#NewMusicFriday: April 24th 2026

On paper, it’s difficult to know where to start with this week’s #NewMusicFriday releases. In short, it’s a busy one. It sees Foo Fighters and The Amity Affliction return with new albums, both of which have been covered in detail here and here, respectively.

While the new releases from At The Gates and Sepultura are tinged with sadness. For the influential Swedish death metallers, ‘The Ghost of a Future Dead’ is the final ATG record to feature the vocals of Tomas Lindberg, following his passing last September. It proves to be a blistering outing that merely extends Lindberg and company’s impact. As for Sepultura, the Brazilian metal band brings a 40+ year legacy to a close with an EP called ‘The Cloud of Unknowing’. With farewell shows throughout the remainder of the year, the four-track outing sees them bow out in an unfiltered and unflinching manner.

At The Gates and Sepultura aren’t the only ones adding to their longevity. ‘Still Suffer’ by hardcore stalwarts Terror sees them as angry as ever, routinely delivering thrashy hardcore. Dynamic alt-rock trio Failure return with ‘Location Lost’. Known for influencing a whole range of bands and artists, including recent collaborator Hayley Williams, Failure‘s seventh album expands their musical palette (see ‘Someday Soon’). It results in a demanding and appreciative record. As for Atreyu, ‘The End Is Not The End’ sees the Californian group embrace their heavy roots, leading to a focused and adventurous record. Ultimately, showing they have much more to offer.

Besides the range of established names, this week’s packed list features a host of rising names. For starters, Holy Wars return with their second album. ‘Shadow Work/Light Work’ is riddled with grief and lyrical vulnerability. For vocalist Kat Leon, it sees her navigate the loss of her sister, and is paired with a genre-blurring brand of alt-rock and metal. Fellow Californians, Death Lens continue to be outspoken with ‘What’s Left Now?’ Rooted in societal upheaval, the LA punks utilise their working-class roots to deliver a punchy collection, both lyrically and musically. Aided by a reconfigured line-up, Death Lens sounds as assured as ever.

Closer to home, Brighton quartet Knife Bride continue to build momentum with their ‘sorry about the plague’ EP. Its five tracks demonstrate their pop sensibilities and sharp breakdowns with slick production giving way to their self-styled “nu-gothika”.

There are also new releases from visceral Parisian hardcore group The Prestige, reemerging pop-rockers The Cab, Oregon-based riff merchants Armed for Apocalypse, and industrious hardcore experimentalists Portrayal of Guilt.

Finally, there is also music from Roman Candle,  Since 2000, Plini, Hokka, Holosoil, and more.

What is out on #NewMusicFriday?

Albums

Rock / Alternative Rock / Hard Rock

Foo Fighters – Your Favorite Toy
Failure – Location Lost
Holy Wars – Shadow Work/Light Work
Krooked Tongue – I Know A Place

Alternative / Indie / Post-Rock

Portrayal of Guilt – …Beginning of the End
VLMV – There Will Come Soft Rains
Friko – Something Worth Waiting For
The Deadmans – The Deadmans

Emo / Pop-Punk / Pop-Rock / Punk / Post-Punk

Death Lens – What’s Left Now?
The Cab – Chasing Crowns
Arrows in Action – I Think I’ve Heard This Before
Crocodylus – Limbo, please be good to me

Metalcore

The Amity Affliction – House of Cards
Atreyu – The End Is Not The End
Roman Candle – Unadulterated

Hardcore

Terror – Still Suffer
The Prestige – Isthmos
R.A.I.D – Retribution

Progressive

Einar Solberg – Vox Occulta
Plini – An Unnameable Desire
Matteo Mancuso – Route 96
CAVS – Sojourn

Metal

Armed for Apocalypse – The Earth is Breathing Beneath Me
Hokka – Via Miseria IV
Blindead 23 – Deuterium
Cnoc An Tursa – A Cry For The Slain

Death Metal / Deathcore

At The Gates – The Ghost of a Future Dead
Olympus – Knowing it Shall Wake
Vomit Forth – In The Name Of The Father
Since The Death – Entangled

EPs

Sepultura – The Cloud of Unknowing
Knife Bride – sorry about the plague
Since 2000 – neverland: chapter II
Holosoil – Look Up
APE AMP – APE AMP
Sugar Spine – Soul Before Spirit
Stealing Handshakes – Stealing Handshakes
Pleasure Pill – ALIVE
Horace Pinker / The Raging Nathans – Split EP
Kids of Rage – Rearranged

If you think I’ve missed something or have a new album/EP/song to tell us about, tell us about it here.

Follow the #NewMusicFriday playlist on Apple Music

If you’re looking for the latest tracks focusing on rock, punk, hardcore, metal, emo, and everything in between, then check out our ‘Newish Music’ playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.