I used to love gathering up all the music I've listened to throughout the year when I used write for Audio Ammunition and now I'm glad I have a new platform to do it once again. I enjoy reflecting on the year through these records; where I was when I first heard them, or remembering the excitement of listening to them for the first time. Often times I get surprised that some of these records have only been in my life for such a short a time. 2025 was an unbelievable year for underground rock n roll. It took me so long to gather the records I loved the most and whittle the list down to something manageable. I used to have a method of ranking records but I realized it was foolish. I used to rank records by how much I actually played them throughout the year. Sounds legitimate right? Well, then I thought about this: I love the movies 2001 A Space Odyssey and Back To The Future. I am not in the mood to watch the former as often as I am the latter. Does that mean I like Back To The Future MORE than 2001? No, not necessarily. So I think you're seeing my dilemma yeah? So I decided there are no rankings, just a list of records that made my hands tingle, my head feel all hot, and my heart swell!
LP / 12"'s
Eel Men - Stop It! Do Something LP (No Front Teeth / Big Neck Records)
What happens when you get a band together in London that sounds like Mark E. Smith and Elvis Costello spit in the same drink? You get this debut LP that's the sleeper hit of the year! Find it, listen to it, love it. I know you will!
Imploders - Targeted For Termination LP (Static Shock / Neon Taste Records)
This is the record that made me wand to start writing about music again this year. Short, pissed off rapid fire songs have been gathered here on this 45 RPM LP. Songs that have been hardened and sharpened into a lethal auditory weapon. Think Angry Samoans arm-wrestling Poison Idea and you'll get the gist.
Brad Marino - Voodoo 7" (Lighthouse Records)
Much like The Heartbreakers did it, or like The Real Kids did it, Brad Marino makes infectious , no frills rock n roll and that's a very respectable thing these days. A killer original on the "A" and a Jesus and Mary Chain cover on the "B", this is one that gets my feet moving every time I hear it!
Autogramm - Randy 7" (Dirt Cult / Goodwill Records) B-Side is a Diodes cover
Just based on their music, Autogramm seem like a bunch of likeable dude's I want to hang out with. The 'A' side is a fun, new-wave kissed track dedicated to the drummer's cat! How nice is that?! The 'B' Side is a terrific cover of The Diodes 1979 classic "Jenny's In A Sleep World". Autogramm delivers again!
This is the record that made me wand to start writing about music again this year. Short, pissed off rapid fire songs have been gathered here on this 45 RPM LP. Songs that have been hardened and sharpened into a lethal auditory weapon. Think Angry Samoans arm-wrestling Poison Idea and you'll get the gist.
Pyrex - Body LP (Total Punk Records)
An avalanche of fuzzed up guitars and pounding beats descend upon you as soon as the needle hits the disc. Pyrex play hard hitting, hook filled punk rock with a voice that feels like a hand from a nightmare dimension, tearing through, slowly choking the life out of you. Brilliant band, perfect record. 
Disposable Dogs - S/T LP (No Front Teeth Records)
Thrilling debut LP from these L.A. / London folks that sounds like The Riffs tumbling with Sham 69 but with a modern Smogtown like twist. Not played with blazing speed, the emphasis of these songs lies in the fist clenching gang shouted vocals and the anthemic choruses. I eagerly await more!
Dark Thoughts - Highway To The End LP (Stupid Bag / Drunken Sailor Records)
This Philly trio plays Ramones / Riverdales punk rock with so much gusto they practically retake the genera and call their own. And to be honest, I don't hear a lot of other bands out there playing this style of music nearly as well as they do. I hope this band continues their greatness for a long time to come.
This Philly trio plays Ramones / Riverdales punk rock with so much gusto they practically retake the genera and call their own. And to be honest, I don't hear a lot of other bands out there playing this style of music nearly as well as they do. I hope this band continues their greatness for a long time to come.
Control Freaks - TV Generation LP (Sweet Time)
Apparently all it took was a new label for Greg Lowery and the gang to return to form. Fast, loud and full of snotty fun, just the way you want it! Does this band make me think of the ills of the world and how doomed we are as a society? Absolutely not, and therein lies its brilliance!
Loose Lips - Last Laugh LP (DIG! Records)
Stunning debut record, just think of all those 70's punk bands like Generation X, The Boys, or Teenage Head. The ones that had brilliant pop hooks at the core of their songs surrounded by muddy production and glam rock swagger. Now you're on the Loose Lips train and you won't ever want to get off!
Apparently all it took was a new label for Greg Lowery and the gang to return to form. Fast, loud and full of snotty fun, just the way you want it! Does this band make me think of the ills of the world and how doomed we are as a society? Absolutely not, and therein lies its brilliance!
Stunning debut record, just think of all those 70's punk bands like Generation X, The Boys, or Teenage Head. The ones that had brilliant pop hooks at the core of their songs surrounded by muddy production and glam rock swagger. Now you're on the Loose Lips train and you won't ever want to get off!
Sex Beat - Crack LP (This Charming Man Records)
These Berlin dynamos play ambitious post punk with so much heart and energy on this record that it's impossible not to give it your full attention. If someone told me this band was actually from the 1990's and put out by Dischord records I'd have no reason to disbelieve them. Amazing release!
These Berlin dynamos play ambitious post punk with so much heart and energy on this record that it's impossible not to give it your full attention. If someone told me this band was actually from the 1990's and put out by Dischord records I'd have no reason to disbelieve them. Amazing release!
Punter - Austrailenation LP (Drunken Sailor/Televised Suicide Records)
Singer Nathan Burns sounds like he can summon the lightening and the thunder from the skies and hurl it though his vocals directly into your soul. Punter attack hard in a Motorhead meets Discharge sort of fashion. Much like oxygen or water, you need this record in your life!
Singer Nathan Burns sounds like he can summon the lightening and the thunder from the skies and hurl it though his vocals directly into your soul. Punter attack hard in a Motorhead meets Discharge sort of fashion. Much like oxygen or water, you need this record in your life!
Teengenerate - Live At The Empty Bottle LP (Hozac Archival)
In the 1990's this band walked as titans among men. Call it "budget rock" or "garage punk" Teengenerate owned it all. This LP captures the band in it's sweaty, manic prime. All the hits and amazing covers are here. Essential for all the rock n roll wild folk!
EP's / 7"'s
Glitter Fast - S/T (Slovenly Recordings) 7" EP
Brilliant Japanese lo-fi punk that sounds like it would have been right at home on Rip Off Records in 1994. Sure Glitter Fast are doing it Registrators / Teengenerate style, but they got their own thing going and its phenomenal!
The Sleeveens - Downtown / Drowning 7" (Goner Records)
With their debut LP last year, The Sleeveens have shown that they are one of the best bands to emerge in the last 20 years. The band continues to dazzle with two more tracks of their unique brand of melodic punk with singer/songwriter urgency injected in. Go check them out NOW, you won't be disappointed!
Clean Lines - Nuisance 7" (Wanda / Spaghetty Town / Ghost Highway Recordings)
These Seattle dudes are on a diet of power pop, junk shop glam and some spirited pogo punk and vomit it all up in your lap. And you're going to eat it all up with a smile. The songs are loud, fun, and catchy as a cat's claw. I ask you, what's not to love here?!
Much like The Heartbreakers did it, or like The Real Kids did it, Brad Marino makes infectious , no frills rock n roll and that's a very respectable thing these days. A killer original on the "A" and a Jesus and Mary Chain cover on the "B", this is one that gets my feet moving every time I hear it!
Retrospects - Shattered / In My Dreams Before 7" (Fish and Cheap Records)
Ian Manhire from The White Wires (yes THAT White Wires) goes it solo with a keyboard / drum machine driven masterpiece. Scrappy, unforgettable, mid tempo new wav-y/power pop with incredible, introspective lyrics make this two banger a home run in every sense!
Automatic Lovers - Boston Brats 7" (Wap Sho Wap Records)
These Spanish marauders come at you with a dirty, back alley '77 style punk attack! The 'A' side leans heavily on a Slaughter & The Dogs style and the 'B' side is a Kirk and The Jerks cover "Who Cares If Tomorrow Never Comes." Together, these songs were a welcome surprise to my ears this year!
The Hell - S/T 7" (Sorry State / Drunken Sailor Records)
These Cleveland slime balls ooze out of the storm drains once again, only to drop this new 7" at our doorstep and then back to the shadowy sewers they go! The Hell hammer out mean, Killed By Death style PUNK ROCK! It's fast, its angry, it's sloppy, it's just the way we I love it!
Amusement - Holding On 7" (Dirt Cult Records)
I feel like I took bands like this for granted back in the 90's and early 00's. Amusement are a breath of fresh air now days for sure. These Portlandians play genius indie punk/pop like Jets To Brazil, J Church, and Jolt used to. The three songs here sound fresh, moving, and intense; a very welcome sound to me!
Autogramm - Randy 7" (Dirt Cult / Goodwill Records) B-Side is a Diodes cover
Just based on their music, Autogramm seem like a bunch of likeable dude's I want to hang out with. The 'A' side is a fun, new-wave kissed track dedicated to the drummer's cat! How nice is that?! The 'B' Side is a terrific cover of The Diodes 1979 classic "Jenny's In A Sleep World". Autogramm delivers again!
The Snags - White Russians In Kreuzberg 7" (Take The City Records)
Another Berlin band jumped on my radar this year! These guys play an irresistible brand of neo-pogo punk not unlike The Tranzmitors, The Briefs or The Stiffs Inc. Three songs of guitar riffs galore, catchy sing along choruses and vocals so snotty you'll want to slap the singer across the face! So great! 
Well, that's about it. Thank you very much if you made it to the end. I look forward to writing about more great music in 2026! Please give me a follow on Instagram @el_maestro_castro and don't forget to check out the Born Too Late podcast that I do with my good friend Josh Rutledge from the world famous Faster and Louder Blog. The podcast is available on all major podcast listening providers and coming soon to Bandcamp as well!
Happy New Year!
