Time to start ranking the best albums of 2026, not only metal but also non-metal releases. Have you heard all of these? Am I missing any interesting ones? Hit me up on Instagram.
About me – deathdoom.com, music and more
- Stefan Nordström
- Musician, songwriter, content creator, digital freelancer
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Bands: Desolator, Soliloquium, Ending Quest, Ashes of Life, Trees of Daymare, The Ashen Tree
- Social: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
- Stay in touch: Newsletter signup
- Support my work on PayPal: 1€ | 2€ | 5€ | 10€
Best albums of 2026 countdown
So, here’s my best albums of 2026. I’ll keep adding albums throughout the year and rearranging the list.
19. Urne – Setting Fire to the Sky
Somewhere between Mastodon, prog, metalcore and melodeth, Urne recides. This album got some good reviews so I decided to hit it up, and lack of originality aside, it hits pretty hard.
Listen: “Be Not Dismayed”
18. Karnivool – In Verses
I don’t worship this band quite as much as many progheads, but it’s a solid offering. I like that the band is going more for a dredg emotional hook type direction than putting in 800 time signatures. Will spin it more and see if it grows.
Listen: “Animation”
17. Fossilization – Advent of Wounds
Fossilization’s second album is deservingly getting a lot of praise in the metal community. Super-murky death metal with a suffocating atmosphere and enough left turns to keep it interesting. Smart decision to keep the playing time short and sweet too!
Listen: “Servo”
16. Cold Communion – Monuments to Ruin
Still missing Daylight Dies? Well, here’s a chance to here something from one member of the band, plus Tim Rowland from Woccon/Silent Vigil. This is a bit more uptempo and melodeath than expected, think modern October Tide, but also with flashes of the good old DD melancholy. I quite like it.
Listen: “Pyrocene”
15. Worm – Necropalace
Heavily hyped album online, and I can see why. A really interesting mish-mash of styles landing somewhere around a shreddy Dimmu Borgir with doom tendencies. There’s some seriously good guitar work on this one – it’s largely just a big barrel of metal fun that fits fans of all extreme styles.
Listen: “Necropalace”
14. Unverkalt – Héréditaire
Do you want another abrasive journey into the lands around Julie Christmas, Bianca and Frayle? Then this is just perfect. It definitely hits the right visceral nerve for me, even though I need repeated listens to see if the songwriting holds up as well.
Listen: “Penumbrian Lament”
13. Monstrosity – Screams from Beneath the Surface
“Spiritual Apocalypse” is one of my fav death metal albums ever and it’s hard to compete with. Monstrosity keep trying though, and this is yet another quality disc. If you’ve heard the band before you know what to expect. Old school technical death metal with solid riffs and big hooks.
Listen: “The Colossal Rage”
12. Atlas – Sunder
I loved 2021’s “Ukko” so I was excited for the new release from this Finnish djent/thall/prog whatever band. The band has continued down the same path, blending chunky chugs with affecting emotional and atmospheric parts in a solid mix. I dig it! 28 mins is a bit light for an album, but then again it’s better than an hour, especially for this kind of intense music.
Listen: “Sunder”
11. Shagohod – A Curse That Hides the Door
I like it weird. This album is weird and more, but very cool. Imagine mixing prog rock/metal elements with alt rock, punk, and even emo tendencies? It sure needs good execution to not become a trainwreck. Shagohod mostly succeeds. Very entertaining album, and the lyric themes go hand in hand with my 2026 attitude too.
Listen: “Swashbuckle Up”
10. Void of Light – Asymmetries
Neurosis stole the post metal crown early this year, but why not some more? I saw some nice reviews for this album, and they certainly ring true. Some very good genre-bending atmospheric metal with solid songwriting and a nice mix of aggression and atmosphere.
Listen: “Mirrorings”
9. Miserere Luminis – Sidera
Miserere has been on my radar for a few releases, offering a nice mix of atmospheric and avant garde black metal stylings. Definitely digging what the band is doing on “Sidera” too; I hear everything from Gaerea to Deathspell Omega, and the piano additions are haunting.
Listen: “De Cris & de Cendres”
8. Ponte del Diavolo – De venom natura
Italy’s favorite weirdos are back with another album and I dig it nearly as much as the debut. The band branches out enough to keep it interesting. Lots of cool ideas and even more oomph to the double bass player setup.
Listen: “Spirit, Blood, Poison, Ferment!”
7. Enshine – Elevation
After many years, Jari Lindholm’s Enshine is back. Luckily, the album was definitely worth waiting for. An exercise in superb atmospheric metal through and through. It feels a bit more loose and jammy than the previous Enshine albums which is a welcome evolution.
Listen: “Shimmering”
6. Hanging Garden – Isle of Bliss
This band is always quality, and in 2026 the sound had a pretty major change. More epicness, darkness and atmospherics on top of the usual gothic Nordic goodness. I love it. Vocally, it might be their strongest yet, as both Toni and Riikka excel with great variation.
Listen: “To Outlive the Nine Ravens”
5. Wolverine – Anomalies
It’s not secret that I consider Wolverine one of the most underrated bands out there. I’m not entirely sure where this album winds up in the band’s discography yet, but the amazing vocals are present as always.
Listen: “This World and All Its Dazzling Lights”
4. Neurosis – An Undying Love for a Burning World
Well, where the fuck did this come from? No warning, just a brand-new Neurosis with ISIS’s Aaron Turner replacing Scott Kelly. Didn’t expect this one, especially with the perfect replacement. And it’s good.. very good in fact. Just the ode to a near-hopeless world we all need.
Listen: “Mirror Deep”
3. Møl – Dreamcrush
Danish blackgazers Møl expand on their sound on album 3. Lots of tasty melodic leads all over the place, and I totally welcome the band diving further into shoegaze, new wave and other interesting influences. Just as good as their previous two releases and different enough to warrant repeated spins.
Listen: “Garland”
2. Marianas Rest – The Bereaved
This band has killed it from day one, and album four is no exception. All their usual tools like melancholic melodies and huge dynamics are there, but now the band also added clean vocals in its arsenal. It works out great and just adds another gorgeous element to an already accomplished sound.
Listen: “The Colour of You”
1. Immolation – Descent
My lessening interest in death metal is no secret, so I’m always happy when something really hits me. That’s an understatement from hell when it comes to “Descent”. It’s right up there with the last two releases, which means top tier amazing. I have no idea how a band can sound this fresh and passionate after almost 40 years. I love it.
Listen: “Adversary”
2026 EP’s
- The Eternal – Celestial
Support me and my content
I hope my best albums of 2026 countdown will help you to find some cool new music to spin. If you want to support what I do, check out my band Soliloquium and buy digital music on Bandcamp. And share my stuff, of course! Cheers.
0 Comments