June 2026 Albums of the Month: A Review of the Best Gems
The first half of the year is over, and it's time to celebrate the best albums released in June 2026. From prog metal to art rock, black metal to doom metal, this month's picks offer a diverse range of sounds and styles. Here's a closer look at some of the most notable releases, along with personal commentary and analysis.
Fires in the Distance - Circadian Promise
Recommended for fans of Insomnium, Novembers Doom, Be'lakor, An Abstract Illusion
Fires in the Distance's Circadian Promise marks a new chapter for the band, with a shift in lineup and a slight change in style. The album features a tighter, more articulate harsh delivery from vocalist Brendan Hayter, with clean singing anchoring the choruses. The mix has been reworked to allow the guitars to contribute to the heaviness, resulting in a cohesive and atmospheric sound. The album's six tracks are well-crafted, with small stylistic flourishes and clean vocals setting it apart from previous releases. The overall atmosphere is cold, dreary, and haunted, a stark contrast to the band's future.
Personal Takeaway: Circadian Promise is a solid addition to the band's discography, showcasing their evolution and ability to create a cohesive and atmospheric sound. The album's mix of harsh and clean vocals, along with its atmospheric soundscapes, makes it a standout release in the prog metal genre.
Deathspiral of Inherited Suffering, Elysian Blaze, Panegyrist, & Maerund - Sunthema
Recommended for fans of Deathspell Omega, The Ruins of Beverast, Blut Aus Nord, Oranssi Pazuzu, Liturgy, Dissection, Batushka
Sunthema is a black metal split album that explores four occult theologies. Each band on the album plays a distinct style of black metal, resulting in an ambitious and epic 90-minute split. DIS keeps it classic with Dissection- and Necrophobic-inspired riffs, while Elysian Blaze takes a more cosmic approach with a display of sonic chiaroscuro and heavenly blackened funeral doom metal. Maerund fits the new school of avant-garde, and Panegyrist's contributions are simply indescribable. This album is a must-listen for any fan of black metal, offering a unique and transcendent experience.
Personal Takeaway: Sunthema is a testament to the diversity and creativity within the black metal genre. Each band brings their own style and approach, resulting in a cohesive and ambitious album. The album's exploration of occult theologies and its ability to transcend the corporeal world make it a standout release in the genre.
Sans Froid - Back Into the Womb
Recommended for fans of Bent Knee, Radiohead, Squid, King Crimson, Queens of the Stone Age
Back Into the Womb is a top-tier art rock album with a touch of British indie prog. The album features jagged riffing, mathy drumming, and contemplative, melodic piano sections. Frontwoman Aisling Trafford's vocals alternate between belting and beseeching, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience. The album's consistent quality and ability to cater to different moods make it a standout release in the art rock genre.
Personal Takeaway: Sans Froid has crafted an album that is both accessible and complex, with a strong emphasis on dynamics and mood. The album's ability to balance jagged riffing with contemplative piano sections is a testament to the band's skill and creativity.
Entropist - The Vision
Recommended for fans of Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, Meshuggah, Karnivool
Entropist's debut album, The Vision, showcases their love of progressive metal. The album features maximalist aesthetics and a blend of harsh and clean vocals, with a focus on technical creativity and lively sound. The album's technical riffs, rhythmically complex drums, and dynamic basslines create a cohesive and engaging listening experience. The band's ability to balance heaviness with bright melodies and acoustic duets is a standout feature of the album.
Personal Takeaway: The Vision is a testament to Entropist's skill and creativity in the progressive metal genre. The album's technical prowess, combined with its ability to create a cohesive and engaging listening experience, makes it a standout release.
Artificial Silence - Hollow Drift
Recommended for fans of Haken, The Dear Hunter, Dream Theater, Ions
Hollow Drift is a dense and maximalist album that took eight years to complete. The album combines the theatricality of Native Construct with the heart-on-sleeve melodies of Transatlantic and the neo-prog keyboard shredding of Frost. The album features massive vocal layering, absurdly busy arrangements, and manic twists and turns in its compositions. The album's goofy and overstuffed nature may be off-putting to some, but it is a dopamine rush for fans of maximalist and theatrical music.
Personal Takeaway: Hollow Drift is a testament to the band's dedication and creativity. The album's maximalist and theatrical nature, combined with its dense and complex compositions, make it a standout release in the progressive rock genre.
Ok Goodnight - Stop/Go
Recommended for fans of Bent Knee, Hayley Williams, The Dear Hunter, The Sound of Animals Fighting
Stop/Go is an album that showcases the band's rhythmically energized and electric, jazzy performances. Vocalist Casey Lee Williams' powerful and emotive vocals, combined with the band's instrumental prowess, create a captivating listening experience. The album's ability to balance trite indie folk songs with powerful and haunting vocals is a standout feature.
Personal Takeaway: Ok Goodnight has crafted an album that is both captivating and dynamic, with a strong emphasis on rhythm and emotion. The album's ability to balance different styles and moods is a testament to the band's skill and creativity.
Muse - The WOW! Signal
Recommended for fans of Queen, Radiohead, The Protomen
The WOW! Signal is a richly endowed album that combines Queen-like campy glam, pulsating synths, and tenderly bittersweet lyrical themes inspired by band leader Matt Bellamy's divorce. The album is maximalist and wears its heart on its sleeve, with enough gravitas and panache to overflow an arena. The album's first impression is irresistible, and it showcases the band's ability to create a cohesive and engaging listening experience.
Personal Takeaway: The WOW! Signal is a testament to Muse's ability to create a cohesive and engaging listening experience. The album's maximalist and emotional nature, combined with its ability to create a memorable first impression, makes it a standout release.
