Top 50 Punk Rock Releases of 2025.
I’ve been doing year-end countdowns for quite a few years now. This year, I listened to well over 500 new releases, and I have a folder with at least 200 more that I was not able to get to. I’m sure there are some great releases that I missed, but I was able to formally review 200, and after some very difficult decisions, I have narrowed those down to my top 50. For purposes of this countdown, I’m excluding single digital songs (hoping those lead to something that I can review in 2026). I’m also excluding releases that were all cover songs. Finally, I’m not ranking compilation albums with more than two different artists, which excludes a few more really great releases.
To keep it simple, for bands with multiple releases, I’m combining them into one entry. While the ranking is primarily on the strength of the songs (specifically the standout songs that made my list of top tracks of the year), I do consider other factors for a total package (number of songs, did they tour, and was I able to see them live, album artwork, production, packaging, availability, reputation, etc.). If you have been watching my reviews throughout the year, you know that I prefer punk rock, hardcore, Oi!, street punk, and speed rock, and I only review releases that I like (I don’t do bad reviews). You may see some glaring omissions, and that’s not because I didn’t know about them (they were just not my flavor of punk rock, or in many cases, they were not what I consider punk rock at all).
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Ick "Sunshine Blind"
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!
Agnostic Front "Echos In Eternity"
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.
Propagandhi "At Peace"
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.
The Lowcocks "The Forgotten"
The Lowcocks are from Detroit, and I first saw them at P.J.'s Lager House (in Detroit) when they warmed up for Reagan Youth. I walked away from that show remembering their cover of Dolly Parton's “9 to 5” and wishing that I had a recording of it. I saw them a few times after that where they also played it, and finally this release came out, and I was able to add it to my playlist. That being said, their original songs are great too, and they have a professional video for the opening song "MayDay." Singer Annie Oakley has just the right blend of screams and singing, the artwork is punk rock with skulls and slogans like "No More Bombs," the songs are short (averaging under 2 minutes each), they play with intensity (easily inspiring a mosh pit), and most importantly, they play local shows here in Detroit all the time. Two thumbs way up for this release, but no matter what, you have to check out their cover of “9 to 5.”
Heathcliff “Postacard From A ParaHell Universe”
Melodic skate punk from Germany, that for the most part rips. This follows their full lengths in 2019 “#chilloutradio” and 2021 “Stay Posi”. There are deep growls (vocals) in key parts, as well as reggae and metal influcences, and the recording is clean and loud. I think "Friends 'Til The End" (Millencolin) was an exceptional choice for a cover, and while they made it their own they also kept it fast and mostly true to the original. There is also a cover of Stand Up Stacy's "They Won't Get Us Down", a song I hadn't heard before but the Heathcliff version is great. Apparently Stand Up Stacy did an album with 9 different versions of this song (Regular, punk, hip hop, rock, jazz, skate punk, piano, choir, and choir only) and Heathcliff collaborated on the skate punk version (which is also included on this album). Anyway, aside from the covers, I really like this album when they kept it fast and punk. There were some parts where they slowed down too much, and a few of the songs were a bit long for me (three of them went over 4 minutes), but the fast made up for the slow. "Mirror, Mirror, FUA" (which starts with whoa's that are reminiscent of old AFI, ends with deep growls like you might hear in beat down hardcore, and has a great video to go with it) and the Millencolin cover were my favorites.
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Plan III "Rip"
Yes, this is the same three-piece hardcore band that put out the "Wood Alcohol is Not For Drinking" EP back in 1998 on Transparent Records. They haven't changed much over the years, still cranking out an old-school hardcore sound—loud, fast, and screaming. Vocalist Johnny Bourbon was also in The Hard Liquors on the same label and currently plays in the punk rock cover band Newmatix, but Plan III is the band of his to see. It looks like they "ripped" off the logo from Rip Magazine for their cover art. I still remember buying issue #1 back in 1986 when it premiered because of the cover photo (Ozzy Osbourne staring down a punk rocker with a foot-tall mohawk) and also the stories that included The Ramones, Motörhead, and Black Flag. I think the magazine went on to be more metal than punk, unlike this band. This is 10 songs of blazing fast punk rock (several under one minute, and the shortest at just 8 seconds).
The Boy Detective "Disco Lunch"
This is a ska album, but there are hardcore influences. My preference is fast, so "Haunted House" stuck out right away. That one, and "TANGC" (There Are No Good Cops) made my current playlist. This is another band that I'm ultra-lucky to have local to my area. They are known for energetic live shows that include plenty of brass instruments, cuddle puddles (where everyone lies on the floor, with the band, in a big heap) and climbing up any anything they can climb. If you are new to the band, you should probably start with last year's "Exhibition" which was just as good, and definitely go see them live.
R-NOT "Dumpster Fire"
These guys are self-described as high-energy punk-inspired rock-n-roll, and I'm OK with that. It looks like they had an EP in 2022 that contained some of these songs, but it was expanded into a full-length release in 2025. I listened to the song "Lobotomy" on their original EP and then again on the full length. It's been cleaned up, and it's a few seconds shorter but not really faster. I definitely like the new version better, and it's a GREAT song. I wish they had a few shorter, faster songs, but this kept me interested to the end.
Worthington's Law "Stairway to 7-Eleven"
I could have done without the Led Zeppelin reference in the title and cover art, and the marijuana imagery. It's mildly funny, but does not scream punk rock. This one started slow; however, by the time I got to "Just Some Men In The Frozen Aisle" (one of my favorite songs of 2025), I was hooked. Props for including a NOFX cover ("All Outta Angst"), although I wish it were faster and crazier. There are 20 songs on this release, so while it's hit and miss, there are good/great songs, and overall, this gets a thumbs up.
Direct Order '82
This is a 12-song demo, but it took me a while to fully understand what was going on. They have 82 in their name and sound like they are directly out of 1982, so it was unclear if these were old or new recordings. They also stole the artwork from The Fuck-Ups "FU82" EP from 1982. Something I rarely do, I reached out to the band to get the scoop. It turns out that they are actually a new band, and this was recorded and released in 2025 with a sound that is reminiscent of 1982. Well, they did it right because this absolutely smokes, and the nods to classic hardcore bands are inspired. No songs over a minute, fast, screaming, expletives, and lyrics that you can scream along to. They cover "Memories of Tomorrow" by Suicidal Tendencies in true 1982 hardcore fashion; that one will likely end up on my list of the best covers of the year. The first song, "DO'82," is a nod to Necros "IQ32" (a cover with the words changed up), and they plan a The Faith cover on the vinyl when it arrives. Their live shows are advertised with the mantra "Come down and join our cult. Let us turn your kids into queer, anarchist, vegan, woke liberals!"
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Pig Pen "Mental Madness"
I'll admit that I was looking forward to this more to see what Matty Matheson (lead singer of Pigpen, chef, and actor on the FX T.V. show "The Bear") would look/sound like in a hardcore band. I wasn't actually expecting it to be THIS hardcore or this good, but it is, and I love it. From the description, the band is Matty's longtime friends from a scene that he grew up in (the Niagara hardcore scene). "Pig Pen," "Mental Mentality," and "Problem Mind" were my favorites, but you should check out the entire record and then go directly to your TV and watch the new season of "The Bear." Hopefully there will be a tour (that comes through Detroit) in between seasons? They do mention a "Tour Exclusive" version of the vinyl. For record collectors, there are all sorts of variations (Seaweed Glitter, Cream with Black Splatter, Golden Nugget, Orange with Black Smoke, Red Swirl, Black Marble with Pink Splatter, Garnet, and more).
Soldiers of Destruction "Apostasy In Black"
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). 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 great 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, which is included here.
Booze & Glory "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot"
Street punk/Oi! from Poland. Of all of the bands that I first discovered at the Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival, Booze & Glory made the biggest impact. I had never heard them until I was standing in the hot sun on the roof of the Downtown Grand Hotel and they came out to do their set for the morning pool party. I was blown away and ended up buying three T-shirts. I had recorded their song "Swinging Hammers" at random, and it's since had 22,000+ views on my YouTube channel (probably 100 of those just from me). That was a great set, and they have since become one of my favorite Oi! bands. "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" opens with "Boys Will Be Boys," with the first couple of lines being chants of "Oi! Oi! Oi!". It's catchy, and I was singing along even before it ended on my very first spin. I love the band, and I love this record. I wish that they would have thrown in at least a few shorter, faster street punk songs, but you can't have everything.
xWeaponx "Weapon X Demo 2"
xWeaponx hates you! Fast, screaming, straight-edge beat-down hardcore that exudes energy and anger. "Hates You" and "Everybody Breaks" were my favorites and had me screaming along. Guest appearances from Human Garbage and Earth Crisis. It looks like this is a follow-up to the 2022 demo, and they also had a split with World of Pleasure in between. It was well worth the wait, as this is exactly how beat-down hardcore should be done. Be careful if you see them live; I would expect the two-step to be in full force, crowd killers, and the like. Another crazy good release from DAZE.
Bad Cop / Bad Cop "Lighten Up"
I've seen Bad Cop/ Bad Cop live several times, including an acoustic show at The Punk Rock Museum earlier in the year. If you aren't already familiar with them, go back and check out their classics "Womanarchist," "Pursuit of Liberty," and "Shattered." The new one opens with "All Together Now," which adds to their list of marquee songs. It's super catchy, and I can most definitely say that if you are a fan, this will be one of your favorite Bad Cop/Bad Cop songs. It looks like Fat Wreck Chords sprung for several professional videos; they are all worth watching. This isn't hardcore by any means, but they bring the punk rock attitude, ethos, and even a few songs that might get a mosh pit going. I don't always like the poppier punk played by bands with obvious talent that sing rather than scream, but this one is an exception. I was hoping the final song, "Johnny Appleseed," might be an NOFX cover, but it wasn't (still great though!).
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Dropkick Murphys "For The People"
The Dropkick Murphys are known for their working-class lyrics, covers of Irish drinking songs, and adherence to the punk ethos. After 30 years of putting out records, they have a ton of classics, including my favorite, "The Dirty Glass," and one of the best punk rock Christmas songs ever written, "The Season's Upon Us." If you don't watch their video for "The Season's Upon Us" at least once every Christmas season, you don't know what you are missing. The album cover features a black rose, which they note is traditionally linked to death, loss, mourning, and grief but also change, renewal, rebirth, new beginnings, courage, confidence, and strength. That sets the tone for the album, and it opens with a ripper, "Who'll Stand With Us." I had to play that song 5 or 6 times before moving on; it's great and one of the best songs that they have written (a very high bar). They have a couple of professionally produced videos that complement the album, several guest vocals including Billy Bragg, and songs that pay tribute to Shane McGowan (The Pogues) and Fletcher Dragge (Pennywise). If you read a lot of my reviews, you know that I always prefer a few shorter, faster, more hardcore songs. In the absence of those, this is about as good as it gets.
NOFX “A to H”
A couple of new songs, and some demos and alternate versions. The new song “Barcelona” is the standout, and also props to including “Everything In Moderation (Especially Moderation),” which is one of their best songs (even though this is not the best version). I was devastated that they broke up after only 41 years (even though I did get to see them six times on their final tour and was a fan for all 41 years), but glad that they had a three-part triple album to be released post-mortem. NOFX is my all-time favorite band, and I’ll listen to anything they put out. I enjoyed this, but so far this installment doesn’t live up to my expectations. This is only A-H, so hopefully I-Z will pick up the speed. On another note, Fat Mike also released a song with The Codefendants, “The Right Wrong Man,” and El Hefe released a solo track, “White Label,” which are both excellent. If you are a NOFX completist like I am, you need this, but you can probably just wait until the entire triple album is available and get it all in one shot. Still, this is NOFX so it makes the list of the best records of the year.
Lion's Law "Evermore"
A 15-song full-length LP that follows "The Pain, The Blood, and The Sword" (2020). I was first introduced to them when they played a Punk Rock Bowling pool party on the roof of the Downtown Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. It was an amazing show; I bought two shirts and have been spinning their last album ever since. "Sewer Rats" was the initial single and has a professional video to go with it. This is melodic punk/oi!, and while I wish there were a few more shorter, faster songs (like "The Code"), this is a great album. The A Flock Of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)" cover was a bit of a surprise, but this is a solid album.
Supersuckers "Liquor, Women, Drugs and Killing"
"Would you say that your songs are about liquor, women, drugs, and killing for the most part?" "Yep!" That's an excerpt from an interview that starts off my personal favorite Supersuckers song, "I Want The Drugs," from their 1999 album "Evil Powers of Rock 'n' Roll." Originally known as The Black Supersuckers, they formed in 1988, which means they have been around 35+ years. In that time they have produced countless punk rock classics (check out "She's My Bitch," "Born With A Tail," "Luck," "I Say Fuck," and of course "I Want The Drugs"). They are self-described as the greatest rock-n-roll band in the world, and if this were a straight-up rock-n-roll countdown they would undoubtedly be #1. The opening song, "Maybe I'm Just Messin' With You," was my favorite (one of two pre-release singles along with "Volunteer") and will be added to my list of favorite Supersuckers songs. Great songwriting and musicianship throughout, catchy songs that are hard to get out of your head, amazing artwork, and sporadic expletives are all positives. If you gave "Tried To Write A Song" to one of today's top country artists, it'd be a top 10 hit, so for some this will be a top album of the year, I'm sure.
Billy Batts & The Made Men "For The Surly Types..."
This is another band that I discovered when I was tracking down releases from all of the bands in the lineup for the 2025 Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival. I later ran into their drummer at a The Queers show in Detroit, as he moonlights with Joe Queer's side band, The 66ers. The real Billy Batts was, of course, a mafia figure in the Gambino crime family along with John Gotti (and a character in the movie "Goodfellas"). The Billy Batts and the Made Men song "Take My Rights" was the song that initially blew me away, and their live performance was fantastic (especially their bass player). At the live show, I still remember the guy next to me saying, "If this is what the next generation is doing with punk rock, it's in good hands." Every time I see someone named Dan, I have to say, "Dan is awesome." So, of course, I was glad to see a new release in 2025. Not every song is crazy fast and punk rock, but this is a solid release, and there are plenty of standouts. The short, fast, and angry "Hate My House" and "My Job Sucks" were my picks from this one.
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Lemon Law "Moist Loads"
This is their 13th album (over nearly 25 years as a band), which is a feat in itself. It's also really good and has album cover art that catches your attention right away. Lemon Law has been on my radar for a couple of years; I've been listening to everything that they have been putting out, and I have always liked what I heard. This one, though, really stuck with me. At times they sound like NOFX-core, and other times I'd compare them more to 30 Foot Fall, but those two bands aren't that far apart—this is top-shelf pop punk. "Kept Man" and "Noah The Jehovah" were my favorites, which is surprising because these are also the longest of the 17 songs on this release.
Plastic Meat "S/T"
Female vocals and dirty garage rock-sounding guitars. 4 songs averaging under 2 minutes each, catchy and just begging to be turned up to full volume. It was "I Need To Sleep" that ended up on my list of the best songs of the year, but I could have just as easily picked any or all of them.
Spikepit "Peacewalker"
A 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.
Crippled Fox / Biting Sox (split)
"Today we are going to talk about the many uses of a bandana." Crippled Fox is one of the best to do Thrash; this brings me back to the heyday of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles in their prime. If you love short, fast, screaming hardcore with hilarious lyrics, you are going to love Crippled Fox. It looks like they have been around since 2009 and have a long list of releases, including a ton of split releases. Their Crippled Fox/Lickspit split EP may have technically come out in 2024, but it shows 2025 on Bandcamp—I spun this as well, and both "Very Serious Headband" and "Sad Little Man" ended up on my current playlist. Outstanding.
Mitraille "EP IV"
"Mitraille plays garage punk music and likes Motorhead." Their self-description drew me in, but this is so much more. How have I never heard of this band? Perfect lo-fi production with blistering speed at times, crunching guitars, well-placed expletives, and yet still catchy enough to sing along. It looks like their first release was back in 2018, so they have been around about 8 years. They also have a couple of 7" singles and a full-length LP. You can bet I'll be going back to check those out. "Fuck You I'm Going On Tour" and "Road Rage" were great but "Tired (Need A Break)" was one of my favorite songs of the year.
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End It "Wrong Side of Heaven"
End It had a few earlier releases on Flatspot Records as well, including a S/T demo cassette in 2017 and a single in 2020 ("One Way Track"), but I first heard their "Unpleasant Living" LP/CD in 2022. Specifically the song "New Wage Slavery" was outstanding. I got to see them (twice) at Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival in 2023, once where they kicked off the Pulley/Ignite club show, and again on the big stage. One of my more memorable PRB moments came at that show. I was standing at the stage before End It came on, ready to take some photos, when a young kid standing beside me politely said, "Excuse me, sir, are you going to mosh?". He knew what we would be in for, and also that a guy in his 50s had no business standing where I was standing. Of course, I said "No", laughed, took a few photos, and then moved to the back. So you could say I was already a fan when I heard that they had a new LP in 2025. As with most bands, it was a staggered release with the song "Pale Horse" coming out first. That song went immediately to my current playlist, as did the next two songs that were released, "Optical Delusions" and "Life Sublime". This is beat down hardcore, but with something special on a level with Bad Beat (my favorite band from this sub-genre). Professionally recorded, and with a couple of great videos to go with the album (although I'm going to recommend the video for "Pale Horse", being more representative of this release, you should also check out "Could You Love Me?"). "Could You Love Me?" is a cover, but the video is really great and showcases the vocal ability of Akil Godsey (serious talent that would cross over into any genre). If I did a countdown of the best beatdown hardcore albums of the year, this would give Bad Beat a run for their money.
Haggus "Destination Extinction"
Grind, Crust, Fuzz, Goregrind, and Mincecore. The first are usually just a little too heavy and noisy for me, and I'd never heard of Mincecore. Normally I wouldn't have even gotten through the first song on this one, but it was a recommendation from a friend that knows what I like, so I gave it a proper listen. I started with the videos ("Rotting Off," "Do You Love Mincecore?," "What's Fucking Left," and "As The Hammer Drops"), which are killer and include plenty of ski masks, growling, spikes, moshing, headbanging, tattoos, and killer bass lines. Well shoot, it turns out that I DO love Mincecore. "Do You Love Mincecore?" and "What's Fucking Left?" made my current playlist, and if I get a chance to see these guys live, I might just have to.
Punchcard "Soapbox Hero"
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. That aside, this is melodic/technical punk, with upbeat speed and lyrics about "political frustration and social rebellion". "PBR" was also a standout, but this is good all the way through. A lot of recent melodic punk albums haven't kept my attention, but this one did.
Trashcat "Gimme Some"
This has the look of dirty punk rock-n-roll, and that's exactly what it is. Not always my thing, but this one is top-notch. This is their third record ("Too Much Ain't Enough" in 2008 and "Living In The City" in 2011 before this), so they have been around a while. "Gimme Some" and "Jezebel" were my picks and have held up through dozens of listens.
Moral Minority "Crackhead Regime"
Moral Minority "Skate Punk Reject"
I'm not generally a fan of computer generated music or AI artwork. Whether or not any of that was used, the sound is top-shelf anti-political street punk. There are a lot of really good songs here, but "They Hate Us" was the one one that stood out in the end.
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Half Dizzy "Yard Sale"
I saw Half Dizzy earlier this year when they came to Detroit to play in Corktown with The Boy Detective. This got a lot of play over the past few weeks, and in the end "Easton" really stood out. "Yard Sale" was a close second, but there are a lot of great songs on this one.
The Sissy Boys/ Field Note (Split)
The Sissy Boys "Let's Party"
The Sissy Boys are local beat-down hardcore, the kind you will find at Edgemen Printing, Russell Industrial Center or Tangent Gallery playing with bands like Bad Beat, Never Ending Game, or D-BLOC. This is exactly what you would expect: hardcore that never lets up, including a few instrumentals, expletives, and tougher-than-nails lyrics. I'm not sure why they chose the name Sissy Boys, but it appears to be the polar opposite of their music.
Teenage BottleRocket "Ready To Roll"
Teenage BottleRocket can be called Ramonescore, but honestly, they have forged out their own place in punk rock history. Relentless touring, energetic shows, and fast, catchy punk rock have kept them very near the top of the list of my favorite bands. I've seen them live many times, at Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival, Punk In The Park, and club shows in Las Vegas and Detroit. They never disappoint, and if they were playing tonight, I'd be going to see them again. So I don't have to tell you how much I anticipated this album. I'll admit that it's their fast songs and their humor that really make me a fan (check out "I Wanna Die," "Headbanger," "Why The Big Pause," and "Strung Out On Stress"). This one isn't quite as fast or even as humorous as I would have hoped, but they make up for it in other ways. "She's the Shit," "Post Mortem Depression," and "High Speed Yoga" were the first singles, with the songwriting and production being top-notch. They also took time to produce a ton of great art and merchandise to go with the release. This one is also propped up by TBR taking the number one spot on my list of live shows this year.
Disco Assault “Illest Pursuit to Remain Relevant”
Old-school hardcore perfection; it's hard to believe that they have been around for 20 years. I was lucky to catch them opening for The Dayglo Abortions back in 2024, one of the best shows of that year. On this release (Bandcamp download only), they cover "United Races" by Cause For Alarm, "Pure Hate" by Poison Idea, and one of my all-time favorites, "All Night" by Detroit's Screaming Bloody Leper Children. That's on top of 15 rippers of their own that include favorites "Working Classes Cancelled," "Something I Ate," "Religious Kontrol," and "Step Aside." Guitarist Matt Bishop has been a staple of the Detroit scene for decades and also plays in a stellar Oi! band, The Reckless Upstarts. Highly recommended and one of the top releases of the year.
Fashion Crime "Good Luck Humanity"
Fashion Crime "Trash Anthems"
This is energetic, screaming, fast punk rock from PA. Their first release in 2025 was "Trash Anthems," a three-song collection from a split with The Stivs. They quickly followed that up with a 14-song full-length release of their own. They did a really slick video for "Irrational," which is worth checking out. There are a lot of really great songs on these releases, but "Fucked Again" in particular stood out as one of the top songs of the year. Similar to The Brokedowns (coming up next), the lyrics were a big factor for this one. And nobody is going to change a thing. Until we all decide we’ve had enough and kill the fucking king.
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The Brokedowns "Let's Tip The Landlord"
13 new songs from Chicago's The Brokedowns. "Date Night In The The Hague" and "Let's Tip The Landlord" were both top songs, but this one gets the rare shoutout for the lyrics. "Date Night In The The Hague" uses dark satire and exaggerated war imagery to describe (I'm guessing) a romantic relationship where minor disagreements escalate into total, self-destructive conflict. It's one the few songs that I not only had to track down the lyrics, fill in some gaps, and then research what they Hell they were singing about. I was not disappointed, and now I like the song even more.
Painted Graves "Things to Say"
I caught Painted Graves at this year's Splish Splash Bash, but I didn't realize their genius until I started spinnning their records afterwards. I literally could not get these songs out of my head for days. Weeks. I'm still singing them. I'm covered in blood and everyone's STARING AT ME!
Clobber “God Loves, Man Kills”
It looks like Clobber started in 2021 and had a few other releases prior to this, which would be well worth tracking down. The title of the EP, "God Loves, Man Kills," is an obscure X-Men reference, with the band being huge comic book fans. This is three short, fast, gruff hardcore/Oi! songs, and it grabbed me right away with the opening song, "Do Less." "Be Someone" is the standout, though, and there is also a professional video for it. No doubt that "Be Someone" will be popping up on lists of the best hardcore songs of the year, and I'd guess that it's currently their most requested song live (or their encore, if bands do that anymore). Just watch the video and you will be hooked.
Takers 'N' Users “The Ten Year Hangover”
"16 Years," "Resistance," and especially "Fuck Me" were all great and went right to my current playlist. Sing-along Oi! songs that I couldn't get out of my head. Not every song is blazing fast, but the intensity is always there, and songs like "Resistance" add the speed and combine street punk and Oi! perfectly. The songwriting is top shelf, as is the production (so I can play this loud). If you have the patience, there is a hidden acoustic track after "Home Is Where The Heart Is," reminiscent of an old Irish drinking song. Highly recommended and one of the best releases of the year.
Potato Skins "From Soil To Steel"
Potato Skins "Battered But Still Standing"
These guys win the prize for the best band and album name, with a play on skinhead/Oi! music and appetizers. Their first release of 2025 was a 3-song EP, and I was immediately singing right along with it. All three songs are excellent, and although I wish they were recorded a little louder, I'm OK with turning it up a little every time they come on. Their full-length "From Soil to Steel" came out next and was even better. "Oi! For The Unemployed," "You Ain't A Skin, You're Just Bald," "Work Sucks, Oi! Doesn't," and "My Therapist's A Skinhead" all went to my current playlist, but there isn't a bad song on here. Even if you don’t like Oi! music, this is one of the best records of the year.
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Rumkicks “Hit A Nerve”
Street punk band from Seoul, South Korea that has 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. 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.
Commitment “Demo”
Anti-Imperialist Philly hardcore. This is their first demo and it's intense, top shelf hardcore that I have been turning WAY up every time it comes on. I listen to a lot of raging hardcore, most of which packs a punch but eventually blends in with everything else. It takes something special to play this kind of hardcore, but with songs that are memorable and make me want to play them again and again. This band has that and I'm already looking forward to their upcoming LP (and maybe a live show if I ever get the chance). I'd like to hear a couple of these songs amped up (louder, faster, cleaner) on the new LP as well as some new ones of course. "Send The Deposit" and "Pluto In Aquarius" were early favorites, but with 6 songs all under two minutes (and a couple under 1 minute) you may was well just blast through the entire thing (in the end, I felt like every song was amazing).
Oil! "Honour The Glory"
Oil! "They Honour Our Glory"
Oil! is most definitely a skinhead/Oi! parody band, but also creates some of the best Oi! songs ever written. Their entire catalog is great, so if you like this, go back and check it all out. This year’s release was fantastic, with “Skinhead (The Song),” “Thistle,” and “Steel Toed Laces” all making my list of the best songs of the year. This was first released as a full-length “Honour The Glory” and then later some of the songs as a 10” vinyl “They Honor Our Glory.” It’s no more or less confusing than their entire catalog of albums with variations of the same name. With lyrics like "... fuck shit up. I drunk some gasoline, I do an Ajax bump. Now my power walk turns into a march, flipping people off and exposing private parts...", these guys sound a little crazy, but the songs hold up. This is the best Oi! record of the year, and #8 across all genres.
secondSELF
I was lucky enough to catch these guys at Hogs & Heifers, kicking off Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival 2025, and they killed it (also throwing in a great cover of Teenage Bottlerocket's "I Wanna Die"). This is fast melodic hardcore at its finest, the production is perfection, and the song "The Current Dissent" is one of my favorite songs of the year. "Grape Soda and Gasoline," "Bliss," "Moving To LA," and "Fuckface" also made my list of best songs of the year, but every song is good. Aw, fuck LA.
The Sleights "This One's Gonna Hurt"
The Sleights "Atari" EP
I love an intro when it's good, and "This One's Gonna Hurt" 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. I was able to catch them live at the "Punk Rock Saves Lives" showcase at this year's Punk Rock Bowling ("Punk Rock Hoedown"). It was at Hogs and Heifers Saloon on Fremont Street, and we hustled from the plane to the show to catch them. Later in the year they released the "Atari" EP, which does slow it down a bit, showcasing their exceptional talent, but the standout song "Earthworms" kicks up the speed and energy, making it a must-have as well and a top set of releases in 2025.
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Heartwells "Ollie"
Heartwells/ Stoke Signals split
If you read my reviews last year, particularly my top 50 releases of 2024, you will be familiar with Heartwells. Their 2025 EP "The New Old School" made #2 on the list, very close to the best release of the year. They still have that distinct NOFX-core sound on some of the songs, and again that is in no way a bad thing (NOFX is my all-time favorite band). "Backstabbers" is the clear standout on "Ollie", followed by "Piss N- Gums," but all 6 are great. Another amazing release by one of the best new bands of this decade. Start with "The New Old School" if you haven't heard them yet, but everything they have done is essential. The split with Stoke Signals was a bit more mellow, but I liked it and am glad to add another of their songs to my collection.
The Remote Controls
The Remote Controls did an excellent job on their contributions to recent NOFX and Sloppy Seconds tribute albums. Not just great versions of already great songs, but an inspired choice of bands to pay tribute to. I was highly anticipating their next release, and I was not disappointed. Their debut came in 2022 with the self-released, self-titled 10-song album, which was followed by a split 7" with 20 Minutes. In 2024 they put up a couple of songs on Bandcamp as a single titled "Remote Control Worms," and of course, the contributions to tribute albums. And then finally we get this. It's great all of the way through, but "American Standard," "Speed Freak," "Familiar Ways," "Be Anywhere Else," and of course "Too Tough" ended up getting the most play. Eventually, "Too Tough" really sunk in. It's probably only one in a thousand songs that I listen to while doing reviews that I feel the need to burn to CD and take over to the rack stereo system (versus the iPod or computer). Four speakers positioned around my Stressless recliner, lights out, high fidelity, volume at an ear-splitting level. Eyes closed and just soak in the awesomeness. "Too Tough" is one of those songs.
Bad Beat / D-BLOC split
Bad Beat "L.P. 2025"
Bad Beat "E.P. 2025"
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 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. 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. The split is two songs by each band, including D-BLOC doing a cover of Bad Beat's "R Hardcore". The record release show was at Edgemen Printing on 3/13 (a celebrated day in Detroit, as that's Detroit's primary area code) and featured 5 bands with Bad Beat and D-BLOC headlining. And they still weren't done with 2025, releasing another EP on Christmas day, soon to be on vinyl.
Asspatch “No More Fun” EP
Asspatch “Life Of The Party”
After spinning over 500 new releases this year, and having reviewed 200 of them, these are easily some of the best songs that I heard. I still play them almost daily. It looks like Asspatch is a new band that played their first show in 2023. In addition to this year’s releases, they had some songs that they recorded live in 2023 that didn't make the records and that they won't be playing again. I'd like to get as much from these guys as I can, and especially "Painkillers & Aliens" sounded pretty good live. No worries though, because "Quit Your Job" and "No More Fun" (the first two songs on the “No More Fun” EP) are stellar. “Life Of The Party” starts with a cover of The Manges’ "I Shot Cyrus" (a song that I hadn't heard before, but that I immediately tracked down), along with one more new song, "Life Of The Party." This one didn't initially pack the punch of the songs "Quit Your Job" and "No More Fun," but that is a really high bar, and it ended up growing on me almost as much as those did. Nearly the best release of the year, on many days I had them as #1.
The Strikeouts "Superstar/ Punk Rock Romance"
The Strikeouts "Dear Hollywood"
It took some research to find any information on The Strikeouts. Apparently they are from Sweden and previously had a 7-song CD, "All We Could Afford" (2021). They started 2024 with a single that contained “Superstar” and “Punk Rock Romance”, both immediately favorites. That was followed up by the 5-song EP "Dear Hollywood" containing those songs and a couple more. 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!
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