JANUARY 2025 HIGHLIGHTS
The first month of 2025 has... well, it could be better, to say the least. But I'm not here to talk about that right now. I'm here to talk about music, and despite January always being a slow month, we have a good handful of great new tracks to blast on repeat, from reunited emo pioneers to up-and-coming local acts, from black metal to pop rock and everything in between. Here's my personal picks for the must-plays of the year so far:
Thursday - Taking Inventory of a Frozen Lake: I closed out 2024 by listening to Thursday's iconic and all-too-fitting "Jet Black New Year", and I started 2025 by blasting this, their surprise single that dropped at midnight. The B-side to their last single, "White Bikes", this is pure throwback emo at its finest. Thursday continue to prove that they still have what it takes to remain at the top of the pack, and I can't wait to see what their first full-length since their reunion will have in store for us.
Saetia - Tendrils: After reuniting in 2022, the screamo pioneers have finally dropped their first song in a whopping 26 years, and it has been worth the wait. The title track from their upcoming 3-song EP is driven by hoarse screams and a vibrant bass line, ending with a snippet of spoken word over lethargic guitarwork. In a time when 90's and '00's emocore bands are staging comebacks left and right, Saetia stand out thanks to their cathartic songwriting, and this time around, they'll get the recognition they deserve.
Mayday Parade - By the Way: Changing gears to something much more mainstream, Mayday Parade, the pop punk band beloved by emos, have dropped a sugary sweet new single. It's a sample taste from their 8th studio album, fittingly titled Sweet, that drops in April. While I feel they floundered in the middle of their discography, as topping A Lesson in Romantics was a hopeless task, their latest material has left a good impression on me, and this catchy, slightly melancholic pop rock anthem with huge choruses has me very interested in what they'll do next.
Killed by Kiwis - Cope: The first of two local Twin Cities acts to make this roundup, Killed by Kiwis have delivered a garage punk banger that, if there's any justice in the world, will get the rest of the world to pay attention. It's dirty and rough, with lyrics bemoaning capitalism and what it's like to be a washed-up twenty-something. The bass is key to keeping the whole thing together, while the killer lines "God isn't dead He just needs some space/Life's only a bitch when she's just resting her face" in the fantastic bridge will inevitably get stuck in your head.
Bleeding Through feat. Comeback Kid - I Am Resistance: This single, off of their upcoming album Nine (no points if you can guess how many albums they've released), is the first big metalcore track of the year. With the help of fellow -core veterans Comeback Kid, they've created a monster of a single that finds a great balance between aggression and melody. While I never got into either band too much, this has me looking up and paying attention, because if the rest of the album is full of heavy hitters like this, it will be well worth the listen.
Silverstein - Don't Let Me Get Too Low: Ah, Silverstein. A band I like, but who, despite having a very consistent post-hardcore sound, have been wildly inconsistent in regards to quality, at least to my ears. It's not just that they release a couple of mediocre albums here and there; some of their highest highs and lowest lows wind up on the same record. So while my excitement is cautious, I will say that this single has me in good spirits, as it's a great modern update to the emo they've been known for for over two decades. If the rest of the record can match this, they could very well finally have their first truly memorable album.
ameokama - phantom cock: ameokama, the solo project of Dreamwell's Aki McCullough, is a refreshing mix of dreamy pop, ambient indie rock, and a bit of black metal just for good measure. I've been thoroughly enjoying every song she's dropped so far ahead of her debut album, but "phantom cock" is my favorite, and I promise it's not solely because of the delightfully fun premise of sex with a ghost. If you're a fan of atmospheric and 'weird' pop, you owe it to yourself to check her out (plus, there's going to be a Mars Volta cover on the album!)
Florida Man - El Rey: I forgive you if you've never heard of post-hardcore champs Florida Man; I hadn't heard of them until earlier this month, either. But I can assure you, you're missing out, and you'll want to dig into this single as soon as you get a chance. This track is unique for it's emphasis on Latin rhythms, which are usually prominent in mathcore, but it's about time other -core acts started incorporating them. It's a groovy, dance-able punk jam that had me listening to their entire discography after just a couple of listens. Give it a spin!
Kyrie Nova & The Defiant - One Step: Picking just one song from Kyrie Nova & The Defiant's debut album for this article was hard, as this all-doll, Twin Cities punk band had nothing but standout tracks all the way through it's relatively short runtime. While there are other faster, vicious songs on display here, like the singalong "Chaser" and the all-too-relatable "Failure", the highlight has to be their closing track "One Step", which slows things down a bit to be contemplative, wistful, and comforting, while still having that edge. Get in at ground floor while you can!
Deafheaven - Magnolia: Deafheaven tore my world in half when I listened to Sunbather for the first time a couple of years ago, and unfortunately, nothing they released since that 2013 blackgaze masterpiece has really scratched the same itch. It's not bad, per se, it's all quite good, but they focused much more on the shoegaze than the black metal half of their equation, which left me wanting. The good news, then, is that "Magnolia" is their heaviest song in about a decade. Yep, the pendulum has swung the other way with this one, as it's pure black metal mastery. We're so fucking back.
BONUS: Here are a handful of various albums I've been blasting the past month and highly recommend.