Forever Howlong is an ambitious, meticulously detailed record that includes everything from folk to prog via baroque pop and touches of alt-rock – with nods to everything from Joanna Newsom to Randy Newman via Fiona Apple and Janis Ian – yet all the while retaining that unmistakably unique sound that only this combination of musicians can come up with.

For technical death metal band Allegaeon, sitting still is not an option. The group has never allowed itself to stagnate, preferring to thrive on chaos, change and evolution. Their latest is the first with original vocalist Ezra Haynes since his 2015 departure. The cleaner vocal approach on the last three albums was a fascinating artistic maneuver, but it’s undeniably thrilling to hear Haynes’ graveled larynx back in the fold on this inarguably brutal and technically dazzling slab of work.

Written and recorded over 20 days, the collaborative studio album mixes Elton-led songs and Brandi-led songs, with long term collaborator Bernie Taupin and Brandi both contributing lyrics, and producer and co-writer Andrew Watt acting as the producer, mediator and creative conduit. They are backed by a world class band of musicians comprising of Chad Smith, Pino Palladino and Josh Klinghoffer.

Mumford & Sons are back with their 5th studio album Rushmere, produced by Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson). The 10 track album is a triumphant return to form, with upbeat foot-stompers “Rushmere,” “Truth,” and “Caroline” alongside tender ballads such as “Monochrome” and “Where It Belongs.”

When they broke through in the mid-’00s, Underoath’s prominent use of electronic and industrial sounds gave them an edge on many of their post-hardcore peers, resulting in some of said scene’s most respected albums of the era. The Floridians’ 10th album is another solid addition to a catalogue by a band who have long refused to stay in any one lane.

Sicksense fuses huge basslines, hip-hop and – of all things – melodic death metal while their two vocalists Killer-V and Rob The Ripper sing, rap or trade screams in what proves to be an intoxicating mix. Delightfully weird, thoughtfully constructed and with a strong personality, Cross Me Twice is Nu-metal for a new generation.

Deafheaven rounds up all of their eras with Lonely People With Power: Sunbather’s crossover appeal of screamo, shoegaze and black metal, the harder edges of New Bermuda, the anthemic nuances of Ordinary Corrupt Human Love, and the demure post-punk vibes of Infinite Granite.

Known for an immaculately crafted but endlessly surprising sound that transcends the boundaries of roots, country, rock & roll, and pop, Alison Krauss & Union Station are making their long-awaited return with Arcadia – their first LP since the 2011 masterpiece Paper Airplane—a critically lauded, multiple Grammy Award winning album.

With each of his albums, Mike Hadreas shakes out his pent-up desires—to love, to express queerness, or simply to dance. On Glory, he dials back the sprawling, climactic pop in favor of subtler compositions that lurch and wobble over layers of alt-rock and orchestral instrumentation. From this ornate environment, Hadreas delivers tactile poetry and pained self-examinations, extracting catharsis from isolation and anxiety.

Arch Enemy promised they'd throw out the rule book for Blood Dynasty. They didn't go quite that far, but this is the boldest album of the Alissa White-Gluz era - and it kicks ass. The Swedish metal aristocrats keep thrashing on with merciless 12th album, mixing some bold experimentation with the kind of full-throttle heavy metal thunder you'd expect.

Chase Atlantic‘s Lost in Heaven is a compelling exploration of desire, chaos, and emotional vulnerability, seamlessly weaving together a tapestry of dark romance and hedonism. With this release, the band continues to push the boundaries of their sound, marrying immersive lyrics with atmospheric production to create a unique listening experience.

Carlos Santana is music's great collaborator, blending his singular guitar style and expansive musical vision with a stunning variety of artists to create something unique, universal. On Sentient, Santana revisits these collaborations through a new lens, weaving them together into a sonic pilgrimage that passes through jazz, hip-hop, soul, rock, and Latin rhythms.

Continuing in the recent vein of 2023's acclaimed Skeletons album, What Remains is both sonically and thematically Pop Evil's heaviest ever offering; a thundering collection of arena-ready modern rock and metal hits in which Leigh Kakaty opens heart, mind and soul - pulling no punches and taking no prisoners in doing so.

it would be a disservice and disrespectful to call Imperial Triumphant “jazz-influenced metal” of black or death or any kind. They have transcended all those genres to forge a new medium, and over the sleek Goldstar, they massage the listener to accept it. Featuring legendary drummers Thomas Haake (Meshuggah) and Dave Lombardo (Slayer).

From the honky-tonk swing to the Slayer-worthy, Spiritworld's story rides on with the third installment of their death-western trifecta, blasting Mojave-born bloodlust and stomping tomahawk riffs while charging straight into a sonic vision of macabre Americana. The gateway to hell via the American West.

Harkening to ghosts of Cradle's past like Cruelty And The Beast and the galloping thunder of recent Hammer Of The Witches, Dani Filth's recognizable scream stands mightily alongside twin guitar attacks, symphonic flourishes, and explosive rhythm section. It’s a bloody love letter to longtime faithful and entryway for fresh lambs to the slaughter.

The 25th Anniversary release of the full Greek Theater (LA) performance of Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) playing with The Black Crowes from 1999. It features over 15 unreleased tracks including all the Black Crowes tunes that have never been released until now!

Haken guitarist Charlie Griffiths returns with a follow-up to his 2022 solo album, this time paying tribute to the art of the guitar riff, with its DNA strands reaching back to the golden era of metal with flavors of Mercyful Fate, Judas Priest, Megadeth and Metallica.

Following 2020’s Weapons of Tomorrow, which received several Best of 2020 nods among other accolades, Wrath And Ruin sees Warbringer continuing their assault against the powers that be, pushing the envelope with their masterful blend of melodeath, black metal, and thrash.