Just when we thought we’d seen it all in rock, 2026 insists on proving us wrong. The year kicked off with the resurrection of the CD (yes, you read that right) and now we’ve got grindcore invading your office. Not to mention unheard Bowie that’s older than your grandma. Come on, the bar table’s full tonight.
The day the Tiny Desk became a mosh pit
Who’d have thought that music’s most wholesome show, known for unplugged, intimate versions, would become the epicenter of a sonic apocalypse? Napalm Death brought their extreme metal to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, and the internet, obviously, imploded. Revolver Magazine and Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos called it “the heaviest show in the program’s history” and “the first grindcore band to rock the NPR offices.” And for good reason. Seeing Barney Greenway roaring in a setting with potted plants and bookshelves is the definition of sublime absurdity. It’s the kind of thing that makes you question the purpose of life, but in a good way. The British band, who paved the way for acts like Thou and Gwar in this honor, showed that no matter the stage, chaos is the only constant.
The CD counter-attacks (and beats vinyl)
In a twist worthy of a B-movie sci-fi script, CDs are outselling vinyl in the first half of 2026, according to Consequence of Sound. Yes, the little silver disc we kicked to the curb a decade ago is making a comeback even Xuxa couldn’t pull off. While vinyl still dominates hipster conversations and polished shelves, it’s the CD that’s generating more profit. Go figure. Maybe we’ve reached peak “esthetic of imperfection” and people just want to listen to music without worrying if the record is warped or if the cat’s going to jump on the needle. Or maybe it’s just nostalgia hitting, but this time, for those who were 15 in the 90s.
Bowie pre-Bowie and Slipknot in São Paulo’s macumba
And speaking of nostalgia, but of a different kind: a new David Bowie collection will feature unreleased songs, recorded with Jimmy Page in 1965, back when he was still Davie Jones. It’s like finding the original blueprints of the Titanic, just with less chance of sinking and more chance of becoming a collector’s item. Pitchfork reports that “The Shel Talmy Recordings” will gather material from the late singer with the eponymous producer. It’s Bowie before he became Bowie, the egg before the chicken, the primordial chaos of genius.
And to wrap up this whole shindig, Slipknot has a new home. Well, a new studio. And right here. Wikimetal reported Alex Venturella and Eloy Casagrande at IP&T in São Paulo. Loudwire and Louder Sound confirmed that the producer for the new album is Matt Wallace (Faith No More!). Jim Root said he has “at least 50” song ideas. So, expect a heavy hitter. And with Brazilian seasoning, apparently. I like the sound of that.