2024 was a great year for Rock Music but a strange one in that so much great stuff was released at the very start of the year and then things kind of tailed off with a few notable exceptions wonderfully dispersed through the rest of the year. That meant that there were a few genuine late contenders this time around. There were great returns from classic bands, consistent albums by newer artists and some real surprises thrown into the mix.
SO HERE IT IS THE ROCKPIT’S OVERALL BEST ALBUMS of 2025
THE TOP TEN
1. The Commoners – Restless
There were for me at least a dozen albums that at some time in the year I would have had at the top of my list, but this one from Canada’s The Commoners was one that was constantly on in the playlist. This to me is as good as fellow Countrymen The Trews at their peak and runs early Black Crowed pretty damn close. A fine album that will age wonderfully well. You really need to hear this if your love of Rock needs that underpinning of Blues…
2. Vain – Disintegrate Together
Vain’s debut ‘No Respect’ was an album that changed my life as much as any in the late 80’s. And this album a mere 35 years later goes as close as you possibly could to recapturing that magic. This is sheer sonic bliss…
3. Babylon A.D. – Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
Another band that released an album that impacted me hugely back in 1989, and which eerily like Vain sees them come up with a record 35 years later that really captures the magic of the debut is Babylon A.D. This is a record that has it all and decades later underlines what a great band they still are. Some of the best songs the band has produced since that day are hear and waiting for you…
4. The Dead Daisies – Light ‘Em Up
The Dead Daisies is incapable of releasing a less than great album and in all the years we’ve been around they’ve never failed to make the Top 5 of our charts. This album sees the return of the wonderful vocals of John Corabi and is a record that pretty much any other year would have run away with top spot. Time to light ’em up again. You won’t regret getting your ears around this one…
5. The New Roses – Attracted to Danger
There’s a battle in Europe at the moment for the best Hard Rock band and this year it was a very tight call with The New Roses, Eclipse, Kissin’ Dynamite, Suicide Bombers, Black Diamonds, D.A.D. and more all releasing unmissable records. This year in our chart Germany’s The New Roses just edged it. This is an album of anthem that you just can’t stop playing, tinged with Southern Rock and even Country it’s up there with their very best…
6. Eclipse – MegalomanIIum
One of The Rockpit’s very favourite bands put out one of their very best albums this year. Erik and co continue to make magic on an album that for me just shades it’s predecessor Megalomanium. If you want fist pumping singalong anthems and ballads to get the tears flowing, no one does it better…
7. Crossbone Skully- Evil World Machine
The real surprise band of the year was by new kids on the block Crossbone Skully who brought the legendary Mutt Lange out of retirement to executive produce the project that to us sounds as fine as vintage Def Leppard and post 1987 Whitesnake. Being released so late in the year if a few more of us had heard it before voting closed it may even have snatched top spot its that good!
8. The Erotics – Destined To Damnation
For me bands like The Erotics are why I started this website on the first place – a band with a real underground sound, killer songs and who never seem to deliver. I thank Rob Lane for that who in the early days of The Rockpit send me ne of their first albums. I’ve been hooked ever since. If you like Sleazy, horror fueled, punk tinged dirty Rock and Roll the I’m probably already preaching to the converted…
9. Suicide Bombers – All For The Candy
Wow! What an album by Suicide Bombers! This is a jaw dropping album, perfect from start to finish and not a single note wasted, This album represents everything that makes these guys great but taken to a whole new level. The songs are energetic and captivating, the playing by everyone on it is phenomenal, and Chris is after all these years still as good if not better than he ever was vocally. This is a record that should be in the collection of everyone who loves great rock n roll, the bar for 2024 is set here and it’s set VERY HIGH.
10. Trucker Diablo – Social Hand Grenade
Coe back of the year for sure. Northern Ireland’s Trucker Diablo blew the roof off last time out with ‘Tail End of a Hurricane’ but they have roared back to life with Social Hand Grenade… As the press release closes: “From the one man office mosh pit crunch of Kill The Lights, to the closer What I See and the juggernaut heft of Dig! This album clocks in under 45 minutes, so you can get your breath back before you hit repeat.” I couldn’t have put it better myself! Seriously if you want to hear one of the best albums of the year check this motherfucking epic out! Top 3 for me all the way Tom! I’ll fight anyone who says it’s not!
THE TOP TWENTY
11. Dirtbag Republic – Bad Decisions
One of the albums of the year for me for sure and one I managed to open a few ears to in the lead up to this year’s vote. For me a dead cert must hear release from a band that just keeps getting better and better. if like me you marvel at the Hanoi Rocks on a daily basis and have a huge love for band like The Dogs D’Amour and gravitate towards the Sleazier, Punkier side of the street then you probably thought that all the great music died out at the end of the 80’s. Well I have to inform you it didn’t and these guys are the real deal…
12. Kissin’ Dynamite – Back With A Bang
One of Europe’s best Hard Rokers return with another Arena-sized slab of heavy magic. This is a band you need in your collection and if you love this then get ready to dive into a glorious back catalogue…
13. Black Diamonds – Destination Paradise
14. D.A.D – Speed of Darkness
15. The Cure – Songs of a Lost World
16= Quireboys – Wardour Street
16 = The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards
17. Phil Mogg – Mogg’s Motel
18. Slash – Orgy of the Damned
19. Prophets of Addiction – Face The Music
20. Magnum – Here Comes the Rain
THE TOP THIRTY
21. Saxon – Hell, Fire And Damnation
22. Kings of Mercia – Battle Scars
23. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield
24. Sweet – Full Circle
25. Lucifer – V
26. ZO2 – Begin Again
27. Cruzh – The Jungle Revolution
28. Issa – Another World
29. Crazy Lixx – Two Shots At Glory
30. The End Machine – The Quantum Phase
THE TOP FORTY
31. Mr. Big – Ten
32. Black Country Communion – V
33. The Gems – Phoenix
34. ACE FREHLEY – 10,000 Volts
35. Snakebite- Cobra Crew
36. Joe Bonamassa – Live at The Hollywood Bowl
37. Skid Row – Live in London
38. Jerry Cantrell – I Want Blood
39. Frank Turner – Undefeated
40. Sebastian Bach – Child Within the Man
BEST AUSTRALIAN RELEASES OF 2025
1. Sister Switchblade – Don’t Try This at Home
It was closer than ever this year with Australian releases and to be honest any on this list would have made our Top 40 overall if we didn’t separate them all out. Honours in the end went to one of Perth’s best Hard Rock bands and one that is steered by Andy Smith (ex-Babyjane). If you love the sound of Skid Row meets Sunset Strip then you will absolutely find this irresistible.
2. Pierce Brothers – Everything is Bigger Than Me
3. Southern River Band – D.I.Y.
4. Shotgun Mistress – Kings of the Revolution
5. CICADASTONE – Future Echoes
6. The Dreadful Tides – EP
7. Taylor Sheridan – Troubadour
8. Triple Engine – Triple Engine
9. Mammal – The Penny Drop
10. Audio Reign – The Perfect Sea
