Top 20 Punk Rock Cover Songs of 2025.
These are the top 20 punk rock cover songs of 2025, but of course these are only my personal favorites from the ones that I heard. I also wrote this up a couple of weeks before the end of the year. I reviewed 200 albums this year, and spun more than 500, so hopefully I’ve covered most of them. These are all by punk bands, and while the songs themselves can be punk or not, I do prefer covers of other punk songs. I also prefer songs that are faster than the original and/or done in a unique way (such as playing them in another genre/subgenre). They will be rated higher if they are studio versus live and have good production, and there is always a bonus if I was able to catch them live. If you know of a cover song released this year that should have made the list, please leave it in the comments. It may not have made the list, but it will make my day to hear a few more. I love a great punk rock cover song.
Fake News "Fortunate Son"
Creedence Clearwater Revival
From their May 2025 release, "Dead Set", at number 20 is Fake News' cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son". I prefer covers of other punk songs, but they sped this one up and I liked it enough for multiple plays.
Static Friction "I Wanna Get A Mohawk"
AFI
From their May 2025 self-titled release, at number 19 is Static Friction's cover of AFI's "I Wanna Get A Mohawk". AFI is one of my all-time favorite hardcore bands, and while this is a great song, there were better choices. Still, this is really good and easily made the countdown.
The Drowns "Ballroom Blitz (Live at Rebellion)"
The Sweet
From their August 2025 release, "Live At Rebellion", at number 18 is The Drowns' cover of The Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz". This would be much higher on the list if it were a studio recording from an official 2025 release - but even as a song that they have been playing much longer, released on a 2025 live album, it deserved a spot in the countdown.
End It "Could You Love Me?"
Maxumum Penalty
Even though this doesn't immediately sound like a punk/hardcore song, it's actually a hardcore band covering another hardcore band. This is from End It's August 2025 album "Wrong Side Of Heaven" and showcases Akil Godsey's voice, which is amazing. I was lucky enough to see this song performed live earlier this year at Edgemen Printing.
Exo-Gen "Teenage Lobotomy"
The Ramones
From Exo-Gen's June 2025 Demo, this is a unique take on The Ramones' "Teenage Lobotomy". You may have to fast forward to 8:00 to hear The Ramones cover, but it will be worth your while.
Bad Beat "10-999"
D-BLOC
Bad Beat covering D-BLOC and D-BLOC covering Bad Beat. I can't overemphasize how great Bad Beat has been these past few years, and if you like beatdown hardcore I'm sure you would agree. This is from the March 2025 Bad Beat/D-BLOC split.
Knife's Edge "Someone's Gonna Die"
Blitz
This has been a great year for Oi! music, and "Someone's Gonna Die" by Blitz may actually be the song that first got me into Oi! I heard it back in the 1980s on the V/A "Punk And Disorderly" LP, and it had a huge impact on my life. Knife's Edge's February 2025 release, "Let The Hard Times Roll," brought me back with a proper cover of this classic.
Phane "Vicious Circle"
Abrasive Wheels
Abrasive Wheels is another band that I was first introduced to by the V/A "Punk And Disorderly" compilation back in 1982. Great band that is severely underrated. Phane does a proper cover of "Vicious Circle" on their April 2025 split with Visions of War.
Asspatch "I Shot Cyrus"
The Manges
One of the benefits of searching for cover songs is that they are usually really great songs that the band handpicked to cover. In rare cases, they are songs where I haven't heard the originals, and this is one of them. This song was originally by The Manges, and while the original is good, I liked the cover even better. There was no video of this one, but you can find it on Bandcamp if you want to give it a listen.
Catbite "Missionary"
Operation Ivy
I chose "Missionary", but the entire collaboration between Catbite and Laura Jane Grace was phenomenal. I caught a live set at last year's Riot Fest, and was glad to see it get an actual release in January 2025 (Laura Jane Grace and Catbite "Live At The Empty Bottle”). It was the first release I reviewed this year, and there is a top-notch video to go along with the live recording.
Cosmic Joke "Psycho Killer"
The Talking Heads
From their June 2025 release, "Forced Perspective", at number 10 is Cosmic Joke's cover of The Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer". I've never been a big fan of The Talking Heads, but this cover may change my mind. An interesting choice for a hardcore band, and it works.
Direct Order '82 "DO82”
Suicidal Tendencies/ The Necros
Normally I'm picking just one cover per release, but Direct Order's "DO82" had two that are both worthy of the countdown. Of course they also stole their cover art and concept from The Fuck-Up's "FU82" (I actually wished they would have covered "I Think Your Shit" by The Fuck-Ups). This release starts out with a cover of The Necros "IQ32" with alternate lyrics, and later on there is a cover of The Suicidal Tendencies "Memories of Tomorrow".
The Riptides "Proud To Be A Canadian"
The Dayglo Abortions
The Riptides are from Canada, and every self-respecting Canadian punk band should know The Dayglo Abortions classic "Proud To Be A Canadian". A great choice of a song to cover, a great cover with great production, and they even put together custom artwork for it. This appears to be a one-off, but it shows that it was released on Pirate's Press Records so fingers crossed it may be part of a bigger project (i.e. Dayglo Abortions tribute album).
Disco Assault “All Night”
Screaming Bloody Leper Children
Disco Assault has been playing this for a few years, so I was glad to hear that it got added to their August 2025 album “Illest Pursuit To Remain Relevant” (at last the Bandcamp version). They also cover “Pure Hate” by Poison Idea and “United Races” by Cause For Alarm, but the S.B.L.C. cover is an inspired choice. If you aren’t familiar with S.B.L.C., they were a local Detroit band from the 1980s that epitomized punk rock for me (and a lot of others in the scene) at the time. This song was from their 1990 “Falling Apart” 7”, a local classic that you should definitely track down.
Snooper “Come Together”
The Beatles
Another song that is not by a band that is even remotely punk, but the cover is crazy unique and one of the top covers that I have heard this year. This is from Snooper’s October 2025 release “Worldwide”.
Moral Minority “Suit and Tie Guy”
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
This was from their November 2025 release “Skate Punk Reject” but they also had another release earlier in the year titled “Crack Head Regime”. Both are great, and I like that they chose a classic thrash song to cover. You will have to fast forward to 18:21 to hear the cover, but again it will be well worth it. Also, check out their originals.
The Casualties “The Hammer”
Motorhead
I chose The Casualties “The Hammer” to represent this entire album, which is solid all of the way through. I love The Casualties, and they would have been one of my very top picks to be included, if I were choosing. You also get great Motorhead covers by Pennywise, Rancid, Lagwagon, G.B.H. and a slew of other classic punk and hardcore bands. An amazing release all around.
Punchcard “What’s Up”
4 Non-Blondes
This is one of the few picks that is by a band that is not even remotely punk. In fact, I hadn’t heard them before this but the song really stuck in my head. The cover is much better than the original, don’t listen to it more than once or you will be singing it for days. This is from Punchcard’s February 2025 “Soapbox Hero” LP.
The Lowcocks “9 To 5”
Dolly Parton
I first heard this song live when they warmed up for Reagan Youth on their last tour before Paul Cripple died. It stuck with me, and I looked for it each time I saw them after that. Finally, we get a studio recording on their 2025 “The Forgotten” EP. It’s even better live, and the best Dolly Parton cover since Me First and the Gimme Gimmes’ did “Jolene”.
Heathcliff “Friends Till The End”
Millencolin
I’m not going to lie, “Friends To The End” by Millencolin is one of my all-time favorite punk rock songs, in my opinion one of the best songs ever written. Also a very difficult song to play as it is, even without trying to improve upon it. It’s an ambitious task that Heathcliff was up to. Is it better than the original? No. Is it the best punk rock cover song of 2025? Yes!
