Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2025, Part Four.
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.
Bad Beat/ D-BLOC split
Released: March 11, 2025
Format: CD, digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Detroit, Michigan
Two songs by each band, including D-BLOC doing a cover of Bad Beat's "R Hardcore". This absolutely smokes, both live and the recordings. “Wasted Time” by Bad Beat went straight to my monthly playlist and may be up for hardcore song of the year. 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 (full story in In-Spite Magazine). I picked up a limited edition shirt for the release and had a great time (luckily I survived being close enough to see them, get photos, and avoid getting hit by the crowd killers). But the record stands alone; if you love hardcore, you need this. Fans of Never Ending Game, Sunami, Torena, GEL, and Vigilante.
Lion’s Law “Evermore”
Released: February 7, 2025
Format: LP, digital download
Label: HFMN
From: France
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, and it's not a bad cover. They are a skinhead/oi! band, so if you are into Violent Way, No Guard, Yellow Stitches, Reckless Upstarts, or similar bands, this is essential.
Raging Nathans “Room For One More”
Released: May 16, 2025 (they sent me a private soundcloud link)
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: Rad Girlfriend Records
From: Dayton, OH
I recently photographed/reviewed one of The Raging Nathans live shows from when they were on tour with Sloppy Seconds and The Queers. I am also a fan of their "Still Spitting Blood" EP. They also did a killer split with The Dwarves, which always adds cred. This release isn't quite as "raging" as I would have hoped for, but I liked it. "Out Of Control" was my early favorite and will be a top track of the year for me as soon as I'm able to download it and add it to my playlist. Some of the more melodic songs really grew on me as well ("Front Toward Enemy", "If I Want You To Hate Me," and "Learning The Hard Way"), and "Oh, The Places You'll Gloat" changed it up a bit (in a good way) towards the end. I'm posting a video of the only song officially released so far, "The Grudge", but I'd recommend that you start with "Still Spitting Blood" (which should make you an instant fan) if you are looking for something a little more gritty. A great band to see live, so hopefully there will be another tour soon.
Reagan Youth “Life & Times Revisited” (Volume III)
Released: February 28, 2025
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Cleopatra
From: New York City
"Reagan Youth's third studio album, and their first since 1988, is a concept album about the life and times of Reagan Youth founder Dave Insurgent, who lived a vibrant, intense life before his death in 1993" (from Bandcamp). Their original recordings are some of the best punk rock ever recorded, with classic songs that include “Reagan Youth,” “Degenerated,” “Go Nowhere,” “U.S.A.” and “I Hate Hate.” I placed their "A Collection Of Pop Classics" as the #69 best punk rock CD of all time, and if anything, it belongs even higher. Unfortunately, the lead singer’s (Dave Insurgent) life was more tragic than can be imagined (drug abuse, drug dealing, homelessness, prostitution) and ended with his girlfriend being killed by a serial killer, his mother dying after being accidentally run over by his father, and his eventual suicide. They did reform recently with a new signer, and I caught a live show at local venue New Dodge Lounge in 2021 (the only original member was Paul Bakija aka Paul Cripple, who died in 2024 of cancer). This was written and recorded by Paul Bakija with Madame St. Beatrice on vocals over several years before his death. I had mixed feelings about my expectations, but it actually exceeded them. There are some slow songs that really wouldn't pass as punk and sound bytes that break up the flow, but there are also some rippers that include "Idle Hands," "In The Thirsty Hour," and "Hapless Misfits". You might have to fast forward through some of this, but if you are a fan or even a punk rock completist, this is worth having.
Soldiers of Destruction “March 4”
Released: March 1, 2025
Format: CD, LP, digital download
Label: American't Records
From: London originally, Las Vegas currently
Let me start with their first CD, "Cause and Effect," from 2021. The cover could be from a Conflict album, and they have Nick Oliveri (QOTSA, Dwarves) guest on the song "Amphetamines." If you haven't checked that one out, start there. They were originally founded in 1981 and toured with by The Exploited and GBH, so I'm surprised that they don't have more releases and that I'd never heard of them. They fixed that when 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. And it's a great song, with all proceeds going to Punk Rock Saves Lives. Fans of The Casualties, Rotten Stitches, Total Chaos, The Exploited, and Acidez. This song is going to be on their new album, "Apostasy In Black," I assume later this year. I'll be looking for it!
The Strikeouts “Punk Rock Romance”
Released: February 28, 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: People Of Punk Rock Records
From: Örebro, Sweden
It took some research to find information on this band. Apparently they are from Sweden and previously had a 7-song CD, "All We Could Afford" (2021). Based on how great their new single is, it should be worth tracking down. They were recently signed to People of Punk Rock Records, who have a stellar track record for finding new pop punk bands that pack a punch. It looks like they will have a new 5-song EP in spring 2025 (“Dear Hollywood”), but for now we get this single. It's already one of my favorites of the year; both songs (“Superstar” and “Punk Rock Romance”) rip. Fans of Heartwells, NOFX, Teen Idols, and Teenage Bottlerocket.
Battering Ham “Return Of The Ham”
Released: March 14, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-Released
From: Las Vegas, NV
Self-described as a "3-piece Punk/ Metal/ Comedy band from Las Vegas, NV". I don't see a lot of bands that include comedy in their description, but it is in fact one of the things that I like the most about punk rock. And these guys are super funny, with songs like "Sockrifice" and "Suck My What" that are reminiscent of Guttermouth humor. My favorites were "Return of The Ham", "Sex Working Robot," and "Don't Say Cocaine," but this is really an amazing release from front to back. Fans of The Queers, Guttermouth, Descendents, Dayglo Abortions, Beefcake, and 30 Foot Fall.
V/A “No Coast: Punk Compilation”
Released: February 27, 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: Rejected Youth Records
From: Omaha, Nebraska (label)
This starts out with a street punk banger, "Not So Proud," by Knoxious. The main riff reminded me of one of my favorite (although obscure) songs, "Pig Dog Killer," by The Wernt. Next up, true to the cover art of a punk and a skin, was a great Oi! song, "You're Gonna Make It," by Coxey's Army. Squared Off's "Nightmare" was reminiscent of The Casualties, my favorite street punk band, and there was a fun G.G. Allin sound byte before the DOS song. The Uncouth was the only band I had heard before, as they did a 4-way split record last year that included local favorites Reckless Upstarts. There was some decent hardcore on this in addition to the punk and Oi!, and overall it's definitely worth a listen. The Knoxious "Not So Proud" and Menstrual Tramps "Beat You Down" (which needs to be LOUDER) made my monthly playlist right away, and a few more are growing on me. These are mostly older songs from the last couple of years, with a few new tracks, but either way it's a good way to catch up on some bands that you may have missed.
V/A “A Tribute To Sloppy Seconds Volume 2”
Released: March 10, 2025
Format: Digital Download
Label: Rejected Youth Records
From: Omaha, Nebraska (label)
Sloppy Seconds is legendary, and if any band deserves two volumes of a tribute, it is them. I'm not usually a fan of slowing songs down or doing acoustic versions, but there are a few on here that are more interesting than usual (including the opening song by Riot Division). Making songs faster, cleaner, and louder is usually what I'm looking for in a tribute. Changing up the vocal style and switching up the sub-genre can be even better (like Shai Hulud might do). Similar to the first volume, there were a lot of ho-hum covers, but a few that stood out. Typhoon Motor Dudes doing "The Last Drive-In In Town" stood out, adding a bit of speed. Five Hours cover of "Janie Is A Nazi" was also raw but enjoyable. I think I prefer the first volume, but this is worth a listen as well, and it's great that Sloppy Seconds is getting the props that they deserve.
Manicdotes “All Cats Are Beautiful”
Released: January 24, 2025
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Phoenix, AZ
I missed the boat last year when they released their "Throw Your Heart Up" full-length, as "Stupid Shit" is a great song and would have placed them in my top 50 of the year. Obviously this one is a play on the acronym ACAB with "All Cats Are Beautiful," but it goes further with two songs that are actually about cats followed by two more about hating cops. Pop punk, but in the best possible way. These songs were really catchy, and I think I actually liked the two songs about cats the most (but "Coplover" was a favorite too). I was singing along by the second play-through. Fans of Teen Idols, The Queers, Screeching Weasel, NOFX, The Ramones, and other top-shelf pop punk bands.
2025 Punk Rock Record Reviews (Links): Part One, Part Two, Part Three
