National Album Day: Our Favourite Rock Records
Posted on Friday 17th October 2025 at 12:31
Written by
Gigantic Tickets
Each year, the music industry and music aficionados everywhere come together to recognise National Album Day - a day dedicated to celebrating the music format in all its glory.
The eighth edition of this celebration will fall on Saturday 18th October 2025, and the theme is rock! From psychedelic rock to metal, classic to indie, our team have written about all of their favourite rock albums as we celebrate slinging guitars in all their glory.
So join us as we celebrate our favourite rock albums this National Album Day. And be sure to let us know on social media which rock albums are your top picks - you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Threads.
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
The Downward Spiral was an immediate knee-jerk response when I was thinking (and trying very hard to whittle down my choices) about some of my favourite rock albums. This album is still so fresh and unique, despite being a product of the 90s. I'm an enormous fan of electronic music, so finding a rock album that marries elements of industrial metal with electronica is an automatic hit for me. Trent Reznor is a musical genius (and I don't throw that term around lightly), in the way that he crafts unnerving, brooding soundscapes using his modular synthesisers and drone sounds to accompany the pain in his lyrics. The sleazy, thumping beat of "Closer" will always get me going.
- Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant
Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
When I think of classic rock, I only ever think of Thin Lizzy. To me, they’re a prime example of the traditional rock genre at its finest, an amalgam of its many sub-genres and influences throughout the decades. From their folk-rock origins, moving into blues, hard-rock, psych and heavy metal, Thin Lizzy took the genre to another fresh and exciting level during the 70s and 80s by incorporating traditional Irish melodies and folk music into their sound. I always loved how this set them apart from bands of their ilk at the time. With the incomparable Phil Lynott at the helm - a pioneer in his own right as the first commercially successful Black Irishman in a rock band - Thin Lizzy broke boundaries and inspired dozens of bands that followed.
I could pick a studio album of theirs I love, like Black Rose or Chinatown, but I’ve always been totally obsessed with their live double album Live and Dangerous, which I consider to be one of the greatest albums of all time (and certainly the greatest live record in existence). It perfectly captures the raucous energy and vibrant electricity only found in live music, and every time I listen to it I feel the excitement and awe that only a good old fashioned rock show can stoke. I’d give anything to go back in time and attend it in person.
- Sarah Moore, Head of Brand and Commercial
The Doors – L.A. Woman
I want whatever Jim Morrison was smoking when they recorded this record. Love how raw this album sounds with its live-sounding production. It's a classic, I don't what else I can really say that hasn't been said already.
- Kieren Burns, Event Management
Fallen - Evanescence
The "Bring Me To Life" video still has me in a chokehold. One of my most played albums ever, no skips.
- Laura Bowers, Customer Serivice
Wunderhorse - Midas
A record that feels both bruised and beautiful, steeped in grit yet glowing with heart. Its songs balance raw, grunge-soaked guitars with moments of aching tenderness, capturing the restless spirit of growing older without losing that spark of rebellion.
- Lewis Conway, Service Desk & Onsite Lead
Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
This is one of my favourite albums of all time, it’s so incredibly diverse & expansive. "The Rain Song" & "No Quarter" show my two favourite sides of Zeppelin, but we’re also blessed with "Dancing Days", "D’yer Mak’er" & "The Crunge". The cover being a place in the north of Ireland has absolutely no bearing on my choice.
- James McBride, Business Development and Project Lead
Avril Lavigne – Let Go
I don't particularly like rock music now, but the first ever CD I owned was Avril Lavigne - Let Go, and at 6 years old I was wondering, why did you have to go and make things so complicated?? Avril was the voice of a generation of young girls looking for icon, and proved that in a heavily male dominated world, girls can be rockstars too. I think that album spoke to the soul of every misfit and gave us some truly everlasting songs that I will still scream along to in the car now.
- Tegan Rowe, Senior Event Manager
You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colours
I notoriously cannot stand choosing my favourite anything, but I’ve started with probably the most influential album for me growing up. I personally reckon this is a no-skip album and will forever remind me of the days when you could go to a gig at Rock City for £14, plus the one time I won a meet and greet and Josh Franceschi told me he liked my t-shirt.
- Abbie Hargreaves, CRM Marketing Manager
Queens of the Stone Age – Songs for the Deaf
Songs for the Deaf is a generational, genre redefining rock album from a band that was effectively a supergroup at the time. It's a perfect blend of Nick Oliveri's dissonant punk energy and Josh's unique gift for crooning melody galvanised in this huge wall of palm desert generator party sound, all of which is driven by Dave Grohl in his absolute prime thumping the tubs. Having Mark Lanegan hanging around doesn't hurt either.
- Harry Taylor, Business Development
Alice In Chains - Dirt
It’s packed with emotion, pain, and raw honesty in every song. Layne Staley’s unmistakable voice, especially when it blends with Jerry Cantrell’s, creates a haunting harmony that gives the music an eerie, beautiful edge. Dirt is one of those albums I can always come back to. Timeless, powerful, and truly one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
- Kelly McKinney, Head of Operations
Anna Calvi – One Breath
Insane guitarist. Mixes thick chaotic guitar sounds with operatic, buttery vocals. Very atmospheric. A huge inspiration of mine and has inspired me as a musician.
- Holly Taylor-Gamble, Customer Service
Geese - 3D Country
When I think about my favourite rock album, 3D Country (2023) by Geese is the first one that comes to mind. Of all the rock bands and records I’ve fallen in and out of love with over the years, this is the one I keep coming back to.
Not only is it a faultless record, eleven songs of pure perfection, but it also reminds me of a really happy year in my life, when everything seemed to be exactly as it should be (or at least through rose-tinted glasses). I listened to this album back to back to back, and I don’t think I could ever get tired of it.
The album is rambunctious, beautiful, and addictive. From the energetic, ferocious opening track “2122” through to my personal anthem of that year, “Cowboy Nudes,” every song makes me feel like I could punch a hole through a wall — in the best possible way. And isn’t that what we all want from a rock album?
Plus, I’m convinced Cameron Winter’s voice is laced with crack, because I just can’t quit the fella.
- Bethan Boast, Digital Marketing Manager
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
As someone who is also blessed to be from the West Midlands, it would be a crime to not include Black Sabbath. As metal is one of my favourite genres, there is something really special when you consider that these boys from Brum paved way for all of the music that I, as well as millions of others, live and breathe today.
Black Sabbath completely changed sonic landscapes with their music, and this album is gloomy, sludgy, and best enjoyed incredibly loud. Ozzy's urgent vocals mix perfectly against the textures of Tony Iommi's downtuned guitar in a dramatic crescendo that has withstood the test of time.
- Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant
Paramore – This Is Why
With rock being such a broad theme, I felt couldn’t not include this album. Paramore are a band who have shape-shifted so many times over the last 20 years, moving through from their origins in punk, emo and alternative, into the likes of synth-pop and indie rock at various points in their history. They’re a band that know their references and draw inspiration from all corners of the rock genre, and their latest and sixth record This Is Why is a prime example of those inspirations coming together to create something far greater than what they’d achieved prior to it.
This Is Why plays with the conventions of rock in such interesting ways; the instrumentation is fast and punky, echoing bands like Bloc Party from the British indie-punk scene of the 00s, while also drawing inspiration from new-wave and post-punk heroes like Talking Heads. The album is filled with such a sense of rage and introspection that is always paired best with guitar-heavy tracks - a contrast to the band’s previous album After Laughter which juxtaposed cheery, synthy melodies with some of the band’s most downbeat and dark themes. To say This Is Why was a return to form would be a disservice to the impressive and wildly eclectic catalogue they’ve created since 2005; however This Is Why was certainly a pivot back to their roots and an accumulation of the band’s 20 years’ experience and influence, coming together to create something that has since cemented them as one of the greatest, most successful and sustaining rock bands of a generation.
- Sarah Moore, Head of Brand and Commercial
Drenge – Drenge
Incredibly underrated album, I miss these guys so much, This debut album is gitty, violent and pessimistic with its lyrics, backed by its violent and pounding drums and memorable riffs.
- Kieren Burns, Event Management
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
The first album I ever bought myself. I’ve listened to it pretty much daily for 20 years. Favourite album of all time.
- Laura Bowers, Customer Service
Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not captures the reckless thrill of youth and the electric pulse of early-2000s Britain like few albums ever have. With its raw guitars, sharp storytelling, and pint-fuelled swagger, it’s the sound of nights out, last buses, and growing up too fast - a time capsule of indie rock in full bloom.
- Lewis Conway, Service Desk & Onsite Lead
Paramore - Paramore
I KNOW Sarah will have chosen Paramore too, but I couldn’t *not* say this album. It is the perfect mix of fun and sad. My favourites are "Last Hope","Anklebiters", "Hate To See Your Heart Break", "Proof"… in fact, Hayley Williams just can’t write a bad song.
- Abbie Hargreaves, CRM Marketing Manager
Aphrodite's Child – 666
A generally weird and fun album. A mixture of heavy, thick sounds and out of pocket noises.
- Holly Taylor-Gamble, Customer Service
Paramore - Brand New Eyes
Hayley Williams walked into that studio FUMING. This album is not even just a teenage album for me. It's arguably one of the best emo/pop-punk records ever made, and has proved that the band can withstand even their worst moments, as a collective or as individuals, and still come together and make fantastic art. Think Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, but sang furiously by a tiny woman with orange hair.
Not only are the instruments enticing, but Williams is a powerhouse behind the microphone. Showcasing her impressive set of lungs, she has proven that she is one of the best vocalists of the 21st century. There is a beautiful contradiction between the tenderness of "The Only Exception" versus the absolute fury of tracks like "Careful" and "Ignorance". And I like both sides equally.
Paramore is my favourite band, and this album was a gateway drug into heavier music. I simply couldn't NOT consider them for this celebration of good rock music. Lyrically and sonically powerful considering that the band were in their very early twenties when penning the record, Brand New Eyes still moves me, even after approximately one million listens.
- Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant
The Strokes - The New Abnormal
This album is really their second masterpiece. Don't get me wrong, The Strokes have always defined indie rock and noise rock, but this album feels like their magnum opus.
- Kieren Burns, Event Management
Paramore – Riot!
Still makes me want to have a fringe and some fishnet tights and chip my nail varnish. Hayley Williams is an icon.
- Laura Bowers, Customer Service
Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell
I don’t think it’s very cool to like Meat Loaf but I really love this album and the theatre of it. Meat Loaf is one of my mum’s favourite artists and she used to play and sing this to me when I was a baby, so I can’t not think of her when I hear it. Also - anyone who tries to tell me that "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" isn’t one of the best songs ever is wrong!!
- Abbie Hargreaves, CRM Marketing Manager
The Beatles - Revolver
Experimental phase of The Beatles combining lots of different sounds and instruments. Fusion of world music. Atmospheric album. Contains all of my favourite Beatles songs. Sitar???? Reverse guitar? Sign me up!
- Holly Taylor-Gamble, Customer Service
Bruce Springsteen – Born In The U.S.A
The Boss is one of the kings of rock'n'roll. This album is distinctly American, and although I'm not American, I appreciate this distinct identity. This blockbuster masters the art of veiling its anxiety with its' spright façade.
Bruce is one of my favourite artists, for his songwriting, his showmanship, his activism, and more. Having caught him and the E Street Band at Wembley Stadium before, I was mesmeriesed by his energy and his ability to command a stage. Since then, this record gets better with every listen.
This record fills me with such joy, from the steamy "I'm On Fire" to the triumphant guitars of "No Surrender", but obvious mention to "Dancing In The Dark", which is possibly one of the best songs ever made.
- Jodie Averis, Marketing Assistant
Militarie Gun - Life Under The Gun
From the opening track you know you are in for a heavy energetic emotional rollercoaster. The record is lively and delivers sweeping, captivating hooks.
- Kieren Burns, Event Management
Def Leppard – Hysteria
Every song still slaps. Great album to listen to when you’re cleaning the house. Also reminds me of when they headlined Download and I lost my mind.
- Laura Bowers, Customer Service
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built The Moon?
Such a fusion of ideas. Very danceable and groovy. Incredible live.
- Holly Taylor-Gamble, Customer Service
Tenacious D - Tenacious D
A hilarious yet heroic celebration of rock ’n’ roll excess - a record that manages to parody the genre while worshipping it at the same time. Every riff feels larger than life, every lyric a wink to the legends before them, and every moment dripping with the joy of two friends chasing the ultimate rock dream.
- Lewis Conway, Service Desk & Onsite Lead
Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak
This album is such a guilty pleasure for me, I can't really explain it.
- Kieren Burns, Event Management
Savages - Adore Life
Love the thick, fuzzy bass lines. Very angry and shouty and danceable.
- Holly Taylor-Gamble, Customer Service
Palma Violets – 180
British indie rock - messy, loud, and gloriously alive. It captures that fleeting moment when friendship, chaos, and melody collide in a blur of sweat and cigarette smoke, echoing the raw energy of basement gigs and teenage dreams.
- Lewis Conway, Service Desk & Onsite Lead