“Take my hand, and lead me from my the life within.“
The strong start to 2026 continued into the month of February; Converge, dream fatigue, smother, Sylosis, Killing Pace and Nothing all dropping records that we will be returning to throughout this year. What is also noteworthy is the strength across genres, with metalcore, hardcore and shoegaze all remaining consistent in their musical craftsmanship. Given the wave of releases, there were bound to be some that made it under the release radar, we now have some of our favourite LPs and EPs from February that we didn’t get the opportunity to highlight.
GLASSBONE – Ruthless Savagery (EP) (Iron Fortress Records)
The dark days and gritted teeth of the cold months found its fitting soundtrack, as Glassbone’s uncompromising riffs created a cold and unforgiving landscape of sound on their latest EP, Ruthless Savagery. Blending the worlds of death metal and hardcore, it masters that sense of controlled chaos that’s at times rather unnerving. The hostile riff work gives a sense of violence and feral intensity, moving from chugging riffs and snare pops into precise blast beats that act like a finishing blow. Tracks like“E.K.F.V” will bring on the urge to headbang, followed by the urge to rip a door off its hinges. Ruthless Savagery descends further into its own darkness and chilling nature as each track unfolds, it’s one that delivers nothing but unforgiving wrath, then leaves you at the side of the road to recover from it. – Joe
FFO: Stabbing, Scorching Tomb & HAMARR
Emergency Broadcast – Make Them Pay (EP) (Independent)
The flame of anger against injustice has always been a commanding force, both in and outside of music. Emergency Broadcast channel that anger and rage on Make Them Pay to deliver their vegan straight edge sound with a sheer force. Raspy vocals lead each track, giving a rough edge to the songs that demands attention. Packed with all the hallmarks of hardcore from stomping grooves, looping mosh riffs and mic grab moments of “Animal Liberation”, Emergency Broadcast look set to become a staple of UKHC, and could quickly become one of its favourites. – Joe
FFO: Calcine, Agency & xapothecaryx
Purple Lung – Mystic Vision (Landslide Collective)
While bearing no relation to Green Lung or Black Lung, the Pennsylvania group Purple Lung dropped their deeply impressive debut in Mystic Vision, which could quietly end up being one of the best sludge/doom records of this year. While those sludgey and doom guitars are the main force that traverse through Mystic Vision, there are plenty of moments where they touch on more classic metal moments with their riff work on the likes of “The Watchful Eye” or use it give the record some groove on “Beware The Bog Witch”. Moving through these different sounds and influences, it allows Purple Lung to tell the tale of Mystic Vision, which closes out on the gorgeous “Dreamwalker’s Lament”, which brings the acoustic guitar like that of being sat around a scorching fire to the forefront. With some fantastic artwork for Mystic Vision, along with the quality on the record, it’s one that deserves to end up having its own vinyl, and fingers crossed that Purple Lung make an appearance at Desertfest in the coming years. – Joe
FFO: Birdwitch, Messa & Moonstone
Ponte del Viavolo – De Venom Natura (Seasons of Mist)
Italy is certainly proving fertile ground for gothy, 80s-tinged metal, with Ponte Del Diavolo’s latest offering following Messa’s monumental 2025 release. De Venom Natura is packed with a beefed-up bass sound courtesy of the outfit’s dual bassists grinding along under smoky post-punky doom livened up with a hefty dose of black metal. Surprisingly playful electronics and orchestrations capped with theatrical, sardonically sing-song vocals evocative of slightly shabby classic horror bely a welcome tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. More frantic drumming, blast beats and a judicious use of harsh vocals really hammer home that Ponte Del Diavolo is a different beast to their compatriots in Messa, as easy as a simple comparison may be. An even better follow-up to a promising debut, De Venom Natura is a landmark release in a rapidly crystallising sound. – Lukas
FFO: Messa, Tribulation & Wolvennest
Break Them – To The Death (EP) (Independent)
Break Them are back with To The Death, and it does not disappoint in bringing sheer hardcore joy. A British hardcore punk snarl to the vocals that sound like they’re about to initiate a pub brawl, will have people mic grabbing and two-stepping during the anti-racist track “No peace for my enemies”. Digging out what must be one of the greatest samples on “To the death”, with Captain Price’s monologue before the final mission to hunt down Shepard in MW2, Break Them once again deliver three great tracks that have an authenticity and heart to them that has made them one of our favourites within UKHC. – Joe
FFO: Clobber, Hour of Reprisal & Lethal Method
Rosehill – Trace of Regression (EP) (Independent)
There will be those who remember when the UK was releasing some of the finest melodic hardcore. More Than Life on Love Let Me Go and Crooks UK on Are We All the Same Distance Apart captured the hearts and souls of many, that quality from the UK scene and wider melodic genre has yet to truly return. The first shoots of it prospering again come through on Rosehill’s record, Trace of Regression. The emotive vocals that drive through the record, with that raw and raspy nature, are reminiscent of times gone by, a melancholy that carries throughout the record, that yearns to be returned to. Rosehill have produced an absolute gem here. – Joe
FFO: Hell Can Wait, Stepson & Perspectives
Domhain – In Perfect Stillness (These Hands Melt)
The world of black metal is one that delves through different influences and sounds, often opening up listeners to genres that they would have never come across. Domhain is one such case, where atmospheric black metal meets Irish folk elements, that are woven within its sound rather than there for decoration. The quieter moments, bringing in broad instrumental moments, string work and contemplative vocals, are soon contrasted by the weight of its black metal moments, akin to that of the sea’s tide moving in and out. When the two meet at moments, it makes for an absolutely enthralling listen. In Perfect Stillness closes out on “My Tomb Beneath The Tide”, which is one of the most exceptional closers as of late and a track to summon Gods to. – Joe
FFO: Alda, Gallowbraid & Blackbraid
Epimetheus – Perseus 9 (Independent)
For those who like their doom with a sci-fi twist, Epimetheus have more than delivered that on Perseus 9. Operating within the intersection of pedal madness and rolling torpor of root notes, their sound has the feel of an engine’s roar through hyperspace. With over the top vocals akin to a spaceship commander barking orders, there is something ever so bizarre yet charming to the sound Epimetheus have pieced together. Pray that any venue’s fundamental frequency doesn’t happen to match the band’s tuning, or they might just break this dimension. – Joe
FFO: Sleep, Windhand & Gong
Sourcerior – My Eternal Tyranny (Independent)
The soundscapes that make up dungeon synth are some that we’ve never had the chance to truly delve into, yet as we are finding out this year with further exploration, there is much to enjoy in the genre. The glistening synths of Sourcerior that dance like a church organ capture the ear on “Cryptids on hunt” and have more broad strokes on “Welkin worshipper”. Similar to the aforementioned Purple Lung record in this piece, it weaves the tale of the record together through its sound, triggering different emotions of solemn moments or heightened threat through its keys, that are majestically delivered throughout My Eternal Tyranny. – Joe
FFO: Coniferous Myst, Curse Jar & One of Nine