Category: REVIEWS
- HOME
- Category: REVIEWS
Fresh Fridays New Feleases: Nine Inch Noize, M.I.A., Magdalena Bay
Danny Ryan
April 17, 2026
Happy Fresh Friday! Today we have been blessed with the highly anticipated Nine Inch Noize collaborative album between 90’s industrial god Nine Inch Nails and indie-sleaze EDM legends Boys Noize. If you are a fan of industrial music or electronic dance in any sort of way, don’t let the jarring juxtaposition of these two worlds fool you – this is a must listen album for fans of either artist. M.I.A also brings us an unexpected gospel album fresh off of her recent appearance during Diplo’s Coachella set, and Magdalena Bay has officially released the scattered singles they’ve been teasing us with in a cohesive collection. Happy Friday, and let’s jump into these fresh new releases! Nine Inch Noize- Nine Inch Nails & Boys Noize (Released April 17th 2026)- Interscope Records While seeing the collaborative name “Nine Inch Noize” on the 2026 Coachella lineup may have confused and struck many by surprise, Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize have a deeper history together than one may expect. The duo did embark on a massive tour recently in 2025 and both artists did collaborate for many songs on the recent Tron: Ares soundtrack, as bizarre as it is for Disney to enlist Nine Inch Nails
Read More
Fresh Fridays: Melvins/Napalm Death Collab, Snail Mail and Immolation
Danny Ryan
April 10, 2026
Happy Janky Fresh Friday! This week we had a surpring new release of Melvins’ and Napalm Death’s collaborative album “Savage Imperial Death March”, blessing the world with a psychedelic freeform experience that is not at all what most would expect from either of these bands until you hear it- and then it all makes sense in an odd way. It’s an absolute beast of a record and near impossible to explain, but we are going to try our best to break it down anyways. We were also blessed recently with new releases by Immolation and Snail Mail. Diverse and unexpected sounds are on the menu this Fresh Friday. Let’s get into it. related: Fresh Friday’s – Thundercat, Sun O))) and Arlo Parks Melvins & Napalm Death: Savage Imperial Death March (released April 10, 2026)- Ipecac Recordings related: The Smell Of Napalm Death at Belasco The Melvins and Napalm Death are both metal bands that transcended their genres completely, both being associated more with alternative music and punk rock in modern times for how experimental they are rather than how heavy they are. The most ironic part about this being that both bands are objectively more heavy than most anyone else in
Read More
Fresh Friday’s- Thundercat, Sunn 0))) and Arlo Parks
Danny Baraz
April 3, 2026
Happy Fresh Friday! Today we focus on Thundercat- a grammy award winning, musical prodigy that has never let his music education get in the way of writing a good song. His most recent 15 tracks have come packaged in a full length album called Distracted and it may be Thundercat’s most focused work to date. This is definitely a Friday kind of album and I have not been able to stop listening to it all week. This Fresh Friday also see’s new releases by Arlo Parks and feedback wizards, Sunn 0))). Let’s get into it. Thundercat- Distracted (Released April 3rd 2026)- Brainfeeder Thundercat (Stephen Lee Bruner) live shows are displays of intense virtuosity- violent rhythms that would abuse and waterboard most uninitiated players and leaves listeners shell shocked with gaping jaws and wide eyes. I cannot over state this. There is no one in contemporary music playing their instruments and pushing them into uncharted waters like Thundercat and his collaborators- keyboardist Dennis Hamm and an alien drummer named Justin Brown who left me in awe after their most recent Camp Flog Gnaw performance. related: Tyler’s Camp Flog Gnaw Year 10 Intersects w/ Chromakopia Number 1 We can mention Kamasi Washington
Read More
Fresh Fridays: Neurosis, ADULT., Këkht Aräkh, Flea, and King Tuff
Rob Shepyer
March 27, 2026
Welcome back to another Fresh Friday! Today we cover the incredibly unexpected return of Neurosis, as well as new releases from Këkht Aräkh, ADULT., Flea and King Tuff. All of these albums experiment with similar genre-bending wild experimentation to create some grandiose masterpieces; each taking you on their own journey that you really want to lock into. While all across different scenes and sounds, all of these albums do share a similar goal in bringing a more ambitious and artistic experience to the listener than we are used to. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Dropkick Murphys/Haywire split EP and more Neurosis: An Undying Love For A Burning World (released March 20, 2026): Neurot Recordings related: Acid Bath at Hollywood Palladium The return of Neurosis was wholly unexpected in the music world. After the band’s leader, Scott Kelly, committed professional hara-kiri, cancelling himself as a means of confronting his demons as an abuser, people just assumed that was the last they would be hearing of the band. I was lucky enough to catch Neurosis’ last Los Angeles performance at the short-lived Power of the Riff festival, taking place at The Regent Theater in 2016. For those not fortunate enough to
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Dropkick Murphys/Haywire split ep and more
Danny Ryan
March 20, 2026
Happy Janky Fresh Friday! This week we had an incredibly festive St. Patrick’s Day release of Dropkick Murphys and Haywire’s split EP, bringing two different generations of the Boston hardcore punk scene together for an experience that really exposes how many of the struggles and core ethics of the 90’s scene are still present today. Similarly, we have the debut release of SoCal DIY darlings Start Today’s first album and the anticipated reunion album of Poison The Well’s first release in 16 years. Whether you’re an oldhead from the 90’s hardcore punk scene or a Gen Z crowd-killer who just got into the genre during its recent post-Covid explosion, we have you covered with new releases that will have you more hopeful than ever for the state of the scene. related: Janky Fresh Friday – Kim Gordon, HEALTH, Lamb Of God, and James Blake Dropkick Murphys & Haywire: New England Forever split (released March 17, 2026)- Dummy Luck Music related: Saint Patrick’s Day w/ Flogging Molly at The Hollywood Palladium Dropkick Murphys are no strangers to releasing surprise split EP’s that rival their full-length studio albums, with their 2006 “Mob Mentality” split featuring The Business (RIP Micky Fitz) being one
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: Kim Gordon, Health, Lamb Of God, and James Blake
Danny Ryan
March 13, 2026
Happy Janky Fresh Friday! Today we have impactful new releases from Kim Gordon, Health, Lamb Of God and James Blake- four incredibly experimental albums that represent a shift in sound and soul for these artists. In a constantly changing world that becomes more and more confusing to understand sometimes, it’s only appropriate that legendary artists such as these are constantly changing as well. The future landscape of music in an algorithm run world may look bleak, so it’s more important than ever that we have artists pushing boundaries and fighting for art to once again belong to humanity. related: Janky Fresh Friday – Peaches, Gorillaz, Rob Zombie, and Nothing Kim Gordon: PLAY ME (released March 13, 2026): Matador Records related: Tonic Trouble And Collective Consciousness – Kim Gordon at Ventura Music Hall Kim Gordon is easily one of the most influential figures in all of alternative music in the past 50 years, with her previous works in Sonic Youth marking a clear shift in the way that audiences engaged with experimental music. Rather than being a part of the more drug-addled psychedelic avant-garde of the past like The Velvet Underground or Patti Smith, Sonic Youth took a more punk rock
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases from Peaches, Gorillaz, Rob Zombie and Nothing
Rob Shepyer
February 27, 2026
Happy Janky Fresh Friday! We hope you are transcending the societal madness today. We’d like to present to you 4 tools to do so. Today we have new releases from Peaches, Gorillaz, Rob Zombie and Nothing- four albums from iconic artists who have already established themselves well as weapons of mass destruction in fighting facism and repression. related: Janky Fresh Friday – Angel Du$t, Converge, Charli XCX and femtanyl Peaches: No Lube So Rude (released February 27, 2026): Kill Rock Stars related: Photo Recap – The Teaches Of Peaches at Observatory North Park Peaches is an electroclash institution, a pillar of feminist punk in the 90s, a Canadian. Peaches is still going strong, still putting on the most spirited shows in any genre, still releasing albums that are relevant additions to her discography and to the culture at large. No Lube So Rude may not be her most lyrically profound album, it may not be the densest with singles that will explode on the radio, but it is full of sex anthems that will assuredly pop off live and inspire sexual experiences across the spectrum. I remember the last time I saw Peaches live. I recall thinking, some artists age
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: Angel Du$t, Converge, Charli XCX and femtanyl
Rob Shepyer
February 13, 2026
Happy Valentine’s Day to all Janky Smooth readers! Today is an absolutely unhinged day for new releases; with alternative power-pop Angel Du$t bringing us their newest album COLD 2 THE TOUCH right before their upcoming 1720 Warehouse show on 3/21. Angel Du$t is collectively one of Janky Smooth’s favorite bands and they have been for years; but we also have the highly anticipated return of Boston metalcore legends Converge, an unexpected dramatic shift in tone from Charli XCX in her original soundtrack for the Wuthering Heights film also released today, and our favorite current hyperpop outfit femtanyl finally releasing their debut album after bringing us such a great year with their Danny Brown collaborations. While many of you are out celebrating Valentine’s Day with your lovers, today is not a day to be slept on for new music releases. related: Janky Fresh Friday – She Past Away, KMFDM, Mayhem, and Puscifer Angel Du$t: COLD 2 THE TOUCH (released February 13, 2026): Run For Cover Records related: L.A. Buffs Up – Angel Du$t at The Lodge Room Angel Du$t is an anomaly of hardcore history. Created by Justice Tripp to explore another side of his creativity apart from his efforts in
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: She Past Away, KMFDM, Mayhem and Puscifer
Rob Shepyer
February 6, 2026
The new year for music is finally starting to kick up again with anticipated new releases and exciting new shows already stacking the first quarter of 2026. Today is no exception with Turkish goth group She Past Away dropping their new album Mizantrop right before their upcoming show at the NOVO in Los Angeles on 2/7. To celebrate the year starting to pick up more steam, Janky Smooth is reviewing four albums today instead of just two; with anticipated new releases from black metal founders Mayhem, Maynard James Keenan’s freaky side project Puscifer, and kings of industrial dance KMFDM as well. No matter what your taste in the darker side of music is; February 6, 2026 has you covered from every angle. related: Janky Fresh Friday – New Releases From Joyce Manor and (Young) GUV She Past Away: Mizantrop (released February 6, 2026): Creature Comfort Turkey’s She Past Away has long led the resurgence of true goth and death rock music. The tones and vibes of the soundscapes utilized by the duo feel like updated versions of the infectious, moody, macabre, and danceable tracks of the 80s. Now, many years into She Past Away’s career, long after the ripples of the initial
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases From Joyce Manor and (Young) GUV
Danny Ryan
January 30, 2026
Today’s Janky Fresh Friday for January 30, 2026 brings us two of the most anticipated returns in alternative punk music: The undisputed kings of garage emo, Joyce Manor, and the return of Ben Cook from No Warning’s ambitious rebranding of his jangle-pop folk project Young Guv into simply GUV (very Prince-esque on its surface, but actually makes a lot more sense upon hearing his new album). Both artists delivered us ambitious explorations into new terrains while also being tested in how to stay authentic to their original sounds. Joyce Manor: I Used To Go To This Bar (released January 30, 2026): Epitaph Records Joyce Manor has one of the most signature pop-punk sounds out of any band of the post 2010’s, and that aspect alone made them one of the most significant alternative bands that were active throughout my high school years. Sure, Barry Johnson’s strained vocals can sound a bit whiny as he belts about depression and awkward hook-ups during their verses – and I even felt that they had their moments of cringe when I was at the age they were catering to. However Joyce Manor have always been raw and vulnerable at their core, and even these more
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases From A$AP Rocky and Sleaford Mods
Janky Smooth Central Command
January 16, 2026
The beginning of each year can often feel a bit stagnant for new albums with many artists waiting until the Spring or Summer to release their work to the public, especially in genres based around youthful party cultures such as hip-hop. With how crazy the world feels in 2026 however, there isn’t a better time to completely subvert audience expectations and act as a trailblazer within your genre. The world needs art more than ever, and it’s needed as soon as possible. Thankfully, we have two very unexpected hip-hop releases to kick off the year with A$AP Rocky and Sleaford Mods blessing us with two albums full of unpredictable excitement just when we need it the most. A$AP Rocky: Don’t Be Dumb (released January 16, 2025): AWGE, A$AP Worldwide, RCA Records Hip-hop is almost completely unrecognizable from the 2010’s when A$AP Rocky first rose to prominence. At the time, it was almost hard to keep up with new releases every month from both veteran rappers and brand new artists seemingly coming out of nowhere. In 2025 however; this is nowhere near the case considering the major gap between Gen Z’s Soundcloud generation and the DatPiff mixtape culture that came
Read More
Janky Fresh Friday: New Releases from Dry Cleaning and Bad Beat
Janky Smooth Central Command
January 9, 2026
This January is a pretty fun month for new releases which makes it harder to choose what to disseminate for our very first Janky Fresh Friday of 2026. We thought we had it easy with Dry Cleaning releasing new music and we decided to go with Bad Beat’s Xmas day release as the split single of this article. But it’s not always easy when you have mixed feelings about something new from a band you love and that is a first for Janky Fresh Friday…. I’m sure it’s not the last. related: Top Artists to Watch in 2026 Dry Cleaning: Secret Love (released January 9, 2026): 4AD Records The kings and queens of deadpan post punk are back with Dry Cleaning’s kickoff to 2026, Secret Love. When Dry Cleaning first appeared on the scene, I was all about it, making it a point to catch their highly anticipated Teragram Ballroom introduction to Los Angeles. Seeing them again at Primavera Sound, they had refined their music by then and fully manifested everything anyone could’ve wanted from a deadpan, vocal driven post punk band. That style of vocal was something I was wanting to hear from a modern band for a long
Read More