Rolling Stone Australia have just announced their ranking of the 50 Best New Zealand albums of 2025. Congratulations to all the artists and teams behind the artists who have featured in this prestigious list.
Here’s what Rolling Stone had to say about making their decisions…
It’s been a banner year for New Zealand music.
Our editorial team spent longer than usual debating our favourite local albums of 2025, such was the incredible output of Kiwi acts.
We eventually settled on a top 50, though the order changed multiple times and could have changed some more.
Some of the country’s biggest names returned with revelatory albums, from Lorde to The Beths. New acts emerged with career-best records, particularly a cohort of exciting rock bands based down in Dunedin.
Some legends kept on going, such as The Bats with their excellent 11th album, while Scribe said goodbye to music with a stunning final collection.
Almost half of our top 10 is Māori acts, which feels notable.
At the end of 2024, the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti took over our country’s streets for one of New Zealand’s biggest-ever protest movements. The march united Kiwis of all different backgrounds against the current government’s regressive policies affecting Māori.
We’re particularly excited about the following…
The Rolling Stone 50 Best New Zealand Albums of 2025 (The Label favourites 🙂
#2 Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve
#18 Womb – One Is Always Heading Somewhere
#24 Alien Weaponry – Te Rā
#33 Nadia Reid – Enter Now Brightness
#35 Soft Bait – Life Advice
#39 Pickle Darling – Bots
#40 Voom – Something Good Is Happening
Voom – Something Good Is Happening
