Feature / Music
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

July 6, 2025

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

We're halfway through the year: when did that happen?! Luckily for you, SPB is on hand to share the music we've enjoyed most in 2025 thus far.

Read on to hear about the records that have made our top list for this year as it stands, and also some bonus fun about hypothetical band reunions we've been inspired by thanks to the examples set by Oasis and Black Sabbath.

— the Scene Point Blank team

Christopher D's Top 5 Of 2025 So Far

In times of turbulence, music soothes the mind's eye and captures the inner soul of the accepting. 

The Mekons - Horror

The Mekons - Horror

Fire Records

It's hard to believe that it's been five years since the Mekons' last release. However, the wait was well worth the privileged price of entering the collected world of The Mekons. Well crafted composition on the demise of the current world state and how historically we arrived in these stormy high seas.

Released April 4

House of All - House of All Souls

House of All - House of All Souls

Tiny Global Productions

Martin Bramah and other Fall alumni sculpt a large plethora of doom-laden imagery. House of all Souls sucks out lifeforce from the opening track- The Devils House" to the closing track " Born at Dawn and Dead at Sunset". 

For the nubile Fall off shooters, I strongly encourage you to bend your ears on Blue Orchids.

Released Feb 18th

Loop - Twelves

Loop - Twelves

Reactor Records

This gathers all of Loop's 12-inch releases in one essential package, so prepare to sonically erupt towards the galaxies and float in the time and space continuum until the final groove sends you plummeting back down to your dull life of repetition.

Released April 25th

Conflict - This Much Remains

Conflict - This Much Remains

Cadiz Music / Motarhate

R.I.P.- Colin Jerwood

Powerful release from a band that never ceased to stop pushing envelopes and educating on animal rights, anti-war, etc. A pleasant, strong contender in the loaded powder charge of Conflict sonic artillery output.

Released May 2nd

Swans - Birthing

Swans - Birthing

Young God Records

Michael Gira permeates your inner soul with eyes that bore holes in concrete. Swans manage once again to release a timeless orchestrated full garden of sound, noise, volume, with lush undertones. Welcome to the world of the Swans.  Long Live the King.

Released May 30th

Skip to page View as a single page

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)
Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Pages in this feature

  1. Opening page
  2. Chuck Coffey's Top 5 Of 2025 So Far
  3. Dennis's Top 5 of 2025 So Far
  4. Jiffy Marx’s Top 5 Of 2025 So Far
  5. Loren's Top 5 Of 2025 So Far
  6. Matt's Top 5 Improbable Hopes For Concerts In 2025
  7. Spyros Stasis's Top 5 of 2025 So Far

Related features

Coral Springs

One Question Interviews • September 24, 2026

Siebe (Coral Springs) SPB: What is your favorite record store (this can be local or not)? Siebe: I want to preface this by mentioning that I rarely buy records at stores these days. Most of the local stores aren't big on pop-punk/skate punk/emo and it's rare that they carry records … Read more

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

One Question Interviews • September 23, 2026

Mikey (Eddy Current Suppression Ring) SPB: Australians seem to love Canada, when are ECSR coming to play here? Miked: as much as i'd dearly LOVE to go to Canada, it doesn't look super likely on my or the band's immediate radar. we only just played interstate down here for the … Read more

Oskoed Slotters

One Question Interviews • September 22, 2026

Maarten (Oskoed Slotters) SPB: What is your favorite Ramones song? Maarten: My favorite Ramones song is probably “53rd & 3rd.” The debut Ramones album is one of the first punk records I heard. My dad bought a copy when it came out when he was about 16 years-old. When I … Read more

Red Rockers

Interviews • September 20, 2026

By 1981, the Red Rockers were famously branded "The American Clash" by Lester Bangs -- a tag that carried both the weight of massive expectations and the raw power of a band exploding out of the New Orleans humidity. Decades before they became MTV fixtures with the polished pop hooks … Read more

Shrapnel Pop #1

Regular Columns / Shrapnel Pop • September 19, 2026

I was about 4 years old and in preschool. It was a “meet and greet” day and my dad took me. This was exciting, because I adored him and thought he was basically the coolest person on earth. I marched in, dragging him along behind me, and approached my teacher. … Read more

More from this section

Anathema Editions

Music / History 101 • August 11, 2026

Did you know it’s been 10 years since Anathema Editions put out its first release? To make the moment, we reached out to founder Terence Hannum to share some label history. In keeping with our “History 101” concept, SPB asked for anecdotes about 4 of the label’s releases and then … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2026)

Music • July 13, 2026

That's right: we're halfway through 2026 already, although whether that means this year is a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of year... well, the jury's out. But we'll let you know in December. Despite another six months of chaos, war, conflict and uncertainty, one thing in life remains static and reliable: … Read more

Demos You Want To Check #4

Music / New Kids On The Block • July 7, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more