Five Albums I’m Stoked For in 2025
This year is seeing a bevy of new grads coming onto the scene, with debut albums that are sure to kick much ass. And then there are some returning sophomores, and a few juniors and seniors that are releasing new tunes, that are guaranteed to become instant hits.
The album I’m most stoked for right now is the debut full-length offering from the best band I saw last year, The Kilograms. A veritable super group of ska and punk veterans, The Kilograms bring us a new old school sound. Joe Gittleman (formerly of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones/Avoid One Thing/Gang Green) joined forces at the end of 2023 with Sammy Kay (who’s played with a myriad of bands including The Forthrights, The Bouncing Souls, The Gaslight Anthem, Mumford and Sons, and American Aquarium) Michael McDermott (the ubiquitous drummer who’s played for The Bouncing Souls, Murphy’s Law, and Joan Jett), J Duckworth (Newport Secret Six), and Craig Gorsline (The Circle City Deacons).
Joe Gittleman, of The Kilograms. photo by Kim Moenich
They got together last year with family friend, Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls, and headed to Asbury Park, NJ, to Little Eden Studios (where The Souls record), to crank out “Beliefs and Thieves”. This 10 song banger will be released on Rad Girlfriend Records on April 4, and I can not freaking wait. The first single, title track “Beliefs and Thieves”, is available on Bandcamp. It’s sure to get you up on your feet! The Kilograms will be on tour all over the US this year- my first time seeing them in 2025 will be opening for Dropkick Murphys in Boston on the St. Patrick’s Day tour (I actually get to shoot that show and I’m unbelievably stoked!) I plan to see these guys at least a dozen times this year- so look out for plenty of photos!
The legendary Sammy Kay, of The Kilograms, at Home for the Holidays 2024. photo by kim moenich
Wanna listen to the best band out there right now that you’ve probably never heard of?! Then you have to buy “Into the Night” by Orange Co rockers The Jack Knives. While members originally hail from all over the globe (Mexico, Palestine, UK, Korea/Japan), this amazing group of musicians currently calls Cali home. I stumbled upon them in 2023 when they started following me on IG after I posted my Jesse Michaels/Tim Armstrong reunion video. Giving them a follow, I had no idea that I was about to find one of my new favorite bands. Often compared to Gaslight Anthem and The Menzingers, The Jack Knives bring their own spin to the genre with fast yet melodic tunes that will be stuck in your head for weeks.
During a recent trip to Asbury Park for The Bouncing Souls Holiday shows, I ran into Simon, the singer, outside of the Stone Pony. (What actually happened was I noticed a guy wearing a Jack Knives sweatshirt and got all excited, commented on how awesome a band they are, then looked up and realized it was him. I’m a dork.) We got to chatting about the new album, which was also produced by Pete Steinkopf of The Souls at Little Eden Studios (I’m sensing a trend here). We talked about how they are one of the most exciting new bands out right now, and I mentioned how I don’t feel like they are getting the play they deserve. Thankfully I think that’s going to change in 2025 as they are set to go on the East Coast Fuck You tour with The Bouncing Souls in late May, followed by a soon-to-be-announced US tour.
This literally came in the mail TODAY. Pardon the crappy photo- my husband took it! photo by Navid Amlani
They describe the new album as “a dark yet optimistic introspective journey through 11 tracks. Lyrically, it explores themes of isolation, personal growth, and resilience, often grappling with the struggles of identity and emotional turmoil...the album reflects a spectrum of emotions that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.” The first single, “Heartbreak Queen” just blew me away, and has been stuck on repeat in my head since I heard it. You can find it on their IG and their Youtube channel. Simon sent me a preview of the album, and all I can is that if you don’t buy this album immediately your life will just be sadly incomplete. It’s being released on the indie label, Fumie Records. Check out their first two albums while you’re at it.
25/50- how’s about that?! I own two of their albums and they are both signed- am I a total fangirl or what?!
The Rumjacks first came on my radar in March 2022, when they opened for the Dropkick Murphys in my hometown of Wilmington, NC. It was raining, so they did an acoustic set, which was fun but left me wanting more. I’ve seen the Sydney, Australia, band several times since, and they are nothing if not a good time live. The new 12 song album dropped today, February 7, on the label FOUR FOUR. I swear to you that I didn’t know that they had ALSO worked with Pete Steinkopf at Little Eden to put out this record. Really, I had no idea! Geez, I might need an intervention- I think I have a type!!! This is their fifth full length studio album, but they also have two live albums and 5 EPs, including a split with another favorite of mine, Flatfoot 56.
For fans of hard Celtic punk rock, The Rumjacks have it all- including Ken Casey singing on “Cold Like This”. They’ve released the first and fifth songs from the album as singles, and they, and the whole kickass album, can be found on just about any platform you might choose. The Rumjacks are out on a European tour until mid-March, then Canada and stateside throughout June. Check out “An Irish Goodbye on St. Valentine’s Day”- I promise it’ll put you in a dancing mood!
The Rumjacks opening for Dropkick Murphys in Boston 2023. photo by kim moenich
Now do NOT take his position at fourth on my list to mean that he isn’t first in my heart, but Jesse Ahern’s new offering, Mercy, is a brilliant, full length album that came out last month and has me wrapped around it’s little finger. Bringing together Jesse’s signature growly troubadour sound with a full band experience, Mercy represents a new direction for the lone songman. Longtime fans will with recognize his rhythmic songwriting, but Jesse has added an actual backing band and guest vocalists, as you can hear on the single, “Someday”. This growth seems to me like the natural course of things, as the singer has progressed from back room acoustic gigs to world tours with the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Violent Femmes, Frank Turner, and more. This album was recorded at Rare Signals in his hometown of Boston, and was produced by Jesse’s longtime friend, Brian Charles.
What hasn’t changed is his message of fighting for the working class, equality for all, and making this world a better place. I first met Jesse when he was opening for the Dropkick Murphys/Rancid Tour. He saw me dancing enthusiastically at the rail for his show, and he came offstage at the end and handed me an album. We’ve kept in touch ever since and this guy, my friends, is the real deal. Jesse Ahern, to me, embodies everything punk rock is about, and this new album solidifies that. Jesse is the everyman, with a means of describing daily life, and its trials and tribulations, in a way that makes you laugh and cry simultaneously. He also often plays free live shows on Sundays on his IG channel- just the pick-me-up I need nowadays in this ever-darkening world. Keep an eye out for tour dates for the new album coming soon.
Jesse Ahern playing for his fans while opening for the Dropkick Murphys in 2023. photo by kim moenich
A newcomer to the scene, Texas’s own The Weigh Down are a “hard-charging, thrash metal-dirty rock n roll infused Skate Punk band”, according to their press release. I’d describe them as an excellent combo of Cali skate punk (think Lagwagon) meets East Coast melodic punk (think Gaslight Anthem). They’re a 3-year-old band out of the DFW area (there’s punk rock in Texas?!!! Just kidding... mostly...) The current lineup has been in action since February of 2024, and this will be their premier album, a 4 song EP titled, “Lessons”. They worked with FireSale members Matt Morris (formerly of Darlington/41 Gorgeous Blocks) and Chris Swinney (formerly of The Ataris/Brazil/Underminded) to produce “Lessons”, and the first single, “Marilyn”, is about as catchy as they come.
The Weigh Down. photo by Patricia Faz Gibson
The Weigh Down spent 2024 building up their show chops, with gigs all over the DFW and surrounding areas, and they are currently booked with shows in the area through May. Their goal for 2025 is to start touring more nationally, hoping to open for bigger acts. From founding member, Josh Gibson, “The Weigh Down hopes to spread the message of positive thinking, healing, and inclusiveness through our original brand of punk rock all across Texas and beyond.” Their new tunes are sure to get you singing out loud in your car! Feel free to message them at TheWeighdownrock@gmail.com for shows- get them to your town, I promise you won’t regret it!
Well that gets us through the first four months of what’s promising to be a shit year for the world, but a killer one for music. Looking forward to what the rest of the year has in store!