Best Albums January 2026

Winter month with plenty of doom, depressive and atmospheric releases. Along with several melodic ones.

I’m going to try something new. My year end lists are some of the most popular posts I do so I’m starting monthly lists. Unlike the year end lists, these are going to be in no particular order, just the ones I liked the best from the month.

So far 2026 is starting off really good for me as far as music goes. I’ve listened to 67 releases so far and there are several that are fantastic and may even be able to hang on for my year end list or at the very least be in my regular rotation for some time.

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Encompassing Nothingness by Tjaktjadálvve

Depressive Atmospheric Black Metal from Sweden

Absolutely incredible album. Best album from January for me. This one is filled with emotion and atmosphere. Solo project of Matthew Bell, the Australia-born but Sweden-residing musician, of bands I, of the Trees and Wind, Skuggor, Austere, Aeon Moon, Autumn’s Dawn and several more.

The Bereaved by Marianas Rest

Melodic Death / Doom Metal from Finland

Melodic death / doom is one of my favorite sub-genres and add in Finland and I will for sure listen to it. In previous albums the band has explored themes of isolation, despair, and conflict, this one focuses on loss and death.

Elevation by Enshine

Melodic Death / Doom Metal from Sweden / France

Fallout by Slumber is one of my all time favorite albums and I’m still disappointed they never released more than that one album. The band reformed under the name Atoma but it just wasn’t the same. Slumber guitarist and songwriter Jari Lindholm has a few other projects he’s involved in; his solo project, Exgenesis and this one. I follow what he does and will listen to anything he releases and this project is probably my favorite one.

Slay Utterly by Carrion Vael

Technical Melodic Death Metal from the United States

I discovered this band when Abhorrent Obsessions came out in 2022 and have been a big fan ever since. That album is still my favorite from them but this one is really good and better than their previous release, Cannibals Anonymous. The theme of this album is serial killers and each track describes a different serial killer from the perspectives of both the killers and the victims. This one is melodic and aggressive and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fans of The Black Dahlia Murder should check this one out.

Aux Heures Désespérées by Archvile King

Melodic Black Metal from France

Second album from this solo act of Nicolas M. aka Baurus. The name of the project is inspired by the Arch-Vile enemy from the Doom series of video games. This release strays a little from the blackened thrash roots and adopts a more melodic sound. Plenty of dark fantasy themes in here.

And a couple of honorable mentions to add to the list. Two debut blackened death metal releases that deserve a listen.