Nottingham locals Phoenix Lake headlined a packed line up at Saltbox, hot off the release of their debut album ‘Seraphina: The Fall From Eden’. Friday night drew a good crowd to the bar-venue in Nottingham, and with four bands taking the stage that evening it wasn’t long before that crowd got energetic.
Opening the night and getting room on the right level were 7eventh Sea, another Nottingham based metalcore band with heavy riffs and high energy breakdowns. Their thirty minute set was impressive from start to finish, their track ‘Falsified Dreams’ was a particular standout from the set. Vocalist Stee Owen had a commanding stage presence and skilled vocals to back it up, and drummer Aaron Gregory was incredibly tight throughout the dynamic and technical set. Fans of Lorna Shore and While She Sleeps keep an eye on these lads over the next few years.
With the room filling as more people arrive, Aethoria took the stage next. Hailing from Ipswich this hard rock group are a perfect accompaniment to headliners Phoenix Lake. Very similar in style and sound, but with their own attitude and a good hit with the crowd in the room. After some initial technical problems with the microphone, vocalist Mecia had the room in the palm of her hands for the rest of their time on stage. A confident band with a solid sound, raising the energy once again in the room.
The crowd are raring to go by this point two solid sets down and two bands left to perform, next up: Black Lakes from South Wales. Entering the stage draped in black cloaks and kilts alike the five piece metal group started strong with some high energy tracks. It appeared a good portion of the crowd were fans and had come down to check them out, and their energetic frontman knew how to play to the crowd well. While they performed well I think due to the strong showings of the other bands Black Lakes were the weakest set of the night. Their strong start felt like it waned as the set progressed, leaving me expecting more of a band this high in the billing.
Any feelings of disappointment were quickly dispelled when headliners Phoenix Lake took the stage. Coming out to a roaring crowd the Nottingham band felt the hometown love in Saltbox as they tore into their hour long set. Vocalist Lana Phillis doesn’t have to rely on just her impressive vocal talents to hold her own on stage with the rest of the band, interacting seamlessly with the crowd and letting the other band members take their moments to shine. A healthy dose of tracks off the new album was to be expected as the band tours the UK to promote its release.
Luckily for us the album is brilliant and the new songs sound great live. The group obviously revelled in having a home town crowd show so much support, it will be great to see what lofty heights the four piece can reach off the back of the album. Phoenix Lake are on the road around the UK throughout April and the beginning of May, be sure to check them out as they rightfully show off what they have created together! A truly amazing night packed full of incredible music!
This is one we’ve been waiting for for a while! We booked tickets all the way back in August when it was announced, we have been excited ever since. We hadn’t seen the country megastar since The Long Road a few years back, but then she honestly put on one of the best sets I’d ever seen, so we snapped up tickets as soon as we could; there was no way we were missing her. Plus, the downstairs of the Institute is such a quirky little room that always has some really great sound, especially when it’s full like it was the other night, so we were surely in for a good time!
I wasn’t actually really familiar with Amélie at all heading into this, bar a track or two I’d checked out in the days prior. Honestly though, she blew me away here, and certainly has a new fan in me! She was the perfect mix of folk-country, rock and 90s/early 2000s pop. There was everything from Alanis Morissette to The Cranberries to Paula Cole to Ingrid Andress. All the sounds blended together perfectly, and her great vocals and amazing lyric writing also added so much to that. Her songwriting skills are fantastic, and it’s easy to see why she was paired up with Cam for this tour. And, kudos to her for going up on stage on her own in front of a packed out crowd, playing all her own music and using a track for the other instruments; when supporting a full band that is no easy feat! However, that is my only one vague negative(ish): I’d have loved to have seen this with a full band. I completely get the logistical and sadly now financial nightmare of having a band on tour with you, but I can only imagine her songs somehow being even better with instruments performed live, and I feel like she could have been able to do more without having to focus on the backing as much. Still, it’s a minor gripe as it was still a great set, and she won a lot of the crowd over pretty quick into it! Definitely one to keep an eye on!
After a short break, the headliner soon took the stage! I have to say right off the bat that ‘Slow Down’ was one of the most unexpectedly perfect set openers I’ve ever heard. It was simple yet so damn effective, setting the tone of the evening fantastically with the chilled-yet-poignant vibe and the killer harmonies. From there, we got a full whistle-stop tour of her fantastic new album; all the highs and painfully lows. Whether it’s slower, melancholic numbers like ‘Everblue’ or ‘Hallelujah’ or the lighter later numbers like ‘Kill the Guru!’ and ‘Look at the Pretty Girls!’, Cam and her band really took the crowd on a journey. Heck, we even got the beautiful lullaby she wrote for her sister/daughter, ‘Meet you By the River’, a touching, memorable moment of the set that I may have shed a tear over. Leaving out only two from the release (damn I would have loved ‘Wherever You Are’), it was awesome to hear so much love given to her new release. ‘Alchemy’ was another big highlight, as was ‘Kill the Guru!’.
Then we reached the back third of the set and she busted out the very best of her greatest hits. From bangers off her debut like ‘Mayday’ and ‘Hungover on Heartache’ to massive single ‘Til There’s Nothing Left’ and even a version of ‘AMERICAN REQUIEM’, the song she wrote for Beyoncé, it was all awesome. The two late-stage highlights had to be her big hits, though. ‘Diane’ is the perfect live track, whipping the crowd up into a frenzy as they sung along to every word. Then you have the emotion-filled ‘Burning House’, her breakout song and a track that the audience hung on every note of. Having seen both live before, I find it hard to believe either will get old, as I loved them both here, too! And that’s not even mentioning the tear-jerking, beautiful encore of ‘Village’ a song that will never not reduce me to tears, and when done so beautifully live I don’t even mind!
And hell, we haven’t even talked about her band, yet! On top of Cam’s incredible performance, all three of her band-mates also played their asses off throughout. Be it drums or multiple guitars or keys, as well as the absolutely stunning, powerful harmonies, they were all so good. Also, playing a cheeky bit of ‘Crazy Train’ during a big song-ending solo while in Birmingham was a master stroke, I hear you Simon! They all complimented Cam perfectly, who really put her all into the performance. A true storyteller, she’s perfectly introduce each song as it was coming up, giving it some backstory as well as being so endearing and comical, holding the crowd in the palm of her hand throughout. And, on top of that, she is a criminally underrated vocalist, singing hear heart out through her entire set, it sometimes sounding somehow even better than on track. As much as I enjoyed her the other year, knowing more of her stuff this time made it even more special!
So, there you have it, folks. An amazing night of live Americana and country music, performed by two incredible artists! Amélie warmed the crowd up perfectly, while Cam put on every bit as incredible a show as I was expecting heading in. I can’t recommend either artist enough, either on track or live, so check them out as soon as you possibly can. As much as we’ve literally just seen her and just had a new album from her, I am already ready for more Cam, that’s how good she truly is! It’ll surely be a night we won’t soon forget!
I would say that this is a bit out there for Overtone, but we already have one review of the wonderful man on here! Still, I wasn’t planning on reviewing this. However, both acts put on such a great show that there was no way I couldn’t rave about it! So, let’s dive right into the show, shall we?
My one gripe of the evening to start things off… why were doors at six if nothing was going to happen until eight? It’s an awful lot of time to drag people into a venue for and just leave them waiting around. They could have easily had a second support band on in this time!
Speaking of support, Jack Garrett was actually someone I wasn’t too interested in heading into it from the tiny bit I’d checked out beforehand. However, talk about winning me over! He is insanely talented, both as a musician and a performer, and I think he got more than just me on his side, as the whole crowd was loving it by the end. Being a one-man-band will never not be impressive, and Jack did it in such a fantastic, fascinating way that it was hard to take my eyes off him while he was blowing my mind. From drums to guitar to keys to vocals, we got a bit of everything, and he was a virtuoso at every bit of it! And, on top of that, he’s an excellent songwriter, as I loved each one he played! His unique blend of indie, pop and blues was infectious, and impossible not to love. To the point where, honestly, I’d have LOVED it with a whole band. The loop pedal stuff is certainly impressive, but I think it lost a little bit of the emotion of the tracks at times, and at times it was clear he was struggling with his stage levels of it all. I completely get wanting to do it all yourself, but I’d have somehow loved it even more with him being a vocalist/guitarist/occasional pianist, with other band members also taking the rest of the parts. Still, it was a great set, and he definitely has a new fan in me!
Having seen Mika at a smaller venue, I had no idea what to expect heading into this. However, I certainly wasn’t expecting the AMAZING show that we got! Starting the show descending from the heavens in a giant industrial hamster wheel was definitely not on my 2026 bingo card. Neither was him strapping himself into it later on and spinning around above the crowd mid-song. However, both added so much to the show, as did the rest of the mechanical stage theming. Add to that the pyro, confetti and the giant inflatable megaphone and rainbow, and it was one hell of a stage show!
As for the music itself, it was just as good as you’d expect it to be! His backing band are absolutely phenomenal musicians, complimenting the main man perfectly while also putting on a good show in their own right, when they could. And, as for Mika, he still has one of the best voices in the game today. His vocal range, even live, still blows me away each time, and his charisma is magnetising. He has more energy and flexibility than I do, and I have a solid 14 years on him! As, setlist-wise, it was everything as good as when we last saw him. Opening with two off his latest album was a slight gamble, even though that’s what the tour was and it sounded incredible. But the moment ‘Relax’ hit, the crowd were locked IN dude, bouncing around and singing along to the very end. And, because of that, I felt like the rest of Hyperlove was received better after. Tracks like ‘Spinning Out’ and ‘Excuses For Love’ were amazing live, and fit perfectly around crowd favourites like ‘Lollipop’ and ‘We Are Golden’. Add to that we got him bring back ‘Popular Song’ (because of course), him taking to the stands during ‘Big Girl’, and the one-two-punch of ‘Grace Kelly’ into ‘Happy Ending’ to close out the main set, and it was a tour de force of everything Mika does brilliantly. By the time ‘Yo Yo’ hit, the crowd was spent, in the best way possible! And absolutely phenomenal set!
And there we have it, yet another incredible night of live music so far this year. Both artist were completely different but phenomenal in their own way, and had the crowd in the palms of their hands through the whole night. How this was Mika’s first time headlining arenas in the UK I do not know, but that man owned the stage as if he’d been on there his whole life. I cannot recommend either artist enough, both on track and live, and have listened to both plenty over the weekend!
An apt name for a venue, as it was bloody cold last Friday when we arrived at the venue (part of the INCREDIBLE Castle Rock Brewery). However, we had three awesome rock bands to warm us up with, and they did exactly that! Somehow it was my first time seeing both Preacher and Revenant, though I’d been a fan for years, so to say I was excited was an understatement! Let’s dive right into the night’s fun, shall we?
Eddie & The Wolves opened the show and killed it if I do say so myself. Those who came down early saw, I’d like to thing, a good hard rock set! As usual, I’d like to thank everyone that came down to watch us, brought our merch, gave us such kind words, you’re all the reason the four of us do it. And, while I’m happy to tongue-in-cheek type here that we put on ‘the best set of all time, and anyone who missed it will never see something so glorious’, I just hope that we gave people an enjoyable half an hour! I had a blast up on stage, and I know the other three did too, and it sounded good to us, at least!
Next up were the incredible Revenant. They’ve been building a lot of momentum over the last couple of years with a handful of great EPs, and that momentum truly carries over to their stage show. The four-piece filled the room with their energy, and sounded just as good live as they do on track. Opening on the run of maybe my two favourite tracks from them, ‘Public Service Announcement’ into ‘Best Medicine’, before blasting through a lot of the rest of their awesome three EPs, it was one hell of a setlist. And the band put their all into playing each and every track! The bands stage presence as a whole is undeniable, and Sugarman held the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout. The band have put in the work to get to where they are at, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch!
After a short break, the legendary headliners took to the stage. The North Carolinan Southern rockers have really been embraced over here in recent years, which reflected perfectly in their ability to pull off a headline tour like this to a packed out, adoring crowd. I still spin By the Horns now, so for it to get so much love in the set (I mean, it was the tours namesake) was awesome. However, having never seen them live before, getting to hear the classics was also amazing! From ‘Old Joe’ and ‘Writing on the Wall’ to ‘Olf Fashioned Ass Whoopin’…’ and ‘Not Today’ we got a great spread of their back catalogue, a journey through the bands whole career. Ronnie is still one of the best frontmen in the genre some nearly 20 years into the band, and the rest of the guys compliment him perfectly. Special shoutout to drummer Josh Wyatt, he blew me away not just in his solo but throughout the whole set, what a phenomenal talent! The whole band were excellent from start to finish though, playing their asses off and keeping the crowd singing and clapping along throughout!
And there you have it folks, another great night for underground (ish) rock music! What more could you ask for? Three incredible bands working their ass off, a good venue, a great crowd, and surrounded by great beer! All the wins! I cannot recommend any of the bands or the venue enough, check them all out our as soon as you possibly can. I already need to see Revenant and Preacher again, and hopefully we can get a run-back of the whole tour sometime in the future!
Last weekend, we headed down to one of Wolverhamptons best live music venues to see three of the rising stars in the UK underground rock scene. We’ve seen all three before (in theory) and are big fans, so we were already excited and ready for a great night. Check out what we thought of it anyway though, just in case our opinions changed!
The Wolves started things off this time to a surprisingly already packed-out crowd. You all know the drill by now. Firstly, thank you to everyone who came out early to catch the band, and I hope you enjoyed the show! Everyone seemed to, at least judging by the warm reception! And it certainly felt good from my end! It was our first gig of the year and I’d like to think we came out of the gate swinging! We even treated everyone to a new song, aren’t we kind?! We’re planning a big year in 2026, and are hoping to play live as much as possible, so if you missed it I’m sure you’ll see us soon!
Next up were the amazing Soul Revival. We last caught these guys back in October, and somehow they’ve gotten even better since! The bands energy was off the charts, and they all sounded excellent together throughout. Steve Nunn is an incredible frontman and vocalist, and really held the whole crowd in the palm of his hand throughout their set. And the band have only been going a few years yet have already got an incredibly solid catalogue of awesome, boot stompin’ rock songs under the belt, them all sounding great live! There is no wonder they are making a name for themselves and playing so much currently, because they are quickly morphing into one of the best live bands on the scene currently. I am already desperate to see them live again, and am becoming a bigger fan each time I see them!
Closing out the night were our good friends The Heavy Souls. They were everywhere it felt last year, and much like with Soul Revival, seem to be getting somehow better and better with each show. They have such an air and aura to them, definitely crying themselves like a big band, and it makes it make their performance even bigger because of it! Even on a smaller stage, they own it, and all of them put on a show the crowd couldn’t look away from. And, the band are as tight and polished as anything, each working their asses off and playing their parts to perfection. And, setlist wise, it was also awesome! We’re a big fan of their debut album here, and it’s always awesome to hear any of it live. And, the fact that we also got brand new songs too to hype up their next stage only added to the experience and set! Their live sound is incredible, matching up perfectly to that of the tracks, and even in smaller venues like this, they really put on a show for their fans. They are set to have another big year in 2026, and this was one hell of a way to start it off!
And there you have it, folks. Three awesome hard rock bands packing out one of the best small venues in the UK, and making for one hell of a night! I cannot recommend seeing any of the bands enough, all put on one hell of a show. And, if you’re in the UK, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to do that in 2026. And also, shoutout to the venue once again; it’s a great space, they treat everyone well and the sound is always awesome. Another fantastic night!
The first gig for us of 2026 and it was a huge one! 15k+ people packing out the biggest arena in the UK for three amazing pop punk bands! And, while it wasn’t quite the lineup intended (shoutout to both Four Years Strong and The Paradox for sadly having to drop out), it was still an absolutely stellar lineup that we have been excited for for months. And it was somehow our first time at the new arena, so we get to check out that too. Surprisingly, it was nice and easy and stress-free to get in, an even bigger bonus! Read on to find out what we thought of the night!
First up was a slightly last-minute addition to the bill, the fast-rising star Taylor Acorn. Honestly, she was a great choice to open the show! Her energy was infectious and she sounded great, definitely winning over plenty of new fans in the crowd, including us! And her voice live was incredible; packed with power, emotion and some soaring notes. Whether it was slower stuff or faster punk numbers, it all sounded great. It gave off slight country vibes even at times, like punk-country, which I loved. The two guy in her band worked their asses off too, although the absence of a bassist and second guitar was felt a touch, as both were on track. Still, as a slightly rushed last-minute addition, they smashed it out of the park, and she definitely has a new fan in me!
Mayday Parade were the band my wife was there to see. I never quite got into them on track, no matter how hard I tried. Well, I can now officially say: I get it! Hearing the songs in a live setting finally got me into them, and I have been listening a fair bit the last couple of days since. It helps that they heavied stuff up in that setting, even their older stuff, but it meant that the set had a great energy throughout! From opening on a new one, ‘Under my Sweater’ to a crash course in their biggest album with the likes of ‘Jersey’ and ‘Black Cat’ and, of course, closing on ‘Jamie All Over’, it was all so damn good! The band played their asses off too, putting on one hell of a performance to a crowd that were going nuts from start to finish. Derek is one hell of a frontman too, bouncing around the stage like it was still 2007 and keeping the crowd on their toes throughout. They have very much won a new fan in me, and I would definitely see them live again!
After another break (and I assume a slight delay with us getting three intro songs in the dark before they came on) the headliners triumphantly took the stage. A fun opening vignette concludes with Alex appearing at the front of the walkway, acoustic in hand to play ‘[cold open]’. Having a packed out crowd singing it immediately back to him clearly took him back, getting slightly overwhelmed but clearly happy. After the brief intro track, the whole band explode into newer single ‘SUCKERPUNCH’. It was easily one of my favourite songs of last year, and it sounded so good live!
From there, we got two full hours of incredible live rock music, from five absolute masters. Following the opener with two massive classics in ‘Weightless’ and ‘Poppin’ Champagne’, we are taken through a tour of the bands incredible two plus decade discography. Older stuff like ‘Backstreat Serenade’ and ‘Time Bomb’ to newer stuff like ‘Monsters’ and ‘Sleepwalking’ to collab songs in ‘PMA’ and ‘Hate This Song’. Heck, the latter in particular was amazing, the crowd loved it, I’m a big I Prevail fan and Alex surprisingly pulled off Eric’s screams damn well! Then you have the latest album, which we loved here at Overtone, which sounded just as good as anything else they played! ‘Little Bit’ and ‘Sugar’ were big live highlights. And the encore run of ‘The Weather’ into ‘Lost In Stereo’ into ‘Dear Maria’ was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
As for the show itself, it was excellent. The video effects on the side-screens were fun, and the big screen at the back flicked between live footage and some great graphics and video bits. Meanwhile, all the different block-colour platforms added some great depth to the stage and fit the theme well. Heck, the band even colour coordinated, each of the four wearing a different one. And of course, we got plenty of great pyro throughout, too. And the band, of course, played their asses off. They are known to be a good live band anyway, but they really brought it here. They all bounced around that stage from start to finish, and clearly all were having a blast. Alex had the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout, people barely even talking through the slow songs or during him interacting between songs, which says a lot. They all seemed so appreciative to be up on stage doing what they do, and it made the crowd enjoy it even more. An absolutely amazing set that I won’t be forgetting any time soon!
Overall, it was a really amazing night of live music! All three acts brought it, and All Time Low are honestly one of the best live bands I’ve seen in years. I cannot recommend seeing any of them enough, and I truly think ATL have finally found that final gear out here to push them into the upper echelon of bands. I am already desperate to see them again, and would certainly see Mayday and Taylor again too. If they are anywhere near you any time soon, go along and see them, you certainly won’t be disappointed. Heck, I’d even recommend Co-op Live, it’s a good venue for an arena. A truly fantastic night!
2025 was a stacked year for new music, not just with new albumsbut EPs too! Let’s take a look back at some of our favourite releases in the medium, from rock to country to metal! We reviewed easily 100 last year, so if we missed any off you think deserved it, let us know!
15 – Redferrin: Some City, Somewhere
Starting the list off strong with our friendRed and his second EP! This is every bit as good as his debut, being 21 minutes of chilled-out country-pop. It’s packed full of awesome songs; his incredible vocals and powerful lyrics over some basic-yet-fitting instrumentation. And, it’s grown on me more and more with each listen, something I surprisingly don’t find much for me with EPs. It’s not going to be for everyone, but I loved it and have listened to it a lot since February when it dropped. It got an 8.5/10 when it dropped, but I’d say it’s crept a little higher than that by now. A fitting start to the list!
Listen to: Ruin My Night, and Mornin’ Montana
14 – Sypha: Borderland
At just three songs and 10 minutes, this is the shortest release on this list, but that doesn’t take away from how great it is! An awesome slice of modern metal in the vein of Spiritbox or Bad Omens, though very much doing things their own way too, I’d honestly put it up there alongside any release from either band. The screams in particular are fantastic, especially when they are around the awesome breakdowns. However, the cleans also lead to some incredibly catchy choruses and verses, and it all fits over the top of the massive instrumentation perfectly. I’ve been jamming this since way back nearly a year ago, and haven’t gotten sick of it since! It got a solid 9/10 from us back then, and slips comfortably onto our list!
Listen to:Dirty Floor, and The Afterparty
13 – Revenant: Best Medicine
A band that put out two new EPs in 2025 and honestly, either could have made this list. However, I do think Medicine does ever so slightly edge out over Black Dogs, personally. However, both are excellent NWOCR releases, and could easily be combined together into an excellent album! Still, this is an amazing collection of five stompin’ rock tracks, and it’s impossible not to have a good time listening to it! Even the slower tracks are excellent, showing off the bands damn impressive range. I cannot wait to finally see them live in February and see these tracks, as I’ve been jamming them regularly for months now! Another solid 9/10 from us sees this easily make our list!
Listen to: Public Service Announcement, and Least I can Do
12 – Miss Vain: Sempiternal Drive
The follow-up to their incredible 2023 release, this had a lot of personal hype to live up to, and managed to do exactly that! This is melodic hard rock at its absolute finest. Five songs packed with huge, heavy riffs and choruses designed to be played to massive festival crowds. We even get some awesome screams too, adding a metalcore element to it which I love. Their sound is evolving more and more, and they deserve to be a growing name. It fills a great Santa Cruz-shaped hole in my soul, and I haven’t been able to get enough of it since April. A very easy 9/10 from us solidly secures this release a spot on our list! Check it out if you like the more melodic side of music!
Listen to: Now or Neverland, and Demon Spawn
11 – Blake Whiten: Six Mile
That voice. Need I say more? The sheer emotion in that rasp and low delivery is somehow both devastating and beautiful in equal measure, and makes all six of these tracks a must-listen. It hooks you in immediately, and doesn’t let you free until the very last note. And honestly, the instrumentation compliments Blake’s voice and lyrics perfectly. It’s a slower, steady, neotraditional country album, but delivered with an almost murder-folk darkness to it and times, as well as a modern edge. If all of that gushing hasn’t done enough to win you over, just take a listen, it really is that good. And hell, the 9.5/10 we gave it might convince you, too! It definitely deserves a slot on this list, and if it wasn’t for it being such a strong year in 2025, it may have gotten even higher!
Listen to: Reckless, and Rollin’ Stone
10 – Craig Morgan: American Soundtrack
A real throwback to the early-mid 2000s country sound in the very best of ways. From ballads to more rockier numbers, this release takes you on one hell of a journey across 20 short minutes, and is one I’ve listened to a fair bit the last nine months or so! It’s all catchy as anything and, while a little cliche lyrically, is still damn enjoyable. And, while I wait for another full-length to follow up 2020’s God, Family, Country, these EPs that he’s been putting out are more than enough to keep me going! It got top marks from us back in February, and honestly listening back, it’s hard to argue with it! The cheesiness may have dropped it down a couple of places on this list but honestly, it’s still one of the best EPs of the year, hence why it makes this list!
Listen to: American Soundtrack, and Roots
9 – Circle of Origin: Guilty Till Proven Innocent
An awesome melodic metal EP up next, and a massively high-calibre one for a debut! It’s a style that’s right up my street, and the band do it phenomenally. It’s massive, the perfect blend of heavy and melodic, and takes plenty of inspiration from the massively overlooked groove-metal genre, incorporating plenty of bounce into their hard-rock sound. I have listened through this 20-minute release multiple times since it dropped in early last year, and don’t see myself stopping any time soon! Hopefully we are getting more from them soon, and I also need to see them live ASAP too, as I have to hear these tracks live! An insanely solid 9.5/10 from us easily lands them this spot on our list.
Listen to: Time Waits for No One, and Broken
8 – Everette: Simple as That
It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of this project. So, the fact that we are four releases in and it has turned more into a solo project and we are still getting quality this high is a true testament to Brent’s talents. All four of these track are amazing, feeling a bit more like their earlier stuff than Keys to Kentuckywas, which was pretty awesome. It’s another artist that should be far bigger than they are currently; just listen to this and tell me otherwise. I feel like it took a slight hit when Anthony left, but Brent seems to be gathering some steam again and, if he keeps putting out banger after banger like he has been, it surely will be bigger sooner rather than later! It got a 9.5/10 from us when it dropped but honestly, it feels like I only didn’t give it more because it just wasn’t long enough! If you like country even a little, give this a spin ASAP!
Listen to: Glad to Be Here, and Freight Train
7 – Jawfane: Me and All my Demons
A non-country Nashville band is always nice to see, and even more-so when it’s a fantastic, emo-adjacent heavy post-hardcore one! The debut EP from the quartet is a fantastic 17-minutes of anger, ch0nky riffs and brutal screams. It’s definitely on the darker side of releases on this list, but it also stands out a lot to me as shockingly not that many people seem to be doing stuff like this currently. And the fact that it’s done to this high a quality is truly awesome! All five tracks here are awesome, and it all fits together perfectly to make something truly special. If you like the genre, check this out immediately, you’ll surely love it! There’s a very good reason it got a 9.5/10 from us and makes it onto this list!
Listen to: Damaged Goods, and Friends and Enemies
6 – Tealdear: menace
This chaotic, proggy near-20-minutes is an absolute thrill ride of heavy music. It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but six months on from its release I still love it! It’s heavy, catchy and incredibly creative in its songwriting, it all flowing surprisingly well together. The band are all such insane musicians and songwriters, and again shoutout to their producer Audiomage, who’s done a fantastic job here too! They haven’t gotten nearly enough love and recognition from this release, but I adore it and would recommend anyone into the quirkier side of music. It got an incredibly easy 9.5/10 from us back in June, and if you listen it’s very easy to hear why. I cannot wait to hear more from them already, but for now I am happy to keep spinning this!
Listen to: the devil’s toybox, and don’t be a cult
5 – Gareth: Steal Your Thunder
2025 very much felt like Gareth’s year. Not only putting out not one but two awesome EPs, touring with Kip Moore, main stage at Long Road, it’s hard to argue what a huge, breakthrough year he had. And this felt like this release really set everything into motion here. Fifteen minutes spread across five incredible radio-country songs, all as good as each other. His vocals are beautiful and powerful, and his songwriting ability is really off the charts! And, while I did enjoy Bluebird a lot too, this one stood out a little more for me, and was a bit more solid throughout. This release has set him up for absolutely MASSIVE things, and it’s easy to hear why we gave it a 9/10, though honestly I think it deserves even more than that now. If you are a country fan, this release is an absolute must!
Listen to: Steal Your Thunder, and Last Thing I Do
4 – Bleed the Fifth: Mortal Heart
The first new release from the band in three years and it certainly didn’t disappoint! This is an incredible slab of modern metalcore from the Welsh quartet that almost teeters on melodeath at times, which certainly isn’t a bad thing! All five tracks are amazing, and this whole release has been a regular in my listening still all these months If you are at all a fan of the heavier side of metal, this is very much one for you! It very easily got top marks back in March, and it’s hard to disagree with that some ten months later. There was no way this wasn’t making the list, and I already can’t wait to hear where they go from here!
Listen to: First Flame, and We Belong
3 – Rattlesnakes: Deeper Shades of Tourment
The debut EP from the young, Derbyshire NWOBHM revival band is incredible, and has been in regular rotation for me since its April release. It goes hard throughout, from the incredible riffing to the solid drumming to Rowena’s powerful vocals. And for a debut release to produce this level of quality songs throughout is damn impressive! It’s a sound that, while never quite going away, is seeing an awesome resurgence in the UK underground scene as of late, and Rattlesnakes very much positioned themselves near the forefront of that with this release. If you are a fan of old-school metal, give this a spin, you’ll surely love it as much as I do. A very solid 9.5/10 back when it dropped, and it more than lives up to that now. A deserving addition to this list!
Listen to: Firestarter, and Burn for You
2 – Evan Bartels: To Make you Cry
As if I wasn’t already obsessed with this release when it dropped, seeing it live made me fall in love with it even more. It’s such a simple release, being pretty stripped back to Evan’s vocals and guitar with liminal other instrumentation, but it draws all the focus on the lyrics and vocal delivery, packing such a deep, emotional punch. It’s made me cry before, live and when revisiting it here. Heck, ‘The Highway’ still gives me goosebumps to this day. Plus, talking to Evan about how it was made just makes me appreciate it even more! It won’t be for everyone, but music at its most base form is supposed to make you feel something, and this does just that every single time. Every track is amazing, and this is an absolute must check out, regardless of what type of music you’re into! It’s very easy to hear why I gave it a 10/10, and it definitely deserves this slot on the list!
Listen to: Death of a Good Man, and The Highway
1 – Fangslinger: We Are the Night
There was no way this wasn’t topping our list. I’ve been obsessed with this band since they started, and this EP brought together everything I loved about the undead redneck rock’n’rollers! Big riffs, massive harmonies, arena-filling choruses and plenty of southern rock swagger to boot. All five tracks are as good as the last, it being 20-minutes of hard rock greatness. They are already teasing the next step, but until then, I am more than happy to keep spinning this release. It’s a fantastic combination of their early singles, and it’s another release I cannot recommend enough to anyone even slightly interested. It was another very easy 10/10 back in July, and I fully stand by that now. These guys are gonna be massive!
While a little later than previously planned, we wanted to sit down and take a look at our most anticipated albums set to release this year, either announced or rumoured. And, for the first time in Overtone history, not one album/artist that featured on last years list returned for this one! Out of all of them, only one didn’t release, and… well… that all got a bit messy. This year is already looking stacked for new releases, so let’s look at the ones we’re looking forward to the most, shall we?
Zach Bryan: With Heaven on Top – January 9th
The soonest to drop, merely a few days from now, one of countries biggest stars returns after taking some time away. Being a big fan of the guy, I’d be excited for this release. However, with the controversyhearing some of the snippets out there has already caused, it has made me more curious and excited than ever! Zach’s beauty is in his lyrics, and he’s certainly gotten plenty to write about since 2024’s The Great American Bar Scene. If it’s anywhere near the quality of his last couple of albums, he’ll certainly be onto another winner with this. I for one cannot wait, and am at least glad it’s coming so early in the year! Do we think it will be the third to make it onto our top album of the year list?
Megadeth: Self-Titled – January 23rd
The final studio album from the thrash legends is of course a massive deal. I have to admit I’ve not been a huge fan of their recent output, but they were a massive band in my teenage years for me and definitely inspired me in my playing, so to have them calling it quits in a year or two is bittersweet. And, having heard the singles already, the band are definitely firing on all cylinders again! They feel like the perfect blend of old and new Megadeth, and hopefully the whole album can channel the same vibes. Hell, if we get a good 80s thrash album, I’ll be happy, anything else is a bonus! Heck, as long as it’s better than their last album, it’ll be a fitting sendoff to one of the most underrated bands of all time.
The Karma Effect: Cruel Intentions – May 15th
One of the most exciting releases coming to the NWOCR scene this year is none other than London’s hard rockers. A follow up to 2024’s stellarPromised Land (which also made that year’s list), it’s impossible not to be hyped for this! ‘Waiting in a Miracle’ is a good a single as the band have ever produced, and they are already teasing more in the coming months. They are the perfect blend of old and new school, and growing more by the day, so it seems! This could very much be their biggest release yet and push them to new heights, and I am very much along for the ride. This album cannot come out soon enough, and expect it to end up on ouralbums of the yearlist come December!
Trivium: TBA
The first rumoured/unconfirmed album of the list this year, but there was no way one of my favourite bands are in the studio and that wasn’t making it on here. I know they not long put out an EP, but have said they are still in the studio working on new music as we speak. What’s more exciting is they are saying it’s being inspired by the energy from their Ascendancy anniversary tour. If their upcoming album is some sort of blend of that release and their recent output, I may become a little obsessed! They have put out some of the best music of the last decade with their last three albums, and I find it hard to believe they won’t continue on that run of form with their next one. The only issue is that they’ve said it will be ‘late 2026 or early 2027’, so this may end up back on the same list next year! Still, I can’t wait for this, and whenever it drops, it will surely be awesome!
Megan Moroney: Cloud 9 – February 20th
Megan’s other two albums got a 9/10 and an 8.5/10, respectively. Clearly I am a big fan of her work, and she has set the bar high with her albums so far! So, of course I am excited for this third album! And, if the two singles out so far are anything to go by, it will be more of the excellent same. Ones an emotional ballad, while the others a bit more up-tempo and rocky, at least for Megan, showing off both sides of her great writing. There’s a reason why she’s becoming one of the biggest modern names in the genre, and it has almost put quite a bit of pressure on this upcoming album. I fully expect her to live up to the hype around the release though, and cannot wait to hear the full thing!
Rob Zombie: The Great Satan – February 27th
The first release in half a decade for the industrial metal legend, and it’s surely set to be another awesome one. Heck, we’re still spinning his last onepretty regularly now! And, if the singles so far are anything to reflection of the album as a whole, we are going old-school Zombie with this one, which certainly isn’t a bad thing! ‘Punks and Demons’ is a fun, chaotic release that harkens back to his White Zombie days or Sinister Urge era a lot. It makes sense too, as the amazing Mike Riggs is back on guitar duty for the first time since 2003. I love John 5 and have loved what he’s done with Zombie, but if we’re getting a return to the sound of his first two solo albums with this release, I am all for it! Either way, it will good to have the master of horror back to releasing music again, it’s been too long!
Mallavora: What if Better Never Comes? – March 27th
A debut album being on this list is pretty special, but Mallavora are no ordinary band. They have been steadily on the rise now since COVID, growing more and more and getting a true cult following behind them. Now, two massive EPs under their belts, they are set to take their biggest step up since, with a massively anticipated debut album! Their unique brand of alt metal is amazing and a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to hear it in a longer format. And, like with a lot of this list, the singles we’ve heard so far are BANGIN’. The band have an incredible future ahead of them and an already stacked 2026, and this album will surely push them to higher heights still!
Fangslinger: TBA
Another that’s been teased but not officially announced, they at least have an album launch show set for April, so you’ve gotta imagine the album will be out around then. I’m a big fan of the metal/country/hard rock crossover band and have been since the start, so I’ll take any new music I can get. If that’s a full-length album, that’s even better! I’d assume ‘As the Crow Flies’ is the first song from the release, and that track is incredible, so I am already eager to hear more. I know they are dropping another single in the next week or two, so hopefully we get some more news around then. However, until then, we here at Overtone are impatiently waiting to hear what’s next for the band. 2026 is very much going to be their year!
Skindred: You Got This – April 16th
The Welsh Reggae-metal band took their time reaching 2023’s Smile, but are already returning early this year with another album that is no doubt going to be awesome. We’ve only had one single so far, but the title track is AWESOME, and hints to great things for the album as a whole. It’s impossible not to have fun with Skindred, and they only seem to be getting even better with age. Nine albums in at this point and they are hotter than ever, and seem to be putting out better and better music. Their last like four albums now have been stellar, and I have high expectations that You Got This will be more of the same!
Tailgunner: Midnight Blitz – February 6th
One of the fastest rising stars in all of metal, the recent Napalm Records signing as wasting no time putting out their sophomore album! The bands debut back in 2023 was fantastic enough, but I truly believe these guys could surpass that with this release, and prove that they are certainly ones to watch moving forward. The perfect blend of old-school NWOBHM and modern production and energy, they have all the tools to become the next big thing, and I truly believe this album will set them on that path. I’m also interested to hear what they do with a bigger budget, and if the singles are anything to go off, it’s going to be awesome!
Social Distortion: TBA/May?
Another album teased by the band but not officially announced. Frontman Mike Ness has given a rough May release date, alongside a potential single later this month. Man do I hope so, as it’s been 15 long years since their last studio release. Another massive influence in my early years, having them return after so long, as well as Mike’s tonsil cancer, is truly awesome to see. And, across their long, storied career, they really haven’t lost a step, not putting out an even remotely bad album, so I can’t see this breaking that trend now! They’re just so easy to listen to while still having plenty of great lyrics and themes, and are such an inspirational band, they can almost do no wrong. Either way, I’m just damn excited to hear this, and even more excited to finally see them live this year, too!
Ice Nine Kills: TBA
Another one for the maybe pile. INK have been rather secretive in terms of what their plan is, aside for casually hinting at capping off their Siver Scream trilogy with another album. The story through their videos has continued on perfectly, though it remains to be seen if any are standalone or if the last three will all make it onto III. I’m in two minds about it, as ‘The Laugh Track’ is one of the best songs they’ve ever done, but I rather selfishly would love as much new stuff as possible on a new release! No matter which way it goes, I’m sure it’ll be a banger when it finally comes out. They are my favourite current band, and Horrorwood is a masterpiece. While the pressure may be on after that album and their bigger tours the last couple of years, if anyone can rise to the challenge, it’s Ice Nine Kills. I’ve been impatiently waiting for this for a solid few months already!
Tyketto: Closer to the Sun – March 20th
Somehow it has been a full decade since the second wave of glam/AOR legends blew me away with Reach. That’s far too long without new Tyketto! That is all set to change at the end of March, when we get their highly anticipated return! Having seen them multiple times in the last few years, they are still very much on top form, so it’s hard not to be excited for new studio work by them. ‘Higher Than High’ is an awesome track, so you’ve gotta imagine the rest of the album will be more of the same! I’m sure this thing will kick ass, and I can’t wait!
Muse: TBA
How is it that the band are allowed to show up in June, drop one of their heaviest tracks in years, and then disappear again? I still spin ‘Unravelling’ a fair bit now, and it still has me hyped for the band to return with a new studio album. They can do no wrong in my eyes (aside 2nd Law), and even their last album had some bangers! There is no one quite like Muse, and it has been too long since we’ve had a full-length release already! No matter what sort of sound they return with, whether the Djent-ness was just a one-off or not, I’m sure it will still be excellent, and I for one cannot wait to hear whatever the Devonshire trio have come up with!
Symphony X: TBA
Okay, this one might just be be. However, I LOVE the band, and the fact that we’ve not had an album from them in a decade is insane. I’m a big fan of Russell Allen, and have already missed his work in Adrenaline Mob, so at least with this I get some of his incredible vocals again. However, the band as a whole are such incredibly talented musicians that it’s hard to imagine this isn’t going to be insane all round. We haven’t even had a single drop for this one yet, but LePond has stated that they have finished writing it in the late stages of last year, so fingers crossed it’s being recorded as we speak! It’s another that may very well get pushed back to ’27, but a guy can hope, right?!
Here we are guys, the top 20! Who do you thinks gonna be in here? Read below and find out!
20 – Brass Camel: Camel
Honestly, this is a prog masterpiece. I’ve gushed about it plenty already, but the sheer talent on display throughout this entire 40 minutes is incredible. Right from the 10-minute epic of an opener giving some of the best instrumentation I’ve heard in years, to the more radio-friendly ‘Pick of the Litter’ and ‘Borrowed Time’ to the equally grandiose closer, it’s a tour de force throughout. It’s like the perfect blend of ELO, Queen and Wolfmother, and is impossible not to have a good time when listening to. It dropped all the way back in April and I haven’t stopped raving about it since! It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but I’m insanely jealous of the bands talents, and would recommend it to anyone interested! There’s a reason it got 10/10, and it lands a very deserving spot on our list!
Listen to: Zealot, Chain Reaction, and
19 – Drake Milligan: Tumbleweed
It’s no secret how much we fucking LOVEMr Milligan here at Overtone, and once again he knocked it out of the park back last month with his sophomore album. The neo-traditional sound has made a big impact in recent years, and Drake is as good at it as anyone else. It’s 42-minutes full of boot stompin’ numbers or slower, beautiful ballads or old-school stuff, and all of it is done to perfection. And, after sitting with it for a couple of months, it just keeps getting better! While I do think it’s not quite as good as his monumental debut, it’s still an utterly fantastic country album, and one of the best of the year. We gave it 9/10 back when it dropped, but I do think it’s a bit higher than that now! There isn’t a bad track on the album, and while there’s maybe one too many slower songs in the middle, it’s still incredibly easy to listen to. A damn worthy addition to the list!
Listen to: Tumbleweed, Slow Dancing to a Fast Song, and How Much Beer
18 – Neon Union: Good Years
An absolutely phenomenal album that I’ve been obsessed with the last 11 months, and it’s absolutely criminal that they haven’t exploded from its release. There isn’t a bad track across the 12 on this, and most have been stuck in my head at various points of the last year! It’s southern-rock-infused country in all the best ways, and even the slower songs have a bit of an edge and distortion to them. If you are at all into country or southern rock at all, I cannot recommend this enough, it’s an absolutely phenomenal, damn fun album! It’s very easy to hear why it got top marks from us, and it very much deserves this high a slot on the list! I cannot wait to hear where they go from here, but for now am happy to keep sitting with this awesome album!
Listen to: Golden Rules, Bout Damn Time, and Made in Mexico
17 – Creeper: Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death
The sequel to their 2023masterpiece, this had a lot of hype to live up to. And, like with Drake, I don’t think it’s quite as good as that. However, this is still an absolutely incredible gothic, throwback hard rock album, and more than deserves its slot on this list! The release as a whole isn’t quite as strong overall, but ‘Headstones’ is maybe the best song the band have ever put out, with ‘Blood Magick’ not being far behind! If you are a fan of their recent output, this is an absolute must-listen, and has been regularly in my rotation since its Halloween release. It’s packed full of massive, cheesy choruses and key changes, but also plenty of heaviness throughout to offset it. They’re a great old-school sound while still feeling plenty modern; no one is quite doing it like Creeper currently. It’s easy to hear why it got 9/10 from usupon its release, but I do think it’s crept (punk very much intended) higher than that after a couple more listens! I think hearing it live also helped me appreciate it a lot. It more than deserves its slot on this list, and I would recommend everyone check it out at least once!
Listen to: Blood Magick, Headstones, and Parasite
16 – Malevolence: Where Only the Truth is Spoken
The UK beatdown hard/metalcore titans returned with their latest album back in June, and honestly somehow blew me away even more than Malicious Intent did! They take everything great from that release and amplify it, even down to the epic, dark ballad. The anger throughout is fantastic, from the vocals to the riffing, and makes you just want to throw people around a pit constantly. It’s 42-minutes of perfect heaviness, without a bad song throughout. And I love the band steadily incorporating more melodic and groove metal elements into their sound, adding some mainstreamness to the brutality. I can see them continuing to grow and becoming a huge band in the scene in just a few years. It got a 9/10 when it dropped, but after a few more spins I definitely think it deserves higher now. An easy addition this high up on the list!
Listen to: If It’s All the Same to You, Salt the Wound, and In Spite
15 – First Time Flyers: Bound to Break
The debut album from the rising UK country stars is an absolutely incredible release. I’ve known them a few years now, so was a little worried I’d feel a bit like Tekknoor Popular Monster; feeling burnt out by the steady drip of singles and it watering down the album. However, that certainly didn’t happen here! Despite being familiar with a lot of it, I still love each and every single when I revisit the release, and the album tracks are right up there alongside them! The bands harmonies are maybe second to none currently, and they make every single track memorable, catchy and massive. Between that and the exploration of just about every sound currently around the top of the country world, and it makes for an incredible easy listen, even at its 15-track length! It got a very easy 9.5/10 from us back when it released, and I fully stand by that still today. I can’t wait to hear where they go from here, but I still cannot get enough of spinning this for now, and it more than deserves its spot on our list!
Listen to: Primadonna, Happier, and Gold
14 – Between the Buried and Me: The Blue Nowhere
The US prog metallers’ 13th studio album may somehow be their best yet, which is honestly saying a lot! The band really made the use of their gap between releases, producing something that transcends any genre they include, the result being something distinctly BTBAM. It’s 71-minutes of beautiful, heavy chaos written and produced perfectly by the band. From jazz to death metal, 80s synth to djent to to alt to blues/country, there are so many elements blended together amazingly. I think I mentioned it in my review, but this very much feels like the modern evolution of Mr Bungle. I’ve been obsessed with this release since September when it dropped, and have raved about it to anyone that would listen! One of the easiest 10/10’s I’ve given all year, and it very much deserves this high a spot on this list. Once again, it could be even higher on any given day, it’s just an incredible year for music!
Listen to: Things we Tell Ourselves in the Dark, Absent Thereafter, and Slow Paranoia
13 – Avatar: Don’t Go in the Forest
This honestly felt like such a return to form for the cinematic metallers. And that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy their previous release, but more that this is so good, I’d put it up there among their best! It’s quirky, catchy and heavy in a way that really only Avatar can do. From power/folk to more metalcore to hard rock, everything the band do so great is very much turned up to 11 throughout this whole release. I loved it when it came out on Halloween, and have had it in steady rotation ever since. They’re just so interesting and fun, and it’s an incredibly easy nearly 5-minute listen. It flows together perfectly and all feels suitably epic. From the riffing to Johannes’ insane vocal range, it’s all so good. The 9/10 from us feels a touch low after a few listens, and it has definitely earned its high slot on here! Check it out if you’re at all curious!
Listen to: Tonight we Must be Warriors, Don’t Go in the Forest, and Death and Glitz
12 – Lady Gaga: MAYHEM
Believe me, I’m as shocked as you are! I’ve always been a Gaga fan, she got big while I was in secondary school, those first two albums are still incredible. Since then I had fallen off, but there has been no ignoring this release this year, and why should you? It’s awesome! From the three pre-release singles to so many amazing album tracks to the addition of ‘The Dead Dance’ on the deluxe thanks to her involvement in Wednesday, it is jam packed full of banger after banger. It’s also a welcome return to Gaga’s more rock-infused pop sound, clearly taking influence from everyone from Prince to Nine Inch Nails to Bowie. For a publication that is so usually everything-but-pop to put a generally pop album on this list at all, let alone this high, goes to show just how phenomenal this release is. If you doubt me at all, at least give it a listen first and try to tell me that you aren’t at least impressed by her vocals and songwriting. I wanted to see this tour so bad, but sadly couldn’t afford it, as the videos also look INCREDIBLE. We didn’t review it when it released, but after many listens since March, it can’t get any less than 9.5/10, and more than deserves its slot on this list!
Listen to: Abracadabra, Killah, and The Dead Dance
11 – Evan Honer: Everything I Wanted
Evan very much did it again in 2025. As if last year’s release wasn’t good enough already, just 15 months later he dropped another collection of incredible tracks. Heck, the title track may as well be my song of the year given how much myself and my wife have played it around the house. However, it is far from the only good song on the record; it’s packed full of them! Also, the more I’ve listened to it, the more I’ve somehow fallen in love with it. While not quite as emotionally soul-destroying as some of Fighting For, it very much still packs a punch, Evan being a phenomenal storyteller and chronicling what he’s gone through between releases. From his lyrics to his delivery, it’s perfect, powerful and beautiful. And instrumentally, while pretty simple for the most part, it’s a little on the rockier side this time, which was a great touch. Every song is as good as the last, and I’d recommend this album to absolutely anyone, though especially those into more of the country/Americana side of things. That9.5/10 has easily turned into a 10/10 at this point!
Listen to: Everything I Wanted, Better off Lonely, and Lose a Friend
10 – Orbit Culture: Death Above Life
The melodeath Swedes have done it once again, putting out an album everything as good asDecent. They have quickly become the torchbearers for the genre, and I am all for it! It’s packed to the brim with amazing songs, being nearly an hour of perfect heaviness. I have had it on a lot in the last three months, and would recommend it to anyone at all into metal. They really are masters of their craft, and have been on an excellent roll as of late. It got top marks from me, and I fully stand by that still now! The band are incredibly talented, and are surely going to be a massive name in the metal scene incredibly soon!
Listen to: Inferna, Inside the Waves, and
9 – Ghost: Skélta
I want to preface this by saying that I don’t particularly think Ghost are an ‘album band’. They are utterly fantastic at producing insane singles, but Meteora was probably the closest they’ve come to making an A tier album… until now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a perfect album front to back. However, the five/six tracks that are good are up there with some of the best songs of the last few years. I do think it wasn’t the best idea to front-load the thing with the four best track on it, three of them being the singles. However yet again, DAMN are they fantastic songs. And the other few aren’t bad by any stretch, just a step below then others and more like Ghost album tracks.
The band have really come into their own here somehow, though most (me included) thought they’d already done that with their previous two releases. It feels bigger, more epic and ambitious, and the scope is realised in a massive way. It’s like stadium-glam mixed with their usual sound, it’s awesome! Forge is honestly a musical mastermind, creating this true modern legend, and I feel they now have another album to rival their huge size. Even if you aren’t typically a Ghost fan, this is well worth checking out, as it’s that good it may just change your mind! It got a perfect score from us and it’s hard to argue with that, despite a slight breather track or two in the middle.
Listen to: Lachryma, Satanised, and Marks of the Evil One
8 – The Pretty Wild: zero.point.genesis
WHAT A DEBUT. From the fantastic scream that opens through 40-minutes of amazing modern metalcore to the epic, dark closing ballad, it takes the listener on an awesome journey. The dynamic between the two front-women is amazing, but the rest of the band also kill it throughout. Every song is amazing, be it more of a Bad Omens or Ice Nine Kills sound, and it’s easy to see why they have gotten so big so fast. I’m glad it’s getting the love it deserves from other publications, though, and it was definitely going to end up high on this list from the first time I heard it. From the massive choruses to the heavy riffing, it’s packed to the brim of awesome moments. If you haven’t already listened, do yourself a favour and do so immediately! It more than deserves its slot on this list, and the 9.5/10 I gave it, though it might even get a solid 10 after a few more listens!
Listen to: PARADOX, living ded, and AFTERLIFE
7 – Kyle McKeanery: To the River
Yet another artist I discovered just this year that I am now completely obsessed with because of their output this year! I remember interviewing him back in January and didn’t at all expect him to put out this absolute country/Americana masterpiece just a few short months later. At nearly an hour long, it’s insanely impressive that there isn’t a bad track on it, and it’s packed full of major highlights to boot. His vocals are powerful and packed full of soul and emotion, and the harmonies add even more of both. However, his songwriting is the real kicker here, some of the lyrics and choruses are my favourite of the year, no matter the genre! Whether it’s country, Americana, blues or rock, he does it all to absolute perfection. I’ve gone back since and checked out his previous stuff and, while I like that a lot too, Kyle really hit his stride here in a massive way! I have spun this in full a LOT over the last eight months since its release, and it is yet to get old. It got a 9.5/10from usupon its release and it’s hard to argue that now! If you are at all even a passing country fan, check this out!
Listen to: Skeletons, Broken Hearts Hide, and Hold On Goodbye
6 – Chevelle: Bright as Blasphemy
This one was a long time coming! After being a mainstay on our most anticipated albums list the last two years now, the alt rock/metal duo finally graced us with their highly anticipated next release. And damn, what a release it was! I always thought it was going to be hard to top 2021’s NIRATIAS, but they followed it up with an album that is up there alongside it, that’s for sure. The riffs and drumming are still massive, and the lyrics are still full of depth, anger and emotion. It feels like there is more variety than ever in their sound though, especially with the slower, more reflective and beautiful ‘Blood out in the Fields’. They are still one of the most underrated band to maybe ever exist, and I’m so hoping that we finally get a UK or even European show from them off this album cycle. It got such an incredibly easy 10/10from us at the time and I certainly haven’t changed my opinion of it since then! It was #4, on our list last time around, so the band are once again consistently high up for list. It could easily have been at the top if it wasn’t for this being such an insanely solid list this year, but it is very deserving of it’s #6 slot, that’s for sure!
Listen to: Pale Horse, Jimmy Jones – Cowards, Pt. 2, and Blood Out in the Fields
5 – Crowe Boys: Made to Wander
The highest rated debut album this year, and it’s easy to hear why! I checked this out on a whim as they’d been announced for The Long Road this year, and immediately fell in love. It’s nearly 40-minutes of incredible, emotional indie-Americana music, and in a year full of amazing releases in said genre, this tops them all. Sonically it is phenomenal, the instrumentation simple but the harmonies from the two brothers being so very beautiful. However, what really shines through are the lyrics and emotion. The vulnerability of their breakout hit. The beautiful optimism of ‘Bonfire in my Soul’. And I cannot listen to ‘Brother Song’ on track or live without shedding a tear still to this day. There truly isn’t a bad track on this release, and it is one I haven’t grown tired of in the countless listens I’ve done since its release back in June. For a debut album this is absolutely phenomenal, and is not only a testament to the boys’ insane talent, but the start of what is surely going to be an absolutely massive career as a band. Take a listen and tell me it doesn’t deserve even more than the 9/10 I gave it at the time!
Listen to: Bootstraps, Bonfire in my Soul, and Brother Song
4 – Paleface Swiss: CURSED
This slab of pure anger from the deathcore Swiss was somehow my first introduction to them, outside of Marc’s feature on last year’s Left to Suffer album. So, for me to become utterly obsessed with this band since this, that really says a lot. It certainly helped me get some anger out over the last year, that’s for sure! Marc has one of the most interesting, versatile vocals in the game right now, and really helps this album shine and stand out. Having said that though, that shouldn’t take away from the rest of the band working their asses off with some incredible riffing and drumming. Heck, we even get some awesome rapping/trap stuff, integrated into metal far better than most other bands and artists do it.
This thing came out in the very first few days of the year and I’ve been spinning it pretty regularly since then; it hasn’t gotten old yet. Sure, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you are into the heavy stuff I can’t recommend this enough. The band have been going for a few years now but this very much felt like an arrival for them in a massive way. Plus, shoutout to the deluxe edition, that added even more awesome carnage! They deserve so much more recognition and deserve to be massive thanks to this release, as well as their others, but hey, at least they got high on this list, right..? It got a 9.5/10from us back in January, but I do feel like it’s jumped up to top marks now, and more than justifies being this high on our list!
Listen to: Hatred, Enough?, and Love Burns
3 – Those Damn Crows: God Shaped Hole
Our 2023 album of the year winners returned back in April and once again knocked it out of the park. Heck, this was a UK #1 album, an absolutely HUGE feat for a band of their size and style, and it should say enough about how fantastic this release is. It truly couldn’t have happened to nicer, more deserving guys, either. Yes, they were pipped to the post this time round, but that isn’t a reflection of this albums quality in any way, more just the insane quality of music released this year.
The NWOCR leaders’ fourth offering is yet another one without a single bad song on it. It’s radio-friendly hard rock at its very best, and is something that absolutely everyone should listen to as I truly believe they’d make a fan out of anyone. Whether it’s the riffing, solid drumming or Shane’s impressive vocals and captivating charisma that comes through his delivery, it’s all excellent for a full 40-minutes. And, while I gave it 10/10, I feel like it’s grown on me even more with subsequent listens, being certainly up there with Inhale/Exhale for me now. The band have gone from strength to strength in recent years and this feels like the icing on the cake of everything they’ve achieved so far! One hell of an album, and more than deserving of this spot on our list!
We have PLENTY of Crows content on our site, just search it up!
Listen to: Glass Heart, Lets Go Psycho!, and Spit & Choke
2 – ONE OK ROCK: DETOX
This may be the most slept-on album of the year. Hell, for a sadly hefty chunk of the year, I did just that. I loved it when it came out, but got so wrapped up in other music that it wasn’t until I revisited it before seeing them that I realised DAMN, THIS IS A FUCKING GOOD ALBUM! This thing is all killer, no filler; 37 minutes of pop-rock perfection. Whether it’s heavier stuff like the opener, ‘Party’s Over’ or the Paledusk-featuring ‘C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.’ to slower ballads like ‘Tropical Therapy’, ‘Tiny Pieces’ and ‘+Matter’, it’s all incredible. I honestly cannot express enough how much I love each and every song on this album. I discovered them off their previous album and liked it, but goddamn has this one made me fall in love with the band. How they aren’t one of the biggest bands on the planet is beyond me. Still, with their Western tours over the last couple of years, on top of this excellent release, they are certainly getting there! We gave it9/10 when it was released but after many spins since February it definitely deserves more than that, maybe even top marks! Yep, 10/10 for this masterclass. I’d recommend it to anyone!
Listen to: NASTY, Delusion:All, and +Matter
1 – Architects: Sky Earth and Everything Between
There was nothing else it could have been. The return to form to end all return to forms. One of the biggest bands in modern metalcore took some risks in the early 2020s which, while definitely aided their popularity, it certainly alienated a fair few of their fans. Well, those fans are certainly back after this release. A UK #2 album, damn respectable, even if they were screwed out of the top spot by another week of Short n Sweet.
However, that shouldn’t take away from the majesty of this album. It’s the best thing they’ve done since Lost Forever, and you can quote me on that. It combines the bands aggressive early sound with their more recent lighter, pop-infused stuff, and it works perfectly. It’s arguably what everyone wanted their evolution to be, and it only took the world really pissing off Sam to make it happen. The fact that the slower songs are even bangers shows the quality of this album.
I gave it a more than deserved 10/10 from us, and if you want even more gushing about it, I’d recommend checking out the review linked. Every song is incredible and I’ve listened to it so much in the last eight months. A very deserving top album for 2025, and one that is a must-listen for anyone out there.
Listen to: Elegy, Blackhole, and Seeing Red
And there you have it, folks! Another year, another set of absolutely incredible albums from the rock, country, metal and even pop world! Are there any we missed or you think were misplaced? Let us know! Until 2026!
As I’m sure you can tell, we saw a lot of bands and artists this year! While just about every one of them blew our socks off, we wanted to mention a few of our absolute favourites!
Ice Nine Kills – Nottingham Arena, December 2025
The most recent entry on this list, there was no way this wasn’t making it onto here! I’ve loved this band for a while, and they somehow keep getting better and better! They’ve somehow perfectly turned their brand of chaotic horror-metalcore into an arena spectacle, and now I don’t think it can be anything less. This was one of the best stage shows I’ve ever seen, there being something for practically every track. From extras dressed as various horror villains to enough knives, chainsaws and pyro to make customs surely incredibly difficult, they had it all. And, on top of that of course, the band also played their asses off throughout! Spencer is one of the most effortlessly charismatic frontmen around today, having the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout despite the limited interaction. Meanwhile the rest of the players are some of the most talented bunch of instrumentalist and screamers he could have gathered. Heck, we get the horn section of BBF for most of it, too! I could gush about this band all day, but I’ll let you read our review of thisif you want that!
P.S. shoutout to Creeper supporting, who would have surely made the list if they’d have had longer!
Drake Milligan – The Long Road 2025
For the second year in a row, Mr Milligan storms onto this list. And how could he not? He and his band are one of the most entertaining live acts around today. The sheer show they put on and sheer talent on display between all of them will always be incredible. And, for saying this was apparently his first ever open-air festival headline slot, it made it even more special! And, setlist-wise, it was pretty close to perfect! From old classics to plenty of new stuff that has since been released on album two, I couldn’t get enough from start to finish. It’s another set that I gushed over in the review plenty, so won’t go over it too much. However, I loved this from start to finish, and he somehow cemented me as an even bigger fan moving forward than I had been before! He’s going to be around for years and years to come, so I urge you to see him and his band live as soon as you possibly can!
Green Day – Download 2025
Somehow it’s taken me 28+ years to see one of my favourite childhood bands live, but to say they didn’t disappoint would be an understatement! This was a non-stop tour de force of huge songs from my childhood, and I loved every minute. From the best of American Idiot (seeing ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ live was a bucket list item) to old classics like ‘Welcome to Paradise’, ‘When I Come Around’ and even ‘Minority’, to the very best of the last few albums, there was a little something for everyone! And, some nearly four decades into their career, they still very much have it, sounding as fantastic as ever and performing their asses off for a solid 90+ minutes. It was one of the best headline sets I’ve seen in the 12 years that I’ve gone to the festival, and that’s saying a lot! They well and truly blew me away, and proved any and all doubters wrong on the night, I’m sure!
ONE OK ROCK – Manchester Apollo, October 2025
THIS is how you do a headline set! Reducing the venue from the AO arena was a blessing in disguise for this show, because I have never been in a crowd quite like this one. The whole building hung on every note, knew every word and went nuts the entire time. And, as such, the famously great live band played their asses off throughout. And it helps that we got one of my favourite albums of the year, DETOX, played almost in full, every track being an absolute banger. And, of course, we got all their hits sprinkled in for good measure. If you want more gushing just check out our full review, you’ll get to see just how much I loved it! They should be one of the biggest bands on the planet, and they seem to be almost everywhere but the UK. But, somewhat selfishly, I’m hardly gonna complain, because seeing them in such an intimate setting was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to!
Blacktop Mojo – Manchester Rebellion & The Hairy Dog, Derby, March 2025
A slight cheat one as not only is this two separate sets, but my band also supported on both of them! However, I did have tickets to the Derby show anyway, so regardless this would have made it onto this list! The first ever shows over here for Blacktop Mojo and Shaman’s Harvest (huge shoutout to them too, as they were also excellent on both shows) and they came to show out, as both bands blew the roofs off both venues! However, Blacktop just edged out both shows for me, putting on easily two of my favourite sets of the year. They played a setlist packed with some of my favourite tracks from them, from their older stuff to the fantastic latest album. And they played their asses off throughout, with Matt being an excellent frontman! Check out our review of one of the shows if you want to hear me talk even more about both bands, but there was no way they weren’t making it onto this list!
Evan Honer – The Long Road 2025
Honestly, this was a bit of a religious experience for me. It is no secret I have become a massive fan of Evan off his last couple of albums. His lyrics and songwriting are phenomenal and speak to me on another level to most other artists. So, hearing some of these tracks live, I’m enough of a man to admit that I cried. Every song was amazing, and some really hit home. The full band was a nice touch too, and the harmonies they were hitting were awesome and added so much to the sound. And, speaking of the band, they are all insanely talented, even switching instruments casually for a song! And Evan is such a great performer, being a great frontman and his vocals are just as good live as on track. Even with a shorter festival set in a tent, I was still blown away, and already am desperate to see him again!
Stray From the Path – Slam Dunk 2025
Once again with them, the energy was absolutely off the charts. I loved themthe first time I saw them, and it was somehow even better this time around! From their awesome previous albumtracks to the singles from their latest release, it was packed full of incredible tracks, performed to perfection. And it helped that the crowd were fully onboard throughout, going nuts and filling the place with crowd surfers. Every bit of energy the crowd gave the band, they gave it right back, too. Andrew is an insane frontman who really kept the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout the set. We were right down the front and it was crazy, and so much fun! It’s so sad that they have called it quits as they are such a good band, but they have very much gone out on top this year, with this set showing just that!
On top of absolutely loving his latest album, I adored my first time seeing the country legend live! He played a stacked, 25-odd song setlist packed full of the very best from Solitary Tracks, alongside all of his classic hits, to boot. And the show he and his band put on was nothing short of spectacular. It was simple, them playing and a fantastic lighting rig backing them, and there wasn’t even a huge amount of crowd interaction throughout. But, the sheer stage presence and vibes going on through it all were amazing. I couldn’t look away for the entire set, and neither could the rest of the packed out crowd. Easily one of the best acts of the year, especially so early on!
A band that I have loved for years now, and another that only seem to be getting better and better! Finally ascending to the rank of headliner among the Planet Rock crowd was nothing to be scoffed at, and the trio more than rose to the occasion. Blasting through the very best of their two studio albums, as well as their energetic cover of ‘Breadfan’, it was a setlist jam-packed full of awesome songs. And, the crowd were packed out and hanging on every single note, all being huge fans of the band. Heck, they even got a pit going, I’m pretty sure the only one of the weekend, impressive for a crowd that are not known for their energy usually. If you want to hear me gush more over it, check out our review of the weekend, but there was no way it wasn’t making this list!
Electric Callboy – Slam Dunk 2025
Seeing this band this year practically guaranteed them a spot on this list, didn’t it? They are the best live metal band around today, without question, and put on as good a show as any to close out their stage at Slam Dunk! It’s impossible not to have a blast watching them. The show they put on; fire and multiple confetti moments, the camaraderie between Kevin and Niko on stage, the campfire-acoustic break in the middle, all incredible. And, what’s more, they have the songs to back up their impressive show, too. Opening on the amazing ‘Elevator Operator’ and rattling through all the hits off Tekkno, to standalone singles like their BABYMETAL collab ‘RATATATA’ or recently (at the time) released ‘Revery’, to plenty of fun, amazing covers too, it was honestly the perfect setlist. And, of course, the band play everything to perfection, being one of the most polished, well-oiled machines around today. I love this band and am so impatiently awaiting the next album!
Brothers Osborne – O2 Academy Birmingham, January 2025
Another awesome country gig in Birmingham, this time from one of the bands that got me into the genre to begin with! My only complaint, and I’m sure I mentioned this in my review too, is that we only got two tracks off their awesome latest album, and they opened the show with them. It was a little odd. However, when you have a back catalogue as solid as Brothers Osborne, it’s hard to miss any of the other hits out! ‘Stay a Little Longer’ is still one of my favourite songs of the last decade, and the solo live gave me goosebumps. Meanwhile tracks like ‘Skeletons’, their Dierks Bentley collab ‘Burning Man’, and ‘Dead Man’s Curve’ all still stand out in my mind as great live memories, almost a full year later! The brothers have such a fantastic chemistry together, and the crowd loved every second!
LN – Winters End & Scruffy Murphy’s, June 2025
My discovery of the year, that’s for sure! I know technically it’s another two-show entry, but after seeing them at Winters End, there was no way I wasn’t also going to one of their own shows, too! The fact that a dark, heavy pagan metal band won over the Planet Rock crowd is a feat in of its own, but is a true testament to the bands talents as a live band. The eponymous LN is the most captivating front-person I’ve seen all year, being equal parts endearing and intimidating throughout both sets. And the rest of the band played their asses off at both shows; one to a huge festival crowd and the other to a tiny, packed out room, putting in the same level of energy to both. Their music is also sick, me being hooked on their songs for weeks after each show. They’re playing a lot in the UK and are quickly gaining a following, so see them ASAP, as they’re going to be big sooner rather than later!
Another from Long Road and another that absolutely blew me away. As I said both in my review and to Evan himself, the fact that he can get such a fantastic sound and pack such a huge punch when it’s just him up there with one guitar is mind-blowing. The emotion and vulnerability on display throughout was insane, and has really stuck with me all these months later. Between that and the songs themselves being amazing, it’s hard to argue his inclusion on this list. I was already a fan, but this has cemented that feeling even more so in the few months since. I already cannot wait to see him live again, and hopefully once the album he teased drops, he’ll make it back across the pond again!
Bad Touch – Rescue Rooms, October 2025
A band that I go way back with but hadn’t seen in a good while, it’s incredible to see them still firing on all cylinders. While keeping up on their recent studio output, songs from that translated incredibly over to a live setting, while I got plenty of nostalgia seeing some of my favourites from my youth alongside them! Stevie is yet another frontman on this list who’s effortlessly captivating, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout, but the rest of the band played their asses off around him as well. And, to see a venue like Rescue Rooms packed out for old friends was so heartwarming, as was getting to play alongside them once again. They really have gone from strength to strength in the NWOCR scene, becoming one of its prominent members, and it’s very much because of live shows like this!
Crowe Boys – The Long Road 2025
The final entry and last Long Road one, once again, I’m not scared to admit this brought me to tears. It’s not been the easiest year mentally for me and the wife, and ‘Brother Song’ had us both crying. That’s the true power of not only the Boys’ songwriting, but their incredible delivery as a duo. They weren’t able to bring their full band over for the shows, but they arguably didn’t need to, the pair did a phenomenal job on their own! The harmonies were off the charts throughout, and both delivered such emotion and impact with every track. They had the small stage packed out, and everyone clung to every note. I sadly missed them on the Front Porch the next day, but I am so very glad I got to see this incredible set!
