Our Favourite Albums of 2026 So Far!
We’re halfway through the year, six months in (don’t check the calendar, just take my word for it), a whole solstice down, and you still haven’t done that thing you were meaning to do this year! For shame. You know what would motivate you to do that thing you said you’d do in 2026? A banging soundtrack. That’s right, today our writers are running down their favourite releases from the first half of the year specifically for your aural pleasure.
2026 so far has been an embarrassment of riches (while 2025 was just an embarrassment) and we’ve been barely able to keep afloat in the barrage of brilliant releases. In fact, there have been so many great releases that you’ll probably notice some unexpected absences. If you’re wondering “wait, where’s [insert album here]?” then we probably love it but it just wasn’t the top favourite pick for anyone. And let’s face it Karnivool I mean [insert album here] doesn’t need our help! Fourteen of our writers have selected their very favourite records from January to June, selections to keep you busy while you await your most anticipated release from the year’s second half. Have a peruse, tell us what you like, tell us your own favourites, and enjoy the tunes!
Dimhav – Ondine
Recommended for fans of: Lost Horizon, Symphony X, Angra
Picked by: Attila
Here at The Progressive Subway, tens don’t come often. Two tens for the same band–that’s almost unheard of. In fact, I recall only one such instance. But what kind of music do Dimhav play that breaks through that mythical barrier and takes them where only the Hands of Despair may reach? Imagine putting Dream Theater, Rhapsody and Wilderun in a blender… except Dream Theater hasn’t been this exciting in 20 years; the last time Rhapsody had this sophisticated orchestration was when they took it straight from frickin’ Dvořák; and Wilderun, while excellent in their own right, tend to lean heavily into melancholia. Dimhav, however, dare to have fun with their concept. Equal parts playful and dramatic, Ondine takes the listener on an emotional roller coaster supported by superb arrangements and fantastic performances. No mere gimmick, Olle Lindroth’s symphonics are a vital part of the composition, often taking the lead, elevating the metal to cathartic heights. Daniel Heiman’s vocals are on par with anything that the genre has ever produced, and Staffan Lindroth’s solos perfectly hit that sweet spot between indulgent and expressive. Some might say that Ondine comes across as a bit nostalgic, reminding them of this and that–and, if I really wanted to be nitpicky, I could say that Dimhav didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel here… but I don’t remember a wheel rolling this goddamn well in ages. Do. Not. Miss. This!
Recommended tracks: Tides Immortal, Call of the Deep, The Sunken Star
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Elder – Through Zero
Recommended for fans of: Baroness, Weedpecker, Khan
Picked by: Cory
So many traits make Elder the stoner metal band: their captivating soundscapes, ear for creative melodies, consistently killer riffs, the list could go on. What makes the group most remarkable, though, is their sense of adventure. Through Zero’s diverse, progressive compositions show a band that’s not content to stay in one place for long, with each new passage different from, but just as strong as, the last. Every transition is seamless and natural without being predictable; every section leads down an exciting new path. It’s impossible not to be drawn in by the subdued, epic verse of the title track and its subsequent trek through plush atmospheres. Or take how well the dreamy synth bridge in the latter half of “Sigil to Ruin” develops from the rockin’ riffs preceding it. Then there’s “Sight Unseen,” an instrumental that shifts between sleepy ambience, soft guitars, jungly psychedelia, fuzz-filled progressive riffing, and some of the band’s heaviest material to date. Few artists can cover so much sonic space with such coherence—and I haven’t even mentioned standout cuts “Capture/Release” and “Strata,” or the uncharacteristically compact yet enthralling “Blighted Age.” Through Zero is another gem in a discography full of them and further bolsters Elder’s standing as genre titans.
Recommended tracks: Capture/Release, Strata
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Exxûl – Sealed Into None
Recommended for fans of: Atlantean Kodex, Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory, Warlord, Lost Horizon, Fates Warning
Picked by: Andy
If only I could transcribe the first guitar solo in “Blighted Deity” into words, my work here would be done. Phil Tougas’s—I mean Defender’s—brainmelting guitar work alone is enough to justify Sealed into None’s inclusion on such a prestigious grouping of records. The bravado of his shredfest hearkens back to the legendary 80s neoclassical virtuosos like Yngwie and Jason Becker; in fact, the whole album is a love letter to 80s-style classic epic doom and USPM with proggy twists and turns galore. Exxûl’s debut album is a treat for old-school prog metal fans who have had to suffer the djentrification of our beloved genre; a breath of fresh air in a stale scene, Sealed into None’s retro sensibilities put the record in a class of its own for albums out in literal decades. Besides Defender’s axe playing, the album is really made by Stargazer’s vocals, an untamed virtuoso who reaches the wild high notes of Midnight (Crimson Glory) with the tone and agility of John Arch (Fates Warning) and Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche). Prog metal fans are eating well this year.
Recommended tracks: Blighted Deity, Labyrinthine Fate, The Screaming Tower
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Fires in the Distance – Circadian Promise
Recommended for fans of: Insomnium, An Abstract Illusion, Be’lakor, Novembers Doom
Picked by: Ian
The concept of the “sublime” has been tossed about and argued over by centuries’ worth of aesthetic philosophers, yet a common thread that often distinguishes it from mere “beauty” is a sense of immensity. A flower or dewdrop can be beautiful, sure, but a vertiginous, icy mountain peak, a roaring, torrential tempest, or a rumbling, explosive volcano… that’s the sublime right there, and few bands are capable of evoking sublimity in their music quite like melodeath maestros Fires in the Distance. Having perfected their signature blend of titanic, doom-inflected guitars and weepy, gorgeous piano atmospherics on 2022’s landmark Air Not Meant for Us, its follow-up takes that larger-than-life melancholy and expands it upward and outward into more progressive, diverse realms than ever before. While new vocalist Brendan Hayter’s freshly introduced stentorian, heart-stirring cleans are the most ear-catching of the new tools brought to bear on Circadian Promise, they’re far from the only ways FitD have leveled up. Sparkling synthscapes add another dimension of yearning without ever feeling out-of-place amidst the haunted, Gothic atmospheres of strings and piano, while significantly beefed-up guitar production and some increasingly killer drumming from Jordan Rippe mean that the heavier side of their sound hits with a greater wallop than ever before. Following up one of the best albums of the decade so far is no small task, but Circadian Promise expertly carries on its legacy, summoning forth another breathtakingly powerful blend of the bleak and the inspirational that feels even more sublime than its predecessor did four years ago.
Recommended tracks: To You, Author of My Fade; Once the Silence Takes Your Place; By This Time Tomorrow
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Growth – Under the Under
Recommended for fans of: Ulcerate, Gojira, Meshuggah, Car Bomb
Picked by: Cooper
For many, the answer to the question of what to do when confronted with a life-altering medical diagnosis is unclear, but for Growth’s founding brothers Tristan and Nelson Barnes, the answer was obvious. Growth was formed on the idea that documenting the complete cycle of the human psyche’s collapse and rebirth could lead to catharsis, and Under the Under marks the second release of the band’s planned trilogy. While the debut Smothering Arms of Mercy dealt with immediate suffering, Under the Under charts a course of recovery, and it turns out recovery can be just as violent as that which necessitated it. To convey this violence, Growth sharpened their sludgier tendencies into a knife’s edge, pushing their unique take on dissonant death metal into the realm of bands like Car Bomb and Meshuggah, while broadening their scope to include extended progressive song structures and a healthy supply of throaty clean vocal sections. The end result is a relentless album that never fails to sit the listener upright with frisson-inducing moments of dissonant prog, only to pummel them back with a jackhammer of technical death metal. Much like the process of recovery, Under the Under is punishing, but it always gives more than it takes.
Recommended tracks: Under the Under; Slings that Shatter; Forward, Further, Spirit Killer
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Inner Vitriol – Semper Tacui
Recommended for fans of: Evergrey, Vanden Plas, Queensrÿche
Picked by: Francesco
Far from the theatrical bombast of much of the prog sphere, Italy’s Inner Vitriol takes a more subdued approach with Semper Tacui, instead juxtaposing darkly emotional passages with cathartic heavy moments of aggression—without necessarily shying away from frequent but brief showcases of the technical prowess of each member of the band. Conceptually focused on the inner struggles of a man imprisoned in Sicily during the Inquisition, the narrative is pushed forward by songwriting that evolves with the themes: pieces that ebb and flow like waves lapping at the shore, at other times crash like a violent storm against a cliff face. Supported by impeccably tight instrumental work, and bolstered by some deeply moving vocal performances (and some well-regarded cameos), Semper Tacui is an extremely strong sophomore release. The Italian metal scene is as broad as the rocky peninsula’s linguistic diversity, but just as a few popular “dialects1” dominate the public perception, I feel confident that the Bolognese quartet can grow to be a major player in the scene. As long as we’re not left waiting another 14 years between new releases2…
Recommended tracks: Weaker and Fading, On a Cold Floor, I See Flames
Related links: Official Website | original review
Karmanjakah – Diamond Morning
Recommended for fans of: Vildhjarta, Periphery, Corelia, Tesseract
Picked by: Noor
As you pick yourself up and begin working on that New Year’s resolution in July (fear not, I am too), be sure to include the music of one of djent’s brightest motivators, Karmanjakah, in your summer soundtrack. It’s been almost three months since Diamond Morning was released into the world, yet the sunnily-dispositioned record has seen critical reception in djent and thall spheres, even seeing mainstream success on Swedish news markets. Gleaming djent riffs and tremolos, taking after the extremes of Vildhjarta’s sporadic rhythms, dance and sway throughout Diamond Morning. Creative compositions get to shine explosively in some of Karmanjakah’s heaviest moments to date. These technical riffs are only one part of what defines Diamond Morning, however; the injection of bubbly ambience, soaring vocals, and sparkling guitar melodies into the hard-hitting riffs add an energetic sound to a genre that’s used to seeing nothing but harshness. The addition of short, jazzy interludes and soft ballads are all that’s left to make Diamond Morning complete, and these shorter tracks are essential to the album’s easy digestion. Karmanjakah’s sound is massively more polished than it was in their debut, and the band’s sophomore album is sure to put a warm pep into any listener’s step this season and beyond.
Recommended tracks: Dove; Sun, astray; Thousand Horns; Ruby; Diamond Train
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Miserere Luminis – Sidera
Recommended for fans of: Alcest, Møl, Deafheaven
Picked by: Johnno
D’un amour absolu—from absolute love. This declaration on “À la douleur de l’aube” succinctly distills how Miserere Luminis’s Sidera won over several of us at the Subway. Lyrically, the words offer solidarity to those suffering on Earth. Compositionally, the project fondly embodies the spirit of post-metal: to ascend beyond the genre into novel expanses. From the onset, “Les fleurs de l’exil” lays bare the Montreal supergroup’s roots in atmospheric black metal hitting dissonant tremolos and tight blast beats. Thereon, Sidera takes on the characteristics of a soundtrack, as if retelling a self-reflective journey through orchestral arrangements, percussive elements, and non-repetitive riffing. I would be remiss to not mention how the piano and string motifs across “De cris & de cendres” and “Aux bras des vagues & des vomissures” could comfortably slot into a Hans Zimmer score. Sidera is complex and infectious in no small part due to the individual performances that breathe life into it. Annatar and Neptune soar with despondent guitar leads and Icare provides nothing short of a drumming masterclass of crescendos and behind-the-beat phrasing. Even if you don’t know the first thing about the French language, Miserere Luminis’ opus this year is bound to alter your brain chemistry.
Recommended tracks: “Les fleurs de l’exil”, “À la douleur de l’aube”
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Mors Verum – Canvas
Recommended for fans of: Ulcerate, Blood Incantation, Gorguts
Picked by: Clay
In the realm of grimy progressive death metal, Mors Verum reign supreme at the year’s midpoint with Canvas. Guitarist Mrudul Kamble seamlessly weaves together angular, off-kilter riffs into fluid compositions. Dissonance is subtly infused throughout Canvas which, alongside frequent tempo changes, results in a dynamic and immersive listening experience. Greg Carvahlo incorporates exquisite cymbal work into a commanding, though not overpowering, performance behind the drumkit. Mors Verum truly shine in the title track, when their progressive death soundscape transforms into the serene, as Spencer Mitchell’s baseline and Carvahlo’s crafty, jazz-infused percussion act as guides through a hypnotic atmosphere of drifting clean guitars. These moments of tranquil reprieve transition masterfully back into all-encompassing progressive death in buttery smooth segues between the starkly contrasting sections. Gruff musical themes evolve within Canvas’ five-tracks rather than stitching together neighboring riffs, exemplified in the latter half of “Your Apocalypse” where an isolated guitar melody transforms into a complete band-stomping to the track’s emphatic conclusion. For those that require slimy, progressive death metal as sustenance, Canvas is packed with all the nutrients you crave.
Recommended tracks: Bloodied Teeth, Your Apocalypse, Canvas
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Olhava – Memorial
Recommended for fans of: Deafheaven, Alcest, Harakiri for the Sky
Picked by: Daniel
When I reviewed Olhava’s Memorial, I found myself struggling to write much of anything after I had listened to it several times. Penning this blurb is no different. When I let the record spin I just get pulled into a quasi-meditative state, overcome by soaring ambient melody and blackgaze fuzz that quiets my perpetual restlessness. That is ultimately the album’s greatest strength. Memorial isn’t built around jaw-dropping technicality or endlessly dissectible songwriting. It succeeds by creating a lonely spot for my mind to inhabit through its guitars that crest and recede like slow-moving tides, and its whispering harsh vocals that dissolve into the atmosphere. Time itself seems to lose definition. I usually spend an album’s runtime cataloging its riffs, transitions, and production choices, but by the ending beauty of “The River Wakes,” all of those critical instincts have surrendered to immersion, taking my pen away and making me content simply to exist within its sonic deluge.
Recommended tracks: After I’m Gone, When the Ashes Grow Cold, Memorial, The River Wakes
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Panopticon – Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet
Recommended for fans of: Wolves in the Throne Room, Agalloch, Saor
Picked by: Claire
Some albums are decidedly not summertime music. Such is the case for Panopticon’s Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet. From the chilled dusky glow of the album cover, to the overflowing flume of strings, to harsh vocals that sound as if they were dragged up from some glacial cavern, this album is vast, cold, and sweeping. Propelled by breathlessly driving blast beats, Panopticon’s orchestrally-driven, immense sound expands to fill time and space. Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet is a record of extraordinary density whose slow-building climaxes still elicit chills after repeated listens. But the tender bloom of softer moments, like the delicate bells backing the clean vocal passage in “Blood and Fur Upon The Melting Snow”, is equally as affecting. Thematically rooted in the wilderness of northern Minnesota, Det Hjemsøkte Hjertet is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, texture, nature, and existentialism. Whether it’s seasonally appropriate or not, do yourself a favour and take a trip into the untamed wild.
Recommended tracks: The Great Silence, Extinct, Woodland Caribou, Ghost Eyes in the Fire Light
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
The Protomen – Act III: This City Made Us
Recommended for fans of: Journey, Queen, Meat Loaf
Picked by: Doug
It’s finally here. The long-awaited third act of The Protomen’s expansive rock opera loosely inspired by the Mega Man games surprised fans early in the year, first by actually existing, and second by being really good! It feels rare for high-ambition concept albums to actually work out in a satisfying way, but This City Made Us provides a worthy Act III for the trilogy despite the seventeen-year wait. Dueling (and occasionally duet-ing) vocals from Raul Panther III and Gambler Kirkdouglas set epic scenes befitting the subject matter, while the Blade Runner-esque techno-dystopian aesthetic shines clearly through bright, retro-futurist keyboards and fiercely nostalgic guitars. The individual highlights are too numerous to name them all—literally every track that isn’t a two-minute interlude is a banger. Such a lavish production deserves a full listen anyway, but I challenge any listener to make it through the incredibly stirring vocal back and forth that concludes “Hold Back the Night” without being immediately glued to their seat for the remainder of the hour.
Recommended tracks: Hold Back the Night, No Way Back, Calling Out, This City Made Us, Light’s Last Stand
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Trust Fund Ozu – ARTiCHOKE
Recommended for fans of: Knower, Danny Baranowsky, Death’s Dynamic Shroud
Picked by: Dave
The “stream of consciousness” is often invoked as a descriptor for things that flow from one state to another with a loose, free association. In reality, streams of consciousness are considerably more complicated and fragmented, folding in on themselves as ideas loop and interrupt in stochastic bursts. Trust Fund Ozu’s progressive hyperpop opus, ARTiCHOKE, is a prime example of a stream-of-consciousness record, coalescing disparate topics like food, video games, anime, and relationships into a frenetic meta-narrative on modern existential dread. Lyrically, this manifests as thoughts that seem to unfold as the track progresses (“Al Dente”), deep dives into the psyche of the most histrionic and performative of online denizens (“I Shake My Pumpernickel for Anime Shrek”), and swaggering, boastful self-empowerment (“Ass + Smile”, “Catch Crumbs”). ARTiCHOKE’s instrumentation is texturally rich and jittery, blending live performance and electronics into a glitchy, stuttering amoeba. “Shop-Rite Sinner” features a torrent of panicked percussion underneath wonky fusion synths and grand guitar riffs with an air of nervousness. Even the relatively calm tracks tend to explode by their conclusion: closer “Grey Poupon” features sedate electronics for the majority of the track, but the narrator’s overwhelming anxiety from their avoidant ten-foot samurai love interest boils over into a destructive wall of machine-gun drum kicks in a monstrous conclusion. With ARTiCHOKE, Trust Fund Ozu has blended a manic stream of consciousness into a hyperactive, endlessly catchy, and ridiculously fun package.
Recommended tracks: Die Hard, I Shake My Pumpernickel for Anime Shrek, Catch Crumbs, Just Because a Trans Woman Made It (Doesn’t Mean It’s Hyperpop)
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
Worm – Necropalace
Recommended for fans of: Dimmu Borgir; Emperor; Limbonic Art; Disembowelment; dark, rich soil
Picked by: Vince
I hadn’t kept up with Worm since Foreverglade dropped back in 2021 and was surprised to see the gloomy-doomy invertebrates had traded Floridian death swamps for Carpathian castles. But boy, oh boy, did they transition to their new biome with gusto. Big Goth energy by way of scintillating synth atmospherics hit the ballroom arm-in-arm with frozen tremolos and baroque blast beats. Bespoke neoclassical guitar adds a glittering, fiery grandeur to light up the night with color, ensuring Necropalace is far from a monochrome affair. Like the moon rising steadily in the night sky, the album grows more potent the further one descends through its opulent halls of crimson and gold, Worm’s mastery over their newfound abilities strengthening in real time. By the time Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) arrives on bewitching closer “Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade”, Worm’s ascension to the throne of old night, and all the morbid and majestic powers therein, is complete. Glades are forever, but there’s no place like the Necrop(a)lace.
Recommended tracks: Halls of Weeping, Blackheart, Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade
Related links: Bandcamp | original review
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