Release Round Up - January 16th, 2026
Every week there is a tidal wave of new music released unto the world. Each Friday we'll round up some of the best new music available, some we've reviewed, some we haven't, but all worth checking out!
Theres a lot of new heavy music hitting the airwaves this week, everything from black metal, death metal, gothic metal, Stoner rock, doom, thrash metal and even some of your traditional heavy metal!
Here's what we think you should check out today!
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Teutonic thrash legends Kreator go from strength to strength on new opus 'Krushers Of The World' via Nuclear Blast.
"it’s clear Mille and company do not intend to grow old gracefully, full of rampant riffs and colossal drumming, demonstrating that Kreator has returned, at it’s mighty peeved."
Read out full review here.
Kansas dark and soulful heavy rock unit Godzillionaire reissue 'Negative Balance' via Ripple Music.
"the band lead you on an adventurous escape to an undiscovered place"
Read our full review here.
Firing on all cylinders, Mother Vulture return with 'Cartoon Violence'.
"There’s an adventurous and rebellious spirit at the heart of Cartoon Violence and – I dare say – in the hearts of Mother Vulture too"
Read our full review here.
From the shadows of Essex’s underground, instrumental post-metal trio In A House Of Heartbeats release 'Divination of Dreams' via Ripcord Records.
"a fascinating and absorbing album that has really captured the imagination."
Read our full review here.
Through the bloodthirsty shroud of black metal, Viserion's forthcoming atmospheric album 'Fire and Blood' via Terminus Hate City.
"Every note fits like an oiled gear into the second wave paradigm"
Read our full review here.
British rock veterans Thunder reissue their classic live album 'Live' via earMUSIC.
"Live reminds us how damned good they are"
Read our full review here.
Swedish progressive metal powerhouse Soen release 'Reliance' via Silver Lining Music.
"sounds damn spectacular and gets 2026 off to a great start"
Read our full review here.
Dark progressive gothic metal collective The Eternal release 'Celestial' via Reigning Phoenix Music.
"unafraid to give themselves over to the bleak darkness they see in the world, yet who never forget there is a stark beauty awaiting anyone with the perseverance to seek it out."
Read our full review here.
From the dark shores of the Baltic Sea, Marianas Rest unveil the melancolic 'The Berevaed' via Noble Demon.
"emotion is high and the atmosphere is bleak."
Read our full review here.
UK post-rock collective Blanket are back with latest album ‘True Blue’ released via Adventure Cat Records.
"submerge the listening in atmosphere, taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions"
Read our full review here.
Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth releases 'SQPR' via earMUSIC.
"H’s solo performances always seem more intimate and emotional gatherings"
Read our full review here.
And thats just the tip of the iceberg! Other releases today we think you should check out include...
Rock
Blitz Union - Evolution (Independent)
Demons My Friends - Demons Seem To Gather [REISSUE] (Ripple Music)
Elles Bailey - Can’t Take My Story Away (Cooking Vinyl / Outlaw Music)
Frozen Factory - Apocalypse Inc. (WormholeDeath Records)
Glucifer - Same Drug New High (Steamhammer/SPV)
Karambolage - SKÆLMSK (Audible Music)
Pavic - Live To Thrive (Independent)
The Funeral Portrait - Live From Suffocate City (Better Noise Music)
Xiu Xiu - Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1 (Polyvinyl Records)
Heavy Metal
Ben Blutzukker - Laut Und Deutschlich (Independent)
Cybergenesis - Cybergenesis (Fighter Records)
HyperioN - Cybergenesis (Fighter Records)
Black Metal
Hagetisse - To Wither Beneath Thy Radiance (Void Wanderer Productions)
Vesseles - Home (Independent)
Death Metal / Death-Doom / Grindcore
Anti-Sapien - At The Mercy of the Merciless (Terminus Hate City)
Architectural Genocide - Malignant Cognition (Comatose Music)
Carrion Vael - Slay Utterly (Unique Leader Records)
Discerptus - Rebirth (Independent)
Dissentience - Kaiju (Independent)
Philippe Drouin Obvur - Le Chemin Du Gaucher (Brutal Mind)
Putridarium - Natvm Ad Mortem [EP] (Night Terrors Records)
Through Mists - The Thought That Swallowed All (Independent)
Total Annihilation - Mountains of Madness (Testimony Records)
Unbounded Terror - Through the Dark Desperation (Abstract Emotions)
Doom / Stoner Rock / Sludge / Psych
DVM Spiro - MMXXVI - Grave (My Kingdom Music)
Under - What Happened In Roundwood (APF Records)
Power Metal
Asterise - Twilight Opera (Inverse Records)
Edenbridge - Set The Dark On Fire (Steamhammer/SPV)
Punk
Calling All Captains - The Things That I've Lost [EP] (New Damage Records)
Rifle - Rifle (Year00001)
Thrash Metal
Rotgut - 8 oz Cantrip [EP] (Independent)
...and the rest
David Boring - Liminal Beings and Their Echoes (Damnably / UN.TOMORROW) [Noise]
Gylt - In 1000 Agonies, I Exist (Get Better Records) [Hardcore]
Ov Sulfur - Endless (Century Media Records) [Deathcore]
Soulbound - sYn (Metalville) [Industrial]
The Last Sound Revelation - The Proximity Effect (Octopus Rising) [Post-Metal]
