Pine was able to conjure not only the environment she used for her recordings, but the emotions those surroundings impressed on her, transcending the usual field recording scenario.

And it is all in the sonic layers and nuances here, with the duo being able to extract everything their instruments is able to offer.

They deliver a remarkable dark folk ambient work, where cavernous winds and rippling waters carrying the listener through an intricately layered, almost occult soundscape.

Incredible French atmospheric post-metal troupe Ingrina, complete a trilogy of work in stunning fashion and build walls of sound even higher than before.

Rightfully angry as fuck, ice cold in its execution, Love Is Not Enough is Converge at doing what they do best.

When all around you turns to absolute shit, here’s a truly outstanding record that will wrap you in sunshine and make you feel alive.

Heavy music, yet full of melody and stories, Worm form part of that tradition with Necropalace being another fine addition to the pantheon.

Here, it all runs as a film noir soundtrack with its ups, downs, stress and calm, all placed in a seemingly perfect order.

It helps if you’re able to write great songs to sing and Howling Bells sure know their way round a melody.

You can’t deny the obscurity, the wonders, and the under-radar momentum that The New World’s Fair has given. It is a collection of songs that put you right in the middle of Moorcock’s visionary wonders he has given you.

Provocative and stimulating, URGH builds on their debut, I’ve seen a way, creating an intoxicating sound world of its own.

Each of these seven tracks demonstrates a flair for smart yet intuitive songwriting, making the most of their strengths and limitations as a three-piece, while a resolutely DIY approach to playing and recording gives it an old-world grit.

You’ll maybe come away from this album with an overriding feeling of sorrow, but sometimes there’s joy to be had in the dark.

c_w_rds is an incredibly catchy album, the sum of its parts adds together perfectly and the sides of awkwardness and individuality mix to perfection.

The ‘Dream On’ title is a perfect fit for this late-night delight.

A hugely enjoyable album from one of the defining bands of heavy metal.

Luckily for Lowder and anybody who ventures into her improvs when you are able to find the way into this system, it is that mesmerising effect that wins you over, making this one of the more interesting releases at the start of 2026.

DREAMCRUSH is a triumphant, emotional and vibrant album that should bring the band many new fans with its perfect fusion of black metal and melody.

Stabbing set themselves up as the new upstarts of brutal death metal, and is an essential listen for those of you who have had any interest in it before.

Don’t wait around though and grab a copy of this album as soon as you can before everyone starts talking about it. A release which should signal the arrival of a major player on the metal scene.

Sly, in your face, and rule book thrown into the fire, Approaching Translucence has a return to form that Art himself has shown how far he’s come.