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

Album ReviewCommentaryPunk Rock
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 2026 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.

The Riptides "Who Goes There?"
Released: February 27, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Pirates Press Records
From: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

You may remember that The Riptides' cover of "Proud to be a Canadian" (Dayglo Abortions) made my list of the best cover songs of the year in 2025. Well, they finally released an EP to go with it, and it's amazing. The only bad thing is that it's just 4 songs. "Inadequate" is pop punk at its very best, with deep vocals and plenty of expletives, and after just two plays I can already see it being a contender for one of my favorite songs of the year. These songs are part of the recordings that they did at The Blasting Room, so the production is top-notch. Their press release notes that Joe King of The Queers and Kody Templeman & Darren Chewka of Teenage Bottlerocket have guest appearances (and it's easy to tell why they would want to be a part of this). Buy this now! Fans of Teenage Bottlerocket, Teen Idols, The Queers.

Grail Guard "Still No Future"
Released: March 6, 2026
Format: Digital Download, Vinyl LP, CD
Label: TNS Records
From: Coventry, UK
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

I was hooked after the first song. "People Just Like You" smokes. "Anxieties" is even better, and they both get the full YouTube video treatment (with the lyrics in the comments). I landed on describing them as having an old-school UK sound, but at times they sound like a top shelf OI! band, and at other times raging hardcore. The songs are about politics and rebellion, but they match or exceed their message with great songs. After just two or three play-throughs I was screaming along. I'd be really surprised if this doesn't end up on my short list for my favorite albums of the year. You shouldn't need to hear any more from me, check out these videos and find out for yourself. Fans of The Chisel, Beton Arme, GBH, U.K. Subhumans, The Varukers.

Melonball "Take Care"
Released: February 27, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Nuremberg, Germany
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Melonball is fast, technical, political skate punk verging on mathcore. Female vocals that sing more than scream, but the message, short songs, and (almost) unrelenting speed give this a big thumbs up. It kicks off with "Silence = Compliance," my favorite from the 12-song full-length. Three of the songs break 3 minutes, but they balance that with three more that are under 2 minutes. A lot of albums with this level of production and musicianship would lose my interest after a few songs, but this one was short, fast, and catchy enough to keep me listening all of the way through (and for multiple plays). "Garbage Day" throws in some dueling/screaming vocals, which was a welcome change halfway through the album. Not a bad song on this one, and bonus: I will get to catch them live this summer at Brakrock. Fans of The Dead Krazukies, Bigwig, Belvedere, Bad Religion, Face to Face, and Too Bad Eugene.

Brookhurst "Chernobyl Gesture"
Released: February 13, 2026
Format: 12" Vinyl LP, Digital download
Label: Double Helix Records
From: Phoenix, AZ
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Great name for the album, and it comes on both opaque mustard with brown burst splatter and transparent beer-colored vinyl. Melodic hardcore, expert production, and featuring a long list of guest appearances that include members of F.O.D., Craig's Brother, Too Bad Eugene, and Scott Sellers. It looks like their releases are far apart, with their first being in 2015, second in 2019, and then nothing until this one. They are well worth the wait. "Gloria's House" was the song that really stuck with me, catchy pop-punk that descends into screaming hardcore chaos and then comes back but still clocks in under 2 minutes. "Cat-Like-Log" was a close second, and like most of the album, it will stir up a frenzied mosh pit while fans also raise their fists and sing along. Fans of Melonball, MxPx, Face To Face, Belvedere, Too Bad Eugene.

Worthington's Law "Cybertruckin' Mfer"
Released: February 20, 2026
Format: Digital download
Label: Self-released
From: Durham, North Carolina
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

If you read my reviews in 2025, you know that "Just Some Men in the Frozen Isle" from Worthington's Law was one of my favorite songs of the year. It's a great song, but the humor is what put it over the top. Well, they are back with another WL classic, "Cybertruckin' MFer." With lyrics like "Turning heads in the same way as a dude on a Segway, you think you're He-Man, but you're just another crypto sucka. You Cybertruckin' Mutha Fucka"—this one had me laughing again. The great thing is that they also have the punk rock soundtrack to back it up. Both songs are great, and if this is the prelude to an upcoming full-length, it could be in contention for the best record of the year. Can't wait for more. In the meantime, check out the lyric video.

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Vipers "S/T"
Released: February 13, 2026
Format: 7" vinyl, Digital download
Label: Swimming Faith Records
From: Buffalo, New York
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Old-school hardcore with short fast songs that bring me back to the days of Touch & Go Records bands in Detroit. After spending the morning spinning skate-punk and pop-punk bands for possible review, I can't tell you how happy I was to come across this hardcore masterpiece. "Live In My Car," "Way Out," and "Cockroach Complex" all went directly to my current playlist, but you are going to want to spin this all of the way through. With 7 songs, none that break 2 minutes and one at only :49, you may want to blast this a couple of times (I know I did). Fans of Asspatch, S.O.A., Negative Approach, Mr. Radical, Direct Order '82, and just loud, fast, old-school-sounding hardcore.

Clockface "S/T"
Released: February 13, 2026
Format: 7" vinyl, digital download
Label: Dropping Bombs Records
From: Michigan
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Self-described as "hardcore that sounds like hardcore," and I agree. Top-shelf beatdown hardcore with a metal edge. The Detroit hardcore scene is an embarrassment of riches these days, so it makes sense that I come across yet another amazing local hardcore band. This is their first 7" (after several cassette demos), and it should most definitely put them on the map if they aren't already on it. I haven't caught them live yet, but it looks like they have already played several of my hangouts, including Edgemen Printing, The Sanctuary, and The Majestic. "Kept Awake" is a ripper and went directly to my current playlist. It might be a special for this weekend, but at least right now this is "name your price" on Bandcamp. Donate what you can, but that leaves no excuse not to grab this for your collection. Fans of Bad Beat, WMD, Armor Class, King's Command, The Sissy Boys, S.M.I.L.E., Pluto's Kiss.

Teenage Bottlerocket "The Invisible Man"
Released: March 6, 2026
Format: 7" vinyl, digital download
Label: Pirates Press Records
From: Laramie, Wyoming
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Teenage Bottlerocket took the #1 spot last year for live shows (from a very long list), and they are in continuous rotation on my iPod for songs like "I Wanna Die," "Headbanger," "Skate or Die," "Who Killed Sensi?," "They Call Me Steve," "Strung Out On Stress," and "Bigger Than Kiss." Although I always prefer the faster, humorous songs, they are one of the very few punk rock bands that can also pull off a slower love song here and there. Their recent release "Mission to Shred" (2025) included some of those, most notably "Post Mortem Depression," "True To You," and "She's The Shit." This one continues down that path with 4 more Ramonescore songs, including the title track "Invisible Man." I'm not going to lie, I like them a lot better when they go more in the hardcore direction. But they are still Teenage Bottlerocket, and this one squeaks onto my list of the best records of the year (so far) partly by reputation, even though I'm hoping the next one speeds up a bit on a few songs.

A Wilhelm Scream "Cheap Heat"
Released: February 27, 2026
Format: Digital Download
Label: Creator-Destructor Records
From: New Bedford, Massachusetts
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

I first heard A Wilhelm Scream in 2022 when they released "Lose Your Delusion," which I'm a fan of. Later, I was able to catch them live at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit on tour with Anti-Flag. Their live show is fantastic, and their music is ultra-technical, well produced, and extremely tight. I prefer my music more hardcore, screaming, and crazy than this, but it's hard to ignore a band this good. "Fell Off" caught my attention on the first play-through and went right to my current playlist. They are also playing both a local show at The Sanctuary and a pre-show for the Brakrock festival later this summer, so it's highly likely I'll get to hear this live. Fans of Strung Out, Propagandhi, Belvedere, Rise Against.

Fake Lighters "Sinking In"
Released: February 13, 2026
Format: Vinyl 12", cassette, digital download
Label: Mystery Box Records
From: New York
Photo of the album cover that is being reviewed.

Loud, well-produced pop punk. You may have heard their cover of "180 Degrees" on the 2024 tribute to NOFX (Coffin Curse Records). This caught my attention in the first few seconds as they jump right into the ripper "This Is The End." "Asleep at the Wheel" also went right to my current playlist. A couple of the songs under the 2-minute mark always grab my attention, and even though they slow it down quite a bit, they also get moving quite a bit too. According to Discogs, they also had a 2023 release on the same label, "Missing The Boat." I'm going to make a note to go back and check that out when I have time. A band to watch.

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Paul Holstein
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