The Heavy Desert Podcast – My Top 10 Favorite Albums of the 1st Quarter (January, February, & March) of 2026
I had the pleasure to discuss my Top 10 Favorite Releases for the first quarter of 2026 with Dan from The Heavy Desert Podcast. Listen to our episode here :
Here are my picks with a review link for each album , with an additional 15 honorable mentions. Check out all of these amazing recordings and bands. I would encourage you to go to the 2026 Albums Menu list and check out all of the reviews to maybe discover your next favorite band. I only review albums and bands that I really like or love, so every single review is essentially an honorable mention.
As usual, the first quarter of 2026 was a massive output of fantastic releases! I want to thank all of the amazing bands and all the wonderful people involved in the heavy underground music scene. Thanks for supporting my blog, I appreciate all of you very much!
~Mark ‘Yeti’ Richard
10. BLACK TOASTER – ASTROBIRD EP
9. TEMPTRESS – HEAR
8. KALEIDOBOLT – KARAKUCHI
7. GJENFERD – BLACK SMOKE RISING
6. NEW DAWN FADES – LORES
5. COWBOYS & ALIENS – FINIS TEMPORUM
4. RED SUN ATACAMA – SUMMERCHILD
3. CAPACOPTER – SELF TITLED
2. SUPLECS – HYMNS UNDER A BLOOD MOON SKY
- KAL-EL – ASTRAL VOYAGER, VOL. 2
HONORABLE MENTIONS: (In Alphabetical order!)
BLACK LUNG – FOREVER BEYOND
CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC – BERLIN 2023
THE CROOKED SKULLS – MIDNIGHT SUN
DESERT COLLIDER – GENERATION SHIP: ENDLESS DRIFT THROUGH INFINITY
DESERT COLOSSUS – APPARATUS
DIRTY DWARFS – SELF TITLED
FUZZING NATION – MOTHERTRUCK
JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS – INEXORABLE OPPOSITES
MIENTRAS LAS ABEJAS DUERMEN – MLAD
OREYON – THE GROTESQUE WITHIN
PURPLE LUNG – MYSTIC VISION
RADIUM HAZE – EMISSION EP
STARGO – VIOLET SKIES
STONUS – SPACE TO DIVE
YEAST MACHINE – BAD MILK
