THE TOP 50 HARDCORE PUNK RECORDS OF 2025

It’s that time of year where a bunch of websites will post their Best Hardcore / Punk Records of 2025 by Bands Who Have Publicists and Managers. Maybe they’ll toss a NY punk band in for cred, and why not? They kinda know the guitarist, he’s cool, and the way he used orange zest in that mezcal primavera he made was kinda life altering. Let’s be real, most of those lists are made to curry favor for ongoing access or for engagement farming. They’re one step away from AI slop and the folks curating them would be better suited debating Coachella lineups.

This list was put together by me and my bud, Kevin Hare. We both play in bands that put out releases this year but didn’t include them on the list. I wanted to note this for a couple reasons. First, we really love our bands and the music we are creating. Both deserve your time and attention, so check out SUBVERSIVE INTENT and FALSE SALVATION. Second, I hate the idea that even a single moran out there might consider us music critics. However, if that’s the case just know we put our money where our mouth is and you can criticize our bands all you want to.

Read a longer post and descriptions about the releases HERE.

Playlist HERE.

1. Scarab Burn After Listening LP Rebirth
2. Ayucaba Operación Masacre LP Metadona
3. Steroid Chainmail Commandos LP Crypt of the Wizard
4. C4 Payback's a Bitch LP Triple B
5. Grand Scheme S/T 7" 11PM Records
6. Nisemono S/T LP Toxic State
7. Inmates Role of God LP Iron Lung
8. Bulls Shitt S/T LP Rebirth
9. Alienator Meat Locker LP Black Water
10. Split System 7" series 7" Legless
11. Tarrega 91 Ckaos Total LP La Vida Es Un Mus
12. Ultimate Disaster For Progress LP Grave Mistake
13. Wits End Demo I & II Cassette Rebirth
14. With Hate From Boston With Hate 7" Tribe Dream
15. Beton Arme Revolution LP La Vida Es En Mus
16. Identity Shock Traces 7" Designated Moshers Unit
17. GUNN S/T LP LP Going Underground
18. Primitive Impulse Piss It Away LP FEEL IT
19. Citric Dummies Split With Turnstile LP Feel It
20. Madman Demo Cassette Rebirth
21. The Final Agony Depraved From Darkness 7" Triple B
22. Puffer Street Hassle LP LP RoachLeg
23. The Massacred Nightmare Agitators LP Active-8
24. No Idols S/T 7" Iron Lung
25. Who Pays... Hard Times 7" 11PM Records
26. Contempt You Still Suffer 7" Rebirth/Advanced Perspective
27. Hierarkin Bomberna Faller LP Cimex
28. Ceramik You Let This Happen LP Room 11
29. Electric Chair/Physique Split LP Iron Lung
30. Combust Belly Of The Beast LP Triple-B
31. Plasma Mua Et Voi Omistaa LP Sorry State
32. End It Wrong Side Of Heaven LP Flatspot
33. Frothing Mad Demo Cassette From Within
34. Suicide Eyes Demo Cassette Rebirth
35. Dead On Your Feet D.O.Y.F. Cassette Fortress
36. The Social All For One, One For All LP Mendeku Diskak
37. Loud Night / Taifun split 7" No Norms / Phobia
38. The Sissy Boys Lets Party LP Rebirth
39. Necron 9 People Die LP Unlawful Assembly
40. Raw Brigade 100% LP Flatspot
41. House Arrest Food On Your Table 7" Extinction Blast
42. Direct Order '82 Demo Cassette Self Released
43. Naysayer Rage Dreams 12" EP Edgewood
44. Cheap Heat Blank Void 7" Brain Slash
45. Total Con Who Needs the Peace Corps? 7" Static Shock
46. Destruct / Svaveldioxid Split 7" Prescription/Children of the Grave
47. Tormented Imp S/T 7" Donor
48. Dynamite Settle The Score 7" Northern Unrest
49. TS Warspite Trauma Stage 7" Northern Unrest
50. G.A.Z.E S/T LP D-takt & Råpunk