playlist: the best punk songs of october 2025

It’s been a minute since I’ve done one of these playlist blogs that takes a transparent look at see/saw’s status as a newsletter. Here ya go: At publication time, there are 2,754 total subscribers with 558 of those behind the paywall (both through payment and bartering). The money that comes in—which accounts for less than a quarter of my old full-time salary at Pitchfork—is a supplement to the paycheck I get from a freelance corporate contract job that wraps up in a couple months.

While it’s aspirational to hope that one day my punk blog can find more people and become the main thing I chase and focus on—and I’m about halfway to that being close to possible—community matters more than the money and metrics. In the past month, a dude walked up to me and told me how much he loves listening to my radio show. Another told me I’m the only reason he checks his email. I’ve heard from artists I respect a huge amount who’ve said that this thing that I do means something to them. That fills the cup more than cash.

The reason see/saw exists is because it’s something I desperately wanted to see in the world. That’s why I spend too long on Fridays writing a column about new records, record and edit a weekly podcast (plus bonus episodes), curate a weekly radio show, present shows, and make zines (2025 best punk records broadsheet coming soon). I love this music and all I’ve ever wanted to do was write about it. Doing it on my terms is a genuine pleasure.

I’m fully aware that I could burn out and this thing could go away forever like countless punk zines and blogs before it. For now, though, I’ve got to chase it while I still bleed for it. Thanks to everyone who reads the column and features, puts up flyers, listens to the podcast and radio show, hangs out in the Discord, and reaches out. Subscribe if you haven’t. If you’re not behind the paywall, let’s barter—hit me up! I’d like as many people as possible to be able to read this stuff I write.

October was an unreal month for punk music. Find the playlist embedded in a browser below, or listen here. Shout out the Etters, who aren’t on Bandcamp.

the best punk songs of 2025

Twisted Teens: Graveyard
Puppet Wipes: The Unabomber Used to Come and Dance at Events
Optic Sink: Laughing Backwards
Blue Zero: Confusion
Split System: No Cops in Heaven
Abism: Barbie Terminator
SOOKS: Ta, Riff
BUIO OMEGA: Secret Fantasy
Shakti: Maut
Brainbombs: Midnight Slaughter
Snooper: Star 6*9
Butter Swamp: i see dead people
Larry & Thee Jerrys: Mulva (I Can’t Remember Your Name)
NC Five: Haine
Citric Dummies: I Can’t Relate
SOGA: Posesión
Pack Mentality: Fags Hate God
Baby Tyler: Good Motivator
kotskat: Club Mate Blues
Dorothy Fuzz: What Kind of Man Are You
sprgrs: turbokapital
No Time: State Execution
Lowballer: Volvo 240 Wagon
Imploders: Who Am I?
Greg Wheeler & the Poly Mall Cops: You Make Me Spin
Itches: Fake Smile
Rearranged Face: The Witch’s Head
The Smarthearts: One on One
Angel Face: Leave Tonight
Gumm: Flavorless
Sisteme de entretenimiento: No me gusta la realidad
Gare du Nord: Vrille
Teenage Tom Petties: Faculty
Why Bother?: I Take Back
Sweepers: I Sweep Myself
Replica Watch: A Thousand Cuts
The Seize: Can’t Stand Today
Quarrel: Terf War
Liquid Cross: Throwing Dogs
Geo: Slijm
S.O.C.: Dues
Liiek: Living in a Fiction
UZU أوزو: La tass’alni لا تسألني
Destiny Bond: Lookin’ for a Fight / Done Lookin’
loitering: Trash
The Social: The Scum
Duel: Cost of Living
Direct Order '82: I Hate Church
Psico Galera: Imperfetto, sii Imperfetto
Endless Joy: Prayer Rule
Yellow Ghoul: Rule of Law
Party Dozen: Mad Rooter
TV Freaks: More Love
Speed Week: Weak Speed
Toys That Kill: The Cutting Board
Movie Star Junkies: Give Everything Up
Big Modern: Drink From Me
Radioactivity: Watch Me Bleed
BATBAIT: Boys Club
Watermelon: Existential Crisis
Upchuck: Pressure
Cheap Fix: Soul Tune
Hot Load: No Streets
Rowdy: Full Figured Touch
BRUX: Sense Sou i Sense Casa
Krein’s Low-Budget Death Extravaganza: I Think I’m in Love
Burning Effigy: Remember My Face
Blood Cannery: Virginia
Snörkler: Jazzy Jeff
EZ8: Right Behind You
The Boojums: Outta My Head
Holly and the Nice Lions: Husband Stitch
G.A.Z.E: 1000 Nightmares
Active Service: Small Arms
Disaster Preparations: The Secret
Sklitakling: Rødt farenivå
Tuff Guac: I Can’t Whisper
H8 Mile: Sex Bomb (Flipper cover)
Teenage Cenobite: Men From the Gutter
Ack Attack: Boutta Ack Up
saafewaay: Rock Lobstar
In Lieu: Christian Singles
HIBUSHIBIRE: Snow Sniffing Matador
Funeral: Black
Gonies: Jonies
Sonic Youth of Today: Paraíso prometido
Highway Ghost: Under Your Skin
TVA: Rifle
Garden of Love: Silly Rules
Power Pants: You Drive Me Crazy
Hyperdog: Depressed
Glueman: Can’t Get High
Dru the Drifter: Don’t Set Me on Fire
Jane & the Jaguars: Poking Holes
Spleens: I’m Just a Corpse Now
xray xeroxx: Social Media Made Me Hate My Friends
snarewaves: Frankenstein
Intel: Unorthodox Civilian Persona
PERSETAN!: API DALAM SEKAM
Gold Cup: Early Bird Special
Cold Summer: Grau
D.Sablu: Mama’s Little Elvis
Segundos Auxiolios: Tac!
Waylon Thornton: Gaunt Eyes
Selfish Teammate: (God) I’ve Done It Again
HACK!HACK!HACK!: COCKSTARS
HIGH STRESS: OUTTA MY HEAD
Dry Socket: Shame Convictions
Chien Flic: Cut Your Balls
ta2reeban: استفراغ
Slug: Your Life, Your Fault
Vampire: Human Market Capital
Bar Tape: Playing Drunk
Total Con: Against the Order
Sick of Talk: True Identity
Brawliday Inn: Army of Beasts
Stunted Youth: Fuck No
FLUX: Sharpened Teeth
Memory Ward: Social Order
Rigorous Institution: Regime Forces
SPEKTA: Crimson Tears
Traumatizer: Nuclear War Machine
Yellowcake: Apparitions of War
Nohz: Collapsed
Shishu: Gestated Shit