Vol #223: Best of 2025
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Rustbeltrockreview.com
Volume #223: Best of 2025
Happy holidays to all you righteous Rock N’ Rollers, both in Cleveland and in the world beyond. Well here it is, my end of year breakdown, and what a year it has been. I’ve had some wild nights, saw some bitchin’ shows and listened to a lot of killer albums. With so much awesome Rock to look back on I’ve been hard pressed to decide on “who’s the best” and yet hard choices must be made. So without further adieu, here is my Best of 2025…
Best Shows
I went to a ton of shows this past year and saw a shit load of awesome bands. Going through my old articles it was agonizing trying to decide what my “Best Shows” were. I honestly don’t have any sort of criteria to go by, and it’s all foggy in the review mirror. With all that being said, and with so many to choose from, I made some tough decisions. Looking back, these are the shows that I remember having the best times at.
#182: (216) w/ Ringworm & Bittersweet Revenge
This one was a banger; no question about it. Packing three of Cleveland’s best and biggest acts on to one stage was a piece of brilliance. With such firepower on the bill, it was no surprise that this one sold out fast. I acted quickly to secure my tickets and I am 100% glad I did. No Class was packed to the gills and the energy was fantastic. The bands all killed it and I finally bought a (216) T shirt after all these years. The added bonus, it was a matinee show so I was home in time for dinner. Seeing (216) is always a privilege and with this kind of support it was a no brainer to add this one to my best of list.
#186: The Bouncing Souls w/ H2O, Dave Hause and The Mermaid & School Drugs
This one was fantastic. Many people may not know this about me, but despite all my Heavy Metal leanings I am also a huge fan of Punk Rock. And of all the Punk bands out there that I have seen over the years, I enjoy none of them more than The Bouncing Souls. So naturally I scooped up a ticket as soon as the show was announced and I’m glad I did. The Souls played a phenomenal set, including all their classics and even “Ship in a Bottle,” a song near and dear to my heart. With three stellar openers this was a fantastic evening of Punk Rock that I wish I experience all over again.
#191: AC/DC
What more do I need to say. It was AC/DC. I finally got to see AC/DC!!! It was a packed house at the Stadium downtown and the energy was to the sky. I was fortunate enough to have my father and both brothers with me, and excellent seats to boot. The band beguiled us with a lengthy set list of all their classic jams accompanied by an over the top stadium sized lights and pyro show. It was a Rockin’ good time and a serious bucket list event for me. No question this one makes my top five for the year.
#204: State Line Farm Fest 2025
This is the show that you missed out on, my friend. One of the best kept secrets of the summer if State Line Farm Fest. It’s an absolutely free, all inclusive Rock N’ Roll extravaganza that unfolds on a secluded patch of private property each year. Packing a whole pile of bands, bonfires, hiking, booze and camping into one weekend S.L.F.F. is a must attend event. I went hog wild this year, and ran amok with the some of Cleveland and Pittsburgh’s coolest bands. If you ever take any advice from me, it should be this, make it a point to attend Farm Fest. You will not regret it.
#205: Nine Inch Nails
This show right here was unprecedented. It was more an experience than a mere concert. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. I had a fantastic time and was blown away by the sheer showmanship, attention to detail and spectacle of the whole affair. I said it in my article and I’ll say it again: This was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
Honorable Mention:
My Festival Experiences.
This is the year Acid Bath Reunited. You may have heard about it… it was only about the biggest story in Heavy Metal. This reunion sparked a fever in me and I went mad with the desire to achieve a decades old dream and finally see Acid Bath live. This took me down a path that led me to attending two different festivals. Spending one day at Sonic Temple and three days at Louder Than Life, I had some of the best times of my concert going life. I got to see Acid Bath twice along with dozens of other bands, many of which I was seeing for the very first time. It was amazing. Obviously a huge fest is a very different scene than your average concert, which is why these monumental times have been relegated to Honorable Mentions. Strictly speaking, they are in a whole different category.
Eric Stevenson: The Official Tattoo Artist of the Rustbelt Rock Review
Best Albums
I spent the year saturated in music. When I wasn’t at shows, I was reviewing albums as fast as I could. I had a lot of great albums come across my keyboard and I dug them all in their own way. However some of the lot rose to the top. Of all the records I reviewed, here are the ones that stood out the most to me.
#176 Beast Killer – “Exploder
This is the third entry into the Beast Killer catalog and it does not disappoint. In fact, they’ve managed to raise the bar to an all new high. Once again the band’s sound and style has evolved. This time it seems we’ve been given a perfect marriage of their first two albums. “Exploder” boasts both the fire of their first album along with the complexities and maturity of the second. The end result is another step forward in both style and songwriting. Suffice to say, Beast Killer has done it again and they have done it very well.
Stand Out Track: “Wolves”
#202 Sterilizing the Deceased – “Nothing”
This album slams. In fact, it is about as heavy as they come... with balls to spare. It is also dark, personal, emotional and truly interesting. I enjoyed this collection very much as I reviewed it. I found it to be a true onion of an album; peeling back the layers and always finding more hidden in the depths. If you are a fan of Progressive Death Metal of Progressive Deathcore, I cannot recommend this release enough. It is a certified banger.
Stand out track: “Recovery”
#181 Vandalizard – “Demolition Vol. 1”
Exploding onto the Cleveland Scene is Vandalizard with their debut album “Demolition Vol. 1.” This is a record that I have really come to love. The melodies are killer, the lyrics are strong and the songwriting is top notch. I dig how each song has a tale to tell and how they unfold with such nostalgia. Beneath all that is an up beat and hard rocking vibe. Yes, this is a record that will kick you in the nuts even as it tugs at your heartstrings. Without a doubt in 2025, “Demolition Vol. 1” is a must have addition to any discerning Punk’s collection.
Stand out track: “Roaches”
#199 Atomic Witch – “Death Etiquette”
Now here is something terrifying. The newest release from Atomic Witch is truly a little slice of horror. “Death Etiquette” is a blast of unbridled heaviness and a double shot of fear. On this release The Witch has trimmed the fat, streamlined their sound and made a brutal collection of songs. It is hard. It is fast. It is spooky. There is a mad brilliance in it’s uncompromising aggression and a subtle insanity that permeates the entire record. With a sound that is still unlike anything else out their “Death Etiquette” is a frightening new chapter in this saga of Theatrical Death Thrash.
Stand out track: “Dream Rot”
#214 The Cult ov Crowley – “Rise ov the Rat King”
This is the second album from The Cult ov Crowley and it is a thing of beauty. This is an album that has done nothing short of take my life hostage. From the day I first got my hands on it, I’ve found it hard to turn it off. I love it’s haunting melodies, it’s harmonies and it’s layers of drifting vocals. I also enjoy it’s driving tempos, crushing riffs and it’s bestial guttural roars. From soft, beautiful moments to devastating collisions of sound this is a collection of extremes. It is an album that gives you both ends of the spectrum and touches on all points in between. The songwriting is dynamic, the lyricism intriguing and the end result is Heavy Metal magic. “Rise ov the Rat King” is my Must Listen album of 2025.
Stand out track: “Blood Moon”
Honorable Mention:
#184 Violet Ray – “This is Skate Rock”
I cannot let 2025 slide passed without acknowledging this powerhouse of Punk Rock. This record is, as advertised, entirely about skateboarding and skateboarding culture. It is an album by skaters, for skaters. It is also a kick ass, good time, collection of songs. It is packed with phenomenal energy, grooving Bass lines and fun loving lyrics. If you love Punk Rock and have ever been on a skateboard, then this is an album you absolutely have to hear.
Stand out Track: “Skate or Die”
So there you have it Rustbelt Rockers, my best of 2025 has been delivered. I hope you made it out to these excellent shows, and I definitely encourage you to listen to these fantastic albums. It is through your support that both I and the musicians that I report on, thrive. So thank you for your time, it is greatly appreciated. With that being said, I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year. 2026 is upon us, and we have a whole new years worth of shows on the horizon. Grab your earplugs and I’ll see you out there.
Until next year, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Rustbeltrockreview.com
12/29-12/31
