Khemmis — Khemmis
79/100 and no song that lets you down: Denver's epic doom restarts without reinventing its axe.
8/10 June 17, 2026
King Buffalo — Regenerator
The Rochester trio close their pandemic trilogy in weightlessness: 82/100 for a hovering, hypnotic record.
8/10 June 16, 2026
Knocked Loose — You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To
89/100 across fifteen reviews: the kings of modern hardcore/metalcore deliver a genre peak.
9/10 August 7, 2026
Kreator — Hate Über Alles
The German thrash veterans have lost none of their bite: 78/100 for a record cut for the stage.
7.5/10 June 10, 2026
Lamb Of God — Into Oblivion
Eleven reviews, 81/100: the best Lamb Of God since Wrath, and almost nobody argues otherwise.
8/10 March 15, 2026
Leprous — Melodies of Atonement
The Norwegians reconnect with weight and tension: 82/100 for a record that restores density to progressive metal.
8/10 June 16, 2026
Loathe — A Stranger To You
Six years slow-cooking, 82/100: Loathe deliver 2026's great art-metalcore record, muddy production included.
8/10 July 21, 2026
Loathe — I Let It in and It Took Everything
The fusion of din and dream finds its masterpiece: 86/100 for a second album that haunts long after.
8.5/10 June 14, 2026
Love Is Noise — To live in a different way
80/100: the rising Britons blend atmospheric post-hardcore and metalcore intensity.
8/10 August 13, 2026
Marianas Rest — The Bereaved
83/100: Finnish melodic death/doom cultivates its deep-freeze melancholy.
8/10 August 7, 2026
Mastodon — Marrow Deep
Mastodon's first post-Hinds album is an acclaimed grief record (83/100 Metacritic), cathartic and often magnificent.
8/10 September 1, 2026
Mayhem — Liturgy of Death
77/100: the Norwegian black-metal legends deliver a solid if debated record.
7.5/10 August 29, 2026
Megadeth — Megadeth
Mustaine's goodbye: 62/100 from critics, 48 from the public. Stumbling off the stage.
5.5/10 January 25, 2026
METZ — Up on Gravity Hill
The Canadian noise merchants embrace a new atmospheric breadth: 81/100 for a record of maturity.
8/10 June 7, 2026
Militarie Gun — Life Under the Gun
Melodic hardcore reaches out to indie rock: 83/100 for a debut album of fine maturity.
8/10 June 11, 2026
Model/Actriz — Dogsbody
Noise rock weds the sensuality of post-punk: 84/100 for a debut of troubling intensity.
8.5/10 June 11, 2026
MØL — DREAMCRUSH
Denmark's blackgaze spearhead delivers one of the year's highest-rated records (85/100) — but the gap with the public marks it as divisive.
8/10 September 5, 2026
Moonspell — Far from God
Stripped-back gothic return, Ribeiro revitalized: 73/100, the essence recovered without reaching the peaks.
7.5/10 July 6, 2026
Mork — Monolitt
80/100: Thomas Eriksen's old-school Norwegian black metal keeps the tradition alive with class.
8/10 August 8, 2026
Mother Vulture — Cartoon Violence
80/100: the Britons' high-octane rock'n'roll reeks of sweat and the stage.
8/10 August 9, 2026
Motionless In White — Decades
Press has a blast (74/100), public shrugs (59/100): the gothic theme park splits the room.
7/10 July 22, 2026
Mourir — Nous, le venin
Metal Storm at 8.3, French press won over: Toulouse black metal spits its venom with newfound maturity.
8/10 July 14, 2026
Muse — The Wow! Signal
From 100 down to 20 depending on the church: Muse's cosmic madness owns itself, the press picks sides.
7/10 June 29, 2026
Mutoid Man — Mutants
The American supergroup make virtuosity a game: 83/100 for a record as ferocious as it is joyful.
8/10 June 22, 2026
Ne Obliviscaris — EXUL
The violin and the growl, beauty and fury: 86/100 for the Australians' masterful return.
8.5/10 July 14, 2026
Neurosis — An Undying Love for a Burning World
Resurrection with Aaron Turner, 89/100: 2026's best-rated metal record is a Neurosis album.
9/10 March 25, 2026
Nightwish — Yesterwynde
86/100: the Finns push their cinematic symphonic metal to new heights.
8.5/10 August 6, 2026
No Cure — It Is Going To Get Dark
Three reviews, three 80s: Alabama straight edge finds unanimity in the dark. 8/10.
8/10 July 13, 2026
Nothingness — Godslaughter
Twisted Minneapolis death metal: "one of the most adventurous and obnoxious records of the year" (8.5/10).
8/10 August 2, 2026
Oceans of Slumber — Where Gods Fear To Speak
85/100: the Texans' gothic, progressive metal, carried by Cammie Beverly's masterful voice.
8.5/10 August 4, 2026
Opeth — The Last Will and Testament
84/100: the Swedes bring back the growls and deliver an ambitious concept record.
8.5/10 August 6, 2026
Ov Sulfur — Endless
Symphonic deathcore with hooks: 9/10 on one side, 2.5/5 on the other. The genre glares at itself.
7/10 January 19, 2026
Paleface Swiss — The wilted EP
80/100: the most violent Swiss deathcore/beatdown gives no quarter.
8/10 August 9, 2026
Pallbearer — Mind Burns Alive
83/100: the Americans elevate their melodic, melancholic doom.
8/10 August 5, 2026
Panopticon — The Rime of Memory
A lone American's great winter work: 85/100 for a glacial, devastating meditation.
8.5/10 June 20, 2026
Paradise Lost — Ascension
79/100: the English goth/doom godfathers confirm a second youth.
8/10 August 27, 2026