Summary of Western Music Releases [May 2025]

Save The CatPendulum

Pendulum – Save The Cat (Official Video)

Formed in Perth, Australia in 2002 and known for their innovative fusion of drum and bass with rock, Pendulum have released this track in May 2025 as the lead single from their first studio album in 15 years, Inertia.

Marked by an aggressive, heavy sound that departs from their traditionally melodic style, it incorporates elements of electro-industrial and screamo.

Rob Swire’s raw shouts channel emotions born from the end of a romantic relationship, transforming them into music and signaling a bold new direction for the band.

If you’re interested in experimental approaches that transcend genre boundaries, this is a must-listen.

Got to Have LovePulp

Pulp – Got to Have Love (Official Video)

As one of the UK’s emblematic rock bands that led the Britpop movement of the 1990s, Pulp has returned.

Nearly 30 years after their acclaimed 1995 album Different Class, Jarvis Cocker and company have delivered a wonderful new song from their upcoming album More, scheduled for release in June 2025.

Originally demoed in 1999 but long left unreleased, the track stands out for its deft incorporation of soul and disco elements.

It carries Cocker’s introspective reflections on the theme of love, and it’s a masterpiece that showcases the band’s maturation as they sing about “love,” a word they once couldn’t bring themselves to say.

Leave Me AloneReneé Rapp

Reneé Rapp – Leave Me Alone

Reneé Rapp, a North Carolina–born singer-songwriter and actress active across multiple fields, first gained attention for her role as Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls and for her performance in an HBO drama.

Her new song, released in May 2025, marks a sharp turn from the cinematic ballad style of her previous work Snow Angel, instead showcasing a funky, club-leaning production.

Featuring bold lyrics that assert self-expression and freedom, the track serves as the lead single for her second album, Bite Me, slated for release in August 2025.

It’s also the song known for the buzzworthy AMAs performance that burst through the bathroom set.

Jumpy ft. Ski Mask The Slump GodRich Brian

Rich Brian – Jumpy feat. Ski Mask The Slump God

Born in 1999 and hailing from Jakarta, Indonesia, Rich Brian is a rapper and producer who has achieved international success.

This track, released in May 2025 and featuring Ski Mask the Slump God, is said to be the third single from his upcoming album WHERE IS MY HEAD?, scheduled for release in August.

Marking a shift from the melodic vocals of his recent work back to a powerful rap style, the song delivers an energetic blend with Ski Mask’s distinctive flow.

First conceived after they met at Rolling Loud in 2017, this collaboration has been years in the making.

For now, give this track a listen and stay tuned for more album updates!

I Want It AllRise Against

Rise Against – I Want It All

Hailing from Chicago and active since 1999, the melodic hardcore band Rise Against delivered a powerful new song released in May 2025, and it’s a standout.

Made as the lead single for their tenth album, “Ricochet,” the track features the band’s signature aggressive guitar riffs and high-energy vocals, along with a memorable call-and-response anthem.

Produced by Grammy winner Catherine Marks, it maintains the spirit of punk rock while achieving a more polished sound.

It’s an ideal pick for those seeking music with strong social messages or anyone looking for an energizing boost.

brand new teethSamara Cyn, Smino

Samara Cyn, Smino – brand new teeth (Official Video)

A collaborative track by singer-rapper Samara Shin, a Tennessee native now based in Los Angeles, and St.

Louis rapper Smino was released in May 2025.

It’s an introspective piece themed around rising fame and the pressure that comes with it, reflecting on the symbolism of grills in Southern Black culture.

The multilayered beat—shifting from mellow jazz to classical orchestration—stands out, while the profound lyrics resonate as they depict the traps of wealth and the struggles of contemporary society.

The track is also included on the EP “Backroads,” slated for a June release, and it’s a song best absorbed in the stillness of the night.

ForgivingSir Chloe

Sir Chloe – Forgiving (Official Lyric Video)

A shocking new release from Sir Chloe, the indie rock band from Vermont, USA, dropped in May 2025.

Inspired by a terrifying experience that Dana Foote herself went through, the work was created as a cry that refuses forgiveness, marked by a dark sound blending heavy guitar riffs with emotional vocals.

Produced by Steph Marziano, the alternative rock leans into a ’90s influence, and—just as Dana delivered an intense performance in Toronto in March 2024, collapsing onto the floor—it’s defined by its deep emotional expression.