This year has sucked so bad. Sure, there have been some good times. I got to attend two weddings and see some of my favourite people get married. I’ve been to great festivals and gigs and got to cross two bands I had never seen before off of the bucket list. But unfortunately those good times have been heavily outweighed by the bad. However, like always, when times are hard I turned to music. “When I’ve got the music, I’ve got a place to go” etc. etc.
When I started CPRW all those many years ago, it was to give back to a community that had given me so much. I used to get really frustrated by other websites/blogs/zines that started out as a way of supporting DIY punk rock and then got (in my opinion) quite rubbish. Taking the DIY punk approach to things, if you don’t like something then do it yourself.
Before writing this next bit, I want to preface it by saying that I am fully aware that music and all other forms of art are subjective and that’s the beauty of it. I love a chat about my favourite music with people who think I’m talking nonsense. It’s a big part of the fun, especially coming from a genre of music that is quite niche and not what most people would consider cool. But I read some end of year lists recently and it got me frustrated again. Where is all the DIY punk rock that these sites used to champion? Who’s shouting about the true scene these days? I had had a bad day and for some reason this put me in a really bad mood. Full on stroppy Colin. It was an overreaction from a nearly 40 year old man I am happy to admit. However, it did inspire me to do my own list of my favourite albums of 2025.
Whereas I haven’t listened to over 500 albums released this year, like I did the year previous, I have managed to listen to well over 100 punk rock albums. So I think I’m pretty well placed to give an opinion on what I think are the top releases of the year. And I am going to mention, once again, before anyone shouts at me that I am fully aware that music is subjective. My list will definitely be different to yours, and yours will be different to Belinda in the post office, and Belinda’s will be different to Rhea’s at the supermarket, and so on and so forth. I always liked to do these lists to inspire people to go and check out any albums that they may have missed and shout about some bands and releases that I love. Giving back to the community that has supported me so much.
Before we get properly into the list, if you haven’t already scrolled to the bottom and just read the list and gotten on with your day (I am well aware that folk don’t like long form stuff anymore and I should just do a minute long tickety tock reel), I do want to give a special mention to Copenhagen’s Fight Me IRL. I was lucky enough to see this awesome four piece at Nasty Cut Festival in 2024, before they had released any music, and was blown away. I’d been itching to get something I could listen to at home since then and over a year later they finally released their album/EP. I’m not really sure what label it falls under. But my personal rule for these things is that to count as an album it has to be at least eight songs and Fight Me IRL. (also the name of the release) is seven. It’s seven bangers though and would have placed very high on this list if it was eligible by my own strict rules. If you love bands like PUP and Jeff Rosenstock, I imagine you’ll love Fight Me IRL. I love them and am very excited for them to release more music and hopefully catch them again at Nasty Cut Festival in 2026. Check out the songs North Bridge, 25 and Eternal Damnation.
Suspicious Package is the long awaited debut album by Reading’s political punk rockers Tape It Shut. The three piece have been playing songs from this album live for years now and it’s fantastic to finally get them recorded and released to the world. I’ll admit that I’ve given Dan Tape some playful grief about there being too many songs on it but when you listen to the album in full it’s hard to pick a song that I’d cut. The fun thing about an album that is 16 songs and 47 minutes long is that you’re going to be finding new things that you love every time you listen to it. If I were to redo this list in six months (I’m absolutely not going to), there is every chance that Suspicious Package would be higher. Check out $cam, Employee Of The Hour and See Yourself In Five.
Toronto’s Deforesters are a band close to my heart because they always remind me of my dear friend Robyn. They’re not the most active of bands these days but when Robyn mentioned that Deforesters had released a new album I was dead excited. I loved their previous effort, 2017’s Leonard, and couldn’t wait to check out their latest album Paradise Mausoleum. Deforesters play that heart-on-your-sleeve, gruff, shout-along-with-your-pals punk rock that I adore. Paradise Mausoleum is an introspective album, packed with songs that everyone will relate to. Deforesters feel like quite an underrated band within their genre but I’m sure if you give them a spin you’ll love them like I do. Check out Virgin Birth Of The Two Day Hangover, Springsteenian and Asshole Robert Frost.
The Brokedowns released one of my favourite albums of 2023 with Maximum Khaki. Osama Van Halen in particular is often stuck in my head. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that they would be releasing its follow up in 2025. Once again released by the prolific Red Scare Industries, Let’s Tip The Landlord sees the Chicago based four piece continue to write rough and ready melodic gruff punk. Like Deforesters, this is music you’re going to want to shout along with whether it’s on record or in a sweaty club with a bunch of strangers who have become your new best mates. Music that brings people together is the best music. Check out Date Night In The Hague, Let’s Tip The Landlord and The Power Of Love.
Bristol’s Racehorse are a band, like Tape It Shut, who finally released a long awaited debut album this year. Good Intentions feels like it’s been years in the making but when it finally arrived it surpassed all expectations. I feel like Omar has been working on this band the whole time I’ve known him (which is nearly ten years at this point) and I was so pleased for him with how good this album has come out. His vocals in particular stand out – emotional, passionate, angsty, he’s got it all. Accompanied by some superb musicianship, Racehorse might be one of the UK scene’s best kept secrets. I hope they continue to build on this album and play some more shows across the UK. Someone book them in London for me, please and thank you. Check out Four Against One, Local Band and Punchline.
21. Break The Silence by Jet8 (Czechia)Jet8 followed up their awesome 2020 album Chasing The High this year. Break The Silence is another superb skacore release from the Prague based six piece. From the outset there is an intense and aggressive sound that carries on throughout the entire album. Something I really enjoy about Break The Silence, and Jet8’s sound in general, is that they work just as well at a punk rock/hardcore show as they do a ska show. They clearly draw influence from both genres. If you’re new to Jet8 then this serves as a great introduction to the band. But also go and check out their back catalogue while you’re at it. Check out Stop For A While, Faces and Let’s Make It Clear.
https://jet8.bandcamp.com/album/break-the-silence20. Still Here by Brutalligators (UK)Brutalligators played one of my favourite sets of the year when I was fortunate enough to catch them at Nasty Cut Festival in May. This was my first time seeing them and I finally got all the hype I had heard about them. They blew me away. Fast forward to November and they released their brand new album Still Here. Here we have ten emo/indie punk rock bangers that are equally relatable, uplifting and cathartic. Still Here has plenty of fantastic sing-along moments, in particular the anthemic Get Better, but there are also quieter moments that will really grab you emotionally. Check out Still Here, Get Better and What’s Next.
https://fikarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/still-here19. All Pain No Gain by Kingfisher (Canada)I think I have to thank my friends Punk Rock Avenue from Canada for pointing me in the direction of Kingfisher. If you’ve been reading CPRW since the early days, when this blog was actually active, then you’ll know how much I love a gang vocal. All Pain No Gain is chock full of them and they sound huge. Sonically Kingfisher play melodic punk rock with big hooks, gritty vocals and massive choruses. What’s not to love about that? Each of these songs has me itching to throw my fist in the air and shout along with the band and if your band can get that emotion out of me then you’re doing a grand job. Check out Small World, Yesterday and From Parts Unknown.
https://officialkingfisher.bandcamp.com/album/all-pain-no-gain18. GO by MAYSON’s PARTY (Japan)Fun fact, GO by MAYSON’s PARTY was the first album released in 2025 that I listened to this year. The fact that it remained within my top 20 for the year shows what a high standard it set. As you can probably expect from a Japanese ska punk band, they are incredibly tight but where they stand out from many of their compatriots is how much fun they are. I’ve said so many times over the years that punk rock and ska doesn’t need to change the world on every song. It’s more than acceptable to just be fun. Fun is great, who doesn’t like fun? This album is a party. A really fun party. Check out Now We Go, Punk Rock Bomb and their wonderful cover of Daydream Believer.
https://www.instagram.com/maysonsparty_jp/17. Superbucle by Yawners (Spain)I do not speak Spanish. Not a single word outside of sí. That however did not stop me from really enjoying Superbucle by Yawners. Their previous couple of albums have mostly been in English with one or two Spanish songs included. However Superbucle, aside from one song in English, is mostly in Spanish. It’s such an infectious album though, I can’t help but enjoy myself whenever I listen to it. Yawners, which is the project of Madrid based Elena Nieto, plays indie/emo punk and seems to have created quite a name for themselves within that scene. Check out Merienda-cena, Self-diagnose and 1 de enero.
https://yawners.bandcamp.com/album/superbucle16. Pinch Hitters by Miller Lowlifes (USA)Pinch Hitters is the debut album from Florida’s Miller Lowlifes. I’ve been fortunate enough to catch them a couple of times at The Fest in Gainesville, before they had released much music online and loved them. This may be partly because I also really enjoy singer and guitarist Richie’s other band, Articles. It’s that raspy voiced melodic pop punk sound that Fest is known for. Pinch Hitters is ten songs that anyone from a working class background will relate to. Songs about hating your job and wanting a change are on the menu here. Written in a way that will have you wanting to get down to your local bar and shout along to these songs with your friends. Check out Learn My Worth, Go and I’m A Lowlife, Baby.
https://millerlowlifes.bandcamp.com/album/pinch-hitters-315. Parade! Parade! by Aren’t We Amphibians (USA)I hadn’t heard of Aren’t We Amphibians a month or so ago. I took to the Internet and asked some friends for recommendations for albums from 2025 and my friend Theo recommended them. Check out
Real Life Presents for Theo’s gigs. Aren’t We Amphibian’s are a jangly, mathy, emo band from California. In September, the three piece released the awesome Parade! Parade! I can remember my first time listening to it (admittedly it wasn’t that long ago), sitting on my sofa and being absolutely mesmerised by it. I was surprised to discover this huge sound is made by only three people. I’m not a big emo guy but for Parade! Parade! I certainly make the exception. It doesn’t hurt that there are a smattering of horns on the album. Check out Dunce Hat, Forgiving Jeff and Family On 6.
https://arentweamphibians.bandcamp.com/album/parade-parade14. On The Dancefloor by The Planet Smashers (Canada)From a band I had never heard of to a band that I’ve been a big fan of for a long, long time. Whenever ska legends The Planet Smashers release a new album it’s a reason to be excited. On The Dancefloor is the band’s first in six long years and it was more than worth the wait. The Smashers have the distinctive sound that we all know and love and they don’t really veer from that on On The Dancefloor. They don’t need to though, they are masters of their two-tone inspired, ska punk sound. On The Dancefloor has party songs, break-up songs and songs about rebellion. The punk trifecta really. The Planet Smashers have been releasing albums for thirty years now. If they keep up this quality, I hope they continue to do so for at least another thirty. Check out Falling, Police Brutality and Torpedo.
Montreal’s Spite House released their second album Desertion on Pure Noise Records at the beginning of the autumn. I was put on to their first album, 2022’s self titled effort by my friend and former CPRW contributor Richard not long after it’s release and found myself pleasantly surprised by what I heard. Fast forward three years and I’m now also really enjoying the follow up. It’s probably heavier than most things I listen to and features no trumpets whatsoever but it does feature this intensity that really pulls you in and keeps you enthralled from the start of the album to its conclusion. This is one of those albums that feels like an event when you listen to it. It’s a powerful listen. Check out Desert, Down The Drain and Midway.
I don’t think I’ve ever had two Spanish acts on my end of year lists. I guess today is the day that we change that. Weak are a four piece that are based in Madrid and Asturias. When they come together they create fantastic, anthemic melodic punk rock. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that this is pop punk music for grown ups. It’s another that most people listening will find relatable but will also have them tapping their toes along with the melodies, whilst the lyrics lodge themselves into your brain. The highlights for me are when the singer really stretches their vocals and adds that passion and energy that I adore. Check out Turn On The Lights, Not Like The Others and I Owe You.
Belgium’s Prize Dink Camp are one of the most interesting bands in the world of ska and, to be quite honest, if you haven’t checked them out yet then you need to sort that out pronto. The synth ska trio released their first full length back in February of 2025. Crèmecore Deluxe takes on a variety of political and social issues that we all have to deal with daily. This gives the album a darker feel than what you might expect but it really works out. The whole album feels like a lot of progression from their earlier releases and I’m a fan of that. Check out Pick Me Up, The Four Seasons Of Wavivaldi and Crèmecore.
It’s A Mad, Bad, Sad, Rad World is my number one ska punk album of 2025. Brunt Of It are a band I’ve been aware of for a long time but, if I’m being completely honest, I had no idea they were still together and putting out music. It was a lovely surprise to discover they had released a new album and I loved it immediately. Led by lead singer Boofish, the long running band’s trademark skacore sound is better than ever. There’s the punk rock intensity combined with the fun that the upstrokes and horns provide. This is one of those wonderful albums where you hit play and can’t help but want to dance. 2025 is Brunt Of It’s 30th year as a band and they’ve managed to drop their best ever album. How many bands can claim that I wonder? Check out Right Light (featuring David McWane), Holding Patterns and HR-187.
https://bruntofit.bandcamp.com/album/its-a-mad-bad-sad-rad-world9. Now And The Future by Horace Pinker (USA)Horace Pinker are a band I’ve been aware of for a long time but never really checked out. Then for some reason I decided to check out their latest offering, Now And The Future, on a long train journey home. I quickly kicked myself for not bothering with them previously. What a good band! For those who don’t know, Horace Pinker are a four piece melodic punk rock band who are based in Chicago. Now And The Future is their 7th full length album and first since 2011. Something I really enjoyed about the album is the vocals. At times they feel reigned in but when the moment feels right the band are not afraid to unleash a full power vocal assault. If you’re a fan of bands like Face To Face or Hot Water Music I urge you to listen to this album. Check out Three Against Me, Warmup For The Future and Just Around The Corner.
https://peopleofpunkrock.bandcamp.com/album/now-and-the-future8. Dark Thoughts by Lone Wolf (Netherlands)
We are big Lone Wolf fans in our household. The Rotterdam based band are one of the most consistent and prolific bands in the European punk scene. Seemingly putting out a great album every couple of years. You’d think with the amount of music that the band releases that perhaps the quality would drop. That’s certainly not the case on Dark Thoughts, the band’s fourth full length album. Blending Ramonescore and indie punk effortlessly, Dark Thoughts sounds exactly like you would expect a Lone Wolf album to sound like. On previous albums there has been more of a split of vocal duties between Ox and Merel but on Dark Thoughts Ox is the main vocalist. This is because it’s a much more personal album than the band’s previous efforts as Ox explores mental health. I don’t think this topic is explored enough in the world of Ramonescore and I’m pleased Ox had decided to do this. Excitingly Lone Wolf are playing Manchester Punk Festival next year and they need to be at the top of your must see list. Check out High All The Time, Get Better and Rip It Apart.
https://wearelonewolf.bandcamp.com/album/dark-thoughts7. All Dead Bars Go To Heaven by Dead Bars (USA)Seattle, Washington’s Dead Bars returned with their first album in six years with the excellent All Dead Bars Go To Heaven. Something I’ve always enjoyed about Dead Bars is the simplicity that they approach their music with. This approach remains on this, their third full length album, but they seem to have refined the sound somewhat. There’s definitely some garage punk influence on the album that was perhaps missing from previous albums. What also remains are the big sing-alongs and John Maiello’s charming lyrics. The album tackles subjects such as love, dealing with loss and self acceptance. Like Lone Wolf, Dead Bars are also playing Manchester Punk Festival for the first time next year, and I expect some other shows around the UK to pop up as well. Check out I Wanna Be A Ghost, Valentine Heart and Give A Metalhead A Hug.
https://deadbars.bandcamp.com/album/all-dead-bars-go-to-heaven6. Hot For Hormones by Hormones (Australia)Love to the wonderful Scott from Brassneck Records for putting me onto Hormones. The Melbourne based foursome released the excellent Hot For Hormones back in September. Playing infectious power pop/punk, Hormones write anthems for the LGBTQ+ community. There’s plenty to learn for anyone listening to the album and my goodness you’re going to have a fun time listening. Hot For Hormones is jam packed with ear worms that you will be singing to yourself for days afterwards. Hormones are legitimately a band that I can see doing some great things. Writing great songs about an important subject, we all need more bands like Hormones. Check out Got My Head Straight (The Rest Of Me Got Gay), Transgender Menace and You Don’t Have A Son.
https://hormonesforall.bandcamp.com/album/hot-for-hormones5. Nobody’s Going To Heaven by Elway (USA)Elway are one of the most consistently brilliant punk bands of the last ten years. Every album they release is packed with massive anthems. This trend continued with their latest effort, Nobody’s Going To Heaven. As anyone who has ever listened to Elway before will know, Elway can write a big fist in the air anthem and Nobody’s Going To Heaven has eleven of them. Nobody’s Going To Heaven sees Elway at their most angry as they take the state of America to task. They are not happy with the commercialism that’s plaguing the country, and let’s be honest, the majority of the world. As ever Tim Browne’s gift for sharp, witty and poetic lyrics nail it. It’s been too long since Elway made the trip to the UK, here’s hoping there’s something planned for 2026. Check out The Cost! The Price!, Down The Land And Far Away and Nobody’s Going To Heaven.
https://elwaytheband.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-going-to-heaven4. Errth by Errth (USA)Errth are a supergroup that came out and blew the gruff punk community away this year. Featuring members of Aspiga, Public Serpants, Reunions and Seeing Snakes, they released their self-titled debut on Uncle Style Records in March. I’ve enjoyed everything Uncle Style have released so far (I wish they had a UK distro) and Errth kept that trend going. I always enjoy when a band has multiple lead singers, especially when the have contrasting styles. It gives the album a varied sound and keeps the listener’s attention. The album is full of melody but also has this quality that drives it forward and gives it an undeniable energy. I expect this album to place highly on a lot of end of year lists this year and rightly so. Check out 8760 Hours, New Orleans and Last Time You Saw Me.
https://errthisaband.bandcamp.com/album/errth3. Ghost Familiar by Familiar Ghost (USA)I listened to Ghost Familiar by Familiar Ghost at a time where I was struggling to get excited by new bands. I hit play and 29 minutes later I was on a mission to tell all my friends about this amazing album I had just listened to. I was so excited. Familiar Ghost are a band/collective from Philadelphia. I say collective because looking at the amount of folk who contributed to the album it’s too many to just call it a band! Playing gruff pop punk music, there’s a rawness on the recording that really appealed to me. I’m not a huge fan of over produced/super polished sounding music. The rawness of this recording gives the album a whole new energy and gives me a feeling of what it would be like to see them live. Seriously, I adored this album. I think with more listens it could easily climb this list. Check out Men At Work Without Hats, Less and Tornado Tornado.
Munich’s emo punks Fine And Great released their debut album Nothing To Be Sad About on Fond Of Life Records in June. I had loved the three piece’s previous singles and EPs and was very excited when a full length was being released. I’m also a very big fan of Manu’s other band Captain Asshole. Fine And Great go down a more emotional road than CA with heart on your sleeve lyrics, mathy guitar riffs and driving drums. I adore the dual vocals that Manu and Tooney provide throughout the album, there are some delicious harmonies here. They have also mastered the art of knowing when to be quiet and when to let it all out and shout loud. Fun fact: an album Manu has written has never been lower than 2nd on my end of year lists. I’m a big fan of his work. Check out Brunch Is For Losers, Namek Used To Be A Safe Place and Tokyo III.
https://fineandgreat.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-to-be-sad-about1. New Lungs by Burnt Tapes (Greece/UK)
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, New Lungs by Burnt Tapes is my favourite album of 2025. I’ve never made any secret of my love for this band, not just as a band but as people as well. I love them so much that I came out of review retirement for them. Their debut album Never Better was in my top five albums of all time and when they released New Lungs it somehow managed to eclipse it. That’s some feat. I can remember my very first listen and thinking this does sound like the Burnt Tapes I know and love but you can also hear so much progression. They’ve not just tried to repeat from they’ve done previously, they’ve taken a chance and tried new things and it’s worked wonderfully. The classic – yes, they’ve been going for long enough now that we can say classic – Phil and Pan dual vocals are as good as ever. Whether they’re trading lines or harmonising for one another, they sound great. Interestingly I don’t think there’s a song on New Lungs that tops Yuzi, Dirt Roads or Go Drunk (play it live!) but as a complete album it’s almost perfect. There’s not a single song here that I wouldn’t miss if had been cut. It’s clear that a lot of effort has gone into not just the songwriting but also the way the album flows together. It’s a ride. If you want to read a full review of the album you can
here but honestly just go and listen to it again, whether it’s your first time or your one hundredth. This is a special, special album. Check out it all.
