New years mean different things to different people. Fresh starts. Well-intentioned resolutions. The bittersweet pull of the road ahead tugging us away from the nostalgia that always comes with last year’s end. Careering into 2025 those feeling are stronger than ever, as we wonder where the hell the first quarter of the 21st century went. But they’re eclipsed by the promise of an alt. scene that’s bolder, brighter and more pervasive than perhaps at any point in the history of Kerrang!.
The gob-flecked anti-establishment need to smash the system and eardrum-bothering heaviness still play their parts in that. There are plenty of earworm slogans and smashing riffs to break the January gloom. But it’s the willingness to find new ways to press the boundaries that really raise our goosebumps: a loud and proud emphasis on character, colour and weirdo individuality that doesn’t just light up the world we exist in right now, but promises that it will endure and evolve in unexpected and invigorating new ways as we continue to forge into the future.
Creating a conveniently-numbered shortlist is almost impossible. There are literally thousands of artists out there worthy of your time, and new talents emerging every day. But from Artio to Winona Fighter we’ve whittled down our 25 acts guaranteed to light up the next 12 months…