Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2025, Part Seven.
2024 was a great year for punk rock. If you followed my reviews last year, you know that I listened to around 400 new releases, and I liked nearly 150 of them enough to review. If you didn’t follow, check out my countdown of the top 50 releases of 2024. But 2024 is over, and we are now on to 2025.
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.
The Strikeouts “Dear Hollywood”
Released: April 18, 2025
Format: Digital download, Digipack CD limited to 100.
Label: People of Punk Rock Records
From: Örebro Sweden
This is the 70th release that I've reviewed in 2025, and I believe that this is the first time I have said this. I'd be really surprised if this isn't in my top 10 of the year. "Superstar" and "Punk Rock Romance" are fantastic, and even though this is just a 5-song EP, I could not stop playing it (and LOUD). With new releases expected from The Casualties, Teenage Bottlerocket, and Bad Beat this year there will be serious competition for the top spot, but this is exactly what it takes to be in contention. People of Punk Rock Records know what they are doing, and this is another in a long line of future classics. Like it says on the cover, WOW! Fans of the Heartwells and Sick Move releases in 2024 (my #1 and #2 of 2024) will want to take note of The Strikeouts in 2025.
Rumkicks “Hit A Nerve”
Released: April 16, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Seoul, South Korea
Street punk from Seoul, South Korea that have been around over 5 years now. This is their second full length, and it's great. As with their first ("Born Rude" in 2023), this is self-released but it deserves to be on a label. I first heard The Rumkicks when they played a Punk Rock Bowling club show at Backstage Bar & Billiards with The Starving Wolves, and also did a tour with them. I did some research on all of the bands playing that year, and The Rumkicks made the very top of my list to see (with both great songs, and stellar videos to go with them). Even though the new album is excellent, I'd recommend starting with their first ("Drinking Every Day", "Rude Girl Oi!", "Punk Rocker"). Check out the videos too, and there is no doubt that you will want to continue on to the new one. "Hit A Nerve" is packed full of great songs, as expected, but "Let's Go" and "Mosquito Fighter" stood out as a cut above the rest. "Misery" and "Sick Of Seoul" were right behind.
Slaughterhouse “Sick and Tired”
Released: February 7, 2025
Format: 12" vinyl, digital download
Label: Pirates Press Records
From: Los Angeles, CA
There was an old Detroit band Slaughterhouse that I used to see occasionally back in the 1980's, and I remember wondering if this was the same band. It isn't, and now I'm glad for that. I first heard the newer Slaughterhouse at Punk In The Park festival in Orlando (2024), and I recall them doing a great Suicidal Tendencies cover. I never went back and listed to any of their full releases until now, and I was most definitely missing out. This is just a 5-song EP, but it's great and the song "Sick and Tired" went directly to my monthly playlist and is one of my favorite songs of the year so far. Screaming female vocals are more and more my thing, and this is right up at the top of that subset of bands. Fans of Starcrawler, Slutbomb, Lowcocks, Bad Egg, Anklebiter, No Plan.
Suicidal Tendencies “Adrenaline Addict”
Released: April 18, 2025
Format:YouTube
Label: Self-released
From: Venice, California
If you are going to search for information on Suicidal Tendencies (the band), be prepared for every search to first pop up a help line for suicide prevention. I guess that's a good thing, but what is even better is that they have released a new song for the first time in 6 years (with original singer Mike Muir still on vocals). While they are probably considered more of a metal band these days, with current tours scheduled opening for Metallica and Pantera, I still liked this song and felt the punk rock roots. Their bass player is Tye Trujillo, son of Robert Trujillo (Metallica), so I'm sure that played a part in getting the opening slot on Metallica's tour. But they are a legendary band, and I'm glad to see them getting the recognition that they deserve. 2023 was the 40th anniversary of their debut LP, which defined skate punk for a lot of us. If they keep going strong, I will continue to support them and go to their shows again and again. I'm hoping this is a sign that they will release a full length, I’ll be first in line to get it.
Bridge The Gap “Gainsayer”
Released: April 11, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Double Helix Records, SBAM Records, Pee Records
From: SLC, Utah
Melodic hardcore with great production, and a professionally produced video. "No Profit In Peace" was the standout for me, and also the shortest song at 2:05. This follows their previous release "Secret Kombinations" (2023) on People of Punk Rock Records, and I would hope that this gets a vinyl release as well. To really win me over, the songs would have to be shorter and faster, and maybe a bit more screaming along with the singing, but for fans of Bad Religion, Pennywise, Face To Face, and Strung Out this is gold.
Scowl “We Are All Angels”
Released: April 4, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Dead Oceans
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Hardcore with screaming female vocals is growing on me more and more every year, and Scowl does it right. They have been around since 2019 and have one previous album ("How Flowers Grow" from 2021) plus several singles and EPs. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan, as I prefer more rough sounding hardcore (without all of the singing and production value), but the song “B.A.B.E.” from this one really grew on me. This band is likely destined for mainstream popularity, and good for them (their bio says that they have already toured with Limp Bizkit and played Coachella). Fans of Amyl & The Sniffers, Starcrawler, Anklebiter, Slut Bomb or Die Spitz might be interested, but if nothing else check out this video and get this song.
Tower Of One “Demo Tape”
Released: April 17, 2025
Format: Cassette, digital download
Label: Ragdoll Records
From: Connecticut
I reviewed their "Invisible Fence" EP earlier this year. That had a couple of killer songs including "Revelations" and "Ripped Off" that are still getting play. I'm going to add "Accept Your Fate" to my monthly playlist, but this is another release that smokes all of the way through (4 songs in 5 minutes, all good). I still can't find much about this band, I assume it's a bunch of young kids in some small town just killing it. Hopefully they find a way to tour, or maybe play a few hardcore festivals. Would love to catch them live. Fans of the recent releases by Necron 9, Primal Brain, Spikepit and Commitment would want to add this to their playlist as well. I don't see "Tour Tape" up on YouTube yet, so here's a throwback to their release from earlier this year. If you like this, you will like "Tour Tape".
Spikepit “Peacewalker”
Released: April 15, 2025
Format: Cassette, digital download
Label: Pipeline Records
From: Virginia Beach, VA
Another cassette only, beat down hardcore release with that raw sound that comes through perfectly on a cassette. I'm still glad to have a digital copy of course, considering that I no longer have a cassette player. But any way you slice it, this rips and it's a cut way above the rest. I always gravitate to the shortest, fastest songs, but the title song (at 2:17, which is short in general but a longer song in the context of this release) was really good. The opening song "Like Dogs" is great as well, both are going on my monthly play list (for many more plays). Fans of Bad Beat, En Love, Never Ending Game, Cold As Life, GEL, MDOP or fast crazy beat down hardcore.
Primal Brain “Is It All A Game?”
Released: April 8, 2025
Format: Cassette, digital download
Label: Earth Girl Tapes
From: Oklahoma City
It seems like cassette tapes are making a comeback, I'm still unsure if that's because they are cheaper to make and can be done DIY, or if people are really starting to collect and play them? Lucky for me, most of the cassette-only release are also available for digital download, but it would be fun to play a cassette tape again one day. Earth Girl Tapes appear to be doing it right, when I get the chance I'm going to check out a whole bunch of their releases on Bandcamp. For now though, "I Spy" by Primal Brain is going right onto my monthly playlist. It's been a great year so far for hardcore and this release continues that streak. Fans of Tower of One, Commitment, Slut Bomb, Necron 9, MDOP, Spikepit or just fast and crazy hardcore.
Speedway “A Life’s Refrain”
Released: April 11, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Revelation Records
From: Stockholm, Sweden
This is the melodic hardcore that you would expect from Revelation Records, and bonus all of the songs are under 2 minutes other than one. "In Shadows Deep" and "Ascension" were my favorites at only 1:13 and 1:18, and went directly to my monthly playlist. This is their first full length after a 7" and a couple of cassette releases (also on Revelation). If you are into any of the two step bands that I have previously reviewed (Bad Beat, Torena, DBLOC, Terror, Haywire, Escalation of Force, Resolute, Sunami, Never Ending Game, etc.) this is right in your wheelhouse (literally). Another band that I will likely risk my life to see life from the edge of the pit.
