The Round-Up: Best Music of April 2025

Evan
May 8
4 min read

April was an uneventful month for me, musically. Chiefly, I spent the month listening to Stevie Wonder for my upcoming Masterful Discography article, listening to bits and pieces of new releases to make sure I didn’t fall behind. Swamped in assignments and racing to the finish of my Final Year at university, music was not my top priority this April.

However, despite how preoccupied I was, I discovered a handful of gems up there with the finest music I’ve heard in 2025. From the intense metal of Deafheaven to the introspective hip hop of IDK YOUNG J, here is the best music I heard from April 2025.

SPELLLING – Portrait of My Heart

The latest effort from SPELLLING is one of the singer’s best works yet, combining her ethereal style with the punching sounds of rock. Thumping drums and intense guitar riffs make up the soundscape of this LP, forming a dramatic backdrop for the singer to show off her silky vocals. Despite the slight genre shift from enchanting projects like The Turning Wheel, Portrait of My Heart still boasts all of SPELLLING’s strengths: tight songwriting, vivid and poetic lyrics, and a resolute dedication to building a vast and enveloping atmosphere. Her vocals are expressive, with the passion to match the rock-infused fury of the production behind her. Although I prefer the more whimsical and ethereal sounds of her past work, Portrait of My Heart remains a welcome addition to a stunning catalogue.

Black Country, New Road – Forever Howlong

Despite the resounding success of Black Country, New Road’s last outing – the critically adored Ants From Up There – I never quite clicked with the album. Thus, with the announcement of the band’s next release (their first since the departure of lead vocalist Isaac Wood), I was sceptical going into Forever Howlong. However, upon repeated listens, I can confidently call this one of the best albums of 2025. The production is gorgeous, blending sounds of alternative rock with a flavour of baroque music and a pinch of jazz. Warm guitars, lush strings, and colourful horns coalesce to build a vibrant atmosphere brimming with personality, made even more enthralling thanks to the shared vocals from the band. The lyrics are cryptic at times and enchanting at others, surrounding the listener in a sensory world of thoughts and feelings expressed as vibrantly in the words spoken as the instruments played. Forever Howlong is an incredible reflection of the chemistry of Black Country, New Road, with each bandmate pulling their weight to deliver a masterclass in modern rock music.

Laddie Moran – Said Too Much

It’s a challenge to deliver a clear message in something as short as an EP, but with Said Too Much, rapper Laddie Moran does it perfectly. A transparent expression of his outlook on the injustices of America and the industry he finds himself in, Said Too Much is a commendable EP where Moran’s flows are as intricate as his lyrics. Rapping over a range of dreamy, soul-infused beats, Moran has a natural skill for articulating his multifaceted thoughts in the smoothest manner possible. Juxtaposing his poignant raps with hypnotic vocals, the MC showcases his effortless versatility on Said Too Much, illustrating his prowess as a performer and lyricist in a brisk 11 minutes. A snapshot into the bleak reality of modern America, Said Too Much is a powerful example of political hip hop delivered by one of the sharpest lyricists in Pennsylvania.

Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power

Lonely People With Power is black metal at its finest. The production is brutal, dominated by deafening drums and grumbling guitar that add to the ire of lead vocalist George Clarke. But there is far more to Lonely People With Power than its intense sound. Rather than simple metal, it can be described as blackgaze: the unlikely marriage of black metal and shoegaze where fiery riffs and thundering percussion are fused with dreamy melodies and a vivid atmosphere. The result is an eclectic LP zigzagging from nightmarish metal passages into splendorous moments of reflection. The lyrics reflect themes of guilt, anger, and devastation, filtered through cryptic poetry and delivered via the near-incomprehensible wails from Clarke. With its versatile sound and layered writing, Lonely People With Power stands out as one of the most intense and intricate records of 2025.

IDK YOUNG J & pty – At Ease.

The latest effort from rapper IDK YOUNG J is a deeply introspective look into the MC’s life and surroundings, produced by the versatile pty. J dissects the bleak state of the world through his furious rhymes, delivering each bar with a thundering flow and the dominating presence to give each sentence its own impact. On production, pty creates a gritty soundscape filled with muddy drum patterns and ominous horn passages, juxtaposed by uplifting strings on tracks like “The Iron Claw”. Together, J and pty paint a harrowing picture of the world we live in, but go beyond one-note nihilism, searching for the hope and optimism beyond the seemingly endless despair. The detailed production and intricate lyrics go hand in hand, making for one of the most thoughtfully constructed rap albums of the year.

Jane Remover – Revengeseekerz

Revengeseekerz is pure chaos. Jane Remover’s third album is a bombastic blend of pop, hip hop, and electronica, taking the listener through an odyssey of maximalist sounds. Their quick, autotune-layered vocals act as a crossover between hyperpop and rage, capturing the unbridled energy of both genres while their unpredictable delivery makes it into something wholly unique. The production is explosive and erratic, filled with scattered percussion, wailing synthesisers, and crackling basslines which coalesce to create mesmerising waves of sound, drowning the listener in colourful noise. Pop in its harshest, most experimental form, Revengeseekerz is a wild amalgamation of sounds and ideas that makes every listen feel fresh.