The Community
ROCK AND ROLL! => All Them Other Guys => Topic started by: Zzzptm on January 02, 2026, 01:29:49 PM
-
So long, 2025, not a lot of great stuff released that year... but 2026! I think I might be going deaf on the 23rd -
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/817VbETzDJL._SX425_.jpg) (https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2873342111_16.jpg) (https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2174120144_16.jpg)
Megadeth, Sky Valley Mistress, and The Stripp all drop new albums in 3 weeks, and I got them all pre-ordered. The Stripp just today announced their 2026 release and I'm liking their brand of action rock, sounds like the whole record will be a banger!
Here's to 2026, hope you make us spoiled for choice when we compile a top ten album list for this year!
-
There's a new Macc Lads album out on 30th January, I think it's their first release in about 30 years!
Macc Lads - Wild Cider Wife
-
Black Label Society's new album ENGINES OF DEMOLITION comes in March!!
And here's a KILLER new tune called NAME IN BLOOD!!
The album track listing is as follows:
01. Name In Blood
02. Gatherer Of Souls
03. The Hand Of Tomorrows Grave
04. Better Days & Wiser Times
05. Broken And Blind
06. The Gallows
07. Above & Below
08. Back To Me
09. Lord Humungus
10. Pedal To The Floor
11. Broken Pieces
12. The Stranger
13. Ozzy's Song
Also It's ZAKK's birthday to HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
-
I see what looks like a nice shout-out to Ozzy in there! Happy b-day Zakk!
-
Well the first new album of 2026 is ready for pickup tomorrow...
That ofcourse being
MEGADETH
And the second one is in the mail, that being SKY VALLEY MISTRESS!
Off to a good start!
-
Yep - I just received an email stating my Megadeth pre-order has shipped and is en-route!
-
Amazon are not what they used to be. I used to get stuff day of release or maybe the day after. I'm not getting the new Megadeth album until Monday!! >:(
-
Musical Christmas is tomorrow morning! :smug:
-
Ok, I might owe Amazon an apology... it's been despatched and is now turning up tomorrow!
-
The Australian album just dropped! :D :headbanger:
Now playing: The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
-
Current rankings:
1. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
No other album bought yet, so it's in number one now. :smug:
It's straight-up Motorhead-flavored rock and roll, plenty of action and drive. Singer/guitarist Bek Taylor can take her singing and strumming in directions either sweet or screaming, what every true rocker needs to be able to do. The rest of the band does solid work and the result is 34 mins of strong heavy rock that goes down smooth. Last track is the only one I didn't take to right away, but it'll likely grow on me. The energy in tracks like Gotta Go and MF From Hell more than make up for any shortcomings in that last track, The End, and the album as a whole sets a good bar for everything else in 2026. Will it be the best album this year? Given what lands tomorrow, I dare say not. But will it be the worst? Not at all. Sure, I got SVM and Megadeth arriving tomorrow, but The Stripp is one of those opening bands you book for the tour if and only if you're ready to give 100% so they don't blow you off the stage.
It's solid work, great rock, and that last song is making more sense as I listen to it again. Yeah, this one's a strong opener.
-
Playing my Megadeth before I properly wake up, and going straight to "Ride the Lightning."
The opening is a bit slow or at least feels slower, but once it gets to the thrash part, it doth commence to thrash and lo, it thrasheth like unto the thrash of the mid-80s. I had to turn the volume down because I got kids still asleep and didn't want to necessarily wake them up. I'm considerate before 9am. Once I can play it full volume, I am sure it's gonna sound even better with the full bottom section coming through.
And now I'm sampling bits of Lunar Mausoleum, and "Live Past Life" is gonna rip my face off oh nooooooooooooooo
Today will be a loud, fun day. :rockon: :yes:
-
First reactions to Luna Mausoleum by Sky Valley Mistress:
This album goes fast, slow, loud, quiet, and has a fantastic emotional and lyrical palette. I'm in the middle of "White Night" and I honestly don't know what direction the band is going to go but I trust them in a "Jesus take the wheel" kind of way. Kayley Davies has got all the guns and ammo, so I'll just get behind her and see what trail she blazes with all that firepower. Vocally overwhelming, this album. I am loving the variety and complexity and right now it's in the top slot, likely to stay in the top two for the year. It's a high water mark for sure. No shade on The Stripp, which I still plan to play more of, but the emotions in this album are palpable and excellent.
There are some great bangers on the album, but the quieter and slower stuff is so intense, it don't need to be all fast and loud.
1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
Rock-solid start to the year, and I got Megadeth next.
-
The meeting got pushed so I got to play Megadeth by Megadeth all the way through. "The Last Note" has a poignancy I did not expect, and it's a great closing track for the album, if one considers "Ride the Lightning" a true bonus track. If not, then it's like someone says goodbye in "The Last Note"... before going to the electric chair in the next song! Ouch! And Metal as all get-out if that's the case! :)
Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth. I can't put it ahead of or behind SVM, so I have to make it a tie for first place:
1. Megadeth - Megadeth / Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum (tie)
2. TBD once I sort out the tie
3. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
I did find another album of instrumental metal that was pretty meh that I used as a palette cleanser. It was decent stuff, just not great. That made the other three albums shine more. I need to put the Megadeth and SVM albums into overtime until I figure out a winner...
-
Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth.
This is true. It's almost like Dave took a piece of every part of Megadeth's history and put it on this album...there are songs that remind me of the early days, the 90s and the 00s...
This album sort of captures the essense of Megadeth.
-
While I have my copy it arrived quite late last night, I probably won;t get to give it a listen until tomorrow as I'm busy today. Looking forward to hearing it though!
-
Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth.
This is true. It's almost like Dave took a piece of every part of Megadeth's history and put it on this album...there are songs that remind me of the early days, the 90s and the 00s...
This album sort of captures the essense of Megadeth.
The singles from the album that were pre-released gave no hint about the songwriting to come through on the other numbers on the album. "Essence of Megadeth" is the perfect three-word review.
-
I'm pleased that you all have received your tunes...although mine shipped out the other day, it isn't slated to arrive until Monday. MONDAY. And with this multi-state winter storm in full effect, it won't surprise me if it got delayed until next Thursday or Friday. In fact, the delivery guy will probably steal it and I'll never get one. The damned thieving bastard. :)
I'm intentionally not looking for any of the songs online, I want to experience the joy fresh off of the vinyl.
-
Good news is that they're good enough to make them worth the wait.
-
I've now listened to Megadeth... and yeah, it's pretty good. I'll need to a few more listens to allow it to settle in... but it's already very promising.
-
Stupid mail delivery man decided NOT to drop my package containing the new Sky Valley Mistress on my door step today.
Instead now I have to go pick it up from the post office tomorrow.
That lazy bugger. Sure he did manage to stuff all the other mail in the mailbox but didn't bother driving an extra 150 feet to bring the package...
-
That lazy bugger. Sure he did manage to stuff all the other mail in the mailbox but didn't bother driving an extra 150 feet to bring the package...
I hate it when that happens!
Relatedly, my mail delivery person parked at the entrance to my driveway and trudged 425 feet, through nine inches of snow in order to hand deliver my mail today. Maybe your guy should call my guy for advice LOL.
Even more notably, Megadeth has arrived! Working through some tasks then going to listen to this thing...even the ordering of the songs and their titles bodes well for a great trip!
-
So... Sky Valley Mistress...and Luna Mausoleum.
Solid effort again. Whole lot going on here. Very complex out of this rather young couple. This isn't your average doom rock album...gonna need a few listens this one before you can even get properly into it.
But so far I am enjoying it a lot. No Sleep is a monster of a tune. That riffing is brilliant and the vocals! Oh my!
-
Well, if this is truly Megadeth's last album, it is an awesome capstone they created! My least favorite tune as it stands is Ride the Lightning, and it's good. It is one of my top Metallica songs, so after listening to it for the past 40 years or so Megadeth's by-the-numbers performance, while good, sounds like a cover band. It's difficult for me to remove Hetfield's voice and Burton's bass from it. The drumming on Megadeth's version is much better, though :)
But the others, hoo-boy. First-rate Megadeth from top to bottom.
-
I have actually really liked Ride The Lightning. The heavier guitars work for me. And yes it's kind of odd to hear a Metallica song with good drumming! Part from the vocal melody (which isn't Dave-like at all) if you didn't know it wasn't a Megadeth tune, you'd think it was...
Now that I've lived with the album these past few days I can finally say something concrete.
Best tunes:
Tipping Point, Made To Kill, I Am War and The Last Note
Good tunes:
I Don't Care, Let There Be Shred, Obey The Call
Pretty good tunes:
Hey God, Puppet Parade (the vocal melody on this one is better than the music!)
The Not as good as the others tune:
Another Bad Day
Musically I'd say that's the weakest one...it sounds like it wouldn't be out of place on Super Collider. But it isn't a bad song all in all, just weaker in comparison.
There's a bit of every part of Megadeth's history included which is nice. Even though Dave said he only came to the conclusion this will be the last album after most of the songs were already done (only The Last Note was done after that decision) there is a feel that (subconsciously perhaps) Dave wanted to kind of sum things up here.
From what I've read online this divides the fan base a bit...some say it's their best one in a long time others say it's just a mediocre album...
For me neither one applies. It's a solid piece of Megadeth work. Something that is fitting for a final album. It captures the essence of Megadeth better than most of their albums do.
Solid candidate for album of the year title...but considering the sheer ammount of albums we've got coming this year....I wouldn't be surprised if something races past it fast.
-
It will take me a few days to let the songs coalesce into something more definable. I'm still in the, "new record glow," phase. But I will say that I think the album overall is a better showing than a lot of their back catalog, but not all of it, and individual song shoot-outs would be tough to pin down. I don't think it is mediocre at all, and frankly I think some people get drawn into the mindset that if a record isn't the BEST EVER, then it is lukewarm at best and probably just sucks.
Of course, then comes the, "how do we define what 'best' means," spectre that's always looming over such things.
-
I don't think it is mediocre at all, and frankly I think some people get drawn into the mindset that if a record isn't the BEST EVER, then it is lukewarm at best and probably just sucks.
That indeed is quite common these days...It either is GREATEST EVER or Not very good or bad or sucks ass.
People seem to have forgotten that albums CAN actually be very good solid albums without being the best ever.
-
It's actually pretty tough to rank Megadeth vs Sky Valley Mistress...
Both very solid releases. Been listening to both a lot now.
I suppose they'll find their rankings later in the year...but right now I think they're tied for the first place.
-
1970: "Oh wow man Deep Purple In Rock is their best album ever! All the other albums SUCK!" - if one's not a DP Mk1 fan, true enough.
1972: "Oh wow man Deep Purple's Machine Head is their best album ever! All the other albums SUCK!" - hang on, what about In Rock? That's still quite the solid offering, there.
1973: "Deep Purple Live in Japan is not quite as good as Machine Head so... IT SUCKS!" - hey wait hold on whoa you said *WHAT* about Live in Japan???
-
It's actually pretty tough to rank Megadeth vs Sky Valley Mistress...
Both very solid releases. Been listening to both a lot now.
I suppose they'll find their rankings later in the year...but right now I think they're tied for the first place.
The fact that they go in differing directions, musically, only makes the comparison more difficult. If they were both thrash metal albums, we'd have more of an apples-to-apples comparison. "Tied for first" may be how we feel in December, given how strong both releases are, each in their own way.
I'm not skipping songs on either album and while there are songs on each album that are weaker relative to the other tracks, they are still very strong, overall. These champion albums are going into extra time and possibly penalty kicks!
-
I'm not skipping songs...
This is always a good indicator of quality for me too. My wife is the kind of person that will listen to a record all the way through, even if she hates a song. Drives me nuts. I'm like, "change that nasty shit," and she always responds with something along the lines of, "oh just let it play." Nope. Can't do that.
The kicker here is that she won't spin vinyl, she listens to CDs, so she could simply press a button on the remote. But nooo. Our musical tastes intersect here and there, but just like she isn't down for something like Burzum, I'm not down with whatever pop-star de jour that caught her ear. And then when it is an actual bad song - not simply a difference in taste - and it happens to be some kind of super-extended-dance-remix-featuring-LeQuan-$$$Money...and it's twenty minutes long...Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
-
Back in my vinyl days, I specifically made tapes of records that left out tracks I wanted to skip and I played those instead of the vinyl for my uninterrupted listening convenience and pleasure. When I got a CD player, I learned how to program it to skip track 5 because that track sucked.
My wife likes to have YouTube Music play a mix for her when she's driving. When I'm in the passenger seat, I endure it. I am allowed to exert peremptory strikes, however, against the two songs that drive me totally up the wall of no return: "Evil Woman" by ELO and "Don't Bring Me Down", also by ELO. Fun fact: that last song is based on a Wilbert Harrison tune that a listener to my Saturday show likes to request. Drives me up the wall, but I play it because she pledges to support the show and my wife thinks it's hilarious that I have to endure it and I love it when she laughs.
Anyway, back to the YT Music... I *do* get to enrich her algorithm from time to time. When I mentioned Megadeth had a new album out, she let me request a track or two and that get her mix to have much more 80s metal in it. To be sure, it's the metal that YT Music's algo determines is safe enough to suggest, but I'll take more metal, especially after I've heard "Fernando" by ABBA for what feels like the gazillionth time. I don't hate it, but I don't love it, either.
Good news for me is that she doesn't like Cookie Monster metal, so we can both skip over that stuff, should it come up.
-
My second purchase of the year turned up today.
The Damned - Not Like Everybody Else
A covers album comprising mostly 1960s material, some of which I know... and some I don't!
My third purchase of the year should arrive in the next few days probably by Momday...
The Macc Lads - Wild Cider Wife
-
Just got a message from Devil Electric and they're gonna be releasing a new album soon as well!
So another banger to be expected!
EDIT
What the fuck?!?! DEEP PURPLE are gonna have an album out in June of this year as well!!
That came out of nowhere!
-
I'm doing a try-before-I-buy with The Damned's latest... the covers are competently done, great musicianship, but I'm not getting anything from them that makes them really stand out from the originals other than, "here's The Damned doing that song." I'm thinking of passing on that platter.
-
^^^
Yes, it's competently done, but there's nothing new here, they are just songs the late Brian James liked.
I'll give it another listen but really what I want is more of the stuff they've been doing over the last 25 years
-
^^^
Yes, it's competently done, but there's nothing new here, they are just songs the late Brian James liked.
I'll give it another listen but really what I want is more of the stuff they've been doing over the last 25 years
Yes, there's more oomph in their own material, for sure. Doing an album of covers is a tricky matter if your band doesn't have a unique take on them.
-
METAL CHURCH ANNOUNCE A NEW ALBUM called DEAD TO RIGHTS!
https://ratpakrecords.com/collections/metal-church
Goddamn the shipping costs though...30$ for a single cd! Damn!
-
^^^
Will it not be released through the usual outlets?
-
I do not know...
I have bought all of my MC albums straight from Rat Pack...I don't know if they have distributors in Europe...one would imagine that they do...
But I don't think I'll be paying extra 30$ shipping for autographs...
-
I'm interested in new Metal Church, for sure!
-
They do indeed have a EU shop
https://metalchurch.eu/products
26€ total Signed cd + postage. Works for me...Preorder done.
-
https://valleyofthesun.bandcamp.com/album/the-chariot
This new release from Valley of the Sun is likely going to be the 4th album I buy this year. The opening track is plenty heavy and I'm pretty sure the rest of the album will be good stuff.
-
I was listening to the SVM and Megadeth albums a lot and I've got my ranking, with justification.
Basically, SVM's album I play through and love it. Megadeth, I play through and love it until track 10, The Last Note, and then Ride the Lightning jars up the mix. That track belongs somewhere in the first five, not the album closer. Even if it's a "bonus track", fact is it comes up as 11/11 and it simply doesn't belong there. If I move it to the front and play things through after that, the album works much better. And since the competition between that album and the one from SVM was coming down to millimeters, a factor like that becomes a deciding criteria.
After those two, I feel like there's a slight gap to the one from The Stripp and then a much bigger gap to the Valley of the Sun album. I like VotS's release, but I think The Stripp did some masterful stuff with their release this year.
1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. Megadeth - Megadeth
3. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
4. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
I don't know if anything can get in between The Stripp and Megadeth, but there's a chance. I think there's plenty of room between VotS and The Stripp and expect possibly several releases to land in between the two.
I'm feeling like Sky Valley Mistress and Megadeth have 1-2 sewn up on my list. It would take a massive upset to unseat Megadeth and an astronomical alignment of chance to beat SVM.
-
I typed that and just read that the Rolling Stones are planning an album release this year. So instead of putting Hackney Diamonds into the End of the Line list, I'll be likely slotting their latest into my list for 2026 albums. They'll have producer Andrew Watt again, so I expect they'll do quite well with the recording.
-
Also coming out this year are releases from The Black Crowes (March 13), Armored Saint (April), Saxon (late, like Q3/Q4), Deep Purple (June), and Uriah Heep (September 14). That comes out to at least 10 albums I plan to get this year! :)