Favorite new songs / January 2025

[Hair I Go Again]

I'm trying to be better this year about checking out newly released music in hopes of finding some new stuff to enjoy. So far, though, 2025 has been all about new tunes by old favorites. Here are 10 I enjoyed this month.

W.E.T. - "Where Are The Heroes Now" (from new album coming in March)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akpr_SBojSE
Jeff Scott Soto-fronted melodic hard rock side project whose silly name references the members' other groups (Work of Art, Eclipse, Talisman). Even if none of those things mean anything to you, it's a catchy tune.

Wig Wam - "Human Fire" (one-off single, at least for now)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWjX1ziWtC4
The Norwegian vets continue their unlikely post-"Peacemaker" comeback with a killer new track.

Crazy Lixx - "Hunt For Danger" (from new album coming in February)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2ek6RhktVQ
Sweden's best modern hair metal group (IMO) goes full '80s on this semi-ballad. So many of the groups we celebrate here only put out three (if that) quality albums. These guys are about to release their eighth.

H.e.a.t - "Disaster" (from new album coming in April)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CokWIQBK-M
This will also be album #8 from this Swedish group, best known for being the former band of Skid Row's last singer. While the four records they did together were great, their 2022 record (which featured the return of their original vocalist) was strong, as is this new song.

Avantasia - "Against the Wind" (from new album coming in February)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN-AAIYw3Fs
Speaking of H.e.a.t, the singer guests on this new song from the European fantasy metal group. The music is too power metal for my tastes, but the vocals are great. It's crazy that this will be the #1 album on some countries' pop charts when it's released next month.

Dream Theater - "Midnight Messiah" (from new album coming in February)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwOjMJB0Q2k
This song clicked with me more than the first two advance tracks they released, and now I'm far more interested in hearing the new album.

The Darkness - "Rock and Roll Party Cowboy" (from new album coming in March)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACzJLhUarac
Certainly not my favorite song they've ever released, but they're still a treasure.

The Wildhearts - "Troubadour Moon" (from new album coming in March)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlH9DsZ0Bc
I'm by no means a Wildhearts completist, as they've always been on the list of bands whose catalogs I need to explore more, but I enjoyed this single. Who knows, maybe the new album will finally be my gateway drug.

Lordi - "Retropolis" (from new album coming in March)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5MtvtWVUA4
I don't think they'll ever make another record as good as their debut, but better to live in a world where this band continues to release new albums (and their new one is their 19th!) than not.

Dorothy feat. Slash - "Tombstone Town" (from new album coming in March)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DoUioC7r1A
I don't know what to call this -- sis-country, maybe? -- but I try to give everything Slash does at least a cursory listen. Wish they'd hired a guest drummer too instead of just programming the machine, but it's still worth checking out.

Disclaimer: The Hellacopters and The Night Flight Orchestra both released new albums today, but I haven't listened to either yet. (The Hellacopters are usually hit or miss for me, and I like the idea of The Night Flight Orchestra more than I've liked the music they've released to date.)

[Ham Stroker's Ejacula]

AVULSED "Lacerate to Dominate"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufrm5Aa ... treemMusic

CONAN "Frozen Edges of the Wound"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxYBYMC ... NDSRECORDS

DISRUPTED "Choke on the Cross"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XXErzf ... edOfficial

MACERATION "The Den of Misery"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMlU3Yg ... roductions

PENTAGRAM "Dull Pain"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq9jwZO ... NDSRECORDS

[miserable]

The Night Flight Orchestra / Paloma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB8rqlb ... almRecords