“Chaos… reigns.“
The start to 2026 has been incredibly strong – perhaps the strongest we’ve seen this decade, given the flourish and range of releases we have seen already. What is often a quiet month has given us plenty to spin, and put forward plenty of records that will no doubt be favourites for the remainder of the year. With the likes of Calm & Secure, I Promised The World and Mother Vulture, January ensured any weary eyes from the new year were shaken awake. The best was saved for the final week, with Stabbing and Blackwater Holylight dropping records that will stand tall in their respective brutal death metal and doomgaze genres. Intertwined within all these releases were plenty of gems hidden away that we didn’t get to cover at the time, so now we have them all rounded-up in our first Releases You May Have Missed of 2026.
Sherane – Sherane (Independent)
Sherane is a band who came completely by surprise. No lead up, no promotion, just the band announcing themselves alongside the dropping of their bombshell EP for the world to hear. With the members working in other bands such as In Which Divides Us, Manners, Lost Not Found and many others, the California metalcore outfit knew exactly what they wanted to do with their self-titled debut by combining all the sounds of their different projects. With fantastic cleans, dual screams, twinkly emo sections, and peaking breakdowns sprinkled throughout its runtime, you will be sure to find many things to enjoy throughout this EP. Keep an eye out on Sherane, this supergroup is bound to blow up. – Anthony W
FFO: I Promised the World, Holder & Lost Not Found
Awaiting Eschiel – Self-titled (Ephyra)
Being named after a Nehemia track should really tell you all that you need to know about metallic hardcore newcomers, Awaiting Eschiel. Short and sweet, this three-track demo is all you could want and more from a new band in this vein. Tapping into nostalgia and channeling that early 2000s energy, this demo is a fitting reminder that sometimes reinventing the wheel isn’t needed, but rather a respect for what’s come before and a passion for your work. – Jack W
FFO: Nehemia, Houses We Die In & Postal
Sin Against Sin – DEMO 2 (STREETS OF HATE)
Do you like throwback HC? Echoey drums and riffy guitars with a stunning late-80s mix punctuate Sin Against Sin’s sound, with dual vocalists trading blows over the top. There’s little breathing room here, and it’s intentional. Sin Against Sin wants to cause a stir; they want violence, they want dancing, they want you moving. Two-step, crowdkill, do whatever you have to do, just make sure you’re not standing still, else you’re the target. – Jack W
FFO: Cross Of Disbelief, Headbussa & Despize
sear – O Merciful (Independent)
As the immediate and intense “Judy” hits on O Merciful, it is evident that sear have crafted something that moves across genres and emotive states. Taking the melodic hardcore of the early 2010s, that the likes of Defeater defined, and taking elements of screamo and black metal to add their own twist to it. What comes to be on O Mercifulfeels ever so familiar, yet different, akin to being some place you couldn’t leave, and you couldn’t stay. The grief and sorrow strikes a deep and potent chord through the EP, as if each chord ruminates on the bygones. A record that as the months roll on through, will no doubt capture the hearts of many. – Joe
FFO: Make Them Suffer (2012-15), Modern Life Is War & More Than Life
Airgun – Airgun (Independent)
January has been packed with a raft of wonderful debut EPs; Calm and Secure, Rekcrucify andsonia is dead are just some of the examples. Joining these is Airgun with their self-titled debut. Blending the worlds of emo, post-hardcore and shoegaze, the EP creates a sound that draws you in deeper, listen after listen. Whether it’s the vocals that are ever so slightly buried in the mix, like a voice calling you from beyond, or the guitar harmonies which have the air of a pleasant daydream. There is something so simple yet captivating about what Airgun have done here, and hopefully it will be one that in time will draw further attention. – Joe
FFO: Swoon, dream fatigue & Pinkshift
Aethereal – Rebirth
Genre fusion, and more fundamentally, making music that refuses to sit within the confines of a genre, is thriving right now in the DIY scene. It’s something that is making the scene a richer place, and much more interesting than whatever the overground is producing at the moment. One of the records that showcases this is the debut EP from Aethereal, a trio from Vegas who activated in 2025. In Rebirth they blend the soundscapes of ‘gaze, screamo and emo with their own abrasive edge that demands it be heard. – Joe
FFO: josh, Roman Candle & rozemary
Palace of Mourning – Palace of Mourning (Independent)
Barking vocals, unceasing breakdowns, and stank-face chuggs all around, Palace of Mourning’s self-titled effort is not for the faint of heart. There’s nowhere to hide as the San Diego five-piece pummels you with a relentless barrage of riffs and thumps. Angry, side-to-side, spinkick tunes, the band flirts perfectly on the edge of hardcore and metalcore, channelling a sound which fans of either genre will love. – Jack W
FFO: Realm of Torment, Climate of Fear & Raiden
RST – Ritual Sword Talisman (Evil Mosh Records)
It’s uncanny how professional RST‘s debut is. Stunning production with no time wasted, this really is crossover thrash to say “fuck yeah” to. Opener “Soul’s Address” introduces us to their searing whammy bends and rancid vocals. “Scorched Earth” emphasises their hardcore leanings right down to the two-step segment and half-speed ending which is designed to get people swinging. Similarly, “Last Rites” will satisfy modern hardcore listeners, and it might even be safe to show to your uncle who thinks the days of thrash ended with the big four. “Eternity Of Suffering” goes large for the EP’s conclusion, slipping some grandeur amid the grooving riffs. This is surely a high priority band to catch at any Ohio and adjacent shows. – Dobbin T
FFO: Pest Control, Doomsday & Mindforce
Entry – Micromania (Independent)
As we tumble into the start of the year, we must admit that it needs a soundtrack that represents being just utterly pissed off, and Entry have provided one that is perfectly fitting. Guitar riffs that feel as if they’re trying to rip the ear drum out of its socket, and vocals that have a caustic nature to them. It will be difficult to find an EP more feral and abrasive than Micromania this early in the year. – Joe
FFO: Dry Socket, False Body & Tension