Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2025, Part Eight.
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.
BULLSHIT DETƎCTÖR, "No Joy"
Released: January 1, 2025
Format: 7" Vinyl, digital download
Label: 31Records
From: Texas
Honestly, this record wasn't even on my radar until Punk Rock Bowling made the following announcement. "We’re fighting tooth and nail to get all the international bands on PRB into the country, despite the xenophobic hysteria at the border. That being said, we have some lineup changes to share... BULLSHIT DETƎCTÖR will replace Violencia on the festival stage." I was really looking forward to Violencia; however, after looking into BULLSHIT DETƎCTÖR, it may be a fair swap. Violencia was screaming hardcore, and these guys are more streetpunk/oi!, but I like both just as much. This is a three-song EP, and "You Made Us" was the standout. It looks like they did have a full-length "Death Depression" in 2023 and a whole slew of singles and cassettes going back to 2020 (most of which are available on Bandcamp for digital download). Fans of Violent Way, No Guard, The Chisel, Reckless Upstarts, Lion's Law, Haywire, Booze & Glory, and Haymaker. Look for a follow-up review of their show at Punk Rock Bowling; they are most definitely on the list of bands not to miss.
The Sleights "This One's Gonna Hurt"
Released: April 25, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Rad Girlfriend Records, What’s Left Records
From: Colorado Springs, CO
I love an intro when it's good, and this release starts with 43 seconds of time well spent. The slower songs were catchy, and the faster songs smoked. That's a recipe for a great album. Professional artwork, well-placed expletives (“Be Like You,” “The Promoter”), and some real bangers (“Bridge To Nowhere,” "Brother", “I Know What I Said”). I’d classify this as pop punk for the most part, and there are some dual male/female vocals in places (“Already Gone”). It looks like their debut full-length, “Something Wasted This Way Comes” (2019), was followed by an EP, “It’s Not That Easy,” in 2021 leading up to this one. Based on how good this is, I’ll be going back to check those out. Highly recommended. Maybe the best part of reviewing this release, however, is that I may be able to catch them live. The "Punk Rock Saves Lives" showcase at this year's Punk Rock Bowling ("Punk Rock Hoedown") is going to be at Hogs and Heifers Saloon on Fremont Street. The line-up is incredible, but the highlight is Thursday when The Sleights play. I'll be there if the jet lag doesn’t get me. Fans of Teen Idols, The Putz, Masked Intruder, The Jasons, and Heartwells.
Oust “Rather Be A Fuck Up”
Released: March 1, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, cassette, digital download
Label: Autoreverse Records, Discos Enfermos
From: Amsterdam, Nijmegen and Rome.
I've been to Amsterdam several times, and I love it there, but I've never had a better reason to make the trip than the possibility I could see Oust. You can find this on Bandcamp in two places: it's free from the band (although, as always, I encourage you to donate something if you can) or 4 euros from the label. The title "Rather Be a Fuck-Up" is a shortened version of the first song title, "Rather Be a Fuck-Up Than a Fascist," which gives you a look into what the band is about. That aside, this is some serious hardcore with female vocals and a slight metal edge that is perfectly executed for a massive mosh pit. It's also catchy enough for multiple plays. "Rather Be A Fuck Up Than A Fascist," "Vasectomy," and "Death To The Valley" were standouts, but the songs were mostly short, and this is one you are going to want to spin all of the way through (even the 5+ minute final song). Fans of older D-beat hardcore like Aus-Rotten would like this, but I'd also mix it right in with recent hardcore releases like Commitment, Tower of One, Ex-Parents, Necron 9, Headsplitters, and Bullshit Detector.
Worthington’s Law "Led Zepplin IV, pt. 2: Stairway to 7-Eleven"
Released: May 2, 2025
Format: CD, digital download.
Label: Wreckoning Crü Records
From: Durham, North Carolina
The CD says "singles, splits, covers, and outtakes," so I assumed that this was a band that has been around a while, and this compiles some of their harder-to-get material. I get the Led Zeppelin reference with the title and cover art, along with the marijuana imagery on the cover. Honestly though, I could have done without any of that. It's mildly funny but does not scream punk rock (maybe seasoned fans would already know what to expect, but I almost passed this one by). "What Should I Wear?" was good, but I started to lose interest with "Cali Sober" and "Mars Needs Cars." They did keep me listening, though, until "A Nation of Bullies" turned my head. By the time I got to "Just Some Men In The Frozen Aisle" (one of my favorite songs of 2025 so far), I was buying songs and adding them to my monthly playlist. Also, props for an NOFX cover ("All Outta Angst"), although I wish it were faster and crazier. There are 20 songs on this release, so while it's a bit hit and miss for me, there are good/great songs, and overall this gets a big thumbs up. Based on Discogs, it looks like their first album was "It Came From The Cul-De-Sac" (2022, also a collection of previously released material), followed by a few splits on Feral Hive Records. Bandcamp has quite a bit more, which I am definitely going to check out. Fans of The Queers, The Jasons, NOFX, The Ramones, The Putz, pop punk, or Ramonescore will want to check them out.
Propagandhi “At Peace”
Released: May 2, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital downoad
Label: Epitaph Records
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada)
Propagandhi's "How To Clean Everything" was recently part of my top 100 punk rock CDs of all time. “Back To The Motor League” is my overall favorite Propagandhi song, but “Middle Finger Response” and “Stick The Fucking Flag Up Your Goddamn Ass, You Sonofabitch” are also incredible songs. Similar to Rise Against, Propagandhi has a lot of songs that are too rock/metal and too long for my taste (but also great, fast punk rock songs). I prefer short, fast punk/hardcore songs. But that's just me, and I'm sure many listeners will find this incredible from start to finish (all 13 tracks and 48 minutes of it). This is their first full-length album in 8 years, and I'm generally a fan, so I gave it a good couple of listens from start to finish. "At Peace" is a banger; it made my monthly playlist and also puts this album over the top for a big thumbs-up. "Vampires Are Real" was great as well. I was planning to fly to Florida this year for Fest, primarily to see Propagandhi, who were originally billed as the headliners and were forced to cancel "due to circumstances beyond [their] control. I would have loved to see some of these new songs (especially the title song) played live along with some old classics.
Headsplitters “Curse Of Life”
Released: February 24, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Toxic State Records
From: New York, New York
Head-splitting hardcore on Toxic State Records from New York. This starts out with a couple of short, fast songs (both under a minute and a half) that drew me in. Well, also the killer cover art. They don’t have the sing-along catchiness of hardcore bands like The Casualties, Negative Approach, or Total Chaos; I’d put them more in a category with Necron 9, Commitment, S.H.I.T., Direct Threat, Speed Plans, AG-3, or even early Accused. I love the pounding drums and low growls, and even though they slow it down in places, most of this is fast and heavy. They would definitely inspire a mosh pit. It looks like they have been around since at least 2017, when they released a couple of demo tapes. Later on, there were a couple of singles and a self-titled full-length album in 2019. If you like any of the bands that I mentioned in the review, listen to this and be prepared to mosh.
Ex-Parents “Failure”
Released: May 2, 2025
Format: 7" vinyl, digital download
Label: Council Records
From: Roanoke, VA
4 songs that average about 2 minutes each, name your price with no minimum on Bandcamp, and they play some killer hardcore. They had a cassette "Demo" in 2022, another S/T 7" in 2023, and this is their third released. If you follow my reviews, are into hardcore, and you liked the releases that I previously reviewed by Commitment, Tower of One, and Necron 9 (also Headsplitters and Bullshit Detector from this set of reviews) this will fit in perfectly on that mix CD. "Failure" and "Dimwit" ended up on my playlist but all four songs are equally great beat down style hardcore to mosh or two step to.
Fake News “Dead Set”
Released: May 7, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, Digital Download
Label: Thousand Islands Records
From: Queensland, Australia
This is extremely well produced and sounds great, which is exactly what I would expect from Thousand Islands Records. If you like the music, they have a professional website, skateboard decks, embroidered hats, multiple screen-printed shirts, and a previous release as well ("Everyday Warrior"). This is my first time hearing them, and they are top-shelf melodic skate punk. They bring the speed in just the right places, which is something that I'm always looking for. While "Fortunate Son" (Creedence Clearwater Revival) is not a song I would choose for a punk band to cover, I liked it (earlier this year I reviewed Lion's Law covering "I Ran" by A Flock Of Seagulls, another questionable choice of a song to cover, and I like this cover slightly better). "Face of Death" was the standout for me. Fans of the Bad Religion, Pennywise, Strung Out, Face to Face, MxPx, and Millencolin sound will want to check this out.
Sex Germs “Whiplash”
Released: April 25, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Crew Cut Records
From: UK
Female fronted Riot Grrrl punk rock, screaming vocals, short songs that are intense and almost never over 2 minutes. Their 2024 “Germcore” EP is free on Bandcamp (donate if you can), so start with that, and if you like it, then you will easily want to pay the £5 for the full length. Just check out this video of them tearing it up live. I’m not sure I have seen a band mix singing with growls so perfectly. Stand out songs were “Sleep Paralysis”, “In The News” and “Confused.” Bring out the two-step. Fans of Slutbomb, G.L.O.S.S., Bad Egg, Anklebiter, No Plan and even Snooper.
The Chris Rolling Squad “Damn You All To...Hell”
Released: April 25, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Cimex Records
From: La Roche Sur Yon, France
While I primarily listen to straight-up punk rock and hardcore, I definitely love speed rock almost as much. This is (at least mostly) top-shelf speed rock in the vein of Zeke, Speedealer, Against the Grain, and Peter Pan Speedrock but at times moves towards hardcore. I’d never heard them before this popped up, but it looks like they had a full-length “Spitfire” in 2019 and “Cannonball Holocaust” in 2021, as well as a S/T EP before that (2016). Not really a complaint, but I wish some of the songs were shorter (and the name of the band almost threw me off course, since I only review punk rock). “Blind (So Fucking Blind)” and “Cannonball Holocaust” were standouts and went right to my monthly playlist. There were more great songs on here (there are 15 songs total), including “Loaded Gun,” “Can You See Me Coming,” and “’Till The Day I Die.” I wish I could find the lyrics, especially for “F-Word Song.”
2025 Punk Rock Record Reviews (Links): Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven
