Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2026, Part Two.

Album ReviewPunk RockCommentary
Written By Paul Holstein

I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred subgenre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi!, ska, grindcore, crust punk, mincecore, psychobilly and even rockabilly fit the bill if done right. If I can catch a live show, it gives the release an edge. Here are a few releases from 2026 that I recommend you check out. These are in no particular order; however, I’m only reviewing releases that are in contention for the best release of the year. If I’m reviewing it, I liked it. When the New Year rolls around, I’ll put them in order and do a final article of the best of the best. Drop a comment at the bottom if there is a 2025 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.

Asspatch "Welcome To Earth"
Released: February 6, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Poached Records
From: Canada
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

It's no secret that this is one of my favorite bands from the past several years. Their "Life of the Party" and "No More Fun" EPs in 2025 landed them in the #2 spot for the best releases of the year. The best songs from those EPs ("Quit Your Job" and "No More Fun") are both on 2026's full length, along with new classics that include "Welcome To Earth", "Pocket Full Of Nothing", and "Fuck The Cops." If you haven't heard them yet, and you like fast, old-school-sounding punk rock, this band is essential. They are so good that I felt compelled to check out some of the other bands on the Poached Records label, and I was not disappointed. People on Earth are like flies on shit; there are worms crawling out of the meat. I don't want to be here anymore, so tell me when I get to leave. Expect to see Asspatch, again, way up on the list of the best records of the year. Fans of Negative Approach, Poison Idea, Raw Power, Black Flag, or just punk rock, period.

Mr Radical "Promo!"
Released: January 23, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Anaheim, California
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Old-school hardcore that absolutely rips. This is exactly why I listen to almost every release that comes out, with 90% not making the cut. I'm always afraid I will miss one like this. Short, fast, screaming, insane, intense from the very start. Very possibly another top release of the year. Fans of Crippled Fox, Rotting Out, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, Skullcrack.

Slutbomb "S/T"
Released: January 30, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Ohio
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

This is apparently the third and final Slutbomb release. It's incredible, and I'm thankful that I got to catch one of their live shows (also incredible) at Metropolis Cycles in Corktown (Detroit). Their "Attentater" 8-song cassette was one of my favorite releases of 2024, and we see two of the best songs from that one also included here ("Vortex" and "Blood of Monsters". This is a full length 13-song release, and I hope to see it on vinyl (it's most definitely deserved of a proper release). Screaming female vocals, with a frenzied band behind her, inspiring not only a mosh pit but plenty of two stepping (the show I went to was even a little bit dangerous, me and my camera stayed in the back). This rips from the very first moments and doesn't let up, do yourself a favor and check this out immediately and see them live if you still can.

Eyes of Salt "No Greater Truth"
Released: January 23, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: WAR Records
From: Denver, Colorado
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

This is insanely good, from the outset it has a Direct Hit! (one of my absolute favorite bands) sound, which ends leaning more towards beatdown hardcore with metal influence by the end of the two songs. These songs will be from their upcoming album "Collapse of the Infinite" due out later this year. You may remember that I reviewed their "What To Do When The Worst Is Coming" EP back in 2024 and it made my list of the best releases of the year (check out "Smells Like Smoke"). So far I like this one even better, if the rest of the full length is this good it's going to be high up on the year end list this year. "Melt" was the standout, but both songs are great. Can't wait for more. Fans of Direct Hit!, Bad Beat, Rotting Out.

Taker "Sons and Daughters"
Released: January 22, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Buffalo, New York
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

An Oi! band out of New York, you may remember my review of their S/T 2024 EP. I appreciate the "Name Your Price" on Bandcamp, and while I hope that most people contribute (a lot!) it makes it a lot easier to do reviews (where I can't buy every song, and need to make playlists for my iPod). This starts a bit slower than the EP but still packs a punch with catchy songs and even guest vocals from Jenny Woo. "No Score" picks up the pace and clocks in at only 1:02, my favorite new song. This also includes my favorite song from the EP "Alias". There are plenty of boot-stomping "Oi! Oi!" shouts throughout. Fans of Violent Way, Templars, Conservative Military Image.

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Forgetaboutit "Orchestrated World"
Released: January 23, 2026
Format: Vinyl LP, digital download
Label: All The Time! Records
From: Oslo, Norway
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Melodic skate punk from Oslo, Norway, with solid production and talent. The band's name reminds me of watching the TV show The Sopranos, so I want to pronounce it "fuhgeddaboudit." Most of the songs are fast enough for my taste, but they slow down at times and lean more towards singing than screaming. I found one production video on YouTube, which is great, but I would have preferred that they choose a faster, crazier song. The title song is also over 5 minutes, which I would have preferred to be shorter. But those issues aside, this starts out with "Pushed Over," which is a banger, and went right to my current playlist. Fans of bands like Belvedere, No Use For A Name, Authority Zero, Craig's Brother, Pennywise, Millencolin would want to check this out.

WMD (We Might Die) "Hate You"
Released: August 29, 2025
Format: CD, Cassette, Digital Download
Label: Self-Released
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

We have a Detroit hardcore band WMD, but this is the Las Vegas band (We Might Die). This was technically released in 2025, but I missed it. I've moved on to 2026, but I wanted to get this in for several reasons. The first is that the band took the time to send me a physical CD and personal note (I only get a couple each year), and also I liked it. They are a three-piece with female vocals and more talent than is usually needed for a punk band. My usual note is that shorter and faster songs are better, and screaming over singing is better. Most of these songs are between two and three minutes and are primarily singing, but there is one banger at the end "Get Out Of My Scene" that is right up my alley. That one and "XX" made my current playlist, and I'll be looking for more from these guys (and gals) in 2026. Fans of Mobina Galore, Die Spitz, Vice Squad.

Backwash! "Pay To Work"
Released: January 26, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Noormahal Records
From: Charlotte, North Carolina
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

This one starts out with a 16-second blast titled "PSA" with lyrics that are simply "Fuck You" and then blazes into my favorite song on the EP, "100 Bucks A Week." Food, water, housing, and power. They charge you for air by the breath by the hour. Lyrics that hit home, but more importantly, this smokes. At times this is screaming, blazing fast hardcore that will melt your face. They also slow it down at times for the two-steppers, and it sounds like they have a guest singer on parts of "Junk Kat Freestyle" and "Pay To Work" (which seemed somewhat out of place for this EP and were not the highlights for me). I'm not sure what the cover art represents; I'm sure it's nothing good, but I hope it doesn't dissuade beat-down hardcore fans from checking it out (you will not be disappointed, for the most part). "100 Bucks A Week" and "Pit Maneuvered by a Nissan Altima on Exit 3A" both made my current playlist, and I'll be on the lookout for more.

EKG "Drugs E.P."
Released: 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Detroit, Michigan
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

E.K.G. is a local band to my area, so I've been lucky enough to catch them several times. Known for balancing beer cans on their heads and playing naked, these guys are even crazier live than you might think. They appropriately opened for The Murder Junkies last year and have recently stirred up some controversy over their live shows. As NOFX said, "When did punk rock become so safe?" If it's up to these guys, "safe" will not be a word that you use to describe one of their shows. The themes are drugs, Satan, sarcasm, and violence (mostly drugs), as you might expect, and while most of the songs are not quite as fast as I would personally prefer, they are exactly what they are supposed to be (short, angry, and punk rock!). "All Gonna Die" and "Wow, You're So Cool, Man, Wish I Could Be Like You" were the songs that went to my current playlist. If you search for it, there is also an EP version of this LP from back in 2021 with a great cover of G.G. Allin's "Women I've Never Had." Well-placed expletives and sound bytes, and vocals that could at some points be swapped into an Oi! band. Great release, and even greater live shows. Fans of The Dwarves, G.G. Allin and the Murder Junkies, The Mentors, Kill Allen Wrench.

S.M.I.L.E. "Shut Up And S.M.I.L.E."
Released: February 13, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Delayed Gratification Records
From: Akron, OH
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

I reviewed their 5-song "Let's Really S.M.I.L.E." EP last year, and it's stuck with me (check out "Moi," "Pointing Fingers," "Cashing Checks"). The 2026 follow-up is a 12-song full-length that includes the 5 songs from the EP plus 7 new ones. For old-school hardcore fans, they cover Void's "My Rules." If you aren't familiar, these are short, fast hardcore songs. Loud but not overproduced, killer bass lines and catchy lyrics with the perfect balance between singing and screaming. Only one song is over 2 minutes, balanced with a couple under a minute. Fans of Negative Approach, Void, and Black Flag, but I think they will also do well with today's beatdown hardcore fans. Akron isn't far from me, so fingers crossed I can catch them at an Edgemen Printing show or maybe the Tied Down Detroit festival.

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Paul Holstein
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