Best New Music 2026 Edition

[The_7th_one]

My May Fav albums are:

Trough this month I've listened a lot of new releases. There are good albums like Sepultura EP, Gozu - VI, Voidchaser EP, the Live album by Asia or At the Gates new album. But the following are my favorites. From Jazz Fusion by Soft Machine, trough the 80's trip of Chez Kane, the sadly last album from a great band like Spirit Adrift, the good Hard Rock album by Alter Bridge, the Angine de Poitrine amazing album. The short new release by Gus G with great instrumental songs, the excellent Draconian's Dark atmospheric new album and finally the power and symphonic metal by Edenbridge.


Soft Machine - Thirteen



Chez Kane - Reckless



Spirit Adrift - Infinite Illumination



Alter Bridge - Alter Bridge



Angine de Poitrine - Vol. II



Gus G. - Steel Burner



Draconian - In Somnolent Ruin



Edenbridge - Set the Dark on Fire

 

[The_7th_one]

My June Fav albums Pt 1 are:

I've listen tons of new releases this month. Very good albums like SolNegre - Anthems of the Grand Collapse, The new Black Crowes album, The Jazz band called Jazz Sabbath, but the following list are my favorites.


Anne Van Giersbergen - La Mort EP
The sweet and engaging voice of 'The gathering' bringing the continuation of La Vie EP from last year.
Lovely EP. Highly recommended.
Score: 5/5


Chris Poland's Nuclear Messiah - Black Flame
To be honest I don't know if Nuclear Messiah is a new Chris Poland Project. But every Chris Poland release is a pleasure for your ears.
The 10 songs of the album are really great and enjoyable. There are a lot of Chris friends & special guests playing here from William Shatner, Arthur Brown, Glenn Drover, Bob Daisley, Steve Di Giorgio, Rick Wakeman. Bumblefoot, Joe Lynn Turner, Ripper Owens, Mick Box in Look at Yourself, David Ellefson, Marty Friedman and the 'everywhere guy' Ronnie Romero. Fantastic album from the beginning to the end.
Score: 5/5



Sadao Watanabe - But Beautiful
Sadao Watanabe is a Jazz saxophonist.
His discography starts in 1961 and he still plays and makes magnificent albums like this one.
Highly Recommended.
Score: 5/5


Martin Barre - The Acoustic Trio & The Electric Quartet. Live in the USA & Europe
Great Double Live Album from Martin Barre. He give us the chance to enjoy of his skills as a guitar player .
The First part is acoustic and he shines with the arrangements here.
The second part. Electric stuff. He offer us the unique Martin's guitar tone that he's known with own stuff and Jethro Tull songs.
Great Great Album.
Score: 4,5/5



A.A. Williams - Solstice
The biggest discovery of the year. What a great album and what a great artist.
I asked @riff for an album artwork that he placed in the now playing thread. he said it was the 2024 album of A.A. Williams.
Unknown artist for me so I decide to try it and blowed my mind.
I found that she was going to release another album this month called Solstice so I played and what can I say…it's a brilliant album. One of my favorite albums by now.
Score: 5/5


Joe Bonamassa - Tattoo'd Lady (Live) EP
Joe Bonamassa's preview of the next Live Album tribute to Rory Gallaguer as one of the greatest Blues guitar player ever.
These 2 songs shows Joe Bonamassa respecting Rory but playing with his own style. The sound is awesome btw.
Score: 4,5/5


Voivod - Symphonique (Live Album)
If you thought the S/M from Metallica is incredible. This Live album will blow your mind.
The arrangements from the Quebec Orchestra are amazing and the band sounds incredible and tightest ever.
Fantastic and very enjoyable album.
Score: 4,5/5



Vanden Plas - AcCult II
Great acoustic album from Vanden Plas. I don't really like too much the acoustic albums but this one has a great sound & cool production.
The only 'bad thing' here is they cover Nothing Else Matters from Metallica and I never stand that song.
Score: 4,5/5



Thundermother - Live and Alive (Live Album)
Kicking ass live album from these girls. The energetic bunch of 3 min. songs with cool riffs makes the album really great. I find this band as a mix of AC/DC, Motorhead & Girlschool. If you have a downer day. You need this one and a coffee. LOL
Score: 4,5/5



Claire Dickson - Balance
As I said with A.A. Williams. Claire Dickson is another great discovery. Not Metal here.
Claire Dickson music is a mix between Bjork and Peter Gabriel.
Score: 4,5/5

 

[The_7th_one]

My June Fav albums Pt 2 are:


Aurora Clara - Seven Hills
Aurora Clara is a Jazz Fusion band from Spain. Their new release is called Seven Hills and it's also the title of the first song.
Although the album cover is not very good, the music inside is really amazing.
If you like The John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra or Chick's Corea's Return to Forever, this band is for you.
The guitar work, the drum fills, the keyboards solos, the Flute virtuosity… The musicianship of every member of the band is in every song.
Favorite Tracks: 'Seven Hills', 'Day Five' and 'Feel the Cool Wind'
Score: 5/5


The 69 Eyes - I Survive EP
The Finnish band The 69 eyes release a new EP with 4 songs. the first one 'I survive' has the collaboration of the guitarist Steve Stevens. Another song has the collaboration of Ed Mundell, and the strong one here is the cover of Thin Lizzy's Cold Sweat.
It's an enjoyable EP with fresh Hard Rock and Gothic Rock. Hope they release a new album soon.
Favorite Tracks: I Survive, Cold Sweat
Score: 4,5/5


Laufey - A Matter of Time: The Final Hour
This artist has a really wonderful voice. Sometimes it's like when a female is singing in a film noir movie from the 40's or 50's.
Captivating since the first second. She mix Jazz, Pop Samba and contemporary music with orchestra sometimes.
This album is a collection of fantastic and enjoyable songs from Jazz, Pop, Bossa, to Samba, contemporary music….
Score: 4,5/5


Agusa - Panacea (Live Album)
Single Live album by Agusa from Sweden. It contains three Instrumental long songs.
A delicious album to listen to with rich melodies with flute, organ, electric guitar doing Prog Rock with folky roots.
Their music can send you to the 70's with absolutely success.
Beautiful artwork for the album cover.
Score: 5/5


John Zorn - Seven Sonnets
Seven Sonets is the ultimate album by John Zorn known as a prolific jazz compositors.
Every piece of music he does is recorded in an album. It's not the usual kind of thing John Zorn produces.
This album is full of classical guitar or Spanish guitar songs featuring Julian Lage & Gyan Riley.
If you like this kind of music, Seven Sonnets is a gift for your ears.
Highly recommended.
Score: 5/5


Savatage - Madness Reigns from the Gutter (1990) (Live Album)
The long awaited Live Album with Chris OLiva is here and it's f***ing great. It's a raw live album. In fact It could be seems like a bootleg. All the greatest songs by Savatage are here. Great Tribute to Chris Oliva.
Score: 4,5/5


Elder - Through Zero
The long awaited Elder's new album. The wait was worth it because it's superb.
The only thing I don't like is the vocals. 90 percent of the album is instrumental and is there where the band shines.
A Mix of Yes, King Crimson and Hawkwind of the modern times. Highly recommended.
Favorite Tracks: Sigil to Ruin, Capture/Release, Through Zero and Strata.
Score: 5/5

 

[MindRuler]

No sign of Evergrey wtf!

 

[The_7th_one]

No sign of Evergrey wtf!

I have no listen the new album yet. I think I'll do it in a few days

 

[The_7th_one]

My July Fav albums are:



Lord of the Lost - Opvs Noir Vol. 3


Isabelle Bodenseh - Dignity


Evergrey - Architects of a New Weave


Suzi Quatro - Freedom


Deep Purple - Splat!


Atlantic Jazz Ensemble - Mystic Suite


Fires in the Distance - Circadian Promise


Hex A.D. - Surgical Cuts in the Cosmos


Moonspell - Far from God

 

[karljant]

Voivod - Symphonique (Live Album)
If you thought the S/M from Metallica is incredible. This Live album will blow your mind.
The arrangements from the Quebec Orchestra are amazing and the band sounds incredible and tightest ever.
Fantastic and very enjoyable album.
Score: 4,5/5

Best symphonic colab ever in rock music IMO. Simply amazing how dissonance works so well with an orchestra backing it up.

 

[Maturin]

Chez Kane released a new song & video yesterday - "One Day (Is All That It Takes)". Presented as a B-side to single "Bad Girl" off the album Reckless (March 27th 2026 release date) but in reality a new song written and recorded well after the album dropped.

I like this. If I felt the album was a good but safe third effort; I think this actually does slightly more to expand the palette. Don't get me wrong, it is still firmly in the same style but it's also the first power ballad which actually feels like a classic one from the 80s.

Top marks from me.

 

[Yax]

Chez Kane released a new song & video yesterday - "One Day (Is All That It Takes)". Presented as a B-side to single "Bad Girl" off the album Reckless (March 27th 2026 release date) but in reality a new song written and recorded well after the album dropped.

I like this. If I felt the album was a good but safe third effort; I think this actually does slightly more to expand the palette. Don't get me wrong, it is still firmly in the same style but it's also the first power ballad which actually feels like a classic one from the 80s.

Top marks from me.

Yeah, Chez is great. I haven't listened to a full album since Powerzone, but I guess I should get to it.

 

[Kalata]

Chez Kane released a new song & video yesterday - "One Day (Is All That It Takes)". Presented as a B-side to single "Bad Girl" off the album Reckless (March 27th 2026 release date) but in reality a new song written and recorded well after the album dropped.

I like this. If I felt the album was a good but safe third effort; I think this actually does slightly more to expand the palette. Don't get me wrong, it is still firmly in the same style but it's also the first power ballad which actually feels like a classic one from the 80s.

Top marks from me.

Pretty solid ballad, it could/should have been on the album. Nostalgic vibe, chorus and tasty guitar playing. A bit of an 80s Kiss vibe?

 

[The_7th_one]

No August Fav albums
I have no listened any new release last month.

 

[MindRuler]

No August Fav albums
I have no listened any new release last month.

 

[Abas]

No August Fav albums
I have no listened any new release last month.

I hope you are fine and alright

 

[Abas]

For those who enjoy ambient/electronic/space themed music, I think this album is one of the better things I heard this year

 

[The_7th_one]

For those who enjoy ambient/electronic/space themed music, I think this album is one of the better things I heard this year

it sounds good

 

[MindRuler]

it sounds good

Vangelis vibes.

 

[Sth2112]

Preordered these ones today:

Queens of the stone age - Perfecth
Steven wilson - Requiem for a village
Nightwish - The greatest 30 years on earth

New Anthrax and Kai Hansen on their way, Burning ambition coming in a few weeks. Finally some new music coming.

 

[MindRuler]

Really enjoying the new Evergrey!

 

[Kalata]

Kai Hansen's new solo album Born With A Hammer is here. He's clearly having fun with it, some different sounds and ideas.

The only pure metal songs are: Feeding The Beast, End Of The Road, Triple Trouble, Invaders and Wonderland.

My review:

Spoiler

Feeding The Beast is a typical single for Kai, Welcome To Life is a typical fun power metal, Wait And See brings the early 2000s nu vibe.

Don't Care - too different, filler.

the title track - this is a creative Queen-esque epic. Interesting vibe with the calm and powerful verses. The shift in the middle part with the classical melodies is awesome (even the vocals too), and then the riffing before the solos is cool. The final verses are even better and effective (Gamma Ray) - now that's what I expect from Kai's writing.

I.D.G.A.F. - another filler, some melody in the chorus. More rock number, like Welcome To Life and Wait And See.

End Of The Road - instant favorite. Cool melody with keys, classic verses to build, memorable and catchy chorus. Good solos.

Triple Trouble - metallic riffing, rocking verses, but the chorus is lazy. The instrumental section is the highlight, solos and classic power metal harmony.

Invaders - this is a pure Gamma Ray song, in theme too. Fun intro, the vocals in the verses are classic delivery (love them), good transition into the chorus, which is typical and effective. Kai with some high vocals and screaming. Great lead harmony and solos.

Wonderland - the heaviest riff on the album, love it. Thrash metal verses, interesting shift with the chorus (kind of an odd choice). Even better riffing during the instrumental part.

I want to thank Kai for yet another instant classic in the style of ''I Want Out''/''Send Me A Sigh'' with End Of The Road, I wish it was used for Gamma Ray/Helloween.

 

[Maturin]

Europe - Come This Madness drops in 4 days guys. Here's the video for "The Cult of Ignorance"; a real rocker of a song which reminded of a more punchy 80's Cheap Trick the first time I heard it.

Are they back to their 80's style? Not really. I'd say they might have started writing more direct songs again, which is a big plus though. I hated their retro 70's era. Didn't suit the band and was just plain tired.

This, this is good.