Well folks, somehow we’re at the mid-point of 2026 and so it seems appropriate to take a look at the best stuff I’ve listened to this year in the form of a numbered list. I will almost certainly have missed something that was your favourite, but you can make your own list so whatever.
Here are my top 12 albums of 2026 (so far)!
12 (Canada) Church Fight - s/t
Honestly, this is probably number 12 because its so short. This is a three song EP from Canadian outfit Church Fight is such a fucking blast, and packs a whole lot of punch in 12 minutes. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a band with an absolute banger of a live show. It’s such an interesting blend of genres, evoking acts like Protest the Hero along with a rip-roaring punk sound that feels plucked right off of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater game soundtracks.
11 (Canada) Altar of the Fuzz - Stones Spoke to Space
If you know me personally, you might think that stoner-metal occupies a larger slice of my musical diet, but honestly it doesn’t really. I don’t seek it out often, and it also doesn’t find its way to me often, however - Altar of the Fuzz brings me exactly the hazy beast of an album I want when I do want me some stoner metal. This is an album you want to put on while you lay on the floor and imbibe substances. It’s massive and just fucking rips.
https://altarofthefuzz613.bandcamp.com/album/stones-spoke-to-space-2
10 (Canada) L’Horreur D’Exister - a perpetual cycle of lament & sorrow
The most recent discovery on this list, despite coming out back in April, this black metal album from Quebec is absolutely overflowing with atmosphere - thought I don’t know that I would call it atmospheric black metal - though… maybe I would. I don’t know what to tell you, this one just immediately got it’s hooks in me and rocketed up to the top 10. A very strong piece of work.
https://lhorreurdexister.bandcamp.com/album/a-perpetual-cycle-of-lament-sorrow
9 (Canada) Download History - s/t
An artist from just down the highway from me, Download History is - without question - one of the most interesting electronic artists in Northern British Columbia. Bringing in influences from hip hop, idm, noise, and just about everything else creates a really engaging record, and one that you need to have on your radar. Also, not for nothing, they have a stunning live show - and you can catch us both at Midsummer Music Festival in July. Just saying.
https://downloadhistoryproductions.bandcamp.com/album/download-history
8 (Canada) awaywithroses - My Involvement With Witchcraft
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: I fucking love emoviolence / powerviolence; just so god damn much. This one is somehow shorter than the Church Fight EP, clocking in at ten minutes, but fuck me does it leave a mark on your heart. Get it in ya.
https://awaywithroses.bandcamp.com/album/my-involvement-with-witchcraft
7 (USA) Fire-Toolz - Lavender Networks
I have a hazy memory of kind of bouncing off of a Fire-Toolz album, but honestly, Lavender Networks has me thinking I need to revisit that one because holy shit. This glitch-industrial-grind monstrosity is such a fucking beast from start to finish. Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to go and buy all of their sample packs immediately.
https://fire-toolz.bandcamp.com/album/lavender-networks
6 (UK) Kneecap - Fenian
To say that Kneecap has had a … challenging couple of years feels like an understatement. Not least of which comes from their government’s attempt to charge them with terrorism (no really) for their outspoken views on the genocide in Palestine. The album absolutely fucking whips too, which makes the whole thing feel like a victory lap. They’ve also just released a new version of “Smugglers and Scholars” with Killer Mike which is a wild get. Fenian goes hard, check it out.
https://kneecap.bandcamp.com/album/fenian
5 (France) Gros Enfant Mort - Le Sang Des Pierres
Listening to this again to make this list, I ended up bumping it up higher as I was reminded how fucking much I adore this album. A frantic and emotional record that reminds me how much I like screamo/emoviolence music. It’s one of those records that my teenage self was absolutely yearning for, even if I had no way of knowing. It’s a fucking EXCELLENT record.
https://grosenfantmort.bandcamp.com/album/le-sang-des-pierres
4 (USA) Pinknoise - Flesh and Bone
I have been really excited about this release since hearing a single last year, and I was not disappointed. Honestly, the first track, The Future is Pink, has me wondering why PINKNOISE wasn’t hired on as the new vocalist for Linkin Park becauuse holy fuck this scratches the itch that the latest release from LP just doesn’t (and also has no troubling ties to Scientology that I’m aware of). It’s an extremely fun metalcore record that will stay in my rotation for a long time.
https://pinkishnoise.bandcamp.com/album/flesh-and-bone
3 (USA) By Storm - My Ghosts Go Ghost
This album was signed-sealed-delivered into my top five from the second that “Can I Have You For Myself?” entered my life. That was it. This opens on such a fucking beautiful note and carries that through the entire record. This is the kind of hip hop that I get excited about and you should too. It’s also just so deeply inspiring and I imagine is going to have some influence in my own creative output going forward. Fuck I love this.
https://injuryreserve.bandcamp.com/album/my-ghosts-go-ghost
2 (Canada) Angine De Poitrine - Vol. II
2026 has been the year of Angine De Poitrine, there’s no denying it. Hell, when I Googled them they even have a big polka dot effect that comes up. Even GOOGLE likes this record. I’m sure there are those of you rolling your eyes at this being number two, and maybe I’m some kind of bandwagon poser but honest to fucking god this album is just so god damn good I really don’t care. If you’ve been holding off, don’t. Check this thing out.
https://anginedepoitrine.bandcamp.com/album/vol-ii
1 (UK) Boards of Canada - Inferno
I’m late to a lot of parties, but apparently the Board of Canada party started in the 90s and I have maybe never been THIS late to a party. I think in my head, I ignored BoC because of the name, it’s kind of a bad name, right? That said, this album (and everything else I’ve been consuming from them lately) absolutely rules. It’s the kind of moody weirdo electronic music that makes me want to make more, weirder, moodier electronic music. Honestly, this and the By Storm record are deeply inspiring pieces of work. Check this out.
https://boardsofcanada.bandcamp.com/album/inferno
Honorable Mentions (with links):
Enox - The Amalgamation
LEVELS - This Will Make You Feel Again
Rootabagga - Hawby Looby
Medium Build - Takeaways
Gaerea - Loss
The Good Depression - Where Grace Won’t Grow
soastasphrenas - eris
Girlcock - Fleshbound Adversity
Anna Pest - Dark Arms Reach Skyward With Bone White Fingers II: Be (Not) Afraid
The Devil Wears Prada - Flowers
Most Anticipated:
And here is some stuff I find myself quite excited for:
Truck Violence - The Weathervane is My Body
Fires in the Distance - Circadian Promise