“Crawling through my head, you want me dead, so please just say it.”
Welcome to list week for 2025, which, as always, begins with our choices of the greatest singles released this year. Our standard selection process was engaged, limiting the choice of singles to tracks that did not appear on fully fledged albums or EPs this year. This restriction allows us to focus on releases intended to be enjoyed in their short form.
It’s right that more fleshed-out releases get a lot of focus from us, but we also love singles, as demonstrated by our New Music Friday series, where we always check out and recommend fresh singles from rising bands. This year, our singles list leans towards slightly more established artists, many of whom had a year between major releases or gifted us a little something as a side dish to fantastic albums they also released. Of course, we are still Boolin Tunes – we’re proud to have followed many of these bands from their early days, so some artists we consider “established” would be another’s barely-out-of-the-garage band.
Another strong theme is that almost all of these choices have featured on our site in other ways already, be that through news posts, reviews, New Music Friday, or even live coverage. Perhaps we’re coming towards our maturity – we’ve been around for four and a half years and have gained both depth and breadth in that time. It’s always the hard work of bands that motivates us to continue.
Please, enjoy our roundup of the best singles that 2025 had to offer.
25
Newcomer – Que Lo Qu’é Qu’aitsu (Independent)
Max: A hyper-early contender and entry to the list, the Dominican Beastie Boys’ first single of 2025 landed with colossal force. Linear, inventive, chaotic, and featuring one of the heaviest performances given by The Plot In You’s Landon Tewers in years, “Qué Lo Qu’e Qu-atsu” is one of the most enthralling tracks of the year from one of metal’s most exciting up-and-(new)comers. Let’s hope that 2026 holds a new record for these guys (and that drummer/vocalist Tommy Roulette’s newfound involvement with Ill Niño doesn’t put too much of a spanner in the works), as this had myself and other on the team in a firm chokehold upon its release, and left me yearning for more.
24
Svalbard – If We Could Still Be Saved (Nuclear Blast)
Dobbin T: The news that Svalbard would be wrapping up came as a shock. Their decline will be a slow evaporation, as they’re ringing in the end with various tours and festival appearances. It hurts to see this band leave: they have crafted a fantastic discography, performed alongside so many of their inspirations, and in turn inspired so many with their take on blackened shoegaze and brutally blunt lyrics. This final track is a worthy send-off, as desperate, soaring, and bittersweet as their end ought to be. True to their style, it’s written directly about the situation, bringing forward the mixed feelings, frustrations, and relief (“Hold onto each other / Because there is beauty in this being over”). There will be future projects – to date we know that Serena Cherry is likely to return to Noctule in due time, and a new hardcore band (Afraid to Die) featuring Liam Phelan has just released their debut single.
23
Heriot – Commander of Pain (Century Media)
Jonathan: Heriot continues on their path of sonic destruction with “Commander of Pain”. The band’s signature, hardcore-laced style of metalcore blends various influences from blackened to sludgy to craft a brooding and harsh track. The mid-track two-step section is undeniably gnarly and is sure to get many people moving. The band also teams up with Randy Laboeuf on production, and he lends his signature bleak mixing style to the aggression on display. Heriot continues to charge forward with a ferocity that bleeds with passion, and their approach should honestly be an example of the right way to do metalcore.
22
Forlorn – Let Them Run (Church Road)
Jack CG: Release-wise, it’s been an exceedingly busy year for the forgers of folklore in Forlorn, spreading the good word of their Midsommar-flavoured rebirth through debut album Aether, which ripped the curtain away to reveal an enigmatic amalgamation of mechanical technicality and otherworldly theatrics; like an unholy fusion of flesh and electrified steel. Alas, this simply was not enough for Megan Jenkins & cryptic-company, who deemed it necessary to dangle the next chapter of the fable right in front of our noses, merely halfway around the sun from their inaugural sacrament.
To put it lightly… “Let Them Run” is far and away Forlorn’s most ferocious fight-song, made glaringly obvious from the get-go by Mick Gordon-tier industrialised stringwork and synthetics that drive the track forward like a bulldozer fuelled by the souls of the damned and the doomed. As drastic as of a leap forward as this may seem, it’s Jenkins’ haunting howls and spectral serenade that ties all of these elevated elements together neatly, cementing the track as a prosperous evolution of the Forlorn sound and the band as one we will happily continue to monitor with great interest.
21
Movements – Where I Lay (Fearless)
Jonathan: Movements are no strangers to the ebbs and flows of life, and as they move forward from the upbeat, fun era of RUCKUS!, the Orange County emo rockers find themselves closer to their roots with “Where I Lay”. Expertly blending the melancholic tones of their early work with the more alt-rock direction that they’ve taken lately, the result is a track that is undoubtedly Movements. Frontman Patrick Miranda’s passionate delivery and heartfelt lyricisms perfectly encapsulate the feelings of emptiness and self-doubt that we all find ourselves slipping into, even during the happy times. Movements is a band that remains relatable and reliable, no matter what the mood is.
20
Holy Fawn – Beneath A Lightless Star (Wax Bodega)
Dobbin T: We’re hotly anticipating the next injection of Holy Fawn material, hopefully eyeing 2026 for a full release, but there’s no certain news yet. “Beneath A Lightless Star” is far more than a morsel for the time being. Like the evil twin of “Death Is A Relief”, this track is somewhat more pop than the rest of their discography, and pulls in an evil, industrial attitude to its heavy moments. Once more, the band has added to and maintained their flawless discography. If it takes a bit longer for the next chapter, I’m sure we’ll find peace with it when the result is in our hands.
19
Ómoia – Why Am I Like This? (Independent)
Hayley: At the start of the year, we selected post-hardcore/alternative band Ómoia for our “Ones to Watch 2025” list with the caveat that we had absolutely no idea what they were cooking up – we just hoped and trusted that they would do something good this year, after such a strong start in 2024.
Well, our vote paid off; they have delivered. Ómoia have gigged in multiple cities in the UK, performed at festivals such as No Play, Shreddler and Strangeforms, and helpfully compiled some of their previously released singles into an EP that is stunning from start to finish.
Towards the end of the year, they served the cherry on top with a new single, “Why Am I Like This?”, dedicated to victims of abuse and non-consent. This track perfectly projects the frustrating and paradoxical combination of inwardly directed self-loathing and shame alongside the anger felt when stuck in an abusive cycle. An outstanding track to finish the year on.
18
Ithaca – Ithaca (Independent)
Jack CG: Just under half a year later, and it’s still hard to believe that Ithaca is really gone, but they simply couldn’t let us go without a parting gift of sorts to really rub it in… could they? Initially unveiled at the “Cremation Party” final headliner and played live a total of twice, this chapter-closing, self-titled victory lap of a tune whisks us up-and-down each avenue of memory lane for the metallic hardcore underdogs, nodding knowingly at excerpts and elements of the band’s catalogue with well-placed pride, modesty, and lucidity. With wispy, dream-like leads guiding us by the hand to each eulogistic verse, Ithaca set out not to just pat themselves on the back on the way out, but to beam gratitude in the direction of the community that breathed life into their journey. Any given group in this position would have every right to drop their bite in favour of an entirely sentimental closing remark, it just wouldn’t be Ithaca without that little bit of burning vigor that remains eternally inside of them. So through rasp and riff and fighting through the tears, Ithaca gives us a reason to keep on swinging as we’re dragged through the exit doors.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Thank you for everything, Ithaca. We will continue to vocally miss your presence long after it’s deemed appropriate.
17
xSERAPHx – In Certainty / New Life Transcribed (Independent)
Jack W: The Twin Cities scene has always been something special, whether it’s their thriving underground scene or the more mainstream stuff, it’s always been on our radar as a notable location. It’s for this very reason that when xSERAPHx dropped their demo earlier in the year, we knew we had to check them out, and we were not disappointed at all. Rough around the edges, it showed an awful lot of promise. Come November, that potential appears to have been realised, with the one-two punch of In Certainty and New Life Transcribed acting as a statement piece from the band; they’re here, and they want your attention. Revival metalcore done right, both tracks show talent far beyond their years, and close out the year incredibly. Immediately nostalgic, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were checking out something from 15-20 years ago, albeit with much better mixing and production. If you deem yourself a fan of “real” metalcore, this single, along with the band’s other work, are must-listens.
16
False Body – Quietly, It’s Gone (Wax Vessel/independent)
Jack W: Wild Rose hardcore is something of a legend already, with the likes of World Of Pleasure and Serration proudly bearing the flag for Canada. Quickly joining their ranks, False Body dropped their jaw-dropping double single, Quietly, It’s Gone, in early November, and it quickly saw itself work into heavy rotation in our playlists. Structured chaos, it’s ridiculous, but to a limit. The band knows when to take things up a notch, and when to hold back, and it’s the level of restraint and knowing when to time these pace changes that really pays off in their favour. Where “Look” is a short and sweet outburst of energy, “Chokehold” is much more structured, toying with the listener, building up, breaking down in fury, and picking back up, but even heavier each time. Yet another project spearheaded by members of Abrupt Decay/Killing Of A Sacred Deer, there’s an awful lot of talent here, and this project is another string in their bow, proving that they can truly pull off just about anything.
15
Loathe – Gifted Every Strength (Sharptone)
Jack CG: The silence has been utterly deafening since Loathe dropped their 2020 masterpiece I Let It In And It Took Everything and subsequently ascended to “chosen one” status amongst the ranks of the scene. Between ambient excursions and the occasional one-off single, the question has remained as to how exactly they plan on living up to the dizzying heights of a record that has since become the blueprint for a coming generation: Well… a bit like this, I suppose! Gifted Every Strength, in true Loathe fashion, contextualises the nail-biting years of radio-silence with the simultaneous subtlety of both the change of the seasons and the detonation of a nuclear warhead: further salting the wounds opened by I Let It In until what we’re left with is a delectably seasoned charcuterie board of all the things that make this band so special, which is then simmered into a concentrated reduction of all their greatest strengths and expanded upon before our very ears. The two extremes dance and become one, as insurmountable layers of pressure and monolithic string tone effortlessly melt away into psychedelic and atmospheric euphoria, only to double-back do it all over again. Whatever Loathe is working on behind the scenes, if it’s anything close to the level of this hit, it’ll be worth every second we’ve waited.
14
Trauma Bonds – We Become Nothing (Independent)
Joe: Since their first emergence in 2023, it’s been difficult not be impressed by the consistent quality of Trauma Bonds’ output. While that output is more on the steady side, with “We Become Nothing” being one of the two singles the Scotts dropped this year, each time we are graced with a new release, it is always an absolute gem. “We Become Nothing” sees Trauma Bonds at their peak; the metal riffs are an absolute earworm, and the lead and rhythm sections cast a balance between the track’s more melodic and heavier moments. Yet another stellar vocal performance, delivering a metalcore chorus that is an absolute hook and encapsulating a track that deserves much more praise.
13
The Throwaway Scene – This Place Is Full Of Envy (Independent)
Jack W: The UK has been sorely lacking in recent years in terms of its My Chemical Romance-esque emo scene. Whilst there’s a very strong movement ongoing in the underground emo circuit, few capture that melodramatic, whiney pop-punk infused sound we’ve come to know and love. Cue The Throwaway Scene, whose sights are now set even more so than before on capturing that energy. A dancey, upbeat instrumental meets a fantastic sing-along chorus, forming something immediately encapsulating for any self-respecting mid-2000s emo fan. Juxtaposed with dark, introspective lyrics, it’s a perfect storm of eyeliner, checkerboard vans (or Converse if you’re that way inclined), and fishnets. It’s so refreshing seeing a UK band pull off this sound so well, and flanked by the ever-talented Charlie Rolfe (of As Everything Unfolds), “This Place is Full of Envy” is a fantastic example of how to wear your inspirations on your sleeve without becoming another shameless rip-off, and we absolutely adore it!
12
Johnny Booth – Get Well Soon (Independent)
Anthony: Two years after the triumph that was Moments Elsewhere, Johnny Booth released their most refined track to date with Get Well Soon. Combining the sounds they created with their past two full-length albums, the band shows they’ve completely mastered their craft. Get Well Soon is the band saying don’t sell them short just yet, they still have much more to say. This is especially shown by vocalist Andrew Herman, who shows off his best clean vocals to date. While to many preexisting fans this will be a familiar but welcome sound, this still leaves much room to explore for the band’s next venture while allowing new fans to have their interests piqued. If Herman’s vocals won’t reel you in, the extremely thick and weighty breakdowns and production certainly will. Whatever Johnny Booth does next, Get Well Soon shows that they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
11
Static Dress – face. (Independent)
Jack W: “Ashamed they all wear the same face”.
A band that needs no introduction, Static Dress have been consistently releasing some of the best modern post-hardcore material for years now, and their latest single, “face.” is no exception to the rule. A tongue-in-cheek “fuck you” to the music industry posers putting up a front, “face.” is both a spiritual successor to the band’s equally impressive YouTube (and live) exclusive non-single “death to the overground”, as well as continuing the narrative arc foretold in their previous material.
Having quietly existed in demo form for almost two years on a secret CD handed out at Slam Dunk 2023, fans had eagerly awaited the final version, and we were not disappointed. Chock-full of catchy, sing-along-worthy lyrics, Static Dress has found a way to both broaden their appeal and stay true to the sound that fans have come to know and love. Notably, the first track to feature all members’ vocals throughout, the band has cemented their status as the poster boys for the genre in the modern day, a role in which we’re certain they’ll flourish, ushering in a brand-new era of post-hardcore worldwide.
10
Fit for an Autopsy – It Comes For You (Nuclear Blast)
Ed: Over the past decade or so, you would be hard-pressed to find a band in the deathcore scene that has evolved as much as Fit for an Autopsy has. Whether it’s a more hardcore focused affair like on their album Absolute Hope, Absolute Hell, or the more melodically inclined material of their most recent albums Oh What The Future holds and The Nothing That Is, the band has truly proven themselves to be masterful songwriters. Given the way in which the world has been declining over the last several years, it’s clear that the band has some pent up aggression, and with the release of “It Comes For You”, they’re letting it all out, forgoing their more recent melodic tendencies entirely, and writing what is perhaps their most bludgeoning song to date; once again proving why they are such an enthralling band in the current landscape of deathcore.
09
156/Silence – Our Parting Ways (Pure Noise)
Zena: It comes as no surprise that 156/Silence’s “Our Parting Ways” makes its way to the top 10 singles of 2025 for Boolin Tunes (mine included), as the band has taken this past year by storm and officially has joined Pure Noise Records. A tribute to their late bassist, Lukas Booker, it acts as a poignant and meaningful way to delve into the notions of loss, grief, and the memories that are left behind despite a person’s physical absence. It’s almost like having an open wound. It beautifully captures the stages that an individual goes through when processing the thoughts and feelings of losing someone close. This is especially true with the repeated lyrics, “This isn’t half of what I’m feeling/This isn’t half of who I am”, which depict the impossibility of communicating and expressing the depth of pain and impact that accompany such a profound loss. When listening, you can hear the band moving through feelings of confusion, anger, guilt, and acceptance. Overall, the song paints a haunting, heavy, and honest portrait of grief in a poetic and raw way.
08
Gravitate – Endless War (Independent)
Joe: As each release drops, the question of “when is Gravitate going to break out?” grows ever larger. Last year’s The Reckoning showed Gravitate entering their strongest form, with crunching riffs, and Cat Rosemary’s bark giving a sledgehammer force to their sound. Gravitate’s march has continued with dual single offerings earlier this year. The first track, “Endless War,” shows Gravitate once again at their most forceful, with Matt Maunder of Mindsnare brought in to add extra snarl to the track. “Dressed For Friend Requests” sees Gravitate lean into a slightly more melodic sound, with expansive riffs and vocals akin to those of 00s metalcore at times. Both continue to showcase Gravitate not as only one of the more underrated metalcore acts in Australia, but for us, one of the most underrated in the entire metalcore scene.
07
As My Ashes Blur The Sky – First Was Chaos In The Stench Of Parasites (Independent)
Shane C: There may not be much in As My Ashes Blur The Sky’s repertoire, but it hasn’t stopped them from making an imprint on the revival scene. “First Was Chaos In The Stench Of Parasites” is old-school Parkway Drive, All That Remains, and As I Lay Dying (for better or worse) gelled into a six-minute journey of sonic upheaval, with every second an ode to metalcore of the past. Every rudiment that made avid MySpacers fall in love with this sound in the first place is on full display, with As My Ashes Blur The Sky leaving a somber scar in their wake. With the way things are currently trending in the underground scene, As My Ashes Blur The Sky could find a solid footing in 2026, should they continue down this path.
06
Dying Wish – I Brought My Soul (Your World Brought Me Despair) (Sharptone)
Shane C: Dying Wish are no strangers to showcasing what raw, breakneck metalcore truly sounds like. “I Brought My Soul (Your World Brought Me Despair)” exhibits the fundamentals of a rejuvenated sound continuing to break through the muddy veil of the modern landscape’s overproduced abyss. It refrains from making any compromises, even in its softer junctures. There is also equal weight in emotion and attention to detail from start to finish, with Dying Wish ensuring no moment overstays its welcome. Combined with their usual brass-knuckle punch of hardcore atop the early-era sound, “I Brought My Soul (Your World Brought Me Despair)” is another partition from Dying Wish that remains coveted by many and matched by no one.
05
Break Fifty – Carousel (Independent)
Joe: Alongside the likes of Starved, Graphic Nature, and PULSE, Break Fifty are carrying the torch for the nu-core genre with fierce intensity, showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Their best work to date, “Carousel”, captures a raw, enveloping sound, with rhythms and synths that spiral into a whirlwind of tension and anxiety, resulting in an electrifying, almost hellish listen. “Carousel”, paired with the dual single Pillbox // Under The Dirt, marks a coming-of-age moment for the band. What’s to come from Break Fifty in the next year will undoubtedly place them in the spotlight as one of the UK’s strongest nu-core acts.
04
PSYCHO-FRAME – FEED (Sharptone)
Shane C: PSYCHO-FRAME proclaimed their heel phase to be over shortly before signing to SharpTone Records and subsequently releasing their one-two wrecking ball combo in “FEED”. The title may have been gone, but just about every other aspect of PSYCHO-FRAME says otherwise with respect to a deservedly braggadicous designation. “NO REVIVES” and “BREATHING NAPALM” are as suffocating as the monikers suggest, showing what true deathcore encompasses. Kickball snares, pick sweeps, and breakdowns that are heavier than the universe; modern purists who complained about such facets only vindicated PSYCHO-FRAME’s bleak outlook on the current state of deathcore. All the while, this tandem of destruction quickly proved to be the appetizer for what was to follow, whilst still eradicating everything standing in its way.
03
Delilah – Memory of a Memory (Independent)
Anthony: Vampire metalcore underdogs Delilah released their underrated masterpiece EP, bloodonyourhands, in December of last year, and they wasted no time writing yet another banger. Building off the momentum they’d garnered with the EP, Delilah takes their unique brand of metalcore to the next level here. “Memory of a Memory” is a showcase of everything Delilah has to offer, and is displayed perfectly, no less. Soul-crushing breakdowns, harmonizing guitars, mosher riffs, blast beats, beautiful background cleans. You name it, and it’s here in abundance. A track like this encapsulates why Delilah are the masters at what they do, and why the central Florida natives are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. With a track like this, and their newest track “To Be Forgotten”, which features their deathcore peers in Slamwich, one can hope Delilah will build off of these even more and maybe even treat us to a full-length in 2026.
02
Terminal Sleep – They Circle Below (Nuclear Blast)
Joe: It’s hard to think of an act that has been more consistently, and deservedly, featured in our end-of-year lists in recent years. With their EPs Chapter 1: No Solace and Chapter 2: Elicit Fear ranking high on our EP lists in 2022 and 2023, respectively, followed by the bludgeoning dual single SPINELESS // SHADOWS in our singles list last year, Terminal Sleep has firmly proven their staying power. Now, they impress us more than ever with their standalone single They Circle Below, which also marks their signing to Nuclear Blast.
This track is their most dynamic to date, showcasing a fury of vocals from all corners of the band and heart-pounding riffs that swirl throughout. The commanding Thorwesten is hitting her vocal prime and should now be in the conversation as one of the strongest harsh vocalists in the game. If “They Circle Below” is any indication of what their forthcoming album will sound like, 2026 could see Terminal Sleep make a bold entrance into our albums of the year list.
01
Moodring – HALF-LIFE (Sharptone)
Ed: In an unusually strong year for heavy music, it takes a lot to truly be crowned song of the year here at Boolin Tunes. Amongst our staff, we have a lot of varying tastes, whether it’s straight up metallic hardcore, pingy bass-heavy deathcore, or bouncy djent, there’s a lot of diversified taste here; however, one thing we can mostly all agree on is just how strong a band Moodring is. Starting as a more shoegaze inspired affair and transitioning into a nu-metal band reminiscent of the titans of the genre that dominated the air waves in the early 2000’s, the venerated project from the mind of Hunter Young (who is also one of the masterminds behind PSYCHO-FRAME) has finally returned with our first taste of the upcoming album set release sometime next year in the form of the monstrous single HALF-LIFE. Sporting one of the most infectious and catchy choruses and crushing breakdowns the genre has seen in quite a number of years, what makes this song so special is just how personal the lyrics (inspired by Hunter’s own struggles with his physical and mental health) are. Every note played, every word sung, every syllable screamed, is positively dripping with emotion in a way that very few others are capable of expressing. Every listen is an emotional rollercoaster, which never grows old. No sense of fatigue or monotony comes from listening to this behemoth of a track on repeat, and that in its own right deserves celebration. It’s all of these things combined that make HALF-LIFE not only an extremely captivating track, but also our favourite single to be released this year.
