Alter Bridge 1/9 Alter Bridge: Alter Bridge The band’s self-titled eighth album includes the singles “What Lies Within,” “Silent Divide” and “Playing Aces.” “The term ‘Playing Aces’ ties in with the gambling analogy of risking everything regardless of how many times you’ve failed in life,” explains alter Bridge vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy. “It’s a last-ditch effort to come out on top.” Alter Bridge was formed in 2004 by Creed members months before Creed’s official breakup. What Lies Within Playing Aces Reliance 1/16 Soen: Reliance The set contains the single “Mercenary,“ from the band’s seventh studio album. “‘Mercenary’ is about the violence we inherit, which then sees hatred seeping into lives — and life — which in turn shapes generations,” offers vocalist Joel Ekelöf. “It also addresses betrayal, about how that can see us ‘crowning vultures into kings’,” adds drummer Martin Lopez. “At its heart, ‘Mercenary’ speaks to the cost of belief.” Mercenary Set The Dark On Fire 1/16 Edenbridge: Set The Dark On Fire The band’s twelfth studio album, “Set The Dark On Fire.” features the single “Cosmic Embrace.” Edenbridge is an Austrian Symphonic Metal band led by songwriter Arne “Lanvall” Stockhammer and fronted by soprano singer Sabine Edelsbacher. Edenbridge formed in 1988 with their debut album, “Sunrise In Eden” arriving in 2000. Stockhammer is the band’s last remaining original member. Edelsbacher joined in 1998. Set The Dark On Fire Cosmic Embrace Megadeth 1/23 Megadeth: Megadeth “Tipping Point,” “I Don’t Care” and “Let There Be Shred” were the singles from Megadeth’s self-titled final album. The Trash Metal band was formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist and guitarist Dave Mustaine.  I Don’t Care Tipping Point Empty Hands 1/23 Poppy: Empty Hands Containing the single “Bruised Sky,” Poppy’s seventh album, has 13 tracks produced by longtime collaborator Jordan Fish (Bring Me The Horizon), who previously worked with Poppy on her sixth album “Negative Spaces” (2004). Poppy’s “Bloodmoney” received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance (2021), making Poppy the first solo female artist to be nominated in the category. She received a second, Best Metal Performance nomination, for her contribution to Knocked Loose’s song “Suffocate” (2025) Bruised Sky Midnight Blitz 2/6 Tailgunner: Midnight Blitz Tailgunner’s sophomore album,was produced by legendary Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, features the title track. “Tailgunner is a band we should have seen emerge years ago from the U.K.,” notes Downing. They personify everything that is Heavy Metal. The band has a youthful freshness and a uniqueness that will no doubt elevate them to being a true Metal favorite of the fans.” Tailgunner released their debut album, “Guns For Hire” in ’23. Midnight Blitz Paralyzed 2/13 Black Swan: Paralyzed The band’s third album features the singles “The Fire And The Flame” and “If I Was King.” “(‘If I Was King’ is) powerful with great guitar riffs and soaring vocals, but that chorus has some different chords than usual,” states vocalist Robin McAuley. “It really sticks in my head.” “(‘The song) sets the tone for what’s to come with its dark and heavy opening chords, building intensity into a big melodic chorus that is.” If I Was King Listen Up! 2/20 New Found Glory: Listen Up! It’s the band’s first full-length album in nearly six years. “The overall message/theme of this album is to encourage hope through hard times, while also looking at the world as somewhat of a fly on a wall: seeing people’s fear, negativity, and stress about small things that only scratch the surface of what life will eventually — but bring in a hopeful way,” shared the band. “We want to encourage hope that the hard times will bring growth and strength.” Laugh It Off Treat Yourself The Great Satan 2/27 Rob Zombie: The Great Satan Revisiting his “Hellbilly” roots, Rob Zombie’s eighth full-length studio effort, holds the single “Punks And Demons,” accompanied by a Zombie directed video.  The album is the first to feature guitarist Mike Riggs since ’01’s “The Sinister Urge” and the first to have bassist Bob “Blasko” Nicholson since ’06’s “Educated Horses.” Zombie has sold an estimated 15 million albums worldwide. Punks And Demons Celebrate 3/6 Black Stone Cherry: Celebrate “Celebrate” is the title track and second single from Black Stone Cherry’s EP. “Neon Eyes” was the lead track. Black Stone Cherry has released eight albums with “Celebrate” being their third EP. The band consists of Chris Robertson (vocals, guitar), Ben Wells (guitar), Steve Jewell (bass) and John Fred Young (drums). Black Stone Cherry Artist With Albums Expected In 2026 Anthrax Armored Saint August Burns Red Bad Omens The Black Crowes Black Label Society Black Veil Brides Corrosion Of Conformity Down Electric Callboy Evanescence Fear Factory Five Finger Death Punch Foo Fighters Gojira Ice Nine Kills King Diamond Mayhem Tim Montana Motionless in White Overkill Papa Roach Puscifer Shinedown Sevendust Social Distortion Tool Trivium ### The post 2026 Albums On The Horizon appeared first on RockinTown.