BILL CALLAHAN – My Days Of 58
I don’t get this guy. I’ve tried, really tried, this is his third or fourth album I convince myself to listen to after reading rave reviews and I still don’t get it. To my ears, this is just Temu Lou Reed. (6)
CONVERGE – Love Is Not Enough
Their previous album (a collab with Chelsea Wolfe) was majestically epic, this one goes straight for the jugular – a relentless hardcore thrash attack that bands half their age have tried and failed to replicate. (8)
CROOKED FINGERS – Swet Deth
Never really got into this Archers Of Loaf-associated side project the first time around, but this return after a 15-year hiatus could turn out to be the best “indie dad rock” album of 2026 with some super-catchy tunes. Special guests include Sharon Van Etten and some dudes from Superchunk and The National. (8)
GOGOL BORDELLO – We Mean It, Man!
The line-up around Hutz has slightly shifted this time around but the most noticeable change is in the production – more polished, some keyboards, some programmed beats, but underneath it all it’s still the same good old tabor-style, disco-radikal-transglobal immigrant punk from the gypsy part of town. (8)
HALLAS – Panorama
Old-school progressive rock from these Swedes, with Wishbone-Ish guitarmonies and a 22-minute long opening track that would make Yes proud. (7)
TIGRAN HAMASYAN – Manifeste
An extravagant blend of jazz-fusion, prog-metal, and Armenian folk. The guy has made The List before for good reason. (8)
HEN OGLEDD – Discombobulated
One of the weirdest records you’ll enjoy this year, this supergroup of sorts uses folk as a springboard to reach unexpected soundscapes that are at the same time fantastical and political. (8)
IRON & WINE – Hen's Teeth
A companion album to 2024’s “Light Verse”, this continues Sam Beam’s streak of consistently solid folk rock albums. (8)
KARNIVOOL – In Verses
Australian progressive metal band returns after a 13-year hiatus. The combination of the sound plus the long wait means they can now officially change their name to KarniTool. (8)
MARIACHI EL BRONX – Mariachi El Bronx IV
The Bronx is one of the best punk rock bands of the 21st century, and this alter ego of theirs is one of the best mariachi bands north of Tijuana. (8)
RITUAL ARCANA – Ritual Arcana
Doom power-trio supergroup featuring Wino on guitar, the ex-singer from Moth (Wino’s wife, I think?) and the drummer from Black Lips. You can probably imagine what this sounds like. The vocals are the weak link here, since there are many more capable female vocalists around nowadays doing this occult/doom thing. (7)
THE STUDIO 68! WITH DANI TURNER – Rollin'
These guys are really channeling 1968 with their Hammonds and their flutes and their nonsense hippy lyrics and a female soul rock belter up front. I can totally picture them raising hell in a club in North London with various Austin Powers-looking guys in the audience dancing. Groovy, baby! (8)
