5 New Albums To Check Out On January 9, 2026

Tacos may rule Tuesdays, but Fridays are all about new albums. This Friday features new releases from Zach Bryan, Alter Bridge, The Kid LAROI, 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.

Zach Bryan – With Heaven on Top (Warner)

Grammy-winning country singer Zach Bryan has a big 2026 planned. He begins the new year as a newlywed (he was married on New Year’s Eve) with a new album arriving Friday and a massive international tour on the horizon. The 29-year-old’s new album, entitled With Heaven on Top, has been mostly kept under wraps, but the singer has dropped a few acoustic snippets on social media that make it sound like the music will address a lot of the personal demons he has faced in recent years.

Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge (Napalm)

Orlando metalheads Alter Bridge return Friday with their self-titled eighth studio album. Following a tour with three of the four members’ other band, Creed, the new album serves as a way to remind fans of the distinction between the two. The eponymous offering’s latest single, “Scales Are Falling,” features hints of Queensrÿche and Dream Theater. It talks of an eye-opening moment when one finally sees the truth that was right in front of them, and it almost seems like an homage to what prompted Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips, and Brian Marshall to start Alter Bridge with Myles Kennedy in the first place. Alter Bridge fans will definitely get all the feels they got from the band’s 2004 debut.

The Kid LAROI – Before I Forget (Columbia)

Australian rapper The Kid LAROI has a list of awards a mile long Down Under, as well as five Billboard Music Awards and two Grammy nominations stateside. His new album, Before I Forget, touches on his emotional breakup with Canadian pop star Tate McRae and features guest appearances from Andrew Aged, Clara La San, and Lithe. The first single, “A Cold Play,” was released in September and set the tone for what has become a bit of a musical back-and-forth between the rapper and his ex.

Mon Rovîa – Bloodline (Nettwerk Music Group)

Liberian-born, Tennessee-raised folk artist Mon Rovîa (born Janjay Lowe) has watched his success grow exponentially in recent years. From playing Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, the Newport Folk Festival, and the Grand Ole Opry to crossing 500 million views on TikTok, the Afro-Appalachian singer-songwriter is on the rise. The new album, Bloodline, will explore themes like transformation and survival, topics he knows well from his war-torn childhood.

The Cribs – Selling a Vibe (Sonic Blew)

British indie rockers The Cribs will release their ninth studio album on Friday. The new album, Selling a Vibe, adds Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly’s pop production stylings to the band’s trademark brand of punk. The Jarman brothers (Gary, Ryan and Ross) purposely chose a pop producer to force them outside of their comfort zone, resulting in a fresh take on their patented sound. The record is introspective at times, but also packed with songs to get you up out of your seat. The Cribs released the third single off the album, “Never the Same,” on Monday.

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 9:

Beyond the Black – Break the Silence
Bruit – Monolith**
Bullet – Kickstarter
Dry Cleaning – Secret Love
Fear Of Domination – Katharsis
French Montana & Max B – Coke Wave 3.5
Iotunn – Waves Over Copenhell
Jenny on Holiday – Quicksand Heart
Lionheart – Valley Of Death II
The Medea Project – Live At Dingwalls
Nanowar Of Steel – The Genghis Khan EP To End All Genghis Khan EPs
The Protomen – Act III: This City Made Us
Push! – Plowing Ahead
Semper Acerbus – Following Omens
Six Going On Seven – Human Tears
Uuhai – Human Herds
Vince Gill – Brown’s Diner Bar EP

** Re-release/Reissue