMAs was held at Albany, New York’s Empire Live — the home of metal, punk and hardcore in upstate New York — on Saturday, January 11, 2025.One of my favorite moments of the whole night at the Extreme Music Awards 2025Also one of the sickest things to ever happen.“PEACE SELLS”Bass : David EllefsonDrums : Jason BittnerDrums : Matt ByrneVocals : Joe AltierGuitar : Roman SingletonGuitar : Matt “Manshark” BachandGuitar : myself#peacesells #megadeth #extrememusicawards #albany #metal #rocknroll #livemusicPosted by Nick Stamas on Tuesday, January 14, 2025“YOU’VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING”Extreme Music Awards 2025Vocals : Eric AKDrums : Jason BittnerDrums : Matt ByrneBass : Craig AheadGuitar : Roman SingletonGuitar : myself#allstarjam #judaspriest #screamingforvengeance #kkdowning #glenntipton #gibson #gibsonflyingv #robhalford #rocknroll #metalPosted by Nick Stamas on Thursday, January 16, 2025Wake-Up Dead – Jason Bittner’s All Star CastExtreme Music AwardsPosted by Tracy Stanton on Tuesday, January 14, 2025Peace Sells…But Who’s Buyin’Jason Bittner’s All Star Cast 🔥🎸🔥Extreme Music AwardsPosted by Tracy Stanton on Tuesday, January 14, 2025Outstanding Saturday night in Albany for the Extreme Music Awards 2025. With Gary Holt from Exodus. David Ellefson, Hoya…Posted by Skateboard Marketing Ltd. on Sunday, January 12, 2025Extreme Music Awards RECAP 2025Where do I even start? It was hands down one of my most favorite weekends in my music…Posted by Joe Altier on Thursday, January 16, 2025ALL NOMINEES………Please get your passes this week to avoid “clogging” up the door. I will be at the box office…Posted by Extreme Music Awards on Saturday, January 4, 2025