San Antonio musical acts had a prolific 12 months, dropping releases throughout all kinds of genres, from cumbia and nation to metallic and alt-rock.
A few of these releases did an admirable job representing their genres on a global stage, whereas others blended these genres into new and thrilling musical fusions. Hell, some even appeared to obliterate style limitations altogether.
As per traditional, we tasked our music writers with deciding on their favourite albums and EPs of the 12 months and ended up with this listing of 10. Because it was powerful to slim down, we even threw in an inventory of honorable mentions on the finish.
Let’s run them down in alphabetical order.
Calcraft — Reborn By way of Torture
The brainchild of Jake Wayman and Semir Ozerkan, this demise metallic outfit named after a famed British executioner made fast headway within the scene, possible as a result of Ozerkan’s ties to different Texas outfits Oceans of Slumber and Necrofier. Don’t get it twisted, although. As a debut album, Reborn By way of Torture holds its personal as a stable piece of recent demise metallic with basic twists. Synths, sampled film quotes and washes of atmospheric black metallic are all a part of the album’s slick manufacturing. Brutality and wonder dance all through, similar to watching an old-school slasher or giallo film however in 4K. — Brianna Espinoza
Garrett T. Capps — Life is Unusual
San Antonio’s crown prince of Krautrock-infused cosmic nation has given us a Petty-esque Americana confessional together with his spring EP Life is Unusual. That is additionally Capps’ darkest launch to this point lyrically, as evidenced by the tracks “Limitless Gap,” “I’m Afraid to Go Outdoors” and “Poisonous Serenity.” Even a rollicking fiddle-driven stomper referred to as “Glad Birthday” has the fatalistic chorus “Glad birthday, we’re all gonna die.” However our fave is the title monitor, which by some means makes all of the ennui and paranoia of the album OK with the chorus “Life is unusual, but it surely’s cool.” — Stephanie Koithan
Donella Drive — Axon
San Antonio’s resident heavy progressive act Donella Drive continues to shock listeners with each album launch, and this 12 months’s Axon is not any totally different. Left behind is the staccato chord work the band was as soon as recognized for. Rising as a replacement are gradual, flange pedal-warped riffs a la Mastodon or Sleep, which soften listeners like ice cream uncovered to scorching desert warmth. Axon showcases Donella’s technical post-hardcore chops whereas additionally turning up the highlight on the band’s funky and emotionally charged compositions. — BE
The Grasshopper Lies Heavy — Heavy
The members of this veteran artwork metal-meets-noise rock act weren’t kidding after they named their newest album. Though previous Grasshopper releases tended to strike a mixture between the band’s bludgeoning, off-kilter riff exercises and atmospheric tracks that explored a quieter type of chaos, this launch is usually in regards to the aggression. From the opening monitor “Human Claymore” on, this sucker delivers one rhythmically advanced, misanthropic intestine punch after one other. It’s akin to being run over by a dump truck with one sq. wheel. However, you realize, in a great way. — Sanford Nowlin
Las Hijas de la Madre — Diatribas Punk
Although a late-year launch, Las Hijas de la Madre’s Diatribas Punk had time to endear itself, partly owing to the truth that it options 5 songs launched as singles earlier within the 12 months. The feminist, anti-capitalist, queer, Chicanx punk band, helmed by poet and efficiency artist Amalia Ortiz, is the precise band we want proper now. “Dayglo” is the standout album monitor. Its pop-punk bop is probably the most enjoyable you’ll ever have whereas lamenting the ubiquity of microplastics. However different standouts embody “Hocicona, Peleonera,” “Too Drunk to Consent” and “Periphery,” all of which, steeped in righteous rage, exemplify Las Hijas’ uncommon capacity to make music about problems with dire import which additionally occurs to be fucking superior. — James Courtney
Los Juanos — La Llegada
At 4 tracks and quarter-hour, the La Llegada EP hits like a Tejano twister, wild on arrival and never letting up till it’s over. It colours exuberantly and defiantly outdoors the traces of the golden age Tejano blueprint that serves as a launchpad for Los Juanos. For this primary prolonged launch, which follows a slew of stellar singles, producer David Beck did a masterful job of capturing all that’s finest in regards to the band. What stands out most, nonetheless, is the masterful songwriting, which is pure nuevo-Tejano gold. Proper now, “Razón Suficiente,” a big-vocals waltz about existential disaster, is my favourite monitor, however they take turns — por la neta, each monitor here’s a standout. — JC
Vanita Leo — Cumbiamante
With the EP Cumbiamante, Vanita Leo cemented her rising star standing in probably the most satisfying means, delivering a track set that feels cohesive in each music and sentiment. My favourite native track of the 12 months, Leo’s unstoppable banger “Cumbia Wepa,” isn’t even on this EP, and but it’s nonetheless excellent — that’s the type of run this cumbia queen is on proper now. This one options the hometown love letter “San Antonio,” a surprising bolero, and different quick favorites “Caballito” and “Kais Mal,” each killer cumbias. — JC
Harvey McLaughlin — Peña
Many individuals finest know Harvey Mc-Laughlin for his keyboard contributions to SA bands together with the Hickoids and Eddie & The Valiants. Seems the man may also uncork darkly humorous materials of his personal that hits like a misplaced lo-fi record-ing of Warren Zevon fronting Tom Waits’ band circa Bone Machine. Demented blues, off-kilter New Orleans grooves and uncooked power pervade in songs corresponding to “A Bag of Shrunken Heads” and “A Useless Physique within the Backseat” — all exhibiting off McLaughlin’s chops as each a musician and a storyteller. — SN
Sunjammer — Sunjammer
It’s acceptable that this country-rock jam band’s fourth album is self-titled, as a result of with this launch, it feels just like the collective has gelled and really arrived at its quintessence. This album is all killer, no filler, so we advocate listening to the entire thing straight by, however we’re type of keen on “Lunch Break,” “Step Outta Line,” “I Wanna Stop” and “Actual One.” Homegrown like a pot plant poking within the yard, this group is by some means supremely chill and rock ‘n’ roll on the identical time. Not fairly cosmic cowboys, they veer within the indie-Americana path with greater than a microdose of psychedelia thrown in. — SK
Digital Limbs — Large Time Crime
The most important crime we see right here is that extra folks don’t find out about experimental San Antonio noise and Krautrock duo Digital Limbs, which launched its EP Large Time Crime this spring. Standouts on the discharge embody “Roach Neck,” “Cheap Grandmother” and the album’s eponymous monitor. Josh Borchardt lays down harsh, looping guitar results and monotonous spoken vocals whereas Mason Griffin Macias completely annihilates the drums. — SK
Different 2025 San Antonio favorites:
Tenure — Elements Of
Mexstep — Tráfico
Avenue Lamp — Guillotine
Joaquin and the Glowliners — ‘¡Hijole!’ (Single)
New Points of interest — Holding Onto You (Single)
Very Outdated Morris — Final of the Rodeo Clowns
Chavela — s/t
Favourite Son — Juniper
Elnuh — Entropy
West of Rome — Hold It Fly within the Adverse Zone
Subscribe to SA Present newsletters.
Observe us: Apple Information | Google Information | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Fb | Twitter | Or join our RSS Feed
Associated Tales
The band will carry out this Saturday at Lonesome Rose with the identical lineup that saved the St. Mary’s Strip bumping alongside to its authentic tunes.
San Antonio’s personal Soiled River Brass Band is also taking part in a pair of exhibits at Jazz, TX.
SA’s Kitten Mitten can also be acting at Echo Bridge.
