2026 Albums

[Zzzptm]

So long, 2025, not a lot of great stuff released that year... but 2026! I think I might be going deaf on the 23rd -



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!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

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

[Charger]

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!!!

[Vyn]

I see what looks like a nice shout-out to Ozzy in there! Happy b-day Zakk!

[Charger]

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!

[Vyn]

Yep - I just received an email stating my Megadeth pre-order has shipped and is en-route!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

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!!   

[Zzzptm]

Musical Christmas is tomorrow morning!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Ok, I might owe Amazon an apology... it's been despatched and is now turning up tomorrow!

[Zzzptm]

The Australian album just dropped!

Now playing: The Stripp - Life Imitates Art

[Zzzptm]

Current rankings:

1. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art

No other album bought yet, so it's in number one now.

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.

[Zzzptm]

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.

[Zzzptm]

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.

[Zzzptm]

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...