10 Rising Alternative Bands You Need to Know in 2025

The alternative music scene is thriving with fresh talent, blending genres and pushing boundaries. From heavy pop anthems to metal-fueled rebellion, these ten bands are making waves and deserve a spot on your playlist.

10. Bitter Kisses

Meet your new favorite heavy-pop band! Bitter Kisses blur the line between alternative and mainstream with infectious hooks and raw energy. Think pop music you can mosh to. Their synth-infused blend of pop-metal and rock, paired with high-energy live performances, makes every show feel like a filthy underground party.

9. Sixth Wonder

Fresh off winning Best Metal at the 2023 Scottish Alternative Music Awards, Sixth Wonder is on a meteoric rise. With their hit song Saboteur featured on BBC Radio 1’s Introducing Rock Show, and a growing presence on TikTok (300k+ views), this Glasgow-based band is quickly becoming a force in the UK and beyond.

8. Wailing Banshee

Thunderous drums, screaming guitars, and fierce female vocals define Wailing Banshee. Their debut EP Fight To Be Free set the stage for their high-energy, old-school-inspired metal sound. Taking over the north-west scene with relentless live performances, they’re proving that British metal is alive and thriving.

7. Alt Blk Era

Sisters Nyrobi and Chaya break all the rules with their fierce blend of nu-metal, rap, punk, and electronic. Alt Blk Era’s sound is a mix of heavy basslines, electric guitars, and tongue-twisting rap, contrasted with eerie strings and haunting harmonies. Expect music that’s as unsettling as it is unforgettable.

6. Unpeople

Unpeople channel raw frustration into massive riffs and soaring melodies. Guitarists Jake Crawford and Luke Caley, alongside bassist Meg Mash and drummer Richard Rayner, craft anthemic rock that’s both heavy and thought-provoking. If you’re looking for a mix of earnest lyricism and crushing instrumentals, they’re a must-listen.

5. Artio

This Leeds-based Gen-Z quartet fuses electronica with ferocious alt-rock in the vein of Cassyette and Nova Twins. Their self-produced EP Pyrokid is a cathartic exploration of growing up in chaotic times, packed with explosive energy and razor-sharp hooks.

4. RØRY

Proving that rock stardom has no age limit, RØRY is redefining industry norms. Named “Best UK Breakthrough Artist” at the Heavy Music Awards, she’s amassed over 30 million streams and built a devoted fan base. With backing from Kerrang! and BBC Radio 1, her raw storytelling and anthemic sound are unstoppable.

3. BEX

BEX is bringing punk back with a bass-heavy, raw sound that confronts societal inequality head-on. Her charismatic stage presence, jumping, screaming, and engaging the crowd, turns every show into a movement. For fans of rebellious, high-energy punk, BEX is the real deal.

2. South Arcade

Channeling the spirit of 2000s alternative rock, South Arcade delivers high-energy performances reminiscent of the era’s biggest bands. Having toured with Dead Pony and RØRY, they’re quickly becoming one of the UK’s most exciting live acts.

1. Vower

Comprised of former members of Black Peaks, Toska, and Palm Reader, Vower is a band built on experience and mutual admiration. With a reputation for crafting intricate, emotional alternative music, they’re set to become a household name in the scene.

Artists: ALT BLK ERA, Artio, BEX, Bitter Kisses, RØRY, Sixth Wonder, South Arcade, unpeople, Vower, Wailing Banshee