Photo by Amy Haghebaert
SLIFT - FANTASIA (Sub Pop Records)
There is a carefully constructed chaos to Slift that is a marvel to experience. It's conveniently coined as space rock - maybe because the band's meld of psych, garage, jazz, kraut, stoner and beyond is out of this fucking world. While the band has developed a rep for lengthy sonic odysseys that never follow any linear path, Fantasia might be their most concise presentation yet, but no less epic in it's delivery. The band's forth full length is a showcase of advanced level musicianship, elite level songwriting and the kind of articulate pen that allows for no two songs to be the same and yet cohesive just the same.
GUILT TRIP - ARMOUR OF ANGELS (Roadrunner Records)
The purveyors of Manchester heft, Guilt Trip have submitted a career achievement with Armour of Angels. A testament to the band's hands-on, DIY approach, Armour of Angels builds on groundwork laid with the 2023 LP, Severance, and ushers in a new era of metallic hardcore. Consisting of explosive intensity, groove-heavy songwriting and an inherent reverence for their hardcore and metal lineage, Guilt Trip assert their position as one of the UK's most promising contributors.
CONVERGE - HUM OF HURT (Epitaph / Deathwish Inc)
Having already issued one of the best albums of 2026 thus far, Converge continues to assert their artistry with a second full length album just months after the release of the universally acclaimed, Love Is Not Enough. On Hum of Hurt, Converge leverage the mysterious acoustic phenomenon as a metaphor for the kind of pain that is core to the universal human experience. That poignant approach to songwriting, combined with Converge’s elite level of composition, make for an album that is as powerful as it is profound. Mathcore, noise, punk, hardcore - Converge have superseded subcategory to become a true one of one.
AUGUST BURNS RED - SEASON OF SURRENDER (Fearless Records)
With a resume heavy with accolades that include everything from Grammy nominations to multiple chart-topping entries, ABR’s biggest achievement is being able produced such quality music 11 albums into their career. Teaming with longtime collaborators in producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, the consistency in both personnel and product is the gold standard of August Burns Red - one that is reiterated in the eleven tracks on Season of Surrender. Bolstered by guest features from Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada, Jaime Hails of Polaris and Make Them Suffer, metalcore’s established veterans prove they still have plenty in the tank.
100 DEMONS - EMBRACE THE BLACK LIGHT (Closed Casket Activities)
Connecticut metallic hardcore heroes100 Demons have submitted their first new album in more than two decades with their triumphant return, Embrace the Black Light. Written by Pete Morcey, Rich Rosa, Rick Brayall and Jeremy Braddock, along with the return of Sean Martin, the tenured ensemble flex durable songwriting with devastating results. Sourcing elements of thrash and groove with hardcore disposition throughout, the cadence of the album is relentless from start to finish. Along with a guest feature from Twitching Tongues/God’s Hate members Colin Young and Taylor Young, 100 Demons move with the kind of intentionality that matches their intensity on a album that marks an important new chapter.
