2026: THE YEAR THE RIFFS CAME FOR YOUR THROAT

Let’s be real—2025 was a bit of a snooze-fest for anyone who likes their music loud enough to rattle the neighbor's teeth. Plus Ozzy died. Fuck....yeah that happened! But 2026? 2026 is looking like the year the legends decided to stop sitting on their hands and actually get back into the booth.

We’ve got the Riff Lord himself, some long-overdue sludge from the NOLA swamps, and enough thrash to make your denim vest disintegrate. Here is the ShitTalkReviews list of the most anticipated albums of 2026 that we’ll be blasting until our ears bleed.

1. Tony Iommi – Untitled Solo Project

The man who literally invented the heavy metal riff is back. We don’t care if it’s doom, blues, or Iommi reading a My Little Pony comic over a detuned SG—we are buying it.

2. Anthrax – Title TBA

It’s been a decade. A whole decade since For All Kings. Charlie’s been busy with the Pantera "celebration," but the boys are finally delivering the goods. Expect high-speed thrash and Joey Belladonna hitting notes that should be physically impossible for a mortal man in 2026.

3. Down – Title TBA

The NOLA supergroup is finally stirring. Phil, Pepper, Kirk, and Jimmy are bringing that thick, humid, Southern sludge back to the forefront. If this doesn’t smell like a dive bar and sound like a a beer chugging contest, we’ll be disappointed.

4. Periphery – A Pale White Dot

The djent kings return to show everyone else how it’s actually done. Expect 15-minute songs about lightbulbs or whatever weirdness Misha and the boys are into now, backed by the most pristine production known to man.

5. Type O Negative – Live Release

Even though the Green Man is gone, the archives are opening. We’re getting a high-quality live document of the Drab Four in their prime. Get the red wine and the black candles ready.

6. Testament – Practice What You Preach (Nuclear Blast Re-Release)

One of the greatest thrash records of all time (and one of Derek's all time favorites) is getting the Nuclear Blast treatment. If the remastering job is as heavy as we hope, this will be the definitive version of the 1989 classic.

7. Guilt Trip – Armour Of Angels (Roadrunner)

Manchester’s finest are stepping up to the big leagues. Guilt Trip is the bridge between hardcore and metal that we actually need. Expect this to be the soundtrack to some very bruised ribs in the pit.

8. Khemmis – Khemmis (Nuclear Blast)

The doom-metal masters are going self-titled. Usually, that means a band has finally found their "definitive" sound. If it’s even half as epic as Deceiver, we’re in for a soul-crushing treat.

9. Phantom – Not Midnight Yet (High Roller)

High Roller Records always finds the best traditional metal gems. Phantom is poised to bring that old-school, leather-and-spikes energy back to the forefront of the underground.

10. Moonspell – Far From God (Napalm)

The Portuguese gothic metal titans never miss. Far From God sounds like it’s going to be another atmospheric, brooding masterpiece from Fernando Ribeiro and company.

11. DevilDriver – Strike And Kill (Napalm)

Dez Fafara is back to reclaim the groove metal throne. Strike And Kill sounds violent, and that’s exactly what we want from DevilDriver. No ballads, no filler, just pure aggression.

Which one are you pre-ordering first? Let us know in the comments before we find a reason to roast your taste.