Column Releases You May Have Missed
RELEASES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: LPs & EPs, May 2026
“From the depths within, hear them call out to you.“
As the year creaked into May, it dropped some records that were absolutely sublime. It’s hard not to look beyond Static Dress‘ sophomore full-length in Injury Episode, one that has launched the band firmly into the spotlight and could be 2026’s finest record. Others like American Football, Turnover and Basement made their long awaited returns, all of which more than satisfied their fan bases. Then there was Healing Wound, who more than satisfied on their record, Bodies of Heavenly Violence. Now we turn our attention to those records in May we didn’t get to cover, but we thought were absolute gems.
fingerswoventogether — As The Lie Became Truth
Zegema Beach Records
Blending the harsh screamo of the likes of awaywithwords with the melodic atmosphere of fellow Floridan band concealer., fingerswoventogether have pieced together a captivating screamo record that will, in time, see them become a staple of the genre. The ever familiar crashing chords and cymbals of the screamo genre on “Holding onto Something Out of Arms Reach”, soon followed by neat melodic moments in the latter half of “This Was Never Yours To Take”, will sure see many reaching for catharsis along with the band, and of course, the mic in a live setting. – Joe E
FFO: Even If The Sky Is Falling Down, Blood On My Hands & sonia is dead
xserenityx — No One Waits When You’re In Disguise
Independent
Despite several standout acts in the likes of Speedway and Xiao, there is a slight sense that Swedish hardcore should have more of a presence across the UK and Europe, given how many European scenes are thriving. Another band that adds to this is xserenityx. In this case, they lie within the revival metalcore camp that is taking hold in the UK and US, but they are also hardcore-adjacent. With screams that have an unsettling and pained nature to them backed by mournful and anguished guitars, their sonic rampage brings with it a rawness of grief and pain. If it comes matched with a quality of performance, this is another band from the Nordic country that bookers across Europe should be lining up to get on their shows. – Joe E
FFO: IMISSYOUALREADY, silence|me & Killing Me Softly
2nd Location & Victims Of Life — Hate x Aggression
Independent
East Anglia hate teamed up with West Mids aggression to showcase two of the strongest prospects in the UKHC at the moment. Leaning on the metallic hardcore side of the spectrum, the four track EP is brimming with moments that will have doors being kicked down, whether it’s gnarly opener “Too Cold To Dig” from 2nd Location or “Run Your Mouth” by Victims of Life that is packed with sheer animosity. Both have an ongoing run of shows and festival appearances that will see them No Play and Castlefest this year; now is the perfect time to indulge in brutality that runs through Hate X Aggression.– Joe E
FFO: BIND., derail. & Smother
Takoba — Purge
Independent
There’s a lot of sayings about waiting which we won’t bore with, yet many of them can apply to Takoba. Since emerging in 2024 on the live circuit in Australia, their blunt-ended and vicious sound was one that had the killer instinct to conquer the Australian scene and beyond. Now as their debut record in Purge releases, it’s difficult not to be swayed from that view. It’s underlined by a double kick that has a hammering impact, conjoined with vocals that would gauge your ears off and much more if they had the chance. There’s a sense that each element of Purge is meant to have that slightly unsettling feeling. It makes for an album that, on one hand, would make you want to tear up the room with the band, and on the other, feel unnerved as you walk down the street, glancing over your shoulder as if a curse was seeking you. – Joe E
FFO: Skorn, Terminal Sleep & Death Tax
veinslikescripture — veinslikescripture
Paper Wings Records
Silent Hill-styled metalcore, mostly notably the second of the series, is another variant in the revival scene that is emerging. veinslikescripture open their self-titled EP with an extended cut of one of the game’s most well-known samples from Mary, as the lines “James… Wait… Please don’t go… Stay with me” remains as heartwrenching as ever. There’s a coarse texture that both the original game and veinslikescripture possess which shine through on the EP, as the DIY production that gives each strum and kick an essential coarseness. These choices give veinslikescripture an unfiltered emotive edge as they go on to create contrast against their harsh and clean vocals. – Joe E
FFO: Killing of a Sacred Deer, Crowquill & Boundaries
Resthaven — Prelude
Dystopolis Arts
Sitting somewhere on the scale between death and extreme metal is where Resthaven’s sound can be found, along with an unmistakably unique melancholic edge. They are now finely tuned as they release their third full-length, Prelude, which sees the Scarborough (ON) unit deliver some of their most harrowing and lethal soundscapes to date. Their vocals have a harrowing bite to them, and they take hold of Prelude the moment that “They Will Rip You To Shreads” kicks in. Each track builds up tension and the pace is unrelenting. It has the effect of being trapped in a darkened catacomb, where each corner reveals another dark tunnel of despair. The closing cuts “Born From Tragedy” and “Funeral Scent” are harrowing and feel like the final fall into the absence of hope. – Joe E
FFO: Fuming Mouth, monochrome. & Defenestration
Instar Sling — Instar Sling
Label Name
Instar Sling have quickly become a house-band for Camden’s gnarliest shows, with a sound that is possibly the definition of the illustrious Black Heart. This is total conquest through doom and drone, with rancid vocals and gargantuan song structures. The guitar seems to resent the noises it’s made to make, as shrieks of feedback perforate the distortion, and every riff curdles towards an atmosphere of depression. It’s not without dynamics, as “Talon Mask” has unnerving clean passages and noise segments abound, but rest assured, their core motivation is toward absolute sonic conquest. Coming across this self-titled debut felt old fashioned, back to a time when obscure records with terrifyingly blunt tracklists could only be found on the blogosphere; like an anglerfish luring the unwary to their drone-metal demise. – Dobbin T
FFO: Khanate, Primitive Man & Gnaw Their Tongues
mypetspider — Retracing The Steps
Paper Wings Records
A double dose of Paper Wings Records showcases how much the metalcore scene is flourishing at the moment. On their sophomore record, mypetspider have sharpened their blade, with a production and style that feels much more fitting to their sound. Still keeping that DIY edge, the refined mix allows each chord and yell to layer, with emo and screamo influences striking through on Retracing The Steps. The record is still packed out with moments that will have a room spinkicking each other to the emotive tunes that mypetsider have pieced together here. – Joe E
FFO: josh, Uponbrokenpromises & Watch You Fall
Algae Bloom — …it lasts forever, and then it’s over
Independent
There’s an Algae Bloom shaped hole left in the screamo community, leaving us with a bitter-sweet goodbye following their final tour with the release of …it lasts forever, and then it’s over. Listening to this EP for the first time had my jaw on the floor, taking me back to the feeling of discovering them once again. It builds on the iconic twinkly guitar riffs that we know and love, becoming more fleshed out with their passionate production, while keeping their heart-touching and inspirational lyricism laced with the internal conflict of reflection and growth. The release starts off delicate, switching between cathartic buildups in “life in bright” and “drowning numbers” to a beautiful crescendo at the end of “and yet, still…” reiterating “still everyone I’ve ever met.”, closing a chapter for them, lingering on the feelings that remain from the 2016 release of I am everyone I ever met. I can’t think of a better way Algae Bloom could’ve departed. – Natalia M
FFO: Suis La lune, foxtails & Clay Birds
