Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2025, Part Nine.
I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred subgenre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi!, ska, grindcore, and even rockabilly fit the bill if done right. If I can catch a live show, it gives the release an edge. Here are a few releases from 2025 that I recommend you check out. These are in no particular order; however, I’m only reviewing releases that are in contention for the best release of the year. If I’m reviewing it, I liked it. When the New Year rolls around, I’ll put them in order and do a final article of the best of the best. Drop a comment at the bottom if there is a 2025 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.
Bad Beat “L.P. 2025”
Released: May 23, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, CD, digital download
Label: Triple B Records
From: Detroit, Michigan
Step into my office. Why? Because you’re fucking fired. This album does not waste your time. "Jazz Beat" is actually a quick bit of jazz (not hardcore), and "I.D.W.I.D.A.I.D.N.Y." is just a 7-second blast. Other than those, this is packed full of short, fast, hardcore songs like no other. "My Revenge" stands out as the best song on this album, Bad Beat's best song, and likely the best hardcore song of the year. "Guilty", "Never Had It," "Lost," and "Bad Beatdown" are also favorites, but honestly every song on this one is a banger. This will most likely be high up in my picks for the best releases of the year. I count myself lucky to have been able to catch them live here in Detroit at multiple venues, including Edgemen Printing (several members of the band own/run the shop and put on hardcore shows there frequently), Russell Industrial Center (at the annual Tied Down Detroit Festival), and Tangent Gallery. Hopefully they start playing some of the punk rock clubs as well; they are easily the best hardcore band out of Detroit right now. I was just as big a fan of Mike and Jimmy's previous band, Strange Magic, where they swapped lead vocals. Another thing I like about this album is Mike Moynihan's screams. They are few and far between, but they provide brief moments of remembering the magic of Strange Magic. If you are into hardcore, this is essential listening (as is their previous release, "L.P. 2024", and everything by Strange Magic). For record collectors, there was a version of this LP (a single-sided 12") released at the Tied Down Detroit festival with an alternate "Dumb and Dumber" cover, limited and numbered. It's a great time to be a hardcore fan. They have a record release party this weekend at Edgemen if you are local.
Ick “Sunshine Blind”
Released: March 17, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Modesto, CA
Definitely solid for a duo, with only a drummer and a guitarist/vocalist. The song "I Smell Pigs" went directly to my monthly playlist, and I was surprised to also find a professional video for it. The entire EP "Sunshine Blind" is solid, but I always wonder what bands like this might sound like with a few more members and a fuller sound. I'm not knocking them, though, because this most definitely works. I didn't see anything on Discogs, so this may be their first release, self-released and digital download only? I'll definitely be on the lookout for more. Props to Lawnchair Youth for promoting them; it's well deserved. I mean, just check out this video!
Street Power “Me Time”
Released: May 9, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Triple-B Records
From: Boston, MA
Right off the bat, this had a couple of things going for it. First, it's on Triple-B Records, which has been producing some of the best hardcore in years. Then add that guitarist Chris Cesarini from Conservative Military Image is a primary member of the band and their song "I Hate You" features Death Before Dishonor (another great hardcore band), and it would be hard to go wrong. "Me Time" and "I Hate You" were both great, and the phone call between the two songs, I assume, is Ian Fidance (a comedian that is known to be a fan of punk rock, ska, and hardcore). Props for keeping the songs short; from a 7-song EP, only one song was significantly over 2 minutes (and that's just a trick to get you to a hidden track). I'd call this beatdown hardcore, with plenty of 2-step breakdowns. Fans of D-BLOC, Bad Beat, Sunami, Never Ending Game, and beatdown hardcore will love this.
Jodie Faster “Saint Lundi”
Released: March 28, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, digital download
Label: Spastic Fantastic Records
From: France
Absolutely blistering old-school-sounding hardcore (they call it fastcore, which makes sense), with just enough catchiness to put them near the top of my list of favorites so far this year. These guys absolutely smoke, and this album is fantastic. Check out the video of "Bedtime For Diplomacy" from their new LP "Saint Lundi," and I'm sure you will do the same thing I did and buy it immediately. 19 songs, and not a single one over 2 minutes (which is perfect). Name your price on Bandcamp, so while I highly encourage you to pay what you can, you can download it for free if you have to. It was hard to pick a few favorite songs for my weekly playlist, but I ended up with "No God No Master No Algorythm," "Bedtime for Diplomacy", "Fake Ads," and "S.O.R.G.A."
The Accused A.D/ Retox A.D. “La Bestia”
Released: June 5, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, partially available as a digital download
Label: Conundrum Media/Skinwalker Records
From: Seattle, WA
I'm a lifelong fan of The Accused, and if you read my countdown of the 100 greatest punk rock CDs of all time, you will know that I have multiple of their releases in the top 100 (and "More Fun Than An Open Casket Funeral" in the top 10). It's unfortunate that the original members parted on less than friendly terms, but any iteration of The Accused is better than none. The Accused A.D. includes Blaine Cook (vocals) and Alex Sibbald (guitar) from the classic The Accused lineup and continues their legacy of blistering fast, metal-influenced punk/thrash. Of course I'm biased, but I loved this, especially the song "Martha's Revenge (The Accused)" and the fact that they had original Martha Splatterhead artist K.C. Angel do the artwork. "Blood, Guts, and Beer" is a cover originally by Tank, and I suspect the rest are covers as well, but I couldn't find any references to the original bands. It's not for everyone, but I love Blaine's vocals/screams and could listen to this all day (even though it is generally a little too metal for me). Re-Tox A.D. is a punk/thrash band from Wisconsin, and digital copies of their songs were a bit harder to track down (the Re-Tox A.D. side is not on Bandcamp). After hearing them, this split makes sense, and I plan to track down more of their songs as soon as I have time. It looks like the two bands are heading out on a Midwest tour together later this year, so watch for them to play your town.
MDC “The Last War”
Released: May 23, 2025
Format: CD, digital download
Label: Cleopatra Records
From: Austin, TX
If you like MDC's original music and their sound in general, you are going to like these covers. They do songs by Woody Guthrie, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Motorhead, The U.K. Subs, The Staple Singers, Fang, Thatcher on Acid, Stevie Wonder, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Angelic Upstarts, The Heart Attacks, and more. Most of these are not songs that I would expect (or want) a punk band to cover, but at least they (mostly) keep the speed, punk beat, and MDC sound throughout. I didn't like every song, but there were enough good ones to keep me listening and make it worth the purchase. I ended up liking "Think For Yourself" (The Beatles), "Heartbreaker" (The Rolling Stones), and “Police State” (U.K. Subs) the best. I really wanted to like the Fang cover ("Here Come The Cops"), but the original is just so good.
The Briefs “Hospital Elevator”
Released:
Format: 7" vinyl, digital download
Label: TKO Records
From: Seattle, WA
The Briefs were formed in 2000 and had three great albums from 2000 to 2004 ("Hit After Hit," "Off The Charts," and "Sex Objects") that produced a bunch of great songs that include "Destroy The U.S.A.", "Half-Sized Girl," and "Sylvia." I first saw them live at a Punk Rock Bowling pool party a couple of years ago, and then again this year at Punk Rock Bowling when they did both a club show and another pool party. It's great that 25 years after starting the band, they are still creating new music, and the songs on this single ("Hospital Elevator" and "Mary Ann") fit right in with their back catalog. If you haven't heard them, they have a distinct twangy sound that is in part due to the vintage instruments that they play. If you are new to the band, I'd recommend starting with "Destroy the U.S.A.", and if you like that then you will want to make your way through their entire catalog.
Punchcard “Soap Box Hero”
Released: February 22, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Felony Records
From: San Diego, CA
Buy their songs on Bandcamp.
I'm a sucker for a good cover, even if it's not by a punk band. As I was listening to this, the song "What's Up" stuck out so much that I thought it might be a cover. It took a little work, since I wasn't familiar with the original, but the song was written by Linda Perry of 4 Non-Blondes. I didn't listen to the original, but I'm certain this is a much punker (and better) version of the song. Look for that song on my end-of-year countdown of the best covers of the year. That aside, this is melodic/technical punk, with upbeat speed and lyrics about "political frustration and social rebellion". "I'm On Drugs" and "PBR" were standouts, but this was good all the way through. A lot of recent melodic punk albums haven't kept my attention, but this one did. Put it on your short list for the next time you are browsing through Bandcamp, or if you are a vinyl collector, just buy one of the many variants (also, props to the discount for members of the Rare Punk Music group on Facebook, which I'm a part of).
Death Before Dishonor “Overruled”
Released: February 28, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Bridge Nine Records
From: Boston, MA
Death Before Dishonor is solid hardcore with metal influence, and props to their "Sonic Reducer" (Dead Boys) cover on "Master of None" (which came out last year). They also had another song this year ("Pushed To The Edge"), which was released individually. This release ("Overruled") is two songs with great production that should probably be on vinyl. Both songs are under 3 minutes and bring just enough speed to expect a mosh pit in addition to the two-step. Both songs are good, and both went straight to my monthly playlist. Hopefully there is a full album coming soon, and I also may get to catch them live when they come to Detroit with Street Power and Moral Pollution. Fans of Agnostic Front, Street Power, Sick of it All, Haywire, Hellmouth, and Hatebreed.
Forklift Assassins “Ripsnorter”
Released: February 28, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Self Released
From: Melbourne, Australia
Punk rock from Melbourne, with great production and professional artwork. This may be a little overproduced for me, given that I prefer my punk rock a little bit more raw. I wasn't expecting this to be over-the-top punk rock, seeing the band's promo photo has them wearing T-shirts from AC/DC, John Coltrane, and Motorhead. The songs are overall a little too long for me as well, but "Blink and You'll Miss It" at 00:52 was the song that I picked for my monthly playlist, and I decided to do a review mainly because of that song. If you don't mind longer songs with really good production, you just may love this. There were also a couple of well-placed sound bites and expletives, but the metal riffs and slower/melodic parts made this one hit-and-miss for me. If you are one of those people that loves AC/DC and Motörhead but also jams out to Suicidal Tendencies and Black Flag at times, check them out.
