Top 10 Metalcore / Post-Hardcore Bands To Watch in 2025
Left To Right; Impossible Prom Kings, Dead Eyes, Kill Lonely, Take The Name
Written by Jesse James Smith
2024 has boomed with up and coming talent in the Metalcore and Post Hardcore genre. Year after year we are seeing more and more bands release top tier music but not everyone gets to hear them. So we here at Ghost Killer Entertainment want to shine a spotlight on some of the bands we are currently listening to and some that have worked with us that really stood out!
#10: PURE
Starting off this list is Las Vegas locals Pure. This 4 piece is a high energy rollercoaster that is so captivating both on record and live! I had the pleasure of seeing them live in Las Vegas and their energy and stage performance is unmatched. Blending some styles of nu-metal and post hardcore they really make a sound truly unique to them. They have been releasing music since 2019 and have been making a buzz on the west coast but mostly the Las Vegas local scene. Songs like ‘Leap of Faith’, ‘Still You’, and their newest single ‘Red River’ really showcase the band’s talent. How this band has under 1k monthly listeners is a crime, so they are kicking off this list!
FFO: Linkin Park, Bad Omens, Bring Me The Horizon.
#9: Impossible Prom Kings
One of GKE’s newest signings is one of the newest additions to the Minnesota scene, Impossible Prom Kings. First off, one of my favorite band names ever, secondly this band out of the gate already has their eyes set for the future. With three singles released in 2024, their sound and image are a perfect blend of 2009 metalcore and modern day pop punk. They have a unique style that coincides with bands like Escape The Fate and Get Scared while blending it with more modern acts like MGK. Impossible Prom Kings stand out in their scene already and are making strides to be heard in such a short amount of time. Now, I may be biased here but for these guys it is clear to see it is only the beginning for these guys not even having a full EP released yet. 2025 is going to be a big year for IPK and we can’t wait to see what a full year can do for them. If you haven’t heard them yet, I suggest you start with their single “Highest Tower”.
FFO: Get Scared, Broadway, Escape The Fate
#8: Further Within
It’s no secret Florida has some insane talent and these guys are at the top of my watch list. Further Within is a metalcore band from Miami that have been releasing music since mid 2023. I recently found them by accident and it was love at first listen. This band has all of the signs to be a powerhouse in the next year. Outstanding production, creative vision, amazing song writing and incredible vocals. They balance the heaviness and delicateness with grace as well as mixing it with great post production effects and ambient synths that really hit HARD. They are what We Came As Romans used to be, but an updated version. This year has been their year with breaking out. Their name is among the top acts in the local Florida scene and their newest releases are reaching over 100k streams each, some close to a half a mil! They have had an interesting release tactic with how they’ve been packaging their singles, so I have a funny feeling that something big is coming in 2025 and I hope it’s an album. Don’t be shocked if you hear of this band in the next 6 months.
FFO: We Came As Romans, Until I Wake, If Not For Me
#7: FallBright
If you are looking for nostalgia then look no further than Lancaster’s FallBright. These guys have been tearing up the local scene in eastern PA & Baltimore scene recently. These guys have a unique mix of old school emo and post hardcore that can stand with the bands today. I heard about this band when they came out in 2022 and have been watching their growth since then, but recently they’ve turned up the heat! Their last two most recent releases “Burning Blue” and “The Emerald Door” really caught my attention. Since inception, they have stayed true to their influences but it wasn’t until recently that they really nailed that sound and their voice shined through in a big way. With ‘When We Were Young’ having such an impact on the scene there is a need for bands to resemble styles that have been lost in the mix. FallBright is going to be the spearhead of that new wave of music. If you were a fan of Myspace Metalcore in the early years, FallBright is your new favorite band. If I were them, I’d lean into it hard, and coming from Lancaster PA, I’d lean into that harder. History repeats itself.
FFO: Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, Norma Jean
#6: Dead Eyes
There is no one on this list that deserves all eyes on them more than these guys right here. Dead Eyes have been grinding for YEARS and I mean years and they haven’t gotten nearly the credit they’ve deserved. Earlier this year I was on tour with them for a couple weeks and they destroyed live, their songs are catchy and their heavy parts get down and dirty. So, if they have been around awhile, why put them on this list now? Great question, I’ll tell you. A couple months ago they were picked up by iconic indie label InVogue and released a single titled ‘Better Off’. I can not escape that song and it has been living in my head rent free since it was released. They have gained a fair amount of buzz online since their signing and that has only been one song. With this new label backing and a song like this leading, that means they have more in the chamber that they believe is BETTER than this! 2025 is about to be their year and even if you’re not watching them, you’ll hear them.
FFO: I Prevail, Bad Omens, Sleep Theory
#5: Take The Name
Staying on the east coast, Take The Name is a powerhouse in and around the state of Pennsylvania and has been for quite some time. Bringing that modern octane metalcore to its peak, Take The Name has been gaining massive amounts of attention this past year with their signing to indie label Theoria Records. Their song ‘Kerosene’ has racked up close to 1M streams on spotify alone with their others following a similar path. When you listen to them, you can clearly see why they have gained this following. The music is so catchy and infectious, the quality is top notch, and the band works their ass off! 2024 like I said was a big year for them, from the signing, to releases, to dipping their toes in the touring water. They release their EP “Reliving Trauma” December 6th so they will be coming into the new year SWINGING. I feel having a big year this year is just a set up for what is to come.
FFO: If Not For Me, Catch Your Breath, Archers
#4: Chidori
Coming from Atlanta, Chidori is an incredible musical mix of bands but somehow sounds like no one else. If you’re a Swancore fan or a progressive music fan in general, Chidori is your new favorite band. I first heard of these guys earlier this year hearing their song ‘Aqua’ for the first time. I was so captivated by it because it was nothing that I usually listened to but I loved it. Everything from the synths that stand out in the mix and the guitar noodles and solos, it just tickled my brain. They have a 2010 vibe about them, the moments when synths became an industry standard in metalcore. Chidori released only 2 singles this year so they are due for an EP. I think 2025 will be a big year for these guys especially if they get in front of the niche audience they should be in front of. Having incredible musicianship like they do should be praised, so if you haven’t checked them out yet, put them on your next drive to work. I bet you’ll be in a better mood.
FFO: Dance Gavin Dance, CHON, Sky Eats Airplanes
#3: Kill Lonely
In October, We signed this band from San Antonio that has a lot of attitude and bouncy riffs. Kill Lonely brings that large Texas energy with heavy guitar riffs and even heavier drops. While keeping their influences close to their chest, they experiment with different eras of the genre and mix them to keep things fresh and interesting. These guys have a lot of potential to make a huge name for themselves and it's already starting in Texas. These heavy hitters had a monumental 2024 and 2025 is going to be even bigger. If you’re a fan of emotional music then this band is for you… if those emotions are anger and aggression.
FFO: Gift Giver, Emmure, Traitors
#2: Heathen Sun
“But they’re not Metalcore or Post Hardcore, blah blah” shut up. I thought this was decided a while ago but just in case, in the year of 2025 we will not tolerate Nu Metal hate. Nu Metal saved heavy music in the 90’s and early 2000’s and still is one of the most influential genres. With that being said, Heathen Sun is one of the biggest up and coming acts within that genre and to be honest, I haven’t seen a band hustle and work as hard as they do. They have been on tour with big names like Kottonmouth Kings, Shaggy 2 Dope, and King 810. They release music INCREDIBLY consistently with amazing visuals, and they don’t suck. Now I know that this is a very niche market, a big one, but still. Heathen Sun falls closer to the Juggalo culture and has some of the same swag Limp Bizkit has but if you’re honest with yourself, you love it. Why? Because it’s fun and exciting and energetic. All of these you can say about Heathen Sun, They definitely bring the party and have their image down pat. If they keep grinding the way they are, 2025, there is no ignoring them.
FFO: Limp Bizkit, Kottonmouth Kings, Nathan James
#1: Taken By Tides
There has to be something in the water in Texas, they just breed good music. It's annoying if you think about it. But, it’s ok because they give us bands like Taken By Tides. In my opinion, they are the most overlooked and underrated bands on this list. They literally have the whole package, their image, their music, their vibe, everything. They released a new EP in November that has some of my favorite songs like ‘Death of the Old Me’. The musicianship of this band is S tier and they have one of the best drummers in the scene right now. The band has the potential to really catch on and take off. They ended the year with a sold out headliner in their hometown and if that’s any indicator of what’s to come, 2025 is going to be their year.
FFO: Crown The Empire, Wage War, The Word Alive
Besides all of these amazing bands there are some many exciting bands to be checking out for 2025 as well! Give a listen to our playlist including bands from this article and other bands that are new and upcoming across the music scene!