JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 HIGHLIGHTS

2026 did not start on a good note. It probably won't end on a good note either. But that's okay, we'll muddle our way through. To make these trying times a bit less trying, here's 10 new songs worth blasting at full volume:

Archspire - Limb of Leviticus: If their upcoming album, Too Fast to Die, is half as good as the first two singles they've dropped have been, it will be a strong contender for my album of the year. While they're primarily known for playing jaw-droppingly fast and highly technical death metal, on Limb of Leviticus they tap into their more melodic side, and they do it spectacularly. Going independent just may have been the best decision they've ever made it allows them to keep doing more shit like this. Just listen to those bass harmonics!

Chat Pile - Masks: The prolific Chat Pile have never steered me wrong yet, and this single is no exception. Released on Subpop (alongside a neat cover of Nirvana's Shifting), this appropriately grungy, grimy track is as politically loaded as any of their work, this time around clearly being about the atrocities committed by ICE. As someone who lives in the Twin Cities, which has been under occupation for two months now, to say this song perfectly captures the darkness and stress I feel on a daily basis is an understatement. Of course, it goes without saying that that is yet another noise rock banger.

Lantlos - Daisies: I'd never heard of Lantlos before listening to this song, but less than a minute in I knew I was listening to something special. There are plenty of bands melding metal with pop, but few do it as well as this singular song. Heavy, fuzzy guitars are paired with childlike, nostalgic imagery, powerful but honeyed vocals, and pop melodies to create a dizzying sugar rush with a harsh edge. I can't wait for the full album.

Joyce Manor - Grey Guitar: Go listen to the entirety of Joyce Manor's I Used to Go to this Bar. Go on, it's only twenty minutes, I'll be waiting. You done? Good, now you understand why it's a very early contender for my album of the year, even though it barely has any competition yet. It's just that good. Grey Guitar, the final song, breaks me in two. It's simple - it's essentially the same riff over and over, like many of their other upbeat-but-melancholic tracks - but it punches me in the gut. My grief over the loss of my brother has changed in the past year and a half, but it hasn't left me completely, and never will. I can feel it throughout the entire album, and especially on this track. It's rare for an album to drop at the exact time you need it most in your life, but we need to treasure them when they happen.

Knocked Loose, Denzel Curry - Hive Mind: Honestly, I probably should have seen it coming that the first Knocked Loose single after their incredibly successful and insanely good album You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To would be a punishing onslaught against conformity and posers. It amazes me how they‘ve managed to be one of the most accessible -core bands without sacrificing their heaviness, and it’s no different here, especially with the aid of Denzel Curry’s rapped verse. This song hits like a freight truck, and I can’t wait to see where they’ll go next.

Frozen Soul - Absolute Zero: Chat Pile aren’t the only band who dropped an anti-Ice song in February. Contemporary death metal stalwart Frozen Soul saw fit to release a short, crushing track that doesn’t outstay its welcome without feeling like it’s ending too early. This is a hard feat to pull off, but they nail it, much like their previous tourmates Gatecreeper did with the phenomenal first half of their 2021 EP An Unexpected Reality. I would love to see them follow suit with a similar experiment, but for now, this is a quick and dirty jam that I gladly welcome.

Knumears - My Name: Knumears haven’t even put out a proper LP yet, but already they’ve been making a name for themselves with their impassioned screamo. My Name is the second single to be released in anticipation of their upcoming debut album, dropping on 4/3, and it’s the one that has me most excited for giving it a few good spins. I’m a sucker for a good opening bass riff, and the rest of the song doesn’t disappoint with its cathartic chord progressions and blood-in-your-throat vocals. They’re a rare screamo band I feel I can recommend to both OG and revival fans - they just do so much right, and have a timeless sound.

Hot Mulligan - I Don't Think It's the Right Time for Emojis: I still haven’t gotten around to listening to their 2025 album, The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still, but I’ll have to remedy that if it sounds anything at all like this song. The emo pop punkers find themselves challenging Christianity in this catchy and sincere ripper, with lines like “Separate your Church outta my fucking state” and “Fear has no part in the love that I gave, I don’t believe that you can say the same.” Personally, I don’t think we have nearly enough anti-Christianity songs, and this one is most certainly welcome to the pantheon - I had it on loop for most of my morning commute.

Trauma Ray - Hannibal: I saw these guys open for Deafheaven and Gatecreeper last year, and they killed it. While not as aggressive as either of those bands, their particular strain of shoegaze is both dark and heavy, weighing on the heart as much as it does the mind. I was excited to see them drop a handful of new songs, but what I got blew all of my expectations out of the water, as Carnival is clearly their best work yet. Hannibal is the winner of the bunch, with a killer sludgy riff and vocals that soar above the mix. You should do yourself a favor and check the whole EP out.

Mitski - If I Leave: Mitski is one of those few artists that the really annoying, terminally online pop-loving lesbians were right about. She's good, and even on the songs I don't vibe with much, I have a lot of respect for her art. She really deserves better than the entitled fans tormenting her at shows. Her latest album is maybe my favorite so far; she's at the top of her game on Nothing's About to Happen to Me. I chose If I Leave as my favorite because it starts out plodding and familiar, laidback and peaceful, before exploding into a cathartic refrain. I'm a sucker for songs like that, and hey, it's Mitski, so you'll probably feel at least an emotion or two during it, too.