Here are 10 upcoming albums that we will be blasting as the temperatures rise. 

Bambara – Birthmarks (Mar 14)

Remodelling the band’s signature dark, literary-driven post-punk, the band have stated that they’ve instead been blending their gritty sound with influences from Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack, and Portishead. Birthmarks will feature a new level of sonic adventurousness and thematic subtlety, crafting a sprawling narrative about lost characters caught in cycles of love, violence, and rebirth. The album’s first single, “Pray To Me,” introduced its offbeat, noir-esque story of obsession and unraveling fantasy, previewing a hauntingly apocalyptic journey.

 

Clipping – Dead Channel Sky (Mar 14)

The experimental rap trio’s highly anticipated fifth album and first since 2020 promises to blend cyberpunk aesthetics with gripping hip-hop. The album includes the newly released single “Welcome Home Warrior,” featuring Aesop Rock, which previews the project’s aesthetics when paired with a VHS-style video starring frontman Daveed Diggs as a hacker. With additional guest features from Nels Cline, Bitpanic, Tia Nomore, and Cartel Madras, Dead Channel Sky is sure to make waves.

 

Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women) (Mar 21)

Japanese Breakfast’s fourth album marks a dramatic shift from the bright exuberance of 2021’s Jubilee to a more introspective, melancholic sound. Previewed by lead single “Orlando In Love” and produced by Blake Mills, the album should explore themes of desire, temptation, and the bittersweet nature of life’s fleeting beauty. With lush guitar arrangements and an atmosphere inspired by European Romanticism, Michelle Zauner’s songwriting delves into the emotional complexities of melancholy, blending sadness with moments of delicate hope. For Melancholy Brunettes showcases Zauner’s artistic maturity and her evolving, reflective approach to music.

 

My Morning Jacket – is (Mar 21)

My Morning Jacket’s 10th studio album, is, will explore the band’s expansive sound, blending psych-rock with emotionally charged, eclectic tracks. The record has already showcased their creativity through songs like the sprawling, warped “Squid Ink,” highlighting the band’s willingness to step outside their self-produced comfort zone and recruit some collaborators behind the boards. “I like how the word “is” indicates a sense of presence in the now – there’s no logic or rationale behind this record; it just is,” said vocalist and guitarist Jim James on the titular inspiration.

 

Backxwash – Only Dust Remains (Mar 28)

The Montreal-based rapper and producer, is set to release her next project via her own independent label, Ugly Hag. Following the powerful single “WAKE UP,” the 10-track album marks her first full-length since completing a critically acclaimed trilogy in 2022. Only Dust Remains is expected to feature a more complex and melodic sound, exploring themes of mourning, reflection, and hope, while still showcasing her signature poetic and introspective lyrics. An artist continuing to exist at the intersection between faith, identity, and queerness, she continues to blend elements of hip-hop, metal, and experimental production. 

 

Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power (Mar 28)

Following the black metal pioneers’ 2021 album Infinite Granite, which showcased a calmer, more atmospheric sound, Lonely People With Power sees the band return to their hardcore roots. The lead single, “Magnolia,” is an explosive return to form, with thrashing drums, gritty guitars, George Clarke’s powerful screeching vocals and an accompanying video capturing the band’s intensity. Produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and mixed by Zach Weeks, the album also features contributions from Boy Harsher’s Jae Matthews and Interpol’s Paul Banks. This ambitious release promises to be Deafheaven’s most epic and daring yet.

 

Destroyer – Dan’s Boogie (Mar 28)

Dan’s Boogie marks a significant creative leap for Dan Bejar. The album blends epic pop spectacle, intimate piano ballads, and brooding mood pieces, pushing the boundaries of his distinctive songwriting. With themes ranging from personal reckoning to cinematic grandeur, Dan’s Boogie explores new sonic territory, further enriched by collaborations with longtime partner John Collins. Singles like the introspective “Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World” and the gripping “Bologna” signal a breakthrough for the band, combining dark, cinematic storytelling with urgent, deeply emotional music. 

 

Lucy Dacus – Forever Is A Feeling (Mar 28)

Following her 2021’s poignant Home Video, the indie icon and boygenius star’s latest project is set to explore the complexity of relationships. The album combines lush, textured instrumentation with Dacus’ newfound frankness in addressing sexuality, as seen in tracks like “Ankles,” which blends melancholic lyrics with an exuberant, danceable sound. Written between Fall 2022 and Summer 2024, Forever Is A Feeling captures the highs and lows of falling in and out of love, framed through a lens of introspection and transformation. Featuring collaborations with Hozier, her boygenius bandmates, and others, it should mark a bold evolution in Dacus’s sound and storytelling.

 

Perfume Genius – Glory (Mar 28)

Mike Hadreas is set to release his seventh studio album, marking a departure from his typically insular process and embracing greater collaboration with a talented group of musicians. Glory delves into Hadreas’ familiar themes of the body, decay, love, and damage but is written from a place of reflection, moving beyond struggle into a new, uncharted space as he ages. The first single, “It’s a Mirror,” exemplifies this shift, with its raw, introspective lyrics and a driving, wiry musical backdrop.

 

Spellling – Portrait Of My Heart (Mar 28)

Chrystia Cabral returns with Portrait of My Heart, her fourth album, marking a bold evolution in her avant-pop project. Shifting from the whimsical and allegorical to a more direct and emotionally raw exploration of love, intimacy, anxiety, and alienation, the singles have also been outfitted with a newfound propulsive rock edge. With sharp lyricism and a heightened sense of urgency, it should result in her most immediate and personal work to date. Deeply introspective yet universally relatable, it also boasts collaborations from Chaz Bear (Toro y Moi) and Pat McCrory (Turnstile).