As the year comes to a close, it’s time to pick out the best rock albums of 2025. We’ve had a strong year for new music, with lots of great albums to choose from. Of course, any ‘best of’ list is bound to spark debate – everyone has different tastes, and it’s impossible to please everyone!
Honestly, rock music is huge – everything from metal and punk to more experimental stuff like post-punk and prog, plus tons of indie bands. So when I was picking just five albums to highlight, I really tried to get a good mix of different styles to show off how diverse the genre is.
When I began choosing my favorite albums of the year, I noticed a common thread: each artist had a unique comeback story. Some surprised everyone with a new release, while others returned after a long hiatus. A couple of these albums even came from reunited classic lineups. See if you can spot the twist with each of these five artists.
Five of the best rock albums of 2025
The Darkness – Dreams On Toast
The Darkness burst onto the scene in 2003 with their album Permission To Land, achieving significant success. Initially, they seemed like a playful parody of rock bands, with catchy songs and flamboyant performances. After a period of inactivity and disbanding, the band reunited, worked hard, and continued to release music and tour.
The Darkness are back with a fantastic new album, Dreams On Toast. It’s full of everything fans love about them – energetic rock and roll, memorable melodies, impressive guitar work, and Justin Hawkins’ signature vocals. While still featuring some powerful moments, the album balances things out with the band’s trademark humor and a generally upbeat feel, which feels especially welcome right now.
Suede – Antidepressants
Suede is one of those bands that initially found success, then disbanded, only to get back together later. They’ve released several albums since reuniting, with their most recent, Antidepressants, coming after a three-year pause. The big question with these later albums is always whether the band is still genuinely inspired or just going through the motions.
This album doesn’t disappoint at all. Suede delivers another strong performance, sounding fantastic as always. It’s clearly influenced by post-punk, and many of the songs feel instantly familiar, like they could easily become Suede’s signature hits.
The album features a mix of somber and energetic tracks, exploring themes of overcoming challenges and embracing life. Longtime Suede fans will definitely enjoy it, and it’s also a great starting point for anyone unfamiliar with the band.
Alice Cooper – The Revenge Of Alice Cooper
This album feels like a return to classic rock, with Alice Cooper reuniting with his original band. It’s a collaborative effort, featuring the full band rather than a solo performance, and marks their first album release together since the 1970s – a real trip down memory lane.
Okay, so this album definitely sounds fresh, but it still feels like classic Alice Cooper and the band – you know, that signature style. It’s packed with that old-school rock and roll groove, and honestly, it’s a bit of a throwback, but with a modern edge. People are really digging the track “Black Mamba” – it’s got Cooper in full spooky, shock-rock mode, and honestly, just hearing that one song makes me want to check out the whole album. It’s a good sign of what’s to come!
Deftones – Private Music
Deftones return with their tenth album, Private Music, blending alternative metal and art rock. After a five-year break, this album is a powerful comeback. Although illness unfortunately prevented them from performing at Glastonbury this summer, the release of Private Music more than makes up for it.
While the band’s had a few changes, their core sound remains consistent on this album – it’s the same style that fans love. However, it’s still a standout release thanks to its strong songwriting and consistently excellent tracks. They clearly put a lot of care into making it, and it shows. This powerful album rightfully earned a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album.
Dream Theater – Parasomnia
I honestly didn’t think it would ever happen, but I was so thrilled to hear that Mike Portnoy was back with the band after things worked out with his departure and Mike Mangini moving on. And their new album, Parasomnia, which came out earlier this year, is exactly what I hoped for – a return to their classic progressive metal sound. It’s like they never left!
Previous albums hadn’t quite lived up to expectations, sounding a bit uninspired. But with the return of Mike Portnoy, Parasomnia generated a lot of excitement. It’s a strong Dream Theater album – eight complex, lengthy tracks with some conceptual elements. While still firmly rooted in metal, the sound feels a bit more refined. Fans have been very pleased with it and given it the praise it deserves this year.
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2025-12-09 14:00