2026W09
URGH album art

URGH

Mandy, Indiana

The Needle Drop praises noisy, industrial, danceable dark room jams mixing French and English, with Billy Woods feature, visceral ravey beats, groovy and entertaining; appeals to fans of Liars and Model/Actriz.[theneedledrop.com](https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/great-albums-february-2026/)

Love Is Not Enough album art

Love Is Not Enough

Converge

The Needle Drop calls it an excellent 11th album from legendary metalcore outfit, surprisingly back to roots after experimental phase, a win for hardcore and metalcore fans.[theneedledrop.com](https://theneedledrop.com/opinion/great-albums-february-2026/)

WHODFKISXHLUNT album art

WHODFKISXHLUNT

XHL UNIT

The Quietus recommends for breakcore crew and technical death metal fans: maximalist, metal-like intensity with dissected breaks, noise, gabber kicks, neurofunked junglism; violent yet funky, triggering old school ravers positively.[thequietus.com](https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/electronic/best-new-electronic-music-february-2026-review/)

the apple tree under the sea album art

the apple tree under the sea

hemlocke springs

The Needle Drop calls this their pop album of the year so far: bright, fun, over-the-top, fantastical synthpop with banger after banger, tight and punchy, putting listeners in a headlock of pop bops[1]. Top highly rated pop.

Spiral Staircases album art

Spiral Staircases

Larry June, Curren$y, The Alchemist

Featured in new music drops alongside hip-hop heavyweights, generating buzz as a collaboration[1]. Popular hip-hop.