2025 is set to be a big year for music, with a mix of rising stars and breakout acts making waves across genres. From alt-metal to indie rock, we’ve rounded up the bands you need to know now before they hit the mainstream.

Unpeople

If you're scouting for the next big thing in 2025, Unpeople should be high on your radar. Emerging from the ashes of the overlooked Brit-rock gem Press To MECO, this powerhouse quartet—featuring guitarist/vocalists Jake Crawford and Luke Caley, bassist Meg Mash, and drummer Richard Rayner—has a raw, urgent energy that feels like a band with everything to prove. Their sound channels the ferocity of modern alt-metal heavyweights like Code Orange, delivering a visceral punch that’s equal parts innovation and catharsis.

With the release of their self-titled debut EP last year, and an upcoming tour with VUKOVI in early Spring, it looks to be a big year for Unpeople!


South Arcade

Another band poised to make waves in 2025 is South Arcade, an alt-pop-rock outfit hailing from Oxford, England. Fronted by the magnetic Harmony Cavelle, with Harry Winks on guitar, Ollie Green on bass, and Cody Jones on drums, the band delivers a high-energy mix of nostalgia and modern edge.

Drawing inspiration from 2000s icons like Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne, and Linkin Park, South Arcade’s sound is both a love letter to the past and a bold step into the future. Their newest EP, “2005” has gained the band a lot of attention on socials and propelled them into the spotlight. With a resume that includes supporting acts like Dead Pony and Yours Truly, plus airplay on BBC Radio 1, South Arcade is gearing up for a breakout year.


God Complex

God Complex is a band every metal and hardcore fan should be keeping an eye on in 2025. Since forming in the UK back in 2017, they’ve been delivering crushing riffs and ferocious energy, making waves with their 2018 EP Created Sick, a blistering mix of heavy metal and hardcore that captured the harsh reality of post-industrial life.

Like many bands, they faced a tough break when the pandemic forced them to call it quits—but instead of fading away, they came back swinging. Teaming up with longtime producer Erik Bickerstaffe, they’ve sharpened their sound into something even more intense and raw. With new music on the horizon under Sharptone Records, God Complex’s return is set to shake things up. Get ready—it’s going to be heavy.


High Vis

High Vis are the kind of band that makes you feel something deep in your gut—equal parts grit, groove, and raw emotion. Formed in 2016 by members of some of the UK punk scene’s most respected underground acts like Dirty Money and Tremors, they’ve built a reputation on passionate live shows and music that refuses to be boxed in. Their sound is a wild blend of street punk intensity, Britpop hooks, post-punk rhythms, and even hints of Madchester swagger.

After their 2019 debut No Sense No Feeling put them on the map, they levelled up with 2022’s Blending, a record packed with anthems about working-class struggles, social decay, and personal battles—delivered with heart and hope. Now, their latest album, Guided Tour, cranks everything up another notch, full of swagger and defiance. If you’re not already listening, now’s the time to catch up.


Dirty Blonde

Dirty Blonde is making serious noise in the indie rock scene right now. The Manchester-based duo, made up of Ailis Mackay and Hayley Tait, came together after Hayley kept seeing Ailis’s genre-bending covers pop up on Instagram in 2022.

From there, they clicked instantly, creating a sound that’s sharp, fresh, and impossible to ignore. Their rise has been fast, with Radio 1’s Future Alternative naming them one of the most exciting new acts and landing support slots with iconic bands such as The Sex Pistols with Frank Carter. With their fierce attitude and knack for mixing grit with melody, Dirty Blonde is bringing something fresh to the table—expect to hear a lot more from them soon.


House Of Protection

House Of Protection is a band you’ll want to keep on your radar. Formed in early 2024 by ex-Fever 333 members Aric Improta and Stephen "Stevis" Harrison, this dynamic duo wasted no time making waves with their debut EP, Galore. Produced by Jordan Fish (formerly of Bring Me The Horizon), it’s a bold, confident statement of intent that introduces a fresh, explosive sound from two seasoned musicians ready to push boundaries.

So far, they’ve only played two electrifying launch shows—at The Echo in Los Angeles and Camden Underworld in London—but the momentum is building fast. With upcoming festival slots, including a turn at Download Festival, House Of Protection promises plenty of twists, turns, and unrelenting energy.


In Summary

2025 is set to be a thrilling year for music, with standout bands making waves across genres. Unpeople bring ferocious alt-metal energy, born from the ashes of Press To MECO. Manchester duo Dirty Blonde are turning heads with their gritty, genre-bending sound, while South Arcade deliver nostalgic alt-pop-rock inspired by 2000s icons.

God Complex return sharper and heavier than ever, High Vis redefine hardcore with their Britpop-infused sound, and House of Protection explode onto the scene with their fiery debut EP, Galore.

From hardcore to alt-pop, these artists are ready to make their mark. Stay tuned—2025 will be one to remember!


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