Jan 16 | Welcome back! We’re officially out of the festive slump and everything is a-go. Album press materials, tour announcements and PR statements are pummelling into my emails as we speak. With it, comes a flurry of exciting new music to sink my teeth into and if it’s anything to go off, 2026 is going to be something else. With that said then, take a look at your ones to watch in the new year.
Feral Family
Endless Night
Compelling post-punk swoonings of Feral Family bring the soundtrack to a society of struggle and pent-up frustration. Ahead of the bands’ sophomore EP ‘So Far Behind’ at the start of next month, the East Yorkshire trio release another single, Endless Night. Amongst a backdrop of a brooding swagger and resonant guitar noise, they channel a new compulsion for making tracks that are both unrelenting and deeply intense in design. It sounds like it’s working. An underdog unperturbed by major labels, Feral Family are a rare sight of raw independence that makes you feel something that little bit more.
‘So Far Behind’ is due on February of 6th, followed by a release show at Dingwalls2 in London.
Vona Vella
You Can Be So Ugly
So it’s official – the countdown is on. Ahead of their highly anticipated second record in February, the effortlessly fresh 5-piece from Nottingham feed us another tidbit with ‘You Can Be So Ugly’ – the fourth single release so far this year. Leaving their wistful indie-pop frivolities firmly behind with their debut in 2023, sophomore Carnival is a whole new page for the band. Written amid the first stumbling steps of adulthood, they incorporate woozy psychedelics, darkened jangly riffs and rugged charm in a mixer somewhere between The Fratellis and Black Country, New Road. It can be a tall order repping such a city of music e-commerce, but they’ve taken it in their stride, defiantly forging their own path. Take note of this band before it’s too late, I’ve a feeling it’s going to be quite a year.
‘Carnival’ is due on 27th of February with a major in-store tour celebrating its release followed by performances at some of the bands’ most favourite cities.
Rifle
Self Titled
What more can be said about Rifle? Punks hailing from the borderlands of London damned to dead-end jobs, Rifle are a gut-punch of furious fire of political charge in a classic fury sticking it to the man. With no shortage of ideas – aswell as fuelled contempt – the self-titled released today is the bands’ de facto as ones to watch – and to follow their lead. In a significantly blighted world, we need our anarchists to be the leading voices in a charge against power, corruption and lies.
Ahead of their debut record today, they will play London’s Rough Trade East on the 21st of January, followed by a headline show at Moth Club in March.
Fast Money Music
Unfortunately
A cluster between post-punk’s The War on Drugs and New Wave’s New Order, Fast Money Music is wrought with musings. Fortunately, he has a platform to share them – with a listening party happy to stay around for the afters. Today comes the fourth release, Unfortunately ahead of FMM’s self-titled arriving later in the spring. A restless anthem weighed down by holding on and letting go in relationships, it reflects a more tender side to FMM – whilst keeping us afloat with its ever-looming groove. This follows the distorted mogul of ‘Round and Round’ and ‘Lover Boy’ – another boisterous glimpse of FMM’s magic.
Already lauded by some of the industry’s loudest voices, FMM is capped as one to look out for this year with the vital voice in alternative.
‘Fast Money Music’ is due on 17th of April. The soloist will support Bass Drum of Death next month at Oslo Hackney before no doubt venturing on a tour of his own post-release.
manvmusic.com 
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