{"id":101263,"date":"2026-01-23T09:30:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T09:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=101263"},"modified":"2026-01-23T00:54:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T00:54:40","slug":"newmusicfriday-january-23rd-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-january-23rd-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday: January 23rd 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Content Breakdown<\/h3>

\nWhat is out on this #NewMusicFriday?<\/a>
\nTake me to the Playlist<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This week’s round of releases sees things ramping up with a handful of noteworthy new albums.\u00a0‘<\/em><\/p>\n

Empty Hands’<\/em> sees Poppy <\/strong>return for her seventh full-length outing. Its 13 tracks promise to be diverse yet cohesive.<\/p>\n

Thrash metal icons\u00a0Megadeth<\/strong> begin their long goodbye with the release of their final album, a self-titled record.<\/p>\n

Japanese metalcore force\u00a0Crystal Lake<\/strong> deliver their first album since 2019 with\u00a0‘The Weight of Sound’<\/em>. Now led by new vocalist John Robert Centorrino, the quintet ropes in members of Killswitch Engage, Signs of the Swarm, Seven Hours After Violet, and more to produce a ferocious, yet melodic, record.<\/p>\n

Backengrillen<\/strong>‘s eponymous debut sees members of Refused,\u00a0Dennis Lyxz\u00e9n, Magnus Flagge and David Sandstr\u00f6n, team up with saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, to deliver a compelling blend of free jazz and brooding hardcore.<\/p>\n

Rising genre-blending rockers Artio\u00a0<\/strong>show their intent with their second album,\u00a0‘Soul Rot’<\/em>. Led by Rae Brazill’s soaring vocals, the Leeds-based outfit neatly utilises electronica, pop-punk, and heavy riffs to paint a varied sound. At its core, Brazill’s cathartic words take on personal topics such as transphobia, the pressures of the music industry, and mental well-being. When paired with a bold, confident sound,\u00a0‘Soul Rot’<\/em> proves to be a raw and confident offering from Artio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The same can’t quite be said for\u00a0The Hara<\/strong>. The Manchester trio return today with ‘The Fallout’<\/em>. Having done the rounds playing major festivals, alongside and supporting the likes of Sum 41, Nothing More, Escape the Fate and Ice Nine Kills,\u00a0The Hara<\/strong> have carved out a sound that pulls from\u00a0alternative rock, metalcore, and emo. However, it results in the sound of a band lacking an identity. Tracks such as\u00a0‘Monsters & Demons’<\/em> and\u00a0‘Twist the Arrows’<\/em> are slick and bombastic, treading the fine line of being heavy and accessible. Although there are a handful of hooks, it’s a forgettable outing.<\/p>\n

There are also new releases from\u00a0Textures<\/strong>,\u00a0Goldfinger<\/strong>, Sky Valley Mistress<\/strong>,\u00a0The Format<\/strong>,\u00a0Pelican<\/strong>, and more.<\/p>\n

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