Dan Hillier
Karnivool is preparing to release one of the most anticipated albums of 2026, titled In Verses. As the year gradually comes to a close (thank goodness for that), the Australian progressive metal band is offering us a sneak peek with their new track ‘Opal’. This song leans more into the melodic aspects of their sound. It functions as a proggy ballad that could easily serve as a backdrop for the end credits of a blockbuster film. However, the outro delves into the concept of escaping a broken space pod, only to fall into the unknown. In terms of the riffs, they are actually outtakes from their Themata era. Drew Goddard recently explained, “The riff in the middle and the end was the first thing I recorded during the Themata era, on a computer at my parents’ house. Twenty years later, it found its place here. Jon dug it up, and we made it feel more current. The verse that begins with ‘You’ve been holding up…’ was a section left off ‘Aeons’ from Asymmetry. The whole track came together in a way we’ve never really experienced before—these old, separate ideas suddenly just fell into place.” – Nessie Spencer
Wot Gorilla? continue their reemergence from hibernation with a marvellous slice of manic math with ‘Young Mans Game’ where they ponder over the insecurities of being a band of older gentleman. Front man Matt Haigh tackles his personal challenges that come with navigating feedback as his voice flicks between tender and unhinged on a dime, the winding melodies bewilder and entice with an effortless flow and even Jonny Heys saxophone appears adding further genius to an entity which feels destined to have a monumental 2026. The upcoming record ‘Stay Home’ is locked in for a February 20th, 2026 via Drongo Records as Wot Gorilla? pick up where the left off with many UK shows already in the calendar. Their live show is a faultless machine with a human heart which will leave your jaw on the floor and looking for a shoulder to cry on. – Andy Calderbank
Latest single ‘Head is Like a Sinking Stone’ from Tigers Jaw’s newly-announced seventh studio album Lost On You is set to release next March, and has been long-awaited by fans since their last release in 2021. Lyrically, the track discusses a personal and recurring dream about being stuck underwater that frontman and guitarist Ben Walsh had when he was young and this reflects through the abstract lyrics, nostalgic 90’s emo esque guitars, and the infectiously repetitive chorus featuring the flourishingly high harmonies and electric piano from long-term vocalist and- keyboardist Brianna Collins that add depth to the three minutes duration of the track. After proving that Tigers Jaw are still a highly proficient live band through their sets at Common Thread alongside other emo and pop-punk heavyweights, Lost On You is set to be another enjoyable listen from one of Pennsylvania’s greatest. – Ez Luscombe
Everyone’s favourite synthwave leather daddy is back. The title track and first taste of Carpenter Brut’s upcoming record which releases early 2026, ‘Leather Temple’ is a dark and seductive swaggering piece of synthwave that’s saturated with the kind of metal-influenced excess that makes this act just so iconic. It’s also a fantastic introduction to the world of Leather Temple as a whole, a record that tales the story of Midwichpolis – a dystopian city risen in the wake of nuclear fallout that’s ruled by excess, repression, corruption and all things neon-lit. The music video, directed by Dehn Sora, visualises it perfectly. – Dan Hillier
Continuing the drip-feed of singles. they’ve built up across the year, ‘saviour complex.’ is Hell Hotel‘s fifth and likely final drop of the year. As before, it embraces pop hooks and a nostalgic take on emo. The dual vocals between Demi Jay and Tom Maxfield tell relatable tales of guilt and heartbreak, echoing a deep sadness that the instrumental pushes too with its melodies. Rising stars of the UK alternative scene, they’ve played venues up and down the country and will be bringing their emotional, heart-on-sleeve tracks to Noizzefest next April. – Will Marshall
Last Hounds enlist post-hardcore royalty in Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333/letlive.) to help pour gasoline on wild new latest single ‘Just Play’. Having recently toured together the chemistry is evident as his trademark frenetic energy works seamlessly with the bounce and enthusiasm of the Last Hounds formula. Taking on leaders and those in power who are all talk and let others deal with the consequences it has an energy which feels immediate and destined to catch fire in 2026. The coming year is Last Hounds for the taking with new EP STRNGEWRLD released on January 16, 2026 and dates with Hot Milk and European festivals already in the bag it seems the world is catching on to one of the brightest sparks in UK punk rock today. If Jason Aalon Butler tells you to listen, you should probably do it. – Andy Calderbank
For most bands the revelation that they’d spent their year quietly working away on a jazz tinged rock opera titled The Whistlewood Ball may be shocking and confusing to fans. For Belgian art rock oddballs The Guru Guru it’s a welcome surprise with the piece’s first song ‘Flora The Fragrant Ferret’ delivering the exact kind of unhinged energy that they’ve become beloved for. Backed by Belgian/Dutch multi-instrumentalist and composer Lennert Baerts and Limberg’s Muze Jazz Orchestra, ‘Flora The Fragrant Ferret’ shifts drastically from spoken-word to free jazz to cutesy musical theatre and modern prog without losing a step. With an act as strange and off-kilter as The Guru Guru fans should always be expecting the unexpected, a jazzy rock opera about talking animals is exactly the kind of glorious nonsense that they’ve made their name with. – Rowan Bruce
Flying under the radar for all but the most engaged alternative aficionado, south-west quartet Hamartia have quietly become one of the scene’s most beloved darlings off the back of their brutally honest, memorable singles and live trauma dumping sessions. On their latest track ‘Synthetica’ the four-piece hit harder than ever before, embodying the swagger and crisp production of UK alt-rock contemporaries like Dream State and Vukovi while also drawing from nu-metal greats like Deftones and Evanescence with frontwoman Sophie Smith using her platform to tear down performative feminists and the men who use the language of feminism to attack outspoken women. In only a couple of years Hamartia have lifted themselves from local curiosity to a force to be reckoned with in the wider UK alternative scene, watch this space if you’re ready to see the rise of the next British great alt-rock act. – Rowan Bruce
No, this isn’t a Parkway Drive cover. German modern metalcore/post hardcore trio Future Palace are actually giving us a glimpse of what can be assumed is an upcoming album with second single ‘Deep Blue’, that follows ‘Cyclone’ from September. ‘Deep Blue’ revels in a towering chorus, with swelling synths and crunching guitars underpinning the song. Lyrically, it “captures the fear of drifting away from the people who matter most, using the image of sinking into the deep sea as a metaphor for emotional distance, depression, and the pressure of everyday life. It’s about the moment you realise you’re losing someone – or yourself – because everything around you becomes too overwhelming,” as vocalist Maria Lessing explains. With her screams only improving and their sense of melody remaining strong, it’ll be an exciting 2026 for Future Palace. – Will Marshall
Discordant, disorientating and absolutely brutal; It’s none other than Nightmarer pulling us down into their maddening vision of technical death metal on new single ‘Shame Spiral’. The German-American dissonant death-metallers gear up for the release of their upcoming EP Hell Interface to be released next year on the 30 January via Total Dissonance Worship. Any fans of Paul Seidel’s drumming chops in The Ocean should definitely give Nightmarer a spin to hear what he is capable of in even more extreme sonic territories. – Avrian O’Brien
Arguably one of the most surgically precise bands in technical death metal, The Zenith Passage return with new single ‘Fleshbound Reliquary’ after having wowed even some of the most revered axemen in the metal community with their work on 2023’s Datalysium. ‘Fleshbound Reliquary’ continues the band’s pursuit of pushing their craft to its organic limits in search of the utmost mechanical, machine-like precision humanly achievable. The result is an impressive display of technicality that is as gnarly as it is enticingly groovy. – Avrian O’Brien
Two years following the release of their sophomore album Let The Truth Speak, progressive metal outfit Earthside announce the release of its deluxe edition, which includes a second album’s worth of completely reimagined tracks, remixes and instrumental versions. ‘earthsink’ turns the album’s twelve minute instrumental epic ‘Watching The Earth Sink’ into an unrecognisable three minute long progressive metal scorcher driven by guest artist Daedric‘s versatile vocal performance. Emotionally intense and powerfully dramatic due to the richness of the track’s dynamics and atmosphere building, ‘earthsink’ is a fantastic condensed example of everything that makes Earthside’s music flawlessly hit the mark. Discover or re-discover their progressive metal cinematic masterpiece Let The Truth Speak with its newly released deluxe edition out now via Music Theories Recordings. – Avrian O’Brien
If you haven’t yet discovered Dubioza Kolektiv, allow me to introduce you to this tantalising septet from Bosnia that has been enchanting underground luvvies since 2003. Unbound by genre constraints, they take all their alternative influences and mix them together with a Slavic twist. Now is the perfect moment to immerse yourself in their compelling sound with their latest release, “f.u.c.k.y.o.u.” Here, you’ll encounter traditional instruments interwoven with a powerful message as the singer passionately declares “Free Palestine,” whilst shining a light on the hypocrisy of modern-day Western politics. Renowned for their politically charged anthems, Dubioza Kolektiv delivers yet another striking tribute to the spirit of activism, paying homage to the iconic Zack de la Rocha by belting “fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!”. – Nessie Spencer