IoMP 117: What Have You Been Listening To? (January 2026)
The first What Have You Been Listening To? episode of 2026 sets the tone for what’s shaping up to be an absolutely unhinged year for metal—and if Collin’s end-of-2025 prediction holds, thrash might be running the show.
The duo dig into the albums that defined their listening habits over the past month, while reacting to a wave of killer announcements and a brutal stretch of Toronto shows featuring Archspire, Amon Amarth & Dethklok, and Sepultura. The duo also dives into listener submissions, ranging from old-school legends like Nailbomb, Death, and Ozzy Osbourne, to newer surprises like The Pretty Wild.
This episode covers serious ground. From Kreator’s thrash dominance, proving the Year of Thrash is off to a terrifyingly strong start, to surprising standouts in doom, hardcore, deathcore, and power metal, it’s a list that is bound to add new favourites to your listening habits for February.
With laughs, hot takes, and a ton of metal recommendations, this episode is the perfect snapshot of how 2026 is shaping up—and why this might be one of the strongest years in recent memory.
Listen now, then hit us up and tell us: What have YOU been listening to?
DISCLAIMER: Copyright Exceptions under the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), allowance is made for "fair dealing" for the purposes of criticism or review.
Check out more from the Influencers of Metal Podcast!
