Poor Bambi – Let Me Speak
Release Date: 6th February 2026
Not for the first time, Norwegian punks Poor Bambi are featured in our roundups. At this point they’re almost our house band and they came back last month with ‘Let Me Speak’, a raucous and bouncing track that has a modern feel that melds itself nicely onto 90s rock vibes. The cliché of ‘I wish it wasn’t over so fast’ gets thrown out about songs (amongst other things) a lot, but here it does just feel like we’re getting going as it winds down. A full 15 minute version is needed (or you know…an EP/LP of similar types of songs).
Spare Kid – Alone Together
Release Date: 17th February 2026
Keeping the energy high and the band European, we’re off to Belgium for emo-y punk rockers Spare Kid and their huge track ‘Alone Together’. Huge vocals kick it off and from there it’s a pit inducing riot of a song. If you’re a fan of what pop-punk seemed to be a couple of decades ago, this is probably what you’re looking for. You’ll be jumping, flailing and hollering post-hardcore-esque vocals back at them and loving life while doing it.
Cranked – Ignoring The Stain
Release Date: 27th January 2026
Cranked are probably not a band on everyone’s radar just yet, but while plying their trade across a few American bands over the past decade, they seem to have found their calling. ‘Ignoring The Stain’ is just their second release but it has the feeling of a band that are doing things slightly differently. Not content with the restrictions that being pigeonholed into genres forces upon them, they’re finding success by letting the music flow naturally out of them. There’s something brewing here. Something that fans of alt-rock, post-hardcore, hardcore (and any associated genres) should be getting close to.
Rotzak – Decompose
Release Date: 21st January 2026
Similarly chaotic, but a little more honed in on hardcore, Belgians Rotzak released ‘Decompose’, their second track on 2025’s album Headrush, in January. Fast from the very start, aggressive in places without moving out of that ‘accessible’ area of punk, and the sort of song you want to learn so you can scream along, ‘Decompose’ feels like the perfect single to launch yourself into a new band with.
Omnifear – Tide
Release Date: 28th January 2026
Now, on the subject of being ‘accessible’, British metal mob Omnifear seem to have positioned themselves just outside of that for much of ‘Tide’. Those with a disposition for blast beats, guttural vocals and a disregard for their eardrums will be right at home though. ‘Tide’ is powerful and frenetic throughout, but when that groovy undercarriage lands just right it becomes a whole new beast. A beast you’ll be hitting repeat on in no time.
Misery Channel – The Gutter
Release Date: 27th February 2026
Closing us out for today is ‘The Gutter’ from another budding UK metal band in Misery Channel. Less than two years into their existence (as a band, I assume the band members must be older than that), these Geordie’s are tearing up their local scene despite having ‘just’ the three songs. ‘The Gutter’ lands its first punch in the opening seconds and from there it is a barrage. The sort of barrage that should act as a reminder to get out and see them in smaller venues now.