Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2025, Part Twenty.

CommentaryPunk RockAlbum Review
Written By Paul Holstein

I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred subgenre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi!, ska, grindcore, crust punk, mincecore, psychobilly 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 "EP 2025"
Released: December 25, 2025
Format: Vinyl, CD, cassette, digital download
Label: Triple B
From: Detroit
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

A surprise for Christmas, a new 5-song EP from Bad Beat. Everyone should know this band by now, but if you don't, they are the single greatest beatdown hardcore band of our time. Rising from the ashes of Strange Magic and sharing members with WMD, they put out back-to-back classic albums, "L.P. 2024" and "L.P. 2025," and now we get this similarly awesome EP, "E.P. 2025." 5 songs that include the third installment in the "Bad Beat Stomp" series and 4 more that are as good as anything they have done. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mike Moynihan, and expertly done. One of the best releases of the year, without a doubt.

Soldiers of Destruction "Apostasy In Black"
Released: March 4, 2025
Format: CD, LP, digital download
Label: American't Records
From: London originally, Las Vegas currently
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Great production, fast, hardcore, reminiscent of the U.K. Subhumans, but with more of a metal edge. They released "March 4th" in advance of the new album, an anti-suicide song with guests Randy Blythe (Lamb of God), Alice Bag (Bags), Dick Lucas (U.K. Subhumans), Dez Cadena (Black Flag/Misfits), Neil Fallon (Clutch), Andrew "Pinch" Pinching (Me First & the Gimme Gimmes), Matt Caughthran (The Bronx), and Jeff "JJ" Janiak (Discharge). Wow. It's a fantastic song, my favorite on the album, with all proceeds going to Punk Rock Saves Lives. The rest of the album is outstanding as well, with my next pick being the first song, "Tazerface." They also did a great rendition of "Sex & Death" on the recent Motörhead tribute album. Fans of U.K. Subhumans, Crass, Exploited, Conflict, Aus-Rotten, and GBH.

Regal Beagle "Take It Back"
Released: December 19, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Los Angeles, CA
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Top-shelf pop-punk that many would call Ramonescore, and at times reminded me more of Masked Intruder. I'll be giving this a lot of play; I liked it and was singing along right from the first spin. Includes a cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Never Understand." Fans of Masked Intruder, The Remote Controls, The Ramones, The Queers, and Screeching Weasel.

The Twitchfits Vol 3. "Closed Casket"
Released: October 21, 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: Self-released
From: Los Angeles, CA
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Volume 1 was released in 2023, volume 2 in 2024, and now volume 3 in 2025. They started with pure Danzig-era Misfits with songs from the early EPs and "Walk Among Us," but moved forward to include Michale Graves-era songs "Saturday Night" and "Dig Up Her Bones." We also got an "American Psycho"-themed cover on the second EP. I'm a bit late to the party, but I was lucky enough to be at the 2025 Tied Down Festival in Detroit when they made a surprise appearance and absolutely tore the place down. The new EP has a "Cough/Cool"-themed cover and starts out with "Cough/Cool." They also take on "Attitude," "Ghouls Night Out," "Angelfuck," and finish with "Dig Up Her Bones." This is really well done and a very serious tribute to one of the best punk rock bands ever to grace the Earth. For anyone else just finding out about these guys, this is a side project of the hardcore band The Twitching Tongues out of Los Angeles. It looks like The Twitchfits do an annual show and an annual EP, and there is no end in sight. I'll be looking forward to more.

V/A "This Is It"
Released: November 1, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, Digital Download
Label: Back Ache Records
From: Michigan
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

I almost missed this one, a compilation of bands from the Great Lakes region, which is my hometown. I'd actually seen MDOP earlier this year with Slutbomb in Corktown, so I was expecting some serious hardcore. That's exactly what this is. "Hate Market" by The Crosses was my favorite, and I was surprised to see that the singer is from the old Touch & Go Records (a legendary record label in this part of town) band Die Kreuzen. MDOP killed it as well, living up to their insane live show, as did all of the other bands. Support your local scene if you are from Michigan, and get this right away (it looks like there are both vinyl and CDs), or if not, check it out anyway and get ready to mosh. And then look for more songs coming in 2026 from The Crosses, as I most definitely will.

Spike & The Gimme Gimmes "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
Released: November 21, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
From: San Francisco, CA
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

New to 2025, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes have changed their name officially to Spike & The Gimme Gimmes. Not new, they continue to put out some of the best punk rock covers (of not-so-punk rock songs) ever to have been done. The cover photo is hilarious, with Spike dressed as Mariah Carey. This is just a single, but I'm sure we are all hoping for a brand new LP in 2026. The song includes a nod to The Descendents' "Suburban Home" and probably should have made my list of the best Christmas songs. Who needs Mariah Carey when you have Spike Slawson?

The Suicide Machines "Never Go Quietly"
Released: June 13, 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: Self-released
From: Detroit, MI
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

If you have been following me all year long, you know that The Suicide Machines are one of my favorite bands. I saw them multiple times this year, including some back-to-back shows. Jay Navarro is a staple of our local scene (even though I believe he recently moved out of state) and is in several great bands (with The Suicide Machines easily being the best). This is a solid song, which was released earlier in the year, and I was hoping to see a full-length to follow. It's late December, so I'm guessing that won't happen in 2025, but hopefully more songs are coming in 2026. And more shows, and more tours, and maybe even bring back Hellmouth!

Agnostic Front "Echos In Eternity"
Released: November 7, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music, Ward Records
From: NYC
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed. 15 new songs from the original NYC hardcore band, Agnostic Front. I first started listening to these guys back in 1984 when they released the classic "Victim In Pain" LP, and I even caught (and photographed) an early show in Detroit (1992) at Todds. Their tour this year with Murphy's Law and Violent Way came back my way and was one of the best shows of the year. This is a great LP, with their trademark hardcore sound and Vinnie's metal-edged guitar. Sporadic expletives and great cover art, with intermittent speed to spin up a mosh pit and breakdowns for the two-step. If you were a fan, you will continue to be a fan, and I'd expect they are picking up new fans as well. Lead guitarist Vinne Stigma is pushing 70 and still going strong; in fact, he just released a book, "The Most Interesting Man in the World." It would be tough to refute that he is.

Forced Out "Demo"
Released: October 31, 2025
Format: Cassette, digital download
Label: Richter Scale Records
From: Oxford U.K.
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Self-described as "80s DC hardcore influences with old/modern Oi feels," and that seems just about right. Well produced, this is fast screaming hardcore that is a cut above the rest. It's nearing the end of the year, and I have only a few more records to review before I do the year-end countdown and move on to 2026. I really wanted to fit it in, as I've been listening to it way more than I expected to. Hopefully we see more from these guys in the near future.

P.H.S. "A.A. Is For Pussies"
Released: December 30, 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: Proud House Record
From: Detroit, Michigan
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

My 200th and last review of 2025. It's been a great year for music, both official releases and live shows. It's fitting that P.H.S. caps it off, as they are a local band that I saw a lot of this year. Both at their own shows and also at other shows they just stumbled into. This song is about drinking, and that makes perfect sense given that the first time I saw them this year, they rolled in a beer-vending machine, placed it on the stage, stocked it, and then proceeded to vend and slam beers all throughout the set. This is just a single, and it's great, but hopefully it's just a prelude to a full-length in 2026. They have their own label as well, Proud House Records, so honestly there is no excuse for there not to be.

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Paul Holstein
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