THE BEST OF 2025 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

 

- I recently saw the movie Song Sung Blue, and it was a potent reminder of the power of music. Music makes us feel larger than life, it makes us feel like anything is possible, it heightens emotion and helps us to get through even the darkest of times. In 2025, we needed music to be a cry of rebellion. We needed music to be a call to action. We needed music to feel like hope yet remained even in this darkest timeline. 

It's why, as I thought about my favorite songs of the year, I ultimately gave the top spot to a band that has been leading that charge. Dropkick Murphys have long been one of my favorites, but in the Trump era they've talked the talk and walked the walk - giving us songs and albums that felt urgent, timely, and sorely needed. 

I was lucky enough this year to see the great John Fogerty live in concert for the first time ever, at the Hollywood Bowl. Decades ago, Fogerty and Credence Clearwater Revival used music to talk about the changing times, and to protest the bad moon rising, the trouble that was on the way. In his 80's, Fogerty was still absolutely fantastic - sporting his trademark bandana and blue jeans, he sang iconic song after iconic song. And you couldn't help but notice that so many of his Vietnam-era protest songs resonated more today - sadly, I suppose - than they have in many a decade. 

I got another dose of still-vital classic rock when I saw Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening at the Greek theater. I'd recently watched the new Led Zeppelin documentary, and was eager to get the Led out in whatever way was possible in 2025. Seeing the son of the band's legendary drummer (not to mention *his* son, whose band was the opening act) was a pretty good way to honor the Zeppelin legacy. While not quite the same as seeing the original band, this was a fun show that gave us a mix of iconic rock songs and some deeper cuts. 

I had another really fun experience at the Hollywood Bowl, seeing the "I Want My 80's" concert. I love me some vintage 80's music, so this was a real treat. The headliner here was Rick Springfield - who, at age 75, was somehow still in great shape such that women were screaming when he took his shirt off (life goals for my 70's, I guess?). But Springfield legit rocked, and I came away from the show with a newfound appreciation for his surprisingly deep catalog of 80's rock bangers (my new favorite: "Human Touch" - it rules). That said, I was also really excited to see Wang Chung. They've been having a bit of a moment of late, with their classic "Dance Hall Days" being featured in a number of recent movies, and their "To Live and Die in LA" song also serving as the theme to John Mulaney's Netflix talk show. Wang Chung seriously rocked live, and I got sort of emotional for "Dance Hall Days" ...

 ... Because to bring this post back full circle, the song was used in one of my favorite movie scenes of the year, in the film The Life of Chuck. In the scene, a young Chuck spends time with his grandmother after the death of his parents. She's in the kitchen, cooking, as "Dance Hall Days" kicks up. Nick Offerman's narration states: "She liked rock n' roll, while she was cooking. Music Chuck would have thought much too young for her. But which she clearly enjoyed." Young Chuck looks at his grandma. She smiles back, as she taps the counter with her ladle, to the beat. She looks at him and says "C'mon little brother, let's dance." And they do. And from that moment on, a love for music and dance awakened in Chuck. It made me think of my own seemingly forever-young grandmother. It made me think of my own love of music. It made me think of how music keeps us young, smiling, and alive. 

2025 was a really tough year in a lot of ways. It was a struggle. But music made it easier. Music made me feel like I could fight back. Music made me feel like I - and all of us - still had a fighting chance. 

So here are some of the songs that spoke to me, that moved me, that energized me - in the year that was.

DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2025:

 

1.) Dropkick Murphys - "Who'll Stand With Us?" / "Chesterfields and Aftershave" / "Bury the Bones"

-  As I said above, Dropkick Murphys have become more than just a kickass punk rock band in recent years - they've become a voice of the revolution. And their recent 2025 album encapsulated that. It's filled with songs that urged us to fight. That proverbially spit in the face of Trump and MAGA and anyone who would follow them. Songs that lament the fate of the working man, that look back nostalgically on simpler times, that mix rage and sadness and emotion into a maelstrom of punk rock anthems that make you want to pump your fist and fight the good fight. "Who'll Stand With Us?" is the protest song we needed in 2025 - an anthemic rager that doesn't quit. "Bury the Bones" is another standout track, a scornful eulogy for would-be oppressors. And "Chesterfields and Aftershave" is the best song about grandfathers ever - a nostalgic ballad about the good ol' days and the people we miss from them. It's songs like these that make the Murphy's 2025 album "For The People" my pick for Album of the Year.

 

2.) Aerosmith & Yungblood - "Problems" / "My Only Angel"

- I'm a diehard Aerosmith fan, so it felt like a minor miracle that, somehow, the band returned from the brink to give us unexpected new music here in 2025. It had seemed the band was done, finished - but lo and behold, 2025 saw a new collaboration with up-and-coming rocker Yungblood that gave new life to the Bad Boys From Boston. And you know what? While their 5-song EP was sort of up and down, it had a couple of certifiably rocking tunes that have only grown on me more with each new listen. First single "My Only Angel" is a radio-friendly tune that, yeah, smooths out Steven Tyler's rougher vocal edges way too much. But still. There's some magic there. And "My Only Angel" is actually my favorite of the new songs - it's got vintage Tyler wails, some heavy Joe Perry riffage, and an emotion-packed vibe that reminds me a bit of "Sweet Child o' Mine." There's stuff that can be picked apart here, no question. But let's take a moment to celebrate that Aerosmith is back, baby.

3.) The Darkness - "Walking Through Fire"

-  I was a bit mixed overall on The Darkness' latest 2025 album, but the standout song for me was, easily, "Walking Through Fire" - a hard-driving rocker that is the band at their best. This was a big anthem for me in 2025, a motivational song that could be cranked up to 11 during those times when you need a musical pick-me-up. 

 

4.) Lady Gaga - "Abracadabra"
 

- Lady Gaga's latest album is all killer, no filler - and "Abracadabra" is flat-out one of the best dance-pop songs in a long, long time. It quickly entered regular rotation on my morning exercise playlist, and *also* served as a key source of inspiration as I penned the latest chapters in my spooky comic book series Halloween Team. Talk about a song that's got it all. This is a mystical, magical, evil spell of a song that is both mesmerizing and energizing.

 

5.) Billy Idol featuring Avril Lavigne - "77"

 

- If you've been paying attention, you know that Billy Idol has been on a bit of a musical tear for several years now. Yes, his music will always be rooted in 80's-era punk and new wave - but man, don't sleep on his 2020's output. In 2025, he put out a great new album, filled with fun collabs. One of the best, in my humble opinion, is his banger of a pop-punk song, "77", done with Millennial icon Avril Lavigne. It's a great mix of both of their sensibilities, and it speaks to the current moment as well. It's a call for rebellion like it's seventy-seven.

 

 

6.) Florence + The Machine - "Everybody Scream"

- I've not necessarily been a mega-fan of Florence + The Machine, but I've long had a healthy appreciation for the band's dark, haunting melodies and gothic-tinged tunes. But wow, when I first heard "Everybody Scream," I really sat up and took notice. This song got under my skin and really stuck with me. It's a dark, moody, and mystical song that gets my imagination running. So good.

7.) Ghost - "Satanized"

- Ghost is now a rock band whose new music I consistently look forward to. They have a uniquely epic, theatrical sound - and their songs tell stories like few other bands can. "Satanized" is their latest goth-metal epic - a maximalist power ballad that soars, that tantalizes, and that just plain rocks really hard. 

 

 

8.) Evanescence - "Afterlife (Gunship remix)" / "Fight Like a Girl"

- What a comeback year this was for Evanescence. Incredible cameo on Nathan Fielder's show The Rehearsal aside, Evanescence released some amazing new music this year. Their new song "Fight Like a Girl" played over the end credits of the new John Wick spinoff The Ballerina (and was arguably the best part of that movie). It's a badass rock song that kicks you in the teeth and doesn't let up. And then, they dropped a super cool remix of their new song "Afterlife," done in conjunction with the amazing synthwave band Gunship. 2025 was a full on Evanescence comeback, and I can't wait to see what else they've got up their sleeve for 2026.

 

9.) Alice Cooper - "Blood on the Sun"

-  Alice Cooper is one of my all-time favorites, and I buy every new album of his sight unseen. And so, I was intrigued to listen to Cooper's 2025 album that saw him reunite with his original Alice Cooper Band lineup. The resulting album did indeed have a different, more old-school feel versus other recent Cooper output. And to be honest, not all of it worked for me. But! I did love, in particular, this song - "Blood on the Sun." It's a hard-driving rock ballad with great lyrics and a sense of real epicness. A standout track that makes me, as always, incredibly thankful that Cooper is still around doing his thing.

10.) Twenty One Pilots - "City Walls"

-  In re-watching the music video for "City Walls" on YouTube, I was reminded from reading the comments (I know, I know ...) that Twenty One Pilots have an insanely dedicated fandom who closely track an incredibly complex lore that is associated with the band and their songs. So, yeah - I am nowhere near that level of fandom, but I have been a big Pilots fan since their original album. And that made me particularly excited for "City Walls," which feels like a return to the original, electric combination of rock, rap, and techno that made me love this band from the get-go. 

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

- The Paradox - "Get the Message"

- NewDad - "Misery"

- Gorillaz (featuring Sparks) - "The Happy Dictator"

- Spoon - "Chateau Blues"

- Men Without Hats - "I Love the '80s"

- KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack - "Golden"

 

 

To close, I wanted to mention the monumental loss that the rock world suffered in 2025, with the death of Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy's music meant so much to me from an early age, and I was devastated to hear of his passing - even as I was awed by Ozzy's epic and emotion-packed final show, when he knew the end was near. "Maybe, it's not too late ...".

The Best of the 10's - Danny's Best Rock Music of the Decade!

THE BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF THE 2010's:

Note: I decided to try something a little different here. Typically, in my Best of the Year lists, I look at the best songs of the year. But now, looking back at the decade, I thought it'd be appropriate to look instead at the best albums. Because any band can have a great song or two - but putting out a really great album? Even in the age of streaming, that's what cements a band as legend and creates fans for life.


1. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (2013)

- I actually didn't really love Daft Punk's landmark album at first listen. I was coming off of their Tron Legacy soundtrack and wanted more of the same. But over time, I came to appreciate just how great Random Access Memories really was. From uber-catchy dance songs to cosmic techno and everything in between - this really is a modern classic.


2. Twenty One Pilots - Vessel (2013)

- With its earworm songs and exciting combination of rap, rock, and techno, Twenty One Pilots' breakout album was a game-changer.


3. Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll (2012)

- Full of bombastic rock, Foxy Shazam showed they had what it takes to be the next great rock band with this 2012 album. If only they'd stayed together!


4. Daft Punk - Tron Legacy Soundtrack (2010)

- Want to hear the soundtrack to the electro-future of your dreams? Look no further than the instant-mood-setting of Daft Punk's seminal score to Tron Legacy.


5. Scorpions - Sting in the Tail (2010)

- Doubt me if you want, but Scorpions' Sting in the Tail is a late-career epic from the classic rock stalwarts, that came nearly fifty years into the band's career. From "Raised on Rock" to "The Best Is Yet to Come," this one is chock full of killer rock anthems.


6. The Darkness - Hot Cakes (2012)

- After a long hiatus, The Darkness returned in 2012 with a kick-ass comeback album that's filled with fist-pumping rockers.


7. Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)

- The spiritual sequel to one of the all-time great rock albums did not disappoint. Sure, old-school fans may have been shocked to see Alice Cooper collaborate with the likes of Kesha, but true fans know that one of the secrets to Alice's success is that he's always evolving.


8. Greta Van Fleet - Black Smoke Rising (2017)

- While Greta Van Fleet may have suffered from overexposure, there's also no denying that this debut EP absolutely ripped. From start to finish, it's full of new songs and covers that evoke mystical, magical 70's-era rock.


9. John Carpenter - Lost Themes (2015)

- The soundtrack to so much of my writing in recent years, legendary movie director (and film score composer!) John Carpenter blessed us with two albums of all-new music this decade. The instrumental songs evoke his trademark foreboding, synth-y style.


10. Slash - Slash (2010)

- Before Guns n' Roses improbably reunited to tour again, GnR guitar legend Slash came out with this killer album. Filled with collaborations with everyone from Ozzy to Fergie (and eventual bandmate Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge), this one took you to paradise city and back.


THE NEXT BEST:


11. Rush - Clockwork Angels (2012)

- Rush's final album was one hell of a farewell. A steampunk-themed concept album, Clockwork Angels was jam-packed with killer prog-rock anthems filled with geeky-awesome imagery.


12. The Dropkick Murphys - Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)

- Boston's favorite sons are nothing if not reliable - but Signed and Sealed is one of their best. Quite simply, it's loaded with great songs that will have you belting out the lyrics like it's last call at the pub. The boys, as they say, were back.


13. The Offspring - Days Go By (2011)

- By the time this album released, The Offspring were struggling to get rock radio airplay - the world had moved on from their brand of catchy punk rock. But that's a shame, because this was a great album, mixing vintage Offspring-style tunes ("Slim Pickens ...") with super-fun experiments ("Cruising California (Bumpin' in My Trunk")).


14. Kesha - Warrior (2012)

- I've always liked Kesha's rock n' roll attitude, and this album featured everything from iconic dance-pop tracks like "Die Young" to rock collaborations ("Dirty Love") with the likes of Iggy Pop.


15. The Interrupters - Fight the Good Fight (2018)

- The Interrupters' most recent album is a testament to just how good this band is - one of the best new bands of the decade, in fact. From new punk-rock anthems like "She's Kerosene" to more contemplative fare like "Room With a View" - this is statement album. Statement being: there's a new sheriff in town.


16. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye (2014)

- Tom Petty and his legendary band continued to put out incredibly good albums up until the singer's untimely death in 2017. Their 2014 effort is the final Heartbreakers album, but it shows a band still near the top of its game - from the mesmerizing "Shadow People" to the rockin' "Forgotten Man."


17. Weird Al Yankovic - Mandatory Fun (2014)

- How great was 2014, aka the year that Weird Al took over the world (again!)? This album was the culmination of a glorious period in which Al dropped new songs/music videos online every day for several days in a row. The songs were creative, unique, and oftentimes hilarious. A true national hero.


18. Charly Bliss - Guppy (2017)

- If, in the 10's, you were missing 90's-style grungy power-pop, Charly Bliss was there to fill that void. This female-fronted rock group's breakout album was full of catchy, crunchy alt-rock goodness.


19. Joan Jett - Unvarnished (2013)

- Another great album from a classic rocker with, perhaps, something to prove - Joan Jett's 2013 album showed a legend still kicking ass and taking names. Just listen to "Any Weather." If that doesn't strike you as a new rock classic, then I don't know what to tell you.


20. Andrew WK - You're Not Alone (2018)

- Andrew WK's best album since his seminal 2000 debut, this one had a number of songs that were Andrew WK at his infectiously-positive, hard-rocking best. 


21. Paul McCartney - New (2013)

- Between this and his more recent Egypt Station, McCartney had a pretty good decade - and that's saying something. Seriously, how is Sir Paul still cranking out amazing pop-songs in his 70's? I don't know, but I do know that the title track on this one is up there with his best. 


22. Rise Against - Endgame (2011)

- Rise Against entered this decade as one of the breakout bands of the 2000's. They continued their hot streak with their 2011 album, which gave us more of their epic rock stylings - including one of my favorite songs of theirs, "Make It Stop (September’s Children)."


23. The Interrupters - The Interrupters (2014)

- The Interrupters' debut album was a true monster of punk-rock awesomeness. From the anthemic "Take Back the Power" to the funky stylings of "This Is The New Sound" - this signaled the emergence of a great new band.


24. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Mojo (2010)

- Another good one from Petty, this album marked a return to recording with the Heartbreakers after Petty's previous solo effort. I could go through all of the solid-to-excellent songs on this album, but I'll simply say: listen to "Something Good Coming." It's one of the best songs Tom Petty ever sang.


25. AC/DC - Rock or Bust (2014)

- And then there was AC/DC. One of the most consistent bands in the history of rock did not disappoint with 2014's Rock or Bust - despite health issues that sidelined founding member Malcolm Young. But man, what other band could churn out a late-career album with this many instantly-iconic tunes? For those about to rock, AC/DC continues to salute you.

THE BEST OF 2016 - The Best ROCK Of The Year

THE BEST OF 2016 - THE YEAR IN ROCK

- For years, if you asked me my list of all-time dream concerts, I'd list defunct bands like Queen, The Ramones, and Led Zeppelin. But always in the mix would be Guns n' Roses. Original line-up. In 2016, the impossible happened - GnR reunited - Axl and Slash together again. Welcome to the jungle, baby - the band was back together. Seeing GnR at the height of their powers at Dodger Stadium this past August was an all-time music moment for me and the thousands of other fans in attendance. A thing we thought we'd never see. And remarkably, Axl was in fine form - his voice in top form (in far better form, in fact, than when I'd seen him previously as part of his "Axl and friends" makeshift GnR line-ups). Slash of course is a given - the dude is an immortal rock god. But Axl was the real surprise - following recovery from a broken leg suffered earlier on the tour, he was back in fine form in LA - juking and jiving and Axl-dancing like it was 1989. It was a potent reminder that for a moment, GnR was the biggest band in the world - a dangerous force of nature the likes of which we've not seen since. Seeing the band - the real band - live in 2016 is a moment I'll never forget.

Bonus for the GnR concert: another favorite band, The Cult, was the opener. Given that the crowd was there for GnR, not The Cult, it wasn't exactly the ideal circumstances in which to get the full Cult experience. But still, I got to hear "She Sells Sanctuary" live, so I'll take it. I saw a number of other excellent concerts this past year - most notably, Alice Cooper live, the night before Halloween, at the Pantages theater in Hollywood. I've seen Cooper live before, but my appreciation for his music has only grown over the years. And of course, seeing him in a theater like the Pantages, just before Halloween ... I mean, does it get any better? 

I also had the unique pleasure of seeing the legendary John Carpenter in concert. Carpenter has been one of my cinematic heroes for years, and a big part of that has always been the moody synth scores he's composed for his movies - iconic pieces that were and are hugely influential on movies, rock music, videogames, etc. In the last few years, Carpenter has released a pair of albums of all-new music - Lost Themes in 2015, and Lost Themes II in 2016. These albums are positively bad-ass (and the rocking track "Dark Blues" makes my Songs of the Year list below). So, seeing Carpenter live at the historic Orpheum theater, performing a mix of movie scores (Escape From NY! Halloween! They Live!) and tracks from Lost Themes was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I won't soon forget. Surreal to be sitting in a theater watching a legend like Carpenter perform. 

What else? I saw Boston - an all-time favorite - with their re-booted line-up at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa, which was pretty cool. And speaking of legends ... I saw John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl, conducting iconic scores from Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, etc. Pretty incredible. Being at the Bowl in a sea of lightsabers was definitely something. It was my first time seeing Williams live, and it was undoubtedly a memorable concert.

Of course, 2016 was (in many ways) a tragic year. Some of the all-time legends passed away, and their deaths hit hard. For me, David Bowie's passing was a gut-punch. Bowie was such an icon - a seemingly-immortal creature who was a being of pure rock n' roll. He was rock personified - a man who embraced the role of outcast and misfit, the godfather of glam rock, the man who fell to earth. It seemed unreal that Ziggy Stardust could succumb to death. Because even though Bowie had kept a low profile for a long time, his presence loomed large. There was a strange comfort in knowing he was out there, that we lived in a time when Bowie lived. To add to the mystique of Bowie's life and death, Bowie's passing was immediately preceded by a final album - one that seemed to materialize out of nowhere, and that - it quickly became apparent - was a farewell. Even now, Blackstar is almost too painful to listen to. But it's brilliant work - art commenting on life commenting on art - a final chapter in a life that was lived as art to the end. I went on a huge Bowie kick after his death - I'm on that kick still. We'll never see another like him.

The same can be said for Prince. A musical prodigy whose message of love and individuality struck a chord in 2016, making his death seem like some sort of cosmic casualty of this cursed calendar year. Prince's death was shocking, but the one silver lining was the way in which it prompted many of us to do a deep dive into the man's vast catalog of music - a treasure trove of funk and rock and immortal pop that will live forever. 

So many other great artists died this year - George Michael, Merle Haggerd ... but the one other I'll talk about is Leonard Cohen. I had a roundabout way of becoming a Cohen fan. I knew of him and knew some of his songs by the time I was in college, but I really became a super-fan when I saw, of all things, the movie The King of Kong. A scene in that movie used Cohen's "Everybody Knows" to such great effect that it quickly became a favorite song of mine on heavy-rotation, and that prompted me to dive deeper into Cohen's catalog and learn more about him. What a unique artist. His deep, world-weary voice was one of a kind. His poetic lyrics were unmatched. And his longevity was pretty remarkable. The world lost an icon when Leonard Cohen died. 

As for this year in music ... it was another year where you really had to search for and seek out the good stuff. Rock once again seemed largely absent from the pop-cultural conversation - except when, unfortunately, talking about fallen icons and heroes. But there was good stuff, and the more I looked back and recalled music I enjoyed in 2016, the more I realized there was a pretty excellent list of new stuff from this year. And there are some great bands out there - from Volbeat to the Dropkick Murphys - that continue to churn out quality rock music. So though many great ones left us in 2016, take comfort: rock yet lives.


DANNY'S TOP ROCK SONGS OF 2016:


1.) David Bowie - "Lazarus"

-  Haunting ... to put it mildly. David Bowie's last will and testament is a mythical, magical, otherworldly song that speaks to the inevitability of death and the struggle for immortality. The song quickly took on new meaning in the wake of Bowie's passing, but rarely has an artist seemed to go out in quite this way - on his own terms, with his music providing a final goodbye. Life and death and art impossibly entangled. 

2.) Sing Street - "Riddle of the Model"

- If you haven't seen the movie Sing Street, watch it. Now, I'll wait! But seriously, Sing Street is a great, empowering, uplifting tribute to the power of rock music to escape, to fight the power, to bring people together, to turn misery into hope and struggle into freedom. But more specifically, "Riddle of the Model" is just an insanely catchy homage to 80's new wave, sounding like some lost Depeche Mode song that never was. 

3.) John Carpenter - "Dark Blues"

- As talked about above, I've always loved John Carpenter movie scores (my fave: Escape From NY), and so his Lost Themes albums of new music have been real treats. 2016's Lost Themes II added more of a rock n' roll edge to Carpenter's trademark synth, and one of the best products of that was Dark Blues - which layers crunchy guitar over moody synth for a result that is, in a word, badass.

4.) Dropkick Murphys - "Blood" 

- And here's just a straight-up fist-pumper - vintage Murphys that is meant to be played in a stadium of people looking to get their adrenaline levels up. Blood is one of the first tracks released off the Murphy's upcoming 2017 album, and it's a scorcher. Thank god there are still songs like this being made in 2016.

5.) Volbeat - "The Devil's Bleeding Crown" 

- If you're not familiar with Volbeat, they are one of the best rock bands going - purveyors of epic, metal-tinged barn-burners like "Lola Montez." This year, they had a new album that was a return to their harder-edged roots - hence a song with a title like "The Devil's Bleeding Crown." These guys are not messing around. But if you want an Iron Maiden-esque rock ballad that is guaranteed to get your motor runnin', look no further.

6.) Green Day - "Bang Bang" 

- I'll freely admit: Green Day is one of my favorite bands, and I love both their old-school stuff as well as their more recent concept albums like American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. I was not so hot on their triple-album experiment, and their latest, Revolution Radio, is a definite mixed-bag. But the original single from the album, Bang Bang, is the highlight - a one-off return-to-form that sees the band rage against the machine with an aggressive punk-rock stomper. 

7.) Mudcrutch - "Beautiful World"

- If there is one constant for me as a music fan, it's that when Tom Petty comes out with a new album, I will buy it. I always find something to like in Petty's releases, and that holds true for his side-project Mudcrutch - the back-to-basics band that predated The Heartbreakers, re-formed by Petty a few years back. Mudcrutch's latest album is almost *too* basic, filled with solid if unremarkable rock. But one standout is definitely Beautiful World, the kind of somber-yet-hopeful song that has always been Petty's bread and butter - a me-vs.-the-world anthem that is a must-listen for any and all Petty fans.

8.) The Interrupters - "By My Side"

- Last year I praised The Interrupters as one of the best new rock bands in a long while. Singer Aimee Allen made a career pivot from dark rock ballads to jumpy punk and ska, and she did it in a way that calls to mind the best bands of the genre. The Interrupters' second album is filled with catchy punk anthems, the most fun of which might be By My Side. "I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! But if I do die, do die - you'd better be by my side!" is a punk rock shout-out for the ages.

9.) The Struts - "Could Have Been Me"

- A classic rock throwback band of sorts, The Struts made waves recently by touring with The Rolling Stones. Makes sense - the band has Stones-esque swagger and a knack for combining blues-y rock with 80's-style arena-filling epicness. Could Have Been Me is a catchy rock anthem, a sign that rock still has pop potential in 2016. 

10.) Metallica - "Here Comes Revenge"

- Finally, there's Metallica. The iconic band put out a new album in 2016, and it was hard. Devoid of softer ballads, this was an album for true-blue fans. That said, as someone who doesn't mind Metallica's more ballad-y stuff, I found Here Comes Revenge a stand-out. Don't get me wrong - this song is aggressive af. But it matches driving guitar with some soaring Hetfield vocals that still pack a punch. It's comforting to know that Metallica can still rock this hard.