Rock V6

As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share the new Rock V6(Volume 6) playlist with you. These are select highlights from the carefully curated collection that captures rock’s most adventurous crossover moment this year.

Poppy’s “End of You“—bolstered by Amy Lee and Courtney LaPlante—stacks three distinct vocal approaches into a single, blistering call-and-response, each voice carving out its own tonal territory while the production stays brittle and immediate. Twenty One Pilots’ “Drum Show” does exactly what the title promises: Josh Dun’s syncopated fills drive the architecture, letting percussion dictate melody rather than simply reinforcing it, and the electronic processing never smothers the live-kit attack. BabyMetal’s “White Flame” doubles down on their kawaii-metal formula with tighter riff-to-chorus transitions and a relentless mid-tempo groove that balances J-pop hooks against serrated guitar work. Dance Gavin Dance’s “Trap Door” exemplifies their angular post-hardcore—clean melodic runs collide with screamed interjections, and the band pivots between radio-ready accessibility and math-rock detours without losing momentum. Bad Omens’ “Specter” opts for atmosphere over brutality, layering industrial synth pads and processed guitars into a cinematic backdrop that builds toward an anthemic, arena-sized chorus.

Rock V6 proves rock’s elasticity when artists borrow freely from metal, pop, and electronic production—no apologies, no retreat. For more crossover ambition, revisit Rock V5 or explore our Best Rock Songs 2024 roundup.