Sound Check - Best Albums April
The albums we can’t stop talking about in April
A column where NMM ranks each new album we listened to in the previous month. Whether we wrote a review or not, we aim to sum up our monthly listens so you know how to get the good stuff.
April turned into one of the strongest months for new music so far this year, with major releases landing across alternative, indie, electronic and mainstream rock. From industrial remixes and political post-hardcore through to introspective indie-pop and chaotic grunge energy,
Here’s what’s been spinning at Newmusicmagazine.co.uk throughout April.
1. Nine Inch Nails – Nine Inch Noize
The only thing stopping Nine Inch Noize from hitting full five-star territory is the fact this technically isn’t entirely new material. Instead, Trent Reznor and collaborators Boys Noize take classic Nine Inch Nails tracks and drag them violently into a modern electronic landscape, rebuilding familiar industrial chaos into something that somehow feels fresh all over again.
The production slams throughout, blending harsh electronics, distorted percussion and club-ready energy without losing the aggression that made those tracks iconic in the first place. Couple the energy of the album with the visuals on display at Coachella and this is masterclass in electronic music.
2. Thundercat – Distracted
Thundercat remains one of the most effortlessly unique artists around, and Distracted delivers exactly the kind of genre-blurring experience fans would hope for. Packed with rhythmic basslines, warped R&B grooves and playful hooks, the album constantly shifts direction while somehow remaining completely cohesive.
The lead single alongside Tame Impala immediately set the tone, balancing smooth melodies with psychedelic textures, while the rest of the album keeps things loose, colourful and full of personality. Even with the stacked features and complex musicianship, nothing ever feels forced. It’s stylish, funny and incredibly easy to keep returning to.
3. Enter Shikari – Lose Your Self
One of the biggest surprises of the month came from Enter Shikari, who dropped Lose Your Self almost completely out of nowhere and immediately reminded everyone why they remain one of the most distinctive bands in alternative music.
The album leans heavily into the political and social commentary that has defined the band for years, this time focusing on artificial intelligence, rising extremism and modern burnout. Musically, it’s the chaotic blend fans expect from Enter Shikari, smashing electronics, post-hardcore and huge melodic hooks together at full speed. Since its surprise release, it’s been on constant repeat.
Gretel’s Squish continues the rise of one of the more exciting younger alternative artists around right now, delivering grungy indie rock packed with fuzzy riffs and haunting vocal work that occasionally recalls early Wolf Alice. Angine de Poitrine have zoomed to the top of every indiehead'‘s playlist with their quirky take on math rock. Check out our piece on trying to understand microtones. Holly Humberstone’s Cruel World meanwhile leans fully into emotional indie-pop, with the title track standing out immediately as one of her strongest songs to date.
Elsewhere, Foo Fighters returned with Your Favorite Toy, a surprisingly reflective release that feels slightly understated compared to some of the band’s larger arena-rock moments, but still carries enough emotional weight to connect. Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide continues his recent momentum with warm folk-pop songwriting, particularly on standout track Praying For Your Downfall. Skindred once again prove they’re one of the most entertaining bands around with the relentlessly energetic You Got This, while Meghan Trainor released the confusing and forgettable Toy With Me.
April delivered one of the most enjoyable release schedules in recent memory, with very few disappointments and several genuine album-of-the-year contenders already emerging. If the rest of 2026 keeps this pace up, it’s going to be a seriously memorable year for music.
Check in on our rolling top 50 album list to see where these shake out compared to the last 12 months of releases.