2025's Most Headbanging Underground Punk EPs So Far
2025 has been a great year for punk, and to prove it here's some underground EPs to keep your energy high through the end of the year and into 2026
Now that we're past the halfway point of 2025 we need a pump of energy to keep going, and there's no better genre to give us that than punk. You may have thought that high-energy punk already had its day in the 80s and 90s, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Punk will never die! It's just getting harder to find the cream of the crop when it comes to punk. That's where we come in, there's more than enough out there, you just have to look, and what better to look for than EPs. The punk spirit is running through the veins of the EP format, you only have a few minutes so you better make it count or else you're just another forgetable fake. You get to keep the energy alive without having to stretch it for a full half hour. That's why the concept of the EP leant itself so well to punk, and why EPs give us some of punks best works. Minor Threat, Fugazi, The Misfits EPs, the best of the genre just rallied around the format. Not to mention it was cheaper to produce a few 45s rather than a whole album. But you probably already know the history of punk, you're here for the modern scene. And the modern scene has no shortage of head-banging EPs to keep your heart beating and your blood punking punk.
5. Postcard EP - Trestles
Postcard EP cover
We're starting with a band out of Santa Cruz that's channelling the surf punk spirit on their EP "Postcard". They may not have as much raw energy as some of the other bands on this list but they definitely make up for it in the grooves and hooks they bring to the table. If you're looking for something you can get moving too while still keeping the spark burning this is it. The drums are shuffling and surfy while the guitar ups that surf aesthetic while bringing the raw power you want from a record like this. The vocals are catchy and thoughtful without being in your face about it, it all seems very off the cuff despite there being clear songwriting prowess coming from this band. They're not pure energy houses but they are definitely playing with the vibe of one. The real stand out here is the middle track, 'Tell Me What You Know' which is one of my top songs of this year, if just for the pure catchiness of every part of it. The guitar won't leave your head and the singing is an infectious sing-talk that follows along just perfectly. Ironically it's probably the least energetic of the three tracks, but it still has that scream half way through that just gets me every time. If anything at least listen to that track. Absolutely incredible.
4. Cake and Arse Party - Cold Meat
Cake and Arse Party cover
If you couldn't tell from the title and cover, we're definitely getting into the more crude side of punk now, but that's never been a fault in this genre. If Trestles represent the more lyrical, groovy side of punk then Cold Meat is their exact reverse. They are full-frontal confrontation, you almost feel like you're on the receiving end of their passionate, punk-infused anger. But that's exactly what this list is looking for. The vocals from Ash Gash here leave no question of where this band is from, the great down under. Perth, to be more specific, but that's a welcome thing after all the great punk acts coming from Australia in recent years, Amyl and The Sniffers, Cosmic Psychos, and personal favorites The Chats. So I think adding Cold Meat to that pantheon is something wholly welcome, especially because of how truly in your face and abrasive this album is. Something interesting that they do is actually blend each song together, one song starts with the ending guitar feedback of the previous, which really pulls the whole EP together in a really creative way. 'Prick At The Pub' is the opener and probably the most agressivly Aussie, and might be the most agressive period. With the less than subtle lyrics about well, a prick at the pub. All the songs here though are pure energy and if that's what you want, then this will be perfect.
3. obsgay uleray - the gobs
obsgay uleray cover
While not quite the same level of energy as Cake and Arse Party the gobs definitely bring an energetic and very stylistically unique sound to punk. They're not really like anything else coming out today, but they still satisfy those punk urges. Their specialty, reverb, which every track on this EP is absolutely drenched in, especially the vocals. I'll pay anyone that can decipher the entire of a gobs song a million dollars because it is a gordian knot level task. But if it's something you learn when listening to punk, you don't need to understand it to get down with it, and boy can you get down with this. The quick, abrasive sound, mixed with this almost spacey level of reverb is something that you can't get enough of once you hear it. And I think they know very well how spaced out their sound is, they sort of have a thing for aliens (as the album cover will tell you). The standout here is 'Do I Look Like I DILLIGAF, Man?' which has a catchy synth hook, if you can even call it that, and some fast-paced drums, and of course, reverb all over the place. In fact this is probably the track that gives you the most reverb for you buck, I can't decipher a single word on this track let alone all of them. But that's not even an issue for me because the sound just speaks for itself.
2. Demo - Silo Kids
Cover for Demo
As the first line on the EP states Silo Kids is "some good music". This is the only debut on this list, but you could have fooled me, this act already plays together so comfortably. Although comfort isn't something that this EP induces, this in fact might be our least comforting on the list. It brings so much energy that you can't seem to slow down when you're listening to it, they really know how to hit you in the face over and over with power. The vocals are much cleaner here than in obsgay uleray, although let's be honest that wasn't a high bar. Still though I think the vocals here really come to the forefront even through all the great guitar and drums that fill out the mix so well. They even bring the bass in on Ticks especially, which I think works incredibly. This album is the pure sprit of punk, no more no less. There's absolutely no filler, it's all just raw, nothing frilly in the way of the energy. I hope with their help the Hattiesburg scene gets a boost, which it no doubt deserves.
1. Fan Club - Ain't No Saint EP
Ain't No Saint cover
Sometimes in punk if feels like you have to choose between great energy and great ability, but Fan Club proves that is whole-heartedly false. They bring everything, great, creative melody, along with hooky drums, and absolutely incredible vocals. I genuinely can't explain how great these vocals are. You really have to hear them to understand. But take my word they are incredible, especially during the screams which really catch your ear in just, the perfect way. I think an advent that Fan Club has is that they've been doing this for so long, they started out under the name "LYSOL" back in 2015, and 10 years later they're still kicking it just as hard, but now with that experience of being together for 10 years. They've really carved out a sound for themselves, reminiscent of many, but copying of none. They're simulatiously the spirit of punk and the spirit of practice. One of the great things about punk is that you don't need to learn a lot, or know a lot to start making it, because that's the sound, it's supposed to sound rough. But that doesn't mean you can't get better as a punk band, and Fun Club shows that here better than any other. Oh and of course you can absolutely lose it to this album if you want. Well, there you have it, 5 great EPs that bring that punk energy you need to make it to 2026. Each great for their own reason, but all of them great for the current world of punk.