Best songs of 2026 Part 1

It's been a while since I posted so lots to catch up on!  It's been a great year for new music in 2026 and there's lots on the horizon with new releases so without further delay, I give you some of my favorite songs of 2026 so far! 

Noveria - Convicted to Rise.

Italy's Noveria returns with a revamped line up including new singer Francesco Marino and Francesco Mattei brings his vision for Noveria on full display with Convicted to Rise.  Symphonic Power Metal never sounded so good.  The new release is slated for an August 21st on Scarlet Records and if this is any indication it's a solid bet to be near the top of the list for AOTY.   Already one of my favorite songs from Noveria's catalog.  

Draconian - Cold Heavens

So a small confession here, I've never been a huge fan of Draconian's gothic doom style.   I'm not sure why, especially after listening to Cold Heavens.  It's right up there as one of the favorite tracks of 2026 so far.  Definately going to have to revisit their back catalog after listening to their 2026 release.

Tyrant - Into The Light

Tyrant are a local melodic thrash band an hour north of my home so I was anxiously awaiting their 3rd albums.  All I can say is WOW, This band really raised the bar on this!!!  Into the Light is a great song and Paul Winters vocals sound so amazing on this release.  I'm excited to see what this band will do on the national and international stage once word gets out about how amazing Emergo is!  So far its a top 5 album for me! Highly recommended for fans of Witherfall and Sanctuary.

Sellsword - Mighty Mercenaries

I kid you not, I was scrolling though Reels and this one came up that said we don't care if this gets 341 views and then dies as long as one person likes what they hear.  Newsflash, I think more than one person is going to like what they hear. In fact, If the rest of the album is a good as the two singles it's going to be another serious contender for 2026's AOTY.   Pure Power Metal at it's finest. 

The Best songs of 2024 Part 7

 This certainly wasn't the mop up crew of 2024.  These are the last group of songs I listened to this year and there's some really heavy stuff, some really melodic stuff and they're just as good as some any of the music I found this year.    

Daath - Deserving of the Grave

This America Death outfit hails from Atlanta and combines Death metal with orchestration and some Prog elements.  Throw in some guitar support from Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) and you've got a great song to start this off with.  

Dagor Sorhdeam - Gates of Fate

This release came out of nowhere and just blew me away.  Brazil has really put out some quality music and Dagor Sorhdeam combine Progressive/Power Metal with vocals that would've made Warrel Dane proud.  The first track off this amazing release was Gates of Fate. 

Etwas - Bloodmoon Invocation 

I told you this was probably the heaviest playlist of the 7. This Occult symphonic Black Metal band artfully crosses the lines of Black Metal with some clean female vocals, occult themes and symphonic elements and are so good.  One of my favorite tracks was Bloodmoon Invocation. 

Kobra Paige - Hott.

This was so not what I expected from the Kobra and The Lotus lead singer Kobra Paige.  This is almost Mainstream Pop with an edge and so catchy...is it any surprise that her first song Hott leads off with "I'm so hot I wanna fuck myself".... 

Lost in Grey - The Entourage

If this name sounds familiar that's because I featured The Bottom Pit on an earlier page.  The Entourage was another fantastic song on a release that had some great songs.  They continue the symphonic metal with choirs to give it such a huge sound. 

Nightwish - An Ocean of Strange Islands

I really had begun to give up on this.  The last few singles and last album really reaked of desperation then along comes An Ocean.  Does it sound like it picked up where Shudder Before the Beautiful left off? Yes...and is that really a bad thing.  One of the best things Nightwish has done and Floor shows why she is one of Metal greatest female singer.  

Whitecross -The Way We Rock

I have to confess while I knew of the band Whitecross I've never really given them much of a listen.  They have been around since 1987 and are pretty well know in Christian Metal circle.  So listening to this it quickly became one of my favorite release of 2024.  

Van Zant - Speak His Name

Speaking of Christian Rock, the Van Zant brothers are back with a new label, a new album and probably some of thier best work in year.  And yes they've really crossed over in the Christian country rock genre but damn, this is so good.  Johnny is the stronger of the two singers and it's easy to see why he was picked to take over for his brother after Lynyrd Skynrd disbanded and reformed.  

Vanden Plas - Sanctimonarium

Another band that needs no introduction to the Prog World.   Vanden Plas have a new release and while I'm admittedly not a huge fan I really enjoyed this song and CD.  

Necrophobic - Stormcrow

We started things out heavy so we may as well end things heavy.  Necrophobic are as heavy as the name would imply and equally talented.  Death Metal with some technical touches.  

 

 

Best songs of 2024 Part 6

 Dreamscape Awake - Chains Dissolved (Independent)

I know very little about this band, they don't list the members, they have no social media presence but I tell you what, that could change after this song and Celestial Painter. I'm guessing it's because it's AI generated but that's too bad.  Both are great symphonic metal with outstanding female vocals.   I can't get enought of this song.

DGM - The Great Unknown 

I really like how DGM has morphed into a pure Prog Metal band and are now crossing over to include Prog Rock elements into their sound. Their release Endless was one of my favorite CD of 2024.   

Dream Evil - Metal Gods

This band keeps putting out high quality Power Metal releases and Metal Gods is no exception.  Tons of great songs and one of the more consistant bands around.  Looking forward to see them headline Mad Wth Power in June 2025

Bonfire - I Died Tonight

Bonfire need no introduction to the hard rock world.  They continue to put out some great music. I can't believe they've been around since 1972 but took on the Bonfire name in 1986.  This is the same band that put out Sleeping All Alone in 1987 which garnered a ton of airplay on Mtv's Headbanger Ball

Jupiter Fungus (Greece) - Underdog

You talk about obscure, Jupiter Fungus hail from Greece and have really set the Prog community on fire with their Jethro Tull influence Progressive Rock.  The whole release is fantastic so if you like this you'll love the whole CD.  It's available on Laser Edge. 

Kings of Mercia - Between Two Worlds

Well know on teh Melodic Mafia board but outside of that not real well known, which is to bad cause this is really good hard rock.  Solid solid release and my favorite song. 

Best Songs of 2024 (Part 5)

 Cemetary Skyline - In Darkness (Century Media)

This project really has me excited.  The first single Violent Storm was good but In Darkness takes this to a whole nother level of frickin fantastic.  Mikael Stanne - Doing clean Vocals (DT) , Markus Vanhala - Guitars ( Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum), Santeri Kallio - Keyboards ( Amorphis ), Victor Brandt - Bass ( Dimmu Borgir), Vesa Ranta - Drums ( Sentenced ). Wow Wow Wow. One of the best songs of the year to these ears.

Snow White Blood - Nevermore (recordJet)

Germany and Female fronted Symphonic Metal don't usually go hand in hand but that's the case with Snow White Blood. Another fantastic song that's really getting a lot of great press and for good reason.  

Octoploid - The Dawns In Nothingness (Reigning Phoenix Music)

Octoploid is a new project from Amorphis bassist Olli-Pekka Laine who wanted to do a project that blended some of this favorite music styles.  This song blends Black, Death and Metal into a mix of very catchy music.  

Pain - Push The Pusher (Nuclear Blast)

It would seem as though Peter Tagtgren, the brainchild behind Pain, can do no wrong these days. This is thier 9th album and a new single and it the Pain Train just keeps on rolling along

Ranthiel - I Won't Let You Go (Independent) 

I Won't Let You Go is a solo single from Argentina soprano vocalist Ranthiel.  It's a beautiful song about someone who's struggling with life and the message is I understand your pain and I won't let you go.  What a powerful voice, what a powerful message and what a beautiful song.  

Best Songs of 2024 (Part 4)

 Freedom Call - Supernova (SPV Entertainment

I typically find Freedom Call really boring...first Power Metal song of theirs that I've truly enjoyed.  

Thornbridge - I Am The Storm (Massacre)

Another great Power Metal tune from a band I just recently discovered.  

Smash Atoms - Down

And here we have a new song from Alice in Chains...wait, it's not Alice In Chains...shit.  Well it's a pretty good song that's heavily influenced by AIC.  

Best songs of 2024 (Part 3)

 Catagory 7 - In Stitches

This song has some serious firepower at every instrument and is led by vocalist John Bush (Armored Saint).  With an all star band you expect something top notch and they deliver. 

Cavalera - Escape to The Void 

Cavalera has re-recorded the very early Sepultura classic Schizophrenia and Escape to the Void is the first single.  

Exit Eden - Femme Fatales (Napalm)

Exit Eden really step up their game on this 2nd single from their new album.  If you like Female fronted Symphonic Metal check this out. 

Velveteen Queen - Dreamer (Independent) 

Another up and coming sleazy rock band.  Not totally enamored with some of the other songs but this Power Ballad has a Gun n Roses vibe ala November Rain.  One of my favorite songs of 2024 so far.  

Lionheart - V Is For Victory 

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite releases of the year.  Enough said. 

Best Metal Songs of 2024 (Part 2)

 Picking up where I left off but that doesn't mean the quality of music is lesser.  The first post I wanted to get a sampling of different genres and again this time I'll post some songs that made my "best of 2024" so far. 

Sick Century - End Times (Ion Disguise Music)

They compare themselves to Disturbed, FFDP & Breaking Benjamin.  99% when bands make that comparison they fail to deliver. Sick Century are the 1% that live up to the hype. 

Ivory Tower - 60 Seconds (Massacre)

I admittedly haven't really enjoyed Ivory Tower past music. I found it bland and cookie cutter Power Metal but something with them really clicked on the first two tracks they released as singles. 

Etwas - Bloodmoon Invocation (Independent). 

This one totally caught me off guard, starts out like a black metal song then the female vocals kick in.  Really interesting song from a French band that labels themselves as Symphonic Occult Metal. 

Bodyfarm - Retaliate (Edge Circle Productions)

I don't admittedly listen to a lot of death metal but sometimes something comes along that stands out from the crowd.  Bodyfarm from the Netherlands fit that bill quite nicely.  Technical, brutal and yet palatable.  

Crossbone Skully - I'm Breakable (Better Noise Music) 

I really want to like these guys, they've got an AC/DC meets Def Leppard vibe going on.  I'm not sold on some of the other music I've heard but this is a good place to start.