20 best rock & roll songs of 2025 are among the best of the century

Rock and roll used to be the most popular music in America. When I was growing up – I’m old enough to remember when the 1950s felt recent! – rock dominated the radio and music charts.

The idea that rock & roll is dead has been around for a while, and many people believe it. But that’s not true! You just need to know where to look. It might require listening with an open mind and rethinking what ‘rock’ even means, but it’s still very much alive. It exists in many forms, from heavy metal to upbeat pop punk, and can even blend with genres like folk or funk.

A lot of it wasn’t very good, honestly – much of it just copied what was already out there and felt overly serious. But that was common in rock music during the ’60s and ’70s. We simply forget the bad stuff over time. That’s how nostalgia works, and it makes us believe the past was better than it actually was.

Soft, heavy, sweet, or vulgar, 2025 produced some great rock & roll

We often revisit beloved classics, but with new music, we hear everything indiscriminately – both the great and the not-so-great.

It’s possible rock music was stronger in the past, but there’s still fantastic rock being made today. Here are 20 songs from 2025 that one listener especially enjoyed – a personal pick of the year’s best.

20. “Infinite Source” by Deftones

Deftones began as a typical metal band from California’s Central Valley. While they earned a Grammy in 2001 for their song “Elite,” their music often crossed genre lines, preventing them from achieving mainstream popularity. Though they consistently released new albums, they remained somewhat under the radar for much of the 2000s and 2010s, never quite breaking into the top charts.

The Deftones continue to thrive, even after releasing their critically acclaimed album Private Music in 2025. They remain innovative, influencing new generations of musicians with their signature blend of heavy guitars and beautiful melodies, as showcased in this collection of songs.

19. “Lachryma” by Ghost

This nominee is up for Best Metal Performance at the Grammys. The song features heavy guitar riffs combined with a strong melody and an impressive guitar solo – proving that all these elements can work together. That’s especially true when it comes from an artist like Tobias Forge.

18. “Monday Murder” by Yungblud

Although Yungblud received three Grammy nominations this year – including nods for best rock song (“Zombie”) and best rock performance (“Changes”) – this particular song wasn’t nominated. I simply enjoy its blend of upbeat melodies and relaxed vocals, which remind me of Robert Smith’s style, a little more.

17. “Julia’s War” by Hotline TNT

The song immediately grabs your attention with powerful drums and heavy guitars, but then surprisingly shifts into a dreamy, melodic chorus – all without losing its raw edge. I’ve been noticing this blend of intensity and melody in a lot of the music I’ve been listening to lately.

Hotline blends different styles within the broad umbrella of “rock” – think powerful guitar riffs alongside beautiful vocal harmonies. Even though the core elements of rock and roll have been around for decades, artists like Will Anderson are constantly innovating by taking those familiar sounds and reimagining them in fresh, exciting ways.

16. “Townies” by Wednesday

Townies, like they did on Wednesday, has a knack for transforming country songs into rock tracks. It’s not just country music with a rock beat – you won’t hear any traditional country sounds like twangy guitars or fiddles. Karly Holzman seems to blend genres seamlessly, and occasional collaborator M.J. Lenderman is exploring a similar musical path.

They’re consistently producing successful music. “Townies” is a track from their acclaimed album Bleeds, which followed their popular 2023 release, Rat Saw God. In fact, they’re doing so well that “Townies” wasn’t even one of the singles they chose to release this summer.

15. “Up All Night” by Alice Cooper

It’s surprising, but after more than 50 years, Alice Cooper reunited with the original members of his band to release a new album, The Revenge of Alice Cooper. The album is surprisingly strong, and this song, in particular, is exceptional, regardless of when you listen to it.

This song captures the energy of classic Kiss, even though the band never actually recorded it. While it features snippets of guitar work from the late Glen Buxton, a former member of Alice Cooper’s band, it also showcases the talent of a newer guitarist named Gyasi – a name to watch for in the future.

14. “Autonomous Overdrive” by the Violet Mindfield

While Alice Cooper reminds us of the 1980s, this band from Southern California takes us back even further, to the exciting era of 1960s garage rock. I’m actually writing about the classic 60s Nuggets compilation right now, so those songs are fresh in my mind as I listen.

Violet Mindfield’s music would feel at home alongside classic rock, but bands from that era would be amazed by their powerful sound. Though they’re an American band, if you enjoy the energetic British Invasion sound of groups like Status Quo and The Who, you should definitely give Violet Mindfield a listen.

13. “Slowdive” by Turnstile

This is likely the most intense song on the list. It features powerful guitar work supporting a surprisingly delicate melody that shifts from calm to energetic without sounding artificial. I’m especially drawn to this band – they had a major breakthrough in 2025 and are local to my area, hailing from Baltimore, Maryland.

I’m thrilled they received five Grammy nominations across Rock and Metal, but like before, I’m choosing to focus on my personal favorite songs instead of the ones they’ve been nominated for.

12. “Emily’s Shop” by The Len Price 3

Oops, I think I jumped the gun comparing another band to The Who. I was planning to make that comparison for this group! Never mind, maybe they remind me a bit of early Pink Floyd, specifically the Syd Barrett years – though that could just be because one of the songs is called ‘Emily.’ Actually, after relistening, this sounds a lot like ‘Mary Anne With the Shaky Hands,’ but with a much fuller, more powerful sound.

11. “Life Signs” by Water From Your Eyes

Rachel Brown provides the vocals and lyrics for Water From Your Eyes, while Nate Amos composes and produces the music. Keep their names in mind – they’re creating innovative indie rock that doesn’t easily fit into any one category.

This song is a surprisingly powerful and catchy track. It builds to impressive heights while still managing to stay rhythmically interesting, even though it playfully bends the rules. Unlike many standalone singles, this one is part of a fantastic album, and fortunately, the artist has plenty more great music on the way.

10. “Up ‘n’ Down” by Jeremy & and the Harlequins

Let’s talk about bands like Nick Lowe or Matthew Sweet – they play that energetic, pub-rock style. This New York band has been making music for a decade and they’re really good at taking familiar rock elements and making them sound new. Their recent single, “Thunderbolt,” actually builds a song around the famous riff from “Summertime Blues.” And their song “Up ‘n” Down” definitely lives up to its name – it’s an incredibly upbeat and lively track.

9. “Guts” by Cleopatrick

This band delivers surprisingly powerful music, considering they’re from Canada. Luke Gruntz creates incredibly fuzzy guitar sounds, and Ian Frazier doesn’t just play the drums – he transforms them into both a beautiful melody and a driving, energetic beat. The result is a seamless and captivating sound reminiscent of Portugal the Man.

8. “Catch These Fists” by Wet Leg

If you were concerned Wet Leg couldn’t recapture the brilliance of their hit song “Chaise Longue” with their new album, you can relax. Moisturizer delivers a fuller, more powerful sound, while still retaining the witty, dry humor and clever lyrics that made them so popular a few years ago, as showcased in this first single.

7. “Young & Dumb” by Avril Lavigne (featuring Simple Plan)

Okay, this game is totally bringing me back! It’s drenched in that early 2000s nostalgia – think Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan absolutely killing it in the pop punk scene. Seriously, the music sounds exactly like that time. It’s ridiculously catchy, even if you weren’t into that whole scene back then. But if you were? Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions – you’ll be laughing, maybe even tearing up, and definitely dancing. And then you’ll just hit replay over and over again.

6. “Name the Band” by This is Lorelei

I’ve watched Nate Amos both support Rachel Brown’s work with Water From Your Eyes and lead his own band, This is Lorelei. For a long time, I believed his collaboration with Brown was key to his artistry. However, I now feel Amos has developed into an independent artist.

Water… is still going strong, as evidenced by their continued success. However, Amos is really coming into his own as a musician, and this new song showcases his talent beautifully. It’s his most straightforward song yet, but it’s packed with clever lyrics and music, all within a short, enjoyable 90 seconds.

5. “Man Made of Meat” by Viagara Boys

The band, led by Swedish transplant Sebastian Murphy, has a playfully rebellious edge, as their name suggests. What sets them apart is their ability to write songs that could easily be crude, but instead are delivered with impressive power and sophistication.

This powerful song offers a surprisingly insightful take on today’s world – something you don’t often hear in hard rock. That’s because artists like Sebastian Murphy, who combine musical energy with thoughtful commentary, are rare.

4. “Girl in Trouble” by The High Frequencies

Here’s how I create my year-end song lists. First, I brainstorm and write down every song I enjoyed throughout the year. Next, I see what respected music critics have highlighted, to make sure I haven’t missed anything. Finally, I narrow down the list, because I always end up with more songs than I need.

Sometimes I unexpectedly discover a great song, and recently that happened with “A Girl in Trouble” by The High Frequencies.

I initially thought this song was a remake of the Romeo Void hit from the 1980s – I’m a big fan of that song, so I didn’t really listen to this one. But it turns out they’re completely different! Lisa Mychols has been making energetic pop music for years with various groups, and this song suggests she might have finally found the perfect band to do it with.

3. “Take Me Back” by Haim

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Grammy nomination from this artist, so here’s one last possibility. While Haim didn’t receive a nomination for this particular song – or any of their songs – their frequent collaborator, Tobias Jesso Jr., is nominated for Songwriter of the Year. He also co-wrote their hit song, “Relationships.”

I enjoy the song “Relationships,” and I like much of the album I Quit overall. But this particular track is special – it’s a wonderfully raw and emotional tribute to memories and past relationships. The rhythm is fantastic, with a beautiful, wandering saxophone solo, and it really captures the vibe of the San Fernando Valley.

2. “She Says” by Gyasi

I knew as soon as I heard this song – it’s from a band that really brings back that glam rock vibe – that it would make my list. Honestly, I didn’t think it would climb this high until I started revisiting all the tracks. But this one just stuck with me, I couldn’t shake it. It’s the kind of song that would be a hit no matter when it was released – a true classic.

The song features a powerful beat, compelling vocals, and a fantastic guitar solo that brings everything together. This isn’t Gyasi’s first time shining, though – he previously played guitar on a track by Alice Cooper.

1. “Cuntology 101” by Lambrini Girls

Okay, so this punk band, they absolutely crushed it last year with two amazing releases. Honestly, they’ve barely started digging into how messed up relationships and sex are in the world, and even what they’ve shown so far is incredible. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s got me hooked.

The performance starts with a building, pulsing sound, then Phoebe Lunny rapidly lists the behaviors that often lead to women being labeled – as the show’s title suggests. It’s fast-paced, urgent, and full of energy, driving the performance forward and making the audience feel it too.

In other words, it is simply a great rock & roll song.

2025-12-13 14:02