release radar '26

In this issue, I ramble about the highly anticipated albums from Karnivool, Angel Du$t, and Converge. I also give Charli XCX's Wuthering Heights soundtrack a spin whilst vowing to never watch the film.

PLAY - MISAMO

I wasn't the biggest fan of Confetti and MISAMO aren't terrible by any means but they sometimes learn towards a grating commercial pop sound that feels painfully limiting, or perhaps disappointing. A lot of their material is very hit or miss for me, though I could also say the same about their main group, Twice.

Hmm was the standout track on the album for me, and it left me feeling rather optimistic about the songs to come. Sadly, everything else felt largely underwhelming or forgettable aside from Mina's solo, Turning Tables, which was a lot closer to what I had envisioned for this concept.

Normal Isn't - Puscifer

Puscifer are my least favourite out of Maynard James Keenan's projects and whilst I never go into a new album expecting to hear watered down Tool, my second playthrough of Normal Isn't confirmed this album was a lot of hit or miss for me. I'll need to come back to this one when I find myself in the right mood for it.

The title track walks a fine line between absurd and downright goofy, but that's pretty much what you come to expect where MJK is concerned: you simply need to accept that one minute, you'll be vibing to a song, and the next you'll be laughing because the verse unexpectedly ends with a monotonous, truncated delivery of the phrase "you're a bunghole".

I still think Normal Isn't is an okay-ish album in comparison to a lot of other rock music out there right now. The constant experimentation and blending of time signatures makes every song unpredictable and oddly fun, but it doesn't draw me in long enough to make me want to listen to this album on repeat.

Admittedly, Puscifer is one of those bands I prefer to see live as I enjoy the experience far more than listening to their studio recordings. I highly recommend seeing them if you ever get the chance, they can be outrageously fun.

In Verses - Karnivool

It has been thirteen very excruciating years since my hometown legends, Karnivool, released their last album. Thankfully, their fourth studio album was well worth the long wait. In Verses is a triumphant return, with Karnivool once again proving why they are so highly regarded in Australia's prog metal/alternative rock scene.

Ghost is a remarkable opening track that sounds like the culmination of Karnivool's previous three albums, and sends a powerful message that the band are here to stay. It is incredible how meticulously crafted this album is, created through short patchwork sessions in the midst of a tumultous decade of balancing work/family commitments, personal health struggles, clashing schedules and an uncertain, ever-changing musical landscape.

But there is no other band in Australia that sounds remotely like Karnivool, and very few vocalists that can perform such demanding songs with the same ferocity as Ian Kenny. In Verses is packed with dense, impactful riffs, groovy basslines and atmospheric meldodies highlighting the band's technical finesse. The highlights of the album for me are All It Takes, Opal, and of course, Reanimation which features a powerful solo by the living legend Guthrie Govan (Asia).

As always, I find myself wondering how the hell Ian Kenny can go from writing brilliant music in Karnivool, to the absolute god-awful commercial indie-pop songs in his other band, Birds of Tokyo. But hey, if haunting high school graduations across the country with a song like Lanterns means that Karnivool can put out new music and go on tour once every 15 years, then it's all worth it in the end.

Piss In The Wind - Joji

Joji's rebrand from weird guy on the internet crawling around in slime to alt-R&B musician certainly is...interesting. This is one of the most haphazardly stitched together albums I've ever listened to.

People weren't exaggerating when they said Piss In The Wind consisted mostly of interludes and feels more like a collection of demos tossed together. It's a shame because there's evidence of alt-indie and club inspired concepts on this album that could've led to some decent music had they become fully fleshed out songs.

Yeah, this one is a huge miss for me.

Julia - Ásgeir

"Ásgeir?" I say, dramatically puffing on a cigarette, wearing a wistful expression as I stare into the distance from the balcony of my mediterranean residence, captured on 35mm black & white film by a mysterious stranger, "I haven't heard that name in years."

...just kidding. Out of all the artists I discovered when listening to Triple J was actually worthwhile, Ásgeir is one of the few indie/folk-pop musicians who have remained in my personal collection.

Julia is a deeply personal album, given it is the first time in Ásgeir's entire career where he has opted to write his own lyrics, as opposed to collaborating with other artists and drawing upon his father's poetry collection.

Ásgeir's vocals are smooth like velvet, and the melodies are warm and lush.'Sugar Clouds' is a blissful throwback to the electronic inspired folk-pop landscape of Ásgeir's early career, incorporating an almost cathartic and newfound confidence in songwriting.

'In the Wee Hours' might actually become my favourite track, capturing those moments of late-night vulnerability when adrenaline gives way to existential despair.

I don't know what else to say here other than that this is such a beautiful album.

Normal Life - blah

I'm not too familiar with blah, but I discovered him through his song Falling For You , featuring guest vocals from Yves. I figured it wouldn't hurt to give him a spin given I enjoyed his voice.

Normal Life is a pleasant and bright indie EP which draws upon nostalgic r&b inspired melodies. This one is perfect to listen to on your front porch whilst drinking a g&t and catching some of that early evening sea-breeze at the end of Summer.

Save Me - CHUNG HA

Chung Ha is one of my favourite soloists in k-pop due to her distinct vocal tone and charismatic stage presence. Save Me sounds like a long-forgotten mid 2010s EDM track, with introspective lyrics inspired by Chung Ha's anxieties and fears as she enters her 30s and whilst I love when a club queen reveals her vulnerable side, this song didn't impress me the same way STRESS did last year.

I'm not sure if Chung Ha wishes to branch out towards a more 'mature' concept and sound, but that shouldn't result in a painfully dated, generic and boring song for one of the most innovative soloists in the industry.

Mono - i-dle

The song is called Mono because it's Mono-tonous...

Some songs should not have a feature and this is one of them. Mono sounds like a lot of autotuned r&b western pop music that you hear when shopping for $10 polyester basics at a fast fashion brand.

That said, a popular k-pop group having a non-binary artist feature is cool though, so no disrespect to Skaiwater even if their verses weren't my style. It's just a shame that it sounds far too commercial and safe for my liking.

Sisters - Ninajirachi & Frost Children

If you're expecting an energetic, hard-hitting track from the get-go coming from two of the most promising contemporary EDM acts, you might find this version of Sisters a little underwhelming.

Sisters is very remnisicient of early 2010s EDM, and whilst the production quality and vocals on this mix are as strong as you'd expect, this is a song I'd much prefer to hear mixed during a live set.

I can't really see myself going out of my way to listen to this, but it's not bad if you want something that feels pleasant like a summer fling to listen to.

De Venom Natura - Ponte del Diavolo

I discovered Ponte del Diavolo when I heard about their cover of The Weeping Song by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds , and their oddly groovy yet macabre approach to it immediately piqued my interest.

If I could describe De Venom Natura in one word, it would be: enchanting. This album expands upon Ponte del Diavolo's subversive sound which combines post-punk, occult doom and black metal.

Erba del Diavolo is a wonderfully captivating vocalist, and completely unpredictable with her execution, whether through spoken word verses, raspy growls and siren-like operatic wails.

But what sets Ponte del Diavolo apart from their contemporaries is their use of dual bassists, an uncommon set-up which elevates the band's dense and oppressive sound.

De Venom Natura is bold, infecutious, unsettling, and at times sounds a contradiction of itself. This record has easily secured a spot in my top 20 metal recards of the 2026, and I know it won't budge, no matter how good other albums might turn out to be.

There is so much great metal coming out of Italy lately. Please consider picking this up next time Bandcamp Friday rolls around.

Cold 2 The Touch - Angel Du$t

Frontman and vocalist Justice Tripp (Trapped Under Ice) is one of the most interesting figures hailing from Baltimore's hardcore music scene. Cold 2 The Touch welcomes a new era for Angel Du$t band and features an all-new lineup since former founding members went on to find incredible success in Turnstile.

What I love the most about Angel Du$t is how they push the boundaries of hardcore, experimenting with a broad range of genres and refusing to box themselves into a one signature sound. Cold 2 The Touch does not lose sight of the band's hardcore roots, consistently tossing out punchy vocals and two-step worthy breakdowns, whilst also branching into the realm of oldschool punk, classic rock, and breezy alt-indie riffs where you least expect it.

Clocking in just under thirty minutes, the album feels a lot meatier than you'd first expected.'Jesus Head' is one of the stand-out tracks on the album for me, kicking off with real groovy 70s style riffs before transitioning into some weird ambient noise. There is so much about this track that simply shouldn't work, and yet it does.

'Zero' and 'Man On Fire' are instant classics, sounding like the love children of The Stooges and Kyuss/early Queens of the Stone Age, boasting some spaced-out, psychdelic, desert rock grooves.

Closing out the album is 'The Beat', a fast-paced, punchy, aggressive hardcore song guaranteed to get the mosh going. This is probably one of the more predictable tracks on the album, but it is so well-executed and bookends perfectly into the opening track.

Cold 2 The Touch was one of my most anticipated albums of the year, and I'm so pleased it is one hell of a solid record that presents a fresh outlook on modern hardcore. Angel Du$t have managed to incorporate elements of their more popular contemporaries, without venturing too far into the realm of commercial radio polish.

If you've ever wanted to get into modern hardcore, I recommend you check out Angel Du$t, especially if you have a strong background in classic or alternative rock. Though no two Angel Du$t records are the same, they are incredibly approachable, and you're guaranteed to find something you like in their catalogue.

Love Is Not Enough - Converge

Converge are fucking nuts. In over three decades, this band has never once lost their touch, and by the sounds of it, they never plan to. The band have once again proved why they are considered one of the pioneers of their genre. Love Is Not Enough is a bold, abrasive, violent and downright filthy record, leaning into both their classic hardcore and deathmetal influences.

Bannon's thunderous vocals bleed pure confidence, and he sounds better than ever before. The band are masterful in their ability to retain a heavy amount of grit and raw imperfection on their records without meandering or losing focus, resulting in a tight, cohesive record that will absolutely blast your ears off.

To put it simply, Love Is Not Enough pulled me into the collective consciousness of 2026, and it will easily be one of the best heavy albums of the year, no contest.

I Had A Dream She Took My Hand - James Blake

James Blake is one of those artists that is always hit or miss for me, but I'll always tune in to his new music. He is incredibly talented, but I personally enjoy his more experimental and electronic/club-inspired side to his generic sad boy ballads...

But in a shocking turn of events, I actually enjoyed I Had A Dream She Took My Hand. There is subtle element of anxiety and delusion throughout the song which made it slightly off-kilter to listen to, and I'm curious to see how this fits in with the rest of the album.

Though I suppose most people would interpret this as a romantic ballad, and that may be so, but I'm always hoping for Blake to return to a more darker pallette.

Regardless, this might actually be one of the best songs he's ever written!

Wuthering Heights - Charli XCX

You couldn't pay me a life-changing sum of money to watch an Emerald Fennell movie, especially with Australian actors as the leads. Such is the nature of the wuthering heights and lows of British nepo babies.

I still wanted to give this a go since I adore Charli XCX and think she's one of the most entertaining pop girls on the scene right now and honestly, this was such an impressive departure from her sound on BRAT, and I'm here for it.

Thankfully, Wuthering Heights isn't a vain attempt for Charli XCX to re-invent herself, or move away from her BRAT persona, but rather another opportunity to demonstrate her knack for writing catchy pop music, no matter the concept she is going for. I mean, the album starts with a weird, spoken-word intro, what more could you want?

Although I can't attest to how well these songs were was utilised in film itself, I suppose I shouldn't be so shocked this soundtrack was good, especially since Charli XCX is a huge film buff. I mean, her curated film series at NYC's Roxy Theatre is definitive proof of her excellent taste in cinematic masterpieces ...

WHEW...we might be back!

This month started out a little shaky, but things have really picked up. In the coming weeks, we have a hot new collaboration between Angèle and Justice, a raunchy comeback from Peaches, another obnoxious mess from Moby, the debut of yet another NCT subunit, and of course, a new Mitski album!

p.s I know I primarily make silly posts about k-pop because I need to something to keep me sane on company time, but my roots are firmly grounded in metal (all subgenres!) which makes up the bulk of my physical collection. I'm always trawling bandcamp for cool metal bands, so please toss some recommendations my way if you have any!