The Most Anticipated Rock Albums of 2025

May 1, 2025 by

From Elvis to Coldplay, Little Richard to Radiohead, rock music has evolved at a lightening pace since the genre “arrived” in the 50’s. When it comes to rock and roll, artists are never done pushing boundaries, exploring fresh sounds, experimenting, making themselves new.

Indie rock, folk, heavy metal, and pop rock. This is one of the most diverse genres in the music industry, with new artists emerging each year. Though it may not sound exactly like what it used to, rock music is very much alive and thriving in the hands of some incredible talent.

Here are The Most Anticipated Rock Albums of 2025, the records we are most looking forward to hearing this year.

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Arcade Fire: Pink Elephant

Montreal rockers Arcade Fire are marking their return with their seventh studio album, Pink Elephant, due out May 9. Pink Elephant follows their 2022 pandemic album WE and comes a few years after the initial allegations against Arcade Fire’s leading man Win Butler.

But from the sound of the album’s early singles, particularly “Year of the Snake,” it appears Arcade Fire has taken the tie to reflect and decide to soldier on as one of the best experimental rock groups of the decade. Anthemic, melodic, and deeply personal, Pink Elephant finds Win and his wife/ bandmate Régine Chassagne in a season of much needed, and welcomed, change.

Arcade Fire Tickets

Behemoth: The Shit Ov God

Polish heavy metal veterans Behemoth will release The Shit Ov God, one of their dirtiest to date, on May 9. This will be Behemoth’s 13th studio album and follow up to 2022’s Opvs Contra Natvram. According to a press release, The Shit Ov God now stands as the band’s “most inflammatory and extreme record to date.”

If you didn’t think Behemoth could push the limits of heavy metal any further, you were mistaken. Behemoth’s Nergal states about The Shit Ov God: “If this were to be our final album, I could say I die a proud man. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the most refined, purest representation of Behemoth. No filler, no excess — just the very best we have to offer, handed to you.”

Behemoth Tickets

Gwar: The Return Of Gor Gor

Shock rock icons Gwar are getting ready to return with another hot and heavy multimedia release. According to the presser, fans will not only get to hear the entirety of their new album, The Return of Gor Gor, on July 25. They will also be treated to “new studio recordings, ferocious live performances, and an exclusive 32-page comic detailing the epic return of Gor Gor, Gwar’s long-lost, three-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex.”

The Return of Gor Gor follows 2022’s The New Dark Ages. The new LP has been led by the punk metal single “Lot Lizard,” which also arrived with a NSFW music video. Don’t miss your chance to see Gwar live, this year, while they tour in promotion of The Return of Gor Gor.

GWAR Tickets

Bush: I Beat Loneliness

Multi-platinum rock band Bush, led by Gavin Rossdale, is getting ready to have an epic year. Not only will they debut their new album I Beat Loneliness later this summer, on July 16, but they are heading out on multiple tours as well.

Led by singles “I Beat Loneliness” and “60 Ways to Forget People,” Bush’s tenth studio album is as raw and unflinching as ever. Exploring the tumultuous nature of heartbreak, and the individuation of personal suffering, I Beat Loneliness marks a bold grunge-rooted return for Bush. Don’t miss your chance to hear the new album live, on the road, this summer and fall.

Bush Tickets

Car Seat Headrest: The Scholars

American indie rockers Car Seat Headrest are getting ready to release their 13th studio album and their first in five years. The forthcoming LP, The Scholars, is, at its core, a narrative driven rock opera which aims to defy the limits of genre.

Ambitious, allegorical, and unlike anything they’ve ever done before, The Scholars is a career turn we didn’t see coming. Due out May 2, The Scholars is destined to polarize and invigorate select Car Seat Headrest fans. We can’t wait to hear The Scholars on tour, when Car Seat Headrest hit the road this summer.

Car Seat Headrest Tickets

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Phantom Island

Australian rockers King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are getting ready to release their full orchestral album, Phantom Island. Led by the incredible new singles “Deadstick” and the album’s title track, Phantom Island sounds like it might be one of their most musically complex records to date.

These songs were written during recording sessions for King Gizzard’s 2024 album Flight B741. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard will embark on a limited tour in support of Phantom Island, where they will play alongside conductor Sarah Hicks and a city-specific orchestra.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Tickets

Kaleo: Mixed Emotions

Icelandic blues-rock band Kaleo is on the brink of a fresh release. Their new album, Mixed Emotions, is due out May 9 and they’ve referred to it as their “most ambitious album yet.”

Led by singles “Rock N Roller” and “Lonely Cowboy,” Kaleo’s Mixed Emotions contains moments of both folk and hard rock. We hear the influence of artists such as The Black Keys, and Hozier, on these tracks. Kaleo has been steadily touring since the release of their platinum-selling debut album, A/B. We can’t wait for Kaleo to tour the U.S this summer, in support of Mixed Emotions.

Kaleo Tickets

Joe Bonamassa: Breakthrough

One of the most evolved, multi-genre guitarists to date is getting ready for his most style-bending album to date. Jone Bonamassa will release Breakthrough on July 18 via his own J&R Adventures label. Produced and written all over the world, from Nashville to Greece, Breakthrough promises one hell of a ride.

From swing, to country-inspired ballads, to blues funk and heavy rock, Breakthrough is an opus of style and a testament to Bonamassa being a guitar king. We can’t wait for fans to hear it both streaming and live, on his upcoming amphitheater tour.

Joe Bonamassa Tickets

The Wonder Years: Burst & Decay Vol. III

Philly’s pop-punk rockers The Wonder Years are getting ready to release Burst & Decay Vol. III, the third installment of their stripped-back recording series. The new album, due out May 9, includes some very personal tracks including “Junebug,” written by vocalist Dan Campbell about his younger son.

Burst & Decay Vol. III will also contain “Wyatt’s Song (Your Name),” written for Campbell’s older son and which includes an actual recording of Wyatt’s in-utero heartbeat as the track metronome. According to the band, the rest of the LP is similarly woven with a distinct intimacy.

The Wonder years will embark on a limited tour this year in support of Burst & Decay Vol. III. We can’t wait to hear how some of these stripped-back songs translate in the live setting.

The Wonder Years Tickets

Garbage: Let All That We Imagine Be the Light

Big news for longtime fans of the Shirley Manson-led rock band Garbage. There will be a new Garbage album coming out this summer. Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, due out May 30, will be Garbage’s eighth studio album and their follow-up to 2021’s No Gods No Masters.

Compared to the anger-driven No Gods No Masters, during the making of Be the Light Garbage was “determined to find a more hopeful, uplifting world” to immerse themselves in. We are certain fans will be able to hear the shifting perspective on the new LP. Not to mention, fans of Garbage will have the opportunity to see them live this year during their extensive fall tour.

Garbage Tickets

Born Ruffians: Beauty’s Pride

Canadien indie rockers Born Ruffians have returned after a prolific period of releasing albums in 2020-21 with their Juice/Squeeze/Pulp trilogy. Now, the band is getting ready to drop their ninth studio album in the form of Beauty’s Pride. The new LP, due out June 6, has been led by the singles “Mean Time,” “What A Ride,” “Let You Down,” “Athena,” and “Supersonic Man.”

For those wondering if Born Ruffians still have their playful, experimental rock whimsy, don’t worry. From what we’ve heard of Beauty’s Pride so far, the band we know and love still sounds very much like themselves. Hear it for yourself when the Born Ruffians embark on a promotional tour this fall.

Born Ruffians Tickets

Mother Mother: Nostalgia

Internationally renown alt-rock band Mother Mother have announced their tenth studio album, Nostalgia, will arrive this summer. Following last year’s critically acclaimed Grief Chapter, Mother Mother will drop their new LP on June 6. So far, the record has been led by singles “Love to Death” and “Make Believe.”

Nostalgia welcomes a chance of pace and tone from Mother Mother. The new LP claims to embrace spirituality, mythology, and existentialism, all of which are touched on by the single “Make Believe.” We can’t wait for fans to hear more of Nostalgia this summer.