Whether channeling a vengeful portrait painter in “Madame X” or offering a jazzy, nocturnal benediction in the closing lullaby “The Moon Doesn’t Mind,” Griffin maintains a poise that is rare in modern music.

By layering ancient myths over hyper-processed modern anxieties, Hectorine has created a touchstone for anyone currently navigating their own crisis.

Underlined Passages have returned not simply to occupy a space on a playlist, but to prove that meaningful music still possesses callouses, still carries a heartbeat, and still has an urgent message to deliver.

It is a record that balances an ethereal spirit with hardened edges, marking Babe Lewis as a vital and fearless new voice in the psychedelic-pop landscape. It is lightning in a bottle, captured by an artist who is clearly unafraid of the heat.

The Real Anthem, hailing from Arizona, United States, is a collaborative band project that seamlessly blends alternative rock, post-punk, post-rock, and shoegaze influences to create a dynamic sound characterized by big guitars, heavy textures, and soaring vocals that converge into bright, memorable melodies.

Following hot on the heels of their triumphant debut album Silent Spike (“One of the most important releases of the year” – Plastic Magazine), Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang are back with their single, “Oh Denise”, a funny and high-spirited romp that combines a deep Texas-swing groove with blazing guitars and quicksilver rhymes.

Bear Jr is an independent artist based in the greater Philadelphia area, creating music that lives at the crossroads of emotional intensity, reflective storytelling, and modern rock energy. With over twenty years of guitar experience and a deep background in acoustic fingerstyle performance, he has spent the past five years shaping a sound that fuses the precision and intimacy of fingerstyle guitar with the explosive dynamics of contemporary alternative and hard rock.

Could there be an alternative timeline in which the early ’90s Bad Seeds covered a song by 16 Horsepower? David Eugene Edwards’ fire & brimstone lyrics given a fresh, manic energy by a young Nick Cave, buoyed by Blixa Bargeld’s brutalist slide guitar? If you can’t imagine it, you might get close with Ralph Beeby & the Elephant Collective’s new single, “Devil on my Shoulder.”

Singer-songwriter Kevin Honold unveils “Honey,” a pulsing, groove-driven indie pop-rock track that blends sensual energy with emotional depth and vivid, metaphor-rich storytelling. The song was written while Honold was living in Seattle during the dark winter months, a time when he found himself dreaming of warmth, light, and summer. Out of that feeling grew a track centered on movement, connection, and gratitude, with a groove that feels alive and magnetic.

Ultimately, ‘Mel’ is a cathartic shield; it offers a safe harbor where even the most quietly dispossessed lives find a moment of peace.

It is a graceful, unpretentious work that manages to be both a tranquil retreat and a rhythmic powerhouse.

‘Peel Sessions 82-83’ is a celebration of a band that refused to be forgotten. This release finally provides the missing link in the story of Scottish female-led bands.

The Mary Onettes haven’t just returned to form, they have transcended it.

Known for their hazy, emotionally resonant songwriting and intimate live performances, The Stray Lions blend dreamy indie rock with candid, introspective storytelling. Looking ahead, the band is preparing to release their follow‑up, Small Talk in Stereo, due out on Blank Verse Records in fall 2026.

It is a genuine pleasure when an artist emerges from a clear-eyed passion and a deep, abiding love for the craft of songwriting. Ker, the musical moniker of Scottish producer and singer-songwriter Barry G.K. Thomson, whose debut single, “Wondering on Giants,” was released on December 1, 2025—a compelling curtain-raiser for the 13-track album, Converging Paths, slated for 2026.

Merging the sophistication of Burt Bacharach with the brooding drama of Depeche Mode, “ASTONISH ME” reflects the numbing opulence and impish cruelty of the powerful. An escalating swell of jaded vocals, distorted guitars, and imperial brass invites comparison to David Bowie or Pulp’s more cinematic orchestrations.

The owner/operator of self-publisher Angry Young Grad Student Music eschews anything remotely fancy in the production in order to keep the focus squarely on his songs.

The Plastic Pals, hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, are a dynamic band that expertly blends fiery twin guitars reminiscent of Television and The Dream Syndicate with powerpop melodies, garage rock grooves, and New York-style psychedelia. Their sardonic and darkly witty lyrics add depth to their soulful and groovy sound, influenced by rock and roll legends ranging from Hank to Hendrix, from the Kinks to Big Star.

Two Dark Birds is a band from the Catskill Mountains led by songwriter Steve Koester and drummer Jason Mills. They are joined by Josh Roy Brown (lap steel), Tyler Wood (keys), Mark Lerner (bass), and Iris Clementine (vocals). Since 2008, they have released four critically acclaimed albums, as well as the 2022 EP Porous. Their fifth LP, Dreamers of the Golden Dream, released in the summer of 2025 on Vfib Recordings.

Until the House Falls is an absorbing, daring work that invites repeat listens and rewards curiosity.

Reduction in Force announces the release of their latest single, “Images of Heaven” (IoH) a reimagining of a classic early 80’s synth tour de force by Peter Godwin. RiF’s version of IoH is a remake from the ground up. With a chiming guitar leading the way, multiple layers are stacked upon each other to create a portal to another world. A world that shares the DNA of the original but blossoms into something completely modern. A world that acknowledges so many of the unkept promises from our youth, but still reveals a vision of what life could be.

Ambitious and sincere, Humanimal is an album that invites listeners to dance, think, and reconnect.

StarletSte Official blends raw emotion with haunting melodies, creating a unique sound rooted in dark country and blues. Known for soulful storytelling and a voice that cuts through the noise, StarletSte brings a modern edge to old soul.

The Real Zenogram released his streaming debut “Mirabeau” on December 12, 2025. The track sets Guillaume Apollinaire’s 1913 French poem “Le Pont Mirabeau” to vintage synthesizers and dream pop textures—a song written 30 years ago that’s finally seeing release.

If I knew nothing about this band, I’d guess it was a ’90s indie group. At no point does it ever sound imitative, but at times I hear echoes of Liz Phair, Nirvana, Blake Babies, and (when her voice is quieter and the guitars shoegazey) Nightblooms—but always more raw, more nakedly expressive, more in-your-face in the best way: yes, noisy.

Sheffield’s most exciting alt-indie export, The Kellows, ring in the New Year with the release of their definitive new single, ‘Eve’, arriving on January 5th, 2026. Following the meteoric rise of their previous release ‘Breathe Me In’—and the industry-shaking buzz of their breakthrough ‘Do You Want Me To?’—the Steel City four-piece are no longer just “ones to watch.”

Critically acclaimed poet and songwriter Larry Beckett announces the release of his fifth album, Though We Have Only Love: The Songs of Jacques Brel, a tribute to the legendary Belgian singer and actor Jacques Brel. Out January 9, 2026 via The Orchard/Sony, the album reimagines 14 of Brel’s iconic 1950s and ’60s chansons in a contemporary alt-rock style while staying true to their original melodies and harmonies.

Reverse Symmetry is the result of nearly a decade of songwriting and reflection. The album explores recurring emotional and mental states loops of thought, identity, loss, and reconstruction. It reflects personal transitions, the passage of time, and the tension between control and surrender. The decision to create a bilingual album (English and Portuguese) reinforces the concept of symmetry, duality, and perspective.

Saltire sees Bell Barrow embracing a new variety of influences, from the gothic romanticism of Spleen and Ideal-era Dead Can Dance to the introspective drones of latter era Earth, all while retaining the cacophonous fury of the debut. Faster tracks were heavily influenced by early 90s progressive death metal in the vein of Cynic, Spheres-era Pestilence, and Atheist.

Saxophonist Ivo Perelman and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith are undoubtedly two of the most adventurous improvisers in jazz.

Everyone loves a driving song, but this one is fueled by more than motion—it’s driven by grief. The track unfolds from the perspective of someone alone on a long road, using the miles to process the loss of a loved one to cancer, confronting the silence and isolation left in their wake. Mixed and produced by Darryll McFadyen (Belle & Sebastian, Simple Minds) with Montreal-based studio musician Marcelo Effori stepping in for the drumming. The lyrics for this track were written by Canadian novelist, Geoff Moore, who recently released a novella called Sunset Oasis Confidential.

To listen to ‘Everything Is Green’ in 2026 is to be reminded that pop music can be both intellectually rigorous and unashamedly sweet. It is a record of delicate melodies that have survived the erosion of time with its charm entirely intact.

By finally granting it the permanence of wax, Dust and Memory has ensured that this document of the psychedelic underground remains a living, breathing influence rather than a peripheral artifact.

Hour of Pearl, a San Diego punk rock band, formed from the bond of friendship and past collaborations. Evan, Bird, and Craig joined forces once again, this time adding Mark on bass, to create an exhilarating and fun musical experience. Brace yourself for an electrifying rock journey with Hour of Pearl!

The Mortal Prophets, the shape-shifting project led by New York composer and interdisciplinary artist John Beckmann, announces the release of Hide Inside the Moon, a new 16-track full-length that pushes the project further into vaporous, nocturnal terrain. The album marks the fourteenth full-length release from The Mortal Prophets—arriving alongside numerous EPs and singles issued steadily since the project began in 2021.

“Off to Venezuela” is a satirical industrial-punk anthem about military intervention, oil, and the absurdity of modern geopolitics. Join Baron Von Strut and the crew as they navigate the Caribbean in a fever dream of naval power and questionable foreign policy.

Aleph is a Cyprus-based metal artist whose work thrives at the intersection of genres. Having made music since the early 2000s, he draws from more than two decades of experience—part formal training, part self-taught evolution—to craft a sound that is entirely his own.

With Codes in the Stones, independent metal artist Eren Ayintap presents a cinematic concept album that bridges ancient civilizations, cosmic mythology, and modern melodic power metal. The album explores humanity’s forgotten origins through thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, epic orchestration, and immersive storytelling.

Wendy DuMond is an Atlanta-based singer-songwriter recognized for her evocative storytelling and versatile musical style. Performing both as a solo artist under the moniker Bog Witch and as a member of the Americana ensemble Blackfoot Daisy, Wendy’s work often delves into the nuanced experiences of women, weaving compelling narratives across genres.

“Paradise Cove” is the first glimpse into Bleach Dreamer’s debut EP Even If You Care, arriving January 9, 2026 on all streaming platforms via Star Seeker Records. Available now, the track distills Bleach Dreamer’s genre-bending sound into a cinematic, latenight escape—where 80s-inspired club pulses, postpunk tension, and ethereal dream-pop textures drift together seamlessly.

A hopefully varied collection of songs from my life with at different points a horn section, massed choirs and spoken-word interludes.

Music UnLtd. (pronounced Music Unlimited) is a well-known, award-winning Indie band. It is led by Milind Chitnavis who is known in music credits simply as Milin. The band is excited to announce the release of its latest single, “I LIKE GREEN EYES TOO.” The song is now available on all major streaming platforms for listeners everywhere to enjoy.

Covert Stations attempts the impossible with reverence and unparalleled creativity with their cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic “Dreams”

Dream Bodies is the solo project of Steven Fleet. In the past, he has been in musical projects with members of Magic Wands, VV and the Void, Night Nail, and Boytronic8. He has toured the US/UK/Europe, playing alongside bands such as the *Chameleons.

Fort Wayne singer-songwriter Ethan William Bowers makes music you could drop in the Americana slot, yet you’d be wrong to pigeonhole the music as just that. There’s plenty of twang throughout his work, yet Bowers brings much more to the table than jangle and a tip of the cowboy hat.

Rising alt-teen Angeleno singer-songwriter Edie Yvonne returns with a new intimate, vulnerable release entitled “Nightmare,” a stripped-back, emotionally charged single that continues the rising star’s honest and authentic voice and brand of storytelling. Written from an intensely personal place, the song captures the disorientation of relationships when words and actions feel staged and trust feels unstable.

The band’s expansive sound is the product of its seven-member lineup, which includes four core members alongside the Brasstronauts. This larger-than-life collaboration allows Train Conductor to seamlessly blend genres, as evidenced by their two new singles. “Elephant Graveyard” is a deep dive into shoegazey psych, with swirling layers of atmospheric sound creating an immersive experience. This track offers a contemplative, textural mood, promising to transport listeners to a different sonic space.

Viscula was formed in Lutsk, Ukraine, in 2002. The band has performed extensively around the world and has been seen in 18 countries. In 2015, Viscula moved to China, and in 2017 to the UK, where they have been actively playing in iconic London clubs such as Hope & Anchor, St.Moritz and New Cross Inn.

Verticoli has announced the upcoming release of their brand new album called Silverlinings out now. Over the years, the Verticoli lads have toured heavily across Australia, supporting the likes of Cog, Kingswood, British India and DZ Deathrays. They opened the Field Stage at Falls Festival in Marion Bay and were selected by Triple J Unearthed to play the highly coveted Party in the Paddock.