Wild Oceans – The Fear
Release Date: 9th January 2026
We love a good up and coming rock band at Hardbeat, and, sometimes, those rock bands happen to live a little closer to indie than the heavier stuff we normally cover. That’s the case for Wild Oceans and their third track ‘The Fear’, a throwback to the heydays of indie rock of the mid-noughties, but done in a way that gives it more substance than a lot of the also-rans of the era. ‘The Fear’ dances about between intricate guitar lines and atmospheric rock to choruses that are nothing short of anthemic. The fact this is just their third song speaks to the potential this band has.
YMNKY! – Tell Me
Release Date: 8th January 2026
We don’t get much Cypriot alternative music coming our way, so when alt-electronicore mob YMNKY! hit our inbox it was right to share it. ‘Tell Me’ brings a mix of rap, cleans and screams, a catchiness that gets you from the opening bass and keeps you dancing until the pre-chorus gets you bouncing. This one is for the Electric Callboy fans for sure.
Field Of View – Defrost
Release Date: 9th January 2026
With an EP out this week, it makes perfect sense to give ‘Defrost’ by post-hardcore outfit Field of View a spin now. Whilst musically the track may even tick over into alt-rock in places, with a bit of a twinkle in there through the verses at the very least, the vocals are that cathartic tone that we all towards post-hardcore for. This isn’t going to change your opinion of post-hardcore as a genre, but if you’re already a fan, or even if you’re on the precipice, get this on right now.
Stitched Up Heart x Conquer Divide x Judge & Jury – GLITCH BITCH
Release Date: 6th January 2026
A song rooted in bimbocore directly aimed at girl-gamers, ‘GLITCH BITCH’ is the culmination of a trio of collaborators and is not for the faint hearted. Following in the ground that people like Scene Queen have trodden, the track leans into those modern, electronic vibes that are essential but accompanies them with some huge riffs. This, and the genre as a whole, will be a love it or hate it.
Gernz – Like a Doberman
Release Date: 8th January 2026
We’re a simple folk at Hardbeat – we see dog, we like. Luckily, ‘Like a Doberman’ has more to it than just a name as it spends a few minutes worming its way into your brain via catchy riffs and a sultry, gravely vocals. A throwback to the classic days of bluesy rock, with the added benefit of being about a man and his favourite pet.
Unstable Rosie – Enough
Release Date: 8th January 2026
Somehow a track like ‘Enough’, with all of its raw energy, frenetic guitars and bass that infects the limbs, somehow it very quickly becomes all about the vocals. Yes there is some 90s, grungy tone in there, yes the drumming will get the feet tapping, but as soon as the singing starts you’ll be struggling to pull your ears away from the pop/alt-rock efforts in there. A huge song that you’ll have to put on a few times to appreciate.
Shelf Lives – frissioN
Release Date: 30th December 2025
Closing out with a track from the back end of 2025, Shelf Lives claim to be an electro-bass punk band and we’re here to endorse that as a valid genre. Even the most ardent of ‘arms crossed, stood at the side’ gig-goer will be pulled in by the bounciness of the beat and those who throw themselves into gigs anyway will leave these shows a sweaty mess once ‘frissioN’ is done with them. Huge.