From Architects to Lacuna Coil, here are 10 must-hear tracks from 2025 you need to dive into right now!

Words by Felix Bartlett | Jan 24, 2025

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With 2025 now in full swing and a slew of tours finally making their return back into our towns and cities we wanted to take a look and share 10 tracks already released this year that prove 2025 is shaping up to be one of the heaviest years in the alternative scene to date. From Architects to Lacuna Coil, here are 10 must-hear tracks to dive into right now!

01. Architects – Blackhole

How could we not kick off our list with the ever-almighty Architect’s and their latest offering, Blackhole, taken from their highly anticipated upcoming album Seeing Red. Following their previous release The Classic Symptoms Of A Broken Heart which dropped way back in 2022, this new track, along with a handful of previously released tracks (Whiplash, Curse and Seeing Red), Blackhole again offers a glimpse of what we can expect from the Brighton crews next release with all signs pointing towards album moving back to the hard-hitting metalcore sound of their earlier releases.

02. LUNA KILLS – LEECH

Finland’s rising alt-metal sensation, LUNA KILLS, aren’t holding back the punches with their ferocious new single, LEECH. This marks the third track from their recently announced album, DEATHMATCH, set to drop on April 4th. The single delivers not only hard-hitting riffs but also dives deep thematically, offering a raw portrayal of battling depression and self-harm through its powerful lyrics. Already earning critical acclaim, the band has firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in modern alt-metal, brb while we add this to our release calendar.

03. Split Chain – I’m Not Dying To Be Here

Having seemingly exploded onto the scene out of nowhere Split Chain have continued to defy expectations and continue to prove to be a dominating force heading into 2025. Their latest single, I’m Not Dying To Be Here, delivers a perfect dose of nu-gaze brilliance. With a UK tour scheduled for March and April, followed by appearances at Slam Dunk in May and Download in June, the band is poised to make waves in the broader metal scene.

04. GATES TO HELL – Next To Bleed

Hardcore-infused Louisville death metal, need I say more? GATES TO HELL have marked the new year with the announcement of their new EP Death To All which lands this March and with that they’ve offered us the first taste of what to expect in the form of a gruesome track with visuals to match that’s left us thirsty for more.

05. Lacuna Coil – Gravity

Exploring themes of the inevitability of fate as well as the constant cycle of falling and rising, ‘Gravity’ delivers an important message on resilience and marks the fifth single from the Italian Goth Metal crew. Brace yourself for what’s to come as Gravity paves the way for the band’s first long player release after their remake album ‘Comalies XX’.

06. Coheed and Cambria – “Someone Who Can”

With a headline slot at this year’s 2000Trees Festival and a brand new album on the way there’s a lot to get excited about with Coheed and Cambria’s new release ‘Someone Who Can’. The track serves as an insight into the band’s early days and positions itself as the most accessible song in their 24-year career. Looking for an excuse to get stuck into prog-rock’s most iconic bands? Now’s your chance!

07. Conquer Divide – Bad Dreams (ft. Of Virtue)

Joining forces with Of Virtue, Conquer Divide’s latest single ‘Bad Dreams’ takes their signature brand of powerful, hook-laden modern metalcore to explosive new heights. The collaboration showcases a dynamic interplay between vocalist Kiarely Taylor and Of Virtue’s Tyler Ennis, reimagining the concept of a duet with electrifying results. With a UK tour alongside New Years Day and Ankor set for early 2025, this is a lineup you definitely won’t want to miss.

08. Alt Blk Era – Run Rabbit

Boundary-pushing experimentalists Alt Blk Era are proving they have little interest in adhering to traditional genre rules. Their latest track, ‘Run Rabbit’, channels rave-ready energy with its driving electro beat and irresistibly catchy chorus, evoking memories of The Prodigy and the golden era of ’90s EDM. With their debut album, ‘Rave Immortal’, dropping next week on January 24, it’s clear this duo is just getting started—and there’s bound to be even more to discover in their eclectic soundscape.

09. Avantasia – Against The Wind

What began with the iconic two-part Metal Opera series has blossomed into a remarkable legacy of ten albums, cementing Avantasia as the ultimate sanctuary for fans of power metal’s most grandiose, theatrical, and over-the-top elements. Their newest single, ‘Against The Wind’, delivers a high-energy blast of galloping rhythms and soaring choruses, brimming with electrifying intensity and setting the tone for their forthcoming album, ‘Here Be Dragons’, dropping February 28. You can almost feel the ground shake as Against The Wind promises to become a live show anthem, with Tobias Sammet and his band gearing up for an epic UK and European tour.

10. Nova Twins – Monsters

After cryptic teasers posted on their social media channels, we finally have a taste of what’s to come next from the epic duo Nova Twins.  The latest track carving out the next chapter is a feverish piece of songwriting that tackles mental health and finds the duo fully absorbing their feelings. With the emotion on display, ‘Monsters’ takes on a raw, renegade quality, achieving a directness Nova Twins have always sought.