Column Releases You May Have Missed
RELEASES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: LPs & EPs, April 2026
“Is this what it takes to be heard? Top of my lungs, but they don’t hear a word.”
April showed that 2026 is setting up to be one for the books, as Love Rarely dropped what could be the album of the year in Pain Travels, and Loathe made their return on “Revenant” to announce their next full-length. Intertwined with these were records from Roman Candle, At The Gates and Fainting Dreams that will no doubt be staples for many this year. There were also many that impressed us during April, which we now get to highlight.
Cassus – Scalis Felden
Dog Knights Productions
This year, Algae Bloom are hanging up their instruments, but Norwich should still be known as a bastion of UK screamo. Their prize fighters include Mountain Peaks and Cassus, the latter making a surprise return this year. Scalis Felden is wrought with apocalyptic desperation, from the interludes to its screamy heights, with incredible performances that take the air out of you. Moments like “I Thought I Was Found” and “Virtue Signals” brought me to my knees on several of my spins. The lyrics are highly relatable, touching on topics from the existential, mundane, and even meta, as “Segmentation Fault” begs the listener to “please fast forward / replace me with myself”. It’s worth noting that the physical edition is amazing – an inky, black, textural marvel, designed by vocalist Natty Peterkin and executed perfectly by Dog Knights Productions. Almost certainly my screamo album of the year. – Dobbin
FFO: Bloom Dream, drive your plow over the bones of the dead & Dreamwell
Final Days Society – You Can
Hit & Run
Seeing Final Days Society return was a startling throwback to the days when post rock was sequestered on blogsites. One cosy day in the very early 2010s I came across the band on the Sirenssound (if you remember that one, you’re a real one). On their new album they take us back to that innocent sound, and in years it’s as unique as ever. Gentle guitars and long reverbs form a palette that plays counterbalance to the ultimate mood of You Can, which is wracked with sadness and longing. The tragedy peaks whenever the vocals become curdled screams, repeating and leaving their mark. It’s a level of heaviness the band never reached in their discography, which ought to be explored now more than ever. – Dobbin
FFO: Oh Hiroshima, Explosions in the Sky & ef
Newhvn – Spring Time Blues
Faction Records
This is the new project from members of A Burial At Sea, bringing a genre shift from post rock to indie and emo. They’ve immediately landed on a very successful and specific sound. The vocals are a huge new element, enigmatic yet melodically simple, looping on phrases again and again, building meaning as erosion creates a valley. The band lean into grunge for engrossing distortion-meets-drone soundscapes, and they bring in the brass instrumentation that worked so well for their first project for key moments, succeeding again. This all swirls together into a misty and downbeat atmosphere, creating an album that is utterly magnetic. The band have launched the project shift with a really extensive EU tour, so here’s hoping the grind pays off and Newhvn becomes a sanctuary for many. – Dobbin
FFO: The War on Drugs, sign crushes motorist & Everyone Everywhere
Reeking Aura – On the Promise of the Moon
Profounds Lore Records
Just calling them ‘death doom’ isn’t quite enough: Reeking Aura take the gnarly fundamentals of both genres on some weird excursions. Given their history of fucking with the format, On the Promise of the Moon isn’t unexpected, but it’s certainly the best execution of their premise yet. When it’s heavy, it’s no slouch, ready to please OSDM fans. Progressive elements are common, but more importantly, each track is concise and dynamic, and simply has its own mission. A nod must be made to some of the melodic moments, too, producing circle-pit worthy moments right alongside the disgusting vocals. Finally, the production compliments it all with rudimentary charm and clarity. On the Promise of the Moon should be charting on all the death metal focused toplists at the end of 2026. – Dobbin
FFO: Afterbirth, Inanna & Lykathea Aflame
Lickshot – Lick EP
Independent
Ahead of a gargantuan summer for the south-west ska unit, including performing at 2000trees and supporting Sonic Boom Six, Lickshot have unleashed the Lick EP on the way. A juicy cocktail of ska, nu-metal, drum and bass and grime influences, it makes for a varied and infectious listen. Addictive sections include “Flatline”’s drum and bass disco section, or the nu-metal breakdown in “Paragon”. Those not familiar with Lickshot’s sound will have a joyous time indulging in their chaotic yet fun world. – Joe
FFO: Knives, Last Hounds & CLOBBER
silence|me – absence of love
Independent
Quietly coming a sensation both locally and in online circles, silence|me further add to the ranks of metalcore stalwarts emerging from England’s north-east, alongside the likes of Long Goodbye and IMISSYOUALREADY. Bookended by the timeless Roy Batty speech from Blade Runner, absence of love delivers those melodic metalcore moments just as good as anyone either side of the Atlantic, and the heavier breakdown moments that will have a crowd swinging are up there too. With the metalcore revival in full force in the UK now, it will be silence|me and their north-eastern counterparts will lead the charge in its increasing popularity. – Joe
FFO: Killing Me Softly, Balmora & Your Spirit Dies
.embers. – With Scars of Memories
Suckerpunch records
Western Siberia brings the bite that you might expect, delivering a brand of metalcore that takes the heavier edge of End of Tragedy‘s sound to its epitome. With vocals that at times borderline on screamo, there’s a wrath that is inescapable and carves .embers.’s sound into the memory. Each double kick and panic chord adds to the frantic nature of their sound. For those looking to expand the borders of their metalcore collection, this unit is one that will make for a grand addition. – Joe
FFO: withpaperwings, A Year Ago Today & Azshara
withaheavyheart – …and i say this
Independent
Ever wanted to hear WWE, Smiling Friends, and David Lynch sampled on a release? …and I say this has you covered. A masterclass in emotional hardcore, withaheavyheart flirts between intense, erratic, scream-laden moments in For Those Fallen, I Fall With You, and We’re Going to the Graveyard to Smoke Newports, and much slower, melodic numbers like 118onthe95 and The World Outside My House. There’s an authenticity behind every lyric, and the emotion oozes through with it. Seamlessly blending modern metalcore and bedroom emotional hardcore, withaheavyheart manages to unite these two worlds, with the rough-around-the-edges mix only bolstering the charm. If you’re angry, sad, or dejected, you’ll find solace in …and i say this; even if you’re not, the sheer musical craftsmanship makes this release impossible to ignore.. – Jack
FFO: fingerswoventogether, septemberistheonlytimeidon’tthinkofyou & retina.
ourloveliesburied – Eternal Blue Sky
Paper Wings Records
Eternal Blue Sky is one of those releases where you listen and just go, “these guys get it.” Revivalist metalcore through and through, this short three-track EP is enough to take you back to the glory days, when the genre was first emerging, and bands were all doing things a little differently. ourloveliesburied don’t reinvent the wheel here – and they’re not pretending to. Eternal Blue Sky draws on classic tropes of the genre, but the execution lands so damn well that you can’t help but smile. With a Love Letters feature thrown in for good measure, it’s no wonder this EP has become a stalwart in my daily rotation. – Jack
FFO: Long Goodbye, Crest of Grief & dingey basement venues
