In 2025, the best rock music radiated self-assurance. That sometimes meant staking a claim to micro-genre legacies, but just as often meant leaning hard into idiosyncrasies. This year’s best and boldest rock came from Britpop veterans and emo-revival heroes who returned to level up their sound; feminist punks and indie upstarts making electrifying debuts; and regional artists fearlessly embodying local traditions. Below, find our top 30 rock albums of 2025, chosen by Pitchfork staff writer Nina