Megadeth is scheduled to release their 17th and final studio album, Megadeth, on January 26, 2026. The album will conclude with a newly recorded version of the song "Ride the Lightning", as song Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has originally co-written and released as a Metallica song back when he was a member of the band. The gesture was mean to represent how his career had come full circle.[2]
Australian progressive rock band Karnivool is scheduled to release their first studio album in 13 years, In Verses. Work on material began as early as 2016, but has progressed slowly due to all band members growing older, starting families, and living in different areas now. The album is scheduled for release on 6 February 2026.[3][4]
Rob Zombie is scheduled to release his eighth solo studio album, The Great Satan, on February 27, 2026. It is his first new album in 4 years.[5]
Shinedown is scheduled to release their eighth studio album in the first quarter of 2026. The band had previously spent 2025 releasing singles from it, including "Three Six Five", "Dance, Kid, Dance", and "Killing Floors".[6]
Evanescence is scheduled to release their sixth studio album in early 2026, their first album in five years following The Bitter Truth (2021).[7][8]
Sevendust is scheduled to release their fifteenth studio album in early 2026.[9]
Blondie is set to release their twelfth studio album, High Noon, in spring 2026. It will still feature drums recorded by the band's late drummer Clem Burke, who died in April 2025.[10]
Social Distortion is scheduled to release their eighth studio album in May 2026. The band's follow-up to 2011's Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes was originally set for release in 2023, but vocalist and guitarist Mike Ness' diagnosis with stage one tonsil cancer delayed the album's release.[11]
Mudvayne is scheduled to release their sixth studio album. It will be first album in over sixteen years, since Mudvayne (2009) after breaking up for most of the 2010s.[12]
Alice in Chains is scheduled to release their seventh studio album, their first in 8 years following Rainier Fog (2018). The band had originally hoped to be more active in 2025, but plans were put on hold due to undisclosed health issues of drummer Sean Kinney.[17]
Sublime is scheduled to release their first album in 30 years. The album will be the first to feature vocals by Jakob Nowell, son of original vocalist, Bradley Nowell, who had died in 1996 and had previously effectively ended the band's career outside of separate project Sublime with Rome.[18]
Slipknot band members are scheduled to release an album. The album, Look Outside Your Window, was recorded by four of the band's members in 2008 during the band's lengthy All Hope Is Gone sessions. The album will have a more experimental and melodic rock sound as opposed to their traditional metal sound.[19] The band once aimed to release it in 2023 once band members were scheduled from their record label contract.[20] It was delayed to 2024 due to Corey Taylor's commitment to his second solo album CMF2 in the second half of 2023, and then again to 2025 and then 2026.[21][22][23]
Steel Panther is set to release their seventh studio album, their first since On the Prowl (2023). They began working on it in early 2025.[26]
English rock band Def Leppard is set to release their 13th studio album. After releasing a single titled "Just Like '73", guitarist Phil Collen said it was "the seed of a new Def Leppard album".[27][28]
Anthrax is set to release their twelfth studio album. It will be their fist studio album in a decade, since For All Kings (2016).[29] Bassist Frank Bello said their upcoming album will be "heavier than ever".[30]
Band breakups
English post-hardcore band Svalbard is set to disband after completing their farewell tour. The band also plans on releasing one final song before disbanding.[31]
Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura is set to disband after completing their 40th anniversary farewell tour, and the release of their final EP, set to release in 2026.[32]
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