Our Favorite Releases of January 2026
Here’s a rundown of some of the best releases to begin the year! There are a lot of good nuggets in here, so make sure to read about and listen to each project listed!
Singles:
Decorate Me - 2/14
NYC-based pop-punk band 2/14 started the year with a new single, “Decorate Me,” their first release since early 2024. This track was only released a couple of days ago, but I am already obsessed. I’ve been waiting for this to drop, as they’ve played it at shows last year. The song opens with a guitar tone that scratches my brain in the best way possible, and probably the best vocals we’ve heard from lead singer Sky Carlson in a studio release. The lyrics are vivid, allowing listeners to imagine each word and phrase sung as Carlson reflects on a relationship. It immediately reminded me of the band Waterparks (yes, unfortunately, I used to be a parxie… let’s not talk about it), with a mix of Double Dare and Greatest Hits sounds. I could picture myself at 15 lying on my teenage bedroom floor, listening to the song with the weight of the world hovering above me (the homework that I was procrastinating). The call and response in the chorus is reminiscent of early 2000s emo and pop-punk songs, making this a perfect song for those who love pop-punk classics. You can listen to it now here!
Pathetic - Kiss Like Missiles
Speaking of pop-punk, Kiss Like Missiles took us back to the 2000s with a punk goes pop cover, or maybe more so, pop goes punk, as he covered the iconic “Pathetic” from Blink-182’s 1997 record Dude Ranch. He turned this classic, messy, raw pop-punk song into something completely unimaginable – a hyper-pop, danceable hit, trading the grainy guitars for satisfying synths. The beat hooks you in and keeps you playing the song on repeat. The buildup in the chorus is perfect, super anticipatory, and fun, and is what I think mainly differentiates this cover from the original. The call and response is again typical of pop-punk songs of the time, yet feels so different from the source material, as the lyrics are softer and feel smoother. The breakdown towards the end makes me feel like I’m ascending into heaven with a bunch of glitter and fireworks around me. You would never know that this was originally a pop-punk song unless you recognized the lyrics, which is what I love most about the song. Find “Pathetic” and other singles released by Kiss Like Missiles here!
Single Artwork by Iyanna Hall
Make Your Mind Up - death drive
Although just under two minutes, experimental and alternative-electronic band Death Drive brought some heat with the release of “Make Your Mind Up” just over a week ago. Starting the song with simple synths and repeated vocals that eventually get chopped up, this is immediately a song you can white girl dance to. Then, when the breakdown comes in with the beats and bass, it makes you want to headbang. This track doesn’t have a typical song structure at all, keeping the listener on their toes and making it much more interesting to listen to. Each time you listen to the song, you find more and more sounds and bites, as this song is layered with a bunch of synths and samples. It’s a fun track to take in and add to your daily rotation. To listen to “Make Your Mind Up,” click here!
Single Artwork by @deathsasacrown
…And the Sunlight Spoke - concealer.
Metalcore has been making a huge comeback in the past year, and concealer. is no doubt going to be one of the leaders of the movement soon. Specifically, their newest single, “...And The Sunlight Spoke,” proves that they can further the genre into new sounds. I’m not a very heavy listener of metalcore, but this song has me hooked, and is convincing to check out what else is out there. Starting the track off with a super diabolical riff and then the most gnarly screaming you have heard recently, you will be captivated in seconds. The vocals are heart-wrenching, as you truly feel the heartbreak that he is singing about. Throughout the song, lead singer Tristan Hill switches effortlessly from screaming to heavenly-sounding vocals that remind me of Alexisonfire. The influence of emo on metalcore is what makes this sound unique from other metalcore acts in the scene right now. It’s a classic mixing of popular MySpace era sounds that many acts are doing in so many different ways. The lyrics further this, as they are delicately put together, almost like a poem. If you want to find this song and others of concealer. you can click here!
DRAMATIC EXIT - BALACLAVA
Punk band BALACLAVA has been shaking up NYC for the past year with their performances around the boroughs. “DRAMATIC EXIT” is a song that was frequently played at their shows and definitely was one of the most memorable moments of each night. They captured the live energy of this track in the recording perfectly. Just over two minutes, “DRAMATIC EXIT” makes an impact on the listener right away. The guitar riffs mixed with the bass and synths create this enticing sense. The vocals feel distant and have this delay effect on them that makes the song feel more haunting, yet exciting at the same time. It’s mysterious, just as the band itself is, as they wear balaclavas during their live performances and appearances online, concealing their identities. The guitars are fuzzy and grimy, yet the riffs are very rhythmic, making this as danceable and moshable as possible. They also released a music video with the same amount of eeriness that you can check out here. You can also find “DRAMATIC EXIT” on most major streaming platforms and on their Bandcamp.
Projects:
Album Artwork by @bry.kel
Tough Cookie - Baby’s Breath
There is nothing I love more than women entering male-dominated fields and doing it better than anyone else, and Baby’s Breath is a great example of that. They released their debut EP on January 13th, and it has been on my daily rotation since then, becoming one of my favorite projects I’ve heard in the past few months. With Tough Cookie, Baby’s Breath enters the scene with no hesitation and no expectation of leaving anytime soon. With two fem lead vocalists, the power of the lyrics and how they are presented is unmatched, as they do both layered vocals and call-and-response. Each track is strong on its own, yet they come together. Starting with “Killing All Hope,” we already know the heaviness that we will reach. On this track and a few others, spoken word is used to ground the song in more of a poetic sense. The track “Maeve’s Elegy” featuring Meave Campbell takes on the feeling of grief, as the band used a poem by Campbell to convey the process of grief and how it affects everyday aspects of life (specifically with the lyrics “I still find you everywhere,/I see you in my orange peels” being screamed over and over again). Other songs hit topics of self-reflection in relationships, devoting yourself to someone else, even when it’s not working out, and betrayal in your most sacred relationships. My favorite is “Canción 6,” a Spanish and English track that is powerful as fuck. It starts immediately with screaming in Spanish and a sick bass line. Throughout the song, we get the feeling of desperation and clinging to a relationship that you want so badly but feel like you don’t deserve. There’s a sense of urgency with each song, especially with the politically charged song “Pastel Faces,” as they speak on the complacency of people, specifically white Christian nationalists, and the irony of claiming to spread love while all they do is spread hate, not just in the country but around the world. They end the EP with “Keep on Screaming, Sister,” which speaks on the need as a woman to be heard, especially after violence that is acted upon their bodies. This is definitely the most emotionally charged song, and rightfully so. This EP is definitely one that will be remembered in the emoviolence and post-hardcore scenes in future years. Right now, it’s available on their Bandcamp, and hopefully soon on other streaming platforms. Follow them on Instagram @babysbreathri to keep up with them.
Album Artwork by Kyle Montgomery
Boycott Heaven - The Format
Did I freak out when The Format announced their reunion tour and bought tickets immediately last year? Yes. Was I the only person under 35 years old at the Beacon Theater that night? Maybe. Was I even more stoked that The Format was coming out with NEW music after 20 years of not releasing an album? HELL YES! Although I may be a little bit biased, the indie-rock duo The Format is one of the best independent bands that came from the 2000s indie, emo, and folk scenes. Still releasing independently, their third studio album, Boycott Heaven, subverts expectations, especially compared to their earlier releases, Interventions and Lullabies, and Dog Problems. Really turning their rock-operatic sensibilities up to the max, Nate Ruess and Sam Means prove to everyone that they still can make an incredible and reflective coming-of-age project. Each song is riddled with Ruess’s perfect harmonies and Means’s interesting and addictive guitar playing, both with electric and acoustic songs. Their inspirations of Queen, Weezer, and U2 are more evident now than ever. Opening with “No Gold At The Top” and closing with “Back To Life,” The Format takes you on a journey of self-discovery and reflection, specifically in love, relationships, careers, and the state of the world since 2006. The strongest tracks are definitely “Shot In The Dark,” “Right Where I Belong,” “Human Nature,” and the title track “Boycott Heaven.” There are so many great power ballads and even some more gospel-like moments on this record, which is typical in The Format fashion, but really takes a step up in production. The lyrics throughout the entire project are some of the rawest and most honest moments we’ve seen from The Format, of course riddled in some irony, as Nate Ruess outwardly speaks on his career in Fun., taking a break from the spotlight, and building a family all while the country is on the heels on civil war and a genocide is happening across the world (Ruess specifically speaks on Gaza in “Leave It Alone (Till The Morning)”). The guitar tones are so fun on each song, ranging from twinkly guitar riffs to more grungy rhythms. I’m not going to lie; one of my favorite bands coming out with new music after so long was a bit scary, as most of the time it’s a cash grab and doesn’t have the same love put into it as previous releases. However, The Format proved me wrong and exceeded my expectations. This is definitely a solid record; I think everyone should take time to listen to. Click here to listen!
I hope you found some good stuff to listen to! See you soon :P
