It's somewhat strange to be a fan of punk in 2025. We're now at the point where many of the elder statesmen of the genre touring albums that are 40+ years old. It strikes me as odd that a genre that has a primary tenant of smashing the establishment, is more than 50 years old. How does one square that? During his episode of the Track Star* podcast, Kelefa Sanneh said something that I’ve been regularly thinking about since:

"Part of what's going on in those Sex Pistols records is, it's like you're hearing people fighting about rock 'n' roll. And in punk, you hear both of those impulses. The like, 'We want to get back to when rock 'n' roll was awesome,' is one impulse. The other impulse is, 'We want to destroy rock 'n' roll. It's terrible.' And so you hear both of those things fighting."

That creative tension—the space where passion and destruction meet—is really at the core of what draws me to music. It's the defining characteristic present in the music that pulls me in. Sometimes you can really hear that in the music, while sometimes it's more subtle, but it's always there.

Now in the early days of 2026, it's easy—for me anyway—to see that quality in each of the albums that I spent so much time bouncing between my eardrums. It's what makes these records interesting and appealing. Maybe you will find something that appeals to you about these albums or maybe you'll think that my taste in music sucks (valid).

Whatever your views, these are the albums that I loved the most in the past year:

1. DITZ - Never Exhale There's a certain kind of art-punk that I'm a total sucker for. Sounds that have a certain groove mixed with that impulse to destroy rock 'n' roll that really works for me. It probably started to click when I first heard Gang of Four's Entertainment, and I've been loving it ever since. These next two albums are perfect examples of sounds that completely work: driving drums that vacillate between a steady beat and a driving call to arms. The bass is jaunty, almost dance-y, and guitars are passed through so many effects that sometimes sound like nails on a chalkboard, sometimes like a punch in the face. The vocals drip with sadness and vitriol, expelling obtuse poetry. Really, you couldn't ask for more.
2. Model/Actriz - Pirouette While no less intense or compelling, Model/Actriz add a layer of polish that DITZ doesn't particularly find appealing. I quite liked their debut in 2023 [link], and this time around it seems Model/Actriz have just refined their sound. The rhythms are even more danceable even if they are often a clashing cacophony, and the lyrics are more intimate and personal. From what I can tell, people are ready for it too. The band seemed to be a darling of the festival circuit and made appearances on late-night TV. They are offering something really interesting in both their sound and their artistic vision.
3. Snapped Ankles - Hard Times Furious Dancing What would a dance party look like at the end of civilization? If that rave scene from the Matrix is the first thing that pops into your mind, may I suggest Snapped Ankles' answer to that question instead? While DITZ and Model/Actriz push the limit of sounds that rock instruments can make, this group fully embraces an electronic sound on this record. The theatricality and mysticism around their live show (apparently they're tree people?) looks amazing and I hope that I get to see them live at some point.
4. Viagra Boys - viagr aboys This band continues to be one of the most fervently unserious bands of recent memory. Not unserious in their approach to making music, but in the satirical approach that has been present since the opening bars of Sports. I mean come on; in the first verse of the opening track of this record, they kept the vocal take where frontman Sebastian Murphy burps mid-sentence. If that's not a true commitment to flipping the bird to polite society and a dash of punk's burn-it-all-down attitude, I don't know what is. This time around, they continue to lean into their brand of quirky oddball punk, all while they expound on fad diets and bog bodies. What really surprised me, however, is how great this record sounds on repeated listens and how strong the synths are this time around. Whether you've liked their previous records or not, this is a strong one.
5. Heavy Lungs - Caviar One of the more straightforward records that I really got into this year, but in a good way. Heavy Lungs have a brash, raw sound that shares a lineage with their countrymen, IDLES. However, where IDLES are often simmering, a pot threatening to spill over, Heavy Lungs are at a pretty constant rolling boil. While there are some subdued moments on this record, these subdued moments mostly serve to punctuate the thrashing guitar that will arrive in a few short measure's time.
6. Lifeguard - Ripped and Torn I can't say enough good things about this album. When it came out, I listened to it on repeat. This is Lifeguard's first full-length, and I'm surprised how developed and refined their sound is this early in their career. Layered with plenty of distortion and fuzz, they seem to draw equally from the greats of proto-punk and post-punk. I also keep drawing connections to early Mission of Burma with their guitar sound, march-inspired drums, and vocal harmonies.
7. Little Sims Lotus I was very surprised by the personal, intimate, and raw tone of this album. These are qualities that that I rarely see in rap releases. Some of these songs are just gut-wrenching in the way that Little Simz deals with such emotional subjects. This record also marks a massive high-water mark in terms of artist growth. The orchestral arrangements continuously elevate this album and feel completely natural.
8. Castle Rat - The Bestiary I'm an unabashed fan of stoner doom metal. In my mind, Sabbath is an absolute pinnacle, in addition to being the originators of the genre—if not metal as a whole. It should come as no surprise that Castle Rat is a modern standout in a genre with a very deep list of contributors. They have heavy riffs, soaring vocals, and a theatricality to their live shows that has only become more epic with their growth. The Bestiary, being their second album, is not a massive departure from their debut. What it does do, however, is turn everything up to 11 and present a more refined, developed approach to creating heavy music that tells a story.
9. Panic Shack - Panic Shack This is such a great punk rock record. While it tips towards unserious (but fun!) party punk, they don't shy away from earnest subjects. At different points in the album's 11 tracks, they touch on feminist issues, female stereotypes, and the societal pressures on women to be thin. What makes the band interesting is that they're able to tackle these subjects in a way that is very populist and grounded. It doesn't hurt that the songs totally rip.
10. Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out This is the first Clipse album that I'd ever listened to. I know, I'm late to the party. I came up in the heyday of gangster rap, and it really didn't connect with me. At the time, I lumped Clipse in with those artists, whether it was deserved or not. It was hard to miss the release of this album though, and it totally clicked. Much like Lotus, this is such a personal, raw album in a way that I rarely see in high-profile rap releases. On top of that, the rapping is spotless, the rhymes inspired, and the production is next level. I've seen people calling this one "album of the year" and I certainly don't fault them for that declaration.

There we go. That's the list. While the format might be pretty tired, I get a lot satisfaction and perspective from looking back at the music that I enjoyed each year. Music has always been so important for me. Different tracks are interwoven throughout my memories, and what catches my attention tends to be an echo of the events of life. That makes cataloging these sounds far more important than a simple summary of quality music.

Even though I do this for myself, I'm always curious about the music that other people are passionate about (as long as their taste doesn't suck ahem). So what do you think? Did you like any of these albums? Did I miss something important? What else should I check out? Drop me a line and share your thoughts.