Sugar Horse – Secret Speech
Release Date: 12th February 2026
Hardbeat faves Sugar Horse seem to just keep going from strength to strength. Since their first release almost seven years ago through to ‘Secret Speech’, they have kept that expansive, progressive sound while managing to refine it into a style that is clearly theirs. Here verses and choruses are done away with, instead we have atmospheric industrial sections interspersed with powerful guitars and adrenaline pumping drums. Another beast of a track.
No Faith In Fortune – Violent Eyes
Release Date: 17th February 2026
Canadian metal outfit No Faith In Fortune are another band in their seventh year and another band that are continuously building on their sound. Here blast beats drive ‘Violent Eyes’ on in between a combination of growls and squeals from their frontman. If you’re looking for a track to run through a wall to, this has got to be high up on the list, even when it starts to feel a little nu-metally in places.
Clearframe – The Wind (The Anchor)
Release Date: 7th February 2026
Sticking in North America but heading a little south to the country which must not be named, Clearframe are bringing positive vibes and breakdowns. Two things that go nicely hand in hand if we’re all being honest. A combination of beautifully clean and aggressively growled vocals drift over a melody that feels incredibly appropriate when you give the video a watch, even as the aggression grows a little a couple of minutes in.
Droll Man – Turn Back Hobo
Release Date: 1st February 2026
Back on home turf, Droll Man are pulling significant inspiration from the nineties. Whether that be Seattle style grunge or even InMe’s version of alt-rock, there’s something here for anyone that likes their music gritty. Guitars and drums paint the backdrop of the story being told by vocals that seem to perfectly portray pained emotion. This is a headbanger.
Bleach the Sky – GIN
Release Date: 26th February 2026
Just before the release of their EP, Wash Away, in mid-March, Bleach the Sky released the opening track ‘GIN’ as a taster. A taster that feels even better in the context of the full release. Embodying the 90s musically and vocally, Bleach the Sky manage to delightfully avoid feeling like a tribute to an era gone by but instead feel like a rebirth of a vibe that is due a comeback once all this nu-metal hype dies.
