February is when things start getting real, and you’re no longer shaking off the exhaustion of the holiday season. From heavy, chest-rattling new songs to melodic gut punches and indie tracks that linger, these are the best new alternative, metal, rock, and indie songs worth your time right now.
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Differences — “Void”
Brace for impact because Differences are about to become your favorite new metal/metalcore band! Comprised of Sean-Anthony Todd (vocals), Gene Ramirez (guitar), Levi Henderson (electric bass guitar), and Nicholas Brandon Miller (drums), the band’s latest single, “Void,” hits with equal parts fury and clarity, balancing bruising screams with moments of melodic reflection that actually breathe. Through piercing shrieks and drum fills that nod to the work of Rage Against The Machine or early FEVER 333, the band questions across the chorus, “Can you see me?… Can you hear me?” There’s no doubt you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from Differences in 2026. —Paige Owens
Koyo — “Irreversible”
Pop-punk and hardcore act Koyo are back and better than ever with “Irreversible,” the lead single from their forthcoming second LP Barely Here. “A lot of bands think their second album has to be this magnum opus epic that sews so many things together, and I think we’d actually taken more of that approach with our first LP. So with Barely Here, we wanted to do the opposite of that trajectory – we wanted to refine our strengths instead of doing this purposeful departure. It’s a snapshot of what our band is in its most no-frills, perfected form.” Pre-order your record here. — Maria Serra
Whitney Whitney — “A Man Written By A Woman”
Following the releases of her 2025 debut EP and “Isabelle,” Los Angeles-based rising pop artist Whitney Whitney released “A Man Written By a Woman” via Atlantic Records. The ethereal offering showcases the artist’s ability to effortlessly intertwine thrilling pop vocals with classic folk sonics. She says of the single, “This one sticks out to me because of how real it sounds and how much time we spent on it. I wanted to go for a bit of ‘dad rock’-sound to mix with the realness of the lyrics. It took longer than the others [on the project] as we rewrote the verses like six times and went back and forth on the tempo, too. Please enjoy!” — Maria Serra
Ezra — “VIOLET”
Pulled from Ezra’s debut album Spoke Too Soon, “VIOLET” arrives as a bright, clear snapshot of who he is right now—and where he’s headed. In a recent post, he shared, “this project means everything to me… this album is the story of why i am who i am and how i got here,” and that sentiment runs straight through “VIOLET.” It’s upbeat and emotionally open, leaning into a sound that feels cut from the same cloth as Every Avenue, The Maine, and The Band CAMINO, with hints of Harry Styles and The 1975 woven throughout the album. The collection featuring “VIOLET” arrives as Ezra is hitting the road with Braden Bales. —Paige Owens
Kid Sistr — “American Teenage Prophecy”
Following the release of their single “Shitshow,” the dazzling Los Angeles trio Kid Sistr revealed “American Teenage Prophecy,” a true queer anthem that we all need right now—a tune that “imagines a world where queer love is as natural as breathing,” they share. The act continues, “‘American Teenage Prophecy’ feels like a flower blooming, and inside it, there is an acoustic guitar and three gay girls. It was inspired by a late-night viewing of the 2010 biopic The Runaways, and asks: what if Joan Jett and Cherie Currie got married and started a family?
The song is meant to imagine a world where queer romance flourishes in all the ways straight romance is allowed to: first kisses in treehouses, passing notes in study hall, high school prom, dorm room romance, in every decade, every state, every country. What are the love stories we could have if there were nothing standing in our way?” — Maria Serra
The S.E.T. — “White Lies feat. Sebastian Gorgone”
Baltimore hardcore act The S.E.T. is back with a follow-up to their debut single, “White Lies,” featuring Gut Instinct‘s Sebastian Gorgone, that pulls no punches. The new project is releasing their debut EP, Self Evident Truth, on March 6 via Flatspot Records and will head out on a short tour with Judge at the end of March. — Maria Serra
Mixed Signals — “Different Frequencies”
Scotland-based indie rockers Mixed Signals have arrived with a thrilling new single, “Different Frequencies,” a must-listen for fans of Biffy Clyro and The Wombats. Guitarist James Armstrong notes, “It’s about being stuck in something that isn’t healthy, but staying because you’re scared of what life looks like without that person. I think a lot of people will recognise themselves in that feeling.” Ben Gardiner adds, “Unintentionally, our music often centres on the highs and lows of relationships. There are countless ways one person can make you feel in a single day, and most people can relate to that swing between heartbreak and hope.” — Maria Serra
Good Sleepy — “745”
Good Sleepy’s “745” feels like the emotional center of their sophomore album CONSTANT HUMMING. Midwestern-leaning guitars glide beneath Thomas Sullivan’s dreamy, quivering vocal before the song swells into a chorus that blooms with layered vocals and crashing instrumentation. After that first refrain, it opens up even wider, trading restraint for release while holding onto its intimacy. “Writing and recording this song came so naturally and felt so right, which doesn’t always happen. It’s a song that’s close to home for us, and the band’s favorite of the record,” Sullivan shares. —Paige Owens
Hit Like A Girl — “Are You In Love feat. Zayna Youssef”
Following the releases of singles “Keepsake Theory” and “Only Have Myself,” Hit Like A Girl has revealed “Are You In Love,” featuring Sweet Pill’s own Zayna Youssef. The synth-infused track harkens back to the bouncy sonics of the ‘80s and ‘90s, brimming with themes of new love and cute crushes. Basically, if you’re currently living on Cloud Nine and still floating from a romantic Valentine’s Day, this will be your new fave track. Catch this track on the band’s forthcoming LP, Burning At Both Ends, out March 27 via Cryptid Records. —Maria Serra
Nekrogoblikon — “Secret Elephant feat. Reel Big Fish”
Death metal and ska? Yeah, we can blend those! In fact, your favorite goblin band, Nekrogoblikon, and ska kings Reel Big Fish, teamed up on a new track, “Secret Elephant,” and it’s wildly wacky and wonderful.
Frontman and goblin mascot John Goblikon says via email, “I’ve been asked to give a statement on our new song ‘Secret Elephant,’ and after strong consideration, I’ve decided I’m not quite sure I know what that means. But what I DO know is secrets don’t make friends… unless that secret is, of course, an elephant, who you happened to befriend. They also say an elephant never forgets, but goblins definitely do, because I literally can’t remember where I put my phone! I had it earlier, and then I got distracted by this email asking me for a quote about our new song ‘Secret Elephant,’ which is such a banger by the way. Ooh, that reminds me, I gotta look for my phone!” —Sent from John’s iPhone.”
Nekrogoblikon is gearing up to launch a new EP, The Boiling Sea, on April 17 and is heading out on a massive tour beginning in March. Grab your EP and tickets here. — Maria Serra
Arankai — “CHOKE”
Following his 2025 signing with Hopeless Records, heavy rocker and TikTok heartthrob Arankai has revealed his new single “CHOKE.” He shares of the release, “‘CHOKE’ addresses the one-sided relationship, yearning for mutual love and respect. In our world, where there is division, disunity, and conflict.”
Arankai continues, “I think ‘CHOKE’ reflects the current climate while also being a metaphor for personal relationships, which is a topic I cover frequently in my music. I wanted a raw, visceral sound for this song: the guitar leads almost sound like they’re begging, the rhythms sound so saturated that the distortion practically goes in and out of phase. This plaintiff, desperate instrumentation is what I needed to express this song properly, and it sets the tone for this next record: heavy, saturated, and aggressive.” This is just the first chapter in an exciting new era for the artist. Grab tickets for his headlining tour here. —Maria Serra
UnityTX — “STFU”
Ahead of their forthcoming album Somewhere, In Between…, which arrives on March 13 via Pure Noise Records, UnityTX just dropped “STFU.” Preceded by “ENJOY THA SHOW” and “BODY ROC,” “STFU” is the perfect genre-bending offering that offers the high-octane energy you need for your NMF playlists.
Jay Webster, aka SHAOLIN G, says of the song, “‘STFU’ is a song that evokes a sense of insignificance in the face of the vastness of the world. Once the haze of success dissipates, you realize how precarious mental stability feels amidst growing pains, increased exposure, and the constant barrage of online opinions about you. Ultimately, my goal is to avoid the noise, but I’m surrounded by constant challenges that test my limits. It often seems easier to cut ties than to immerse myself in a system that will always find fault in every approach.” UnityTX is supporting Varials on tour this spring, beginning in March. Grab your tickets here. — Maria Serra
Blnko — “Soy Tuyo”
Blnko was just announced as a Vans Warped Tour artist for their stops in Long Beach and Mexico City, and the artist just dropped a new banger. He says of “Soy Tuyo,” “This is a love song about realizing that you fell in love, and that without meaning to, everything you think about is that person, and everything you talk about ends up being about that person. Without realizing it, they slipped into your mind. Accepting with love that you’re more and more theirs.” —Maria Serra
Sammy Adams — “LIGHT”
After surviving a near-fatal accident, Sammy Adams has a new lease on life and a new single, “Light”… and that’s not all. The singer-songwriter has officially inked a deal with John Feldmann‘s Big Noise Music Group. Adams shares, “Life’s wild—one minute you’re on top of the world, the next it’s driving you into the depths of darkness. This record is for the ones who kept me afloat when I was sinking in self-doubt and overthinking during uncertain times. To my girls, Andie and Khaki, my family, and friends, you were the lights that brought me back to life. Thank you, for real.”
Feldmann added, “Sammy is such an easy guy to get along with and work with. He’s always got such great ideas and has an incredible voice. It’s just a pleasure working with such a talented guy.” This marks the beginning of a very exciting journey for Adams and all of his fans. — Maria Serra
