5 New Albums To Check Out On January 2, 2026

Tacos may rule Tuesdays, but Fridays are all about new albums. We kick off the new year with new releases from Devon Allman, Ellende, Paleface Swiss, and more. Whether you favor CDs, vinyl, or digital downloads, it is time to start making your shopping list. Here is a look at this week’s new music and five new albums that you definitely need to check out this Friday.

Devon Allman-Nightvision (Create Records)

Blues rocker Devon Allman’s new album Nightvision debuts on Friday. The instrumental album was recorded in his home studio during the COVID-19 pandemic. The son of legendary Gregg Allman (of the Allman Brothers band) offers up lush, mystic rhythms and searing guitars on a record that has subtle sci-fi nods. Nightvision also features the debut of Devon’s son, Orion, on synthesizer. The first two singles from the new offering, “Dead Sea Scrolls” and “Awaken,” are out now

Ellende-Zerfall (AOP Records)

Austrian black metal band Ellende drops its sixth studio album on Friday. Entitled Zerfall, the album focuses on shattering and rebuilding oneself and transforming ruin into strength. It features guest vocals from Firtan and Norikum. The band has already released two singles from the record, the title track and “Wahrheit Teil II.”

Paleface Swiss-The Wilted EP (Paleface Swiss/Blood Blast)

Beatdown hardcore band Paleface Swiss follows up last January’s studio album, Cursed, with a new EP on Friday entitled The Wilted. Fans got a sneak peek in October with the release of the hard-charging, eye-opening lead single “Let Me Sleep.” They followed that up with the more melodic metal ballad “Everything Is Fine” last month. The new EP definitely shows the band’s range and chops.

Richard Sallis – Casino (Neidbau Records)

Australian alternative artist Richard Sallis releases his latest effort, Casino, this week. The new album was actually penned by Sallis when he was 18. He recently re-worked the whole project into what is his most personal album to date. The record takes one through a period in his life when he was homeless, lonely, and heartbroken. It was then that he turned to songwriting to get himself through the days and offer a glimmer of hope. Recording with a whole new band, the singer-songwriter has brought those dark days to life in music and renewed that hope.

John McCabe – Belmont EP (self-released)

California-based alternative artist John McCabe releases his new 4-song EP, Belmont, this week. The new effort sounds like a cross between REM, James, and Soul Asylum, if you can imagine. Recorded at Steve Albini’s Electrical studio under the production prowess of Superchunk bassist Jason Narducy, Belmont is McCabe’s most ambitious effort to date.

The Best of the Rest

If none of the above releases fit your musical tastes, here are some of the other new albums and re-releases due out on January 2:

Alex Pester – Yours
Basilchord – Internet Is Weird
Chris Watson – Planet Ocean
Excavated Graves – Life Isn’t For Everyone
Hyphen3 – Goontard
Kinetic 9 & Jade River – Razors Edge
MatC – John
Mighty Old Redwood – Terrible 3-Headed Beast EP
Miya Folick – Erotica Veronica (Deluxe Edition)***
Rotmond – Afrika EP
Shea – Eskipade
Shirobeats & Kiwwi – We Are So Back
Silver Dawn – Beautifully Awkward EP
Stice – Thirteen Tales Of Depravity
Tony Boy – Trauma
Totojira & Monk on Fire – Shinigami X
Ulver – Neverland
Veezy The Virgo – Chaos Equinox II: Long Time Coming***
Virus Nine – Blastin’ Away!***
Wailing – Oracles of Devastation
Wildhunt – Aletheia

***Re-release or re-issue