Breanna Workman Picks Her Top Five Bands to Watch in 2026

By: Breanna Workman

1) Code:Words
Back in 2023 Los Angeles based musicians John Dillon and Garrett Lowery joined
forces with a goal to “breathe new life into the rock genre" Fueled by their determination, in
2024 the group’s introductory release “Wash the Blood” debuted to the world and has since
accumulated over half a million views, just shy of the single's 2 year anniversary.
In the months following the release of “Wash the Blood” the pair dropped their second single,
“The Best I Feel is Numb,” which has since surpassed a quarter million streams on Spotify.
In January 2026, “Luminance” premiered on Octane’s Test Drive and quickly rose to the top
as the bands #1 single reaching over 160,000 streams on Spotify just one month after its
release contributing to the explosive success of this up and coming act. At 70k monthly
listeners, just 3 years after their debut, their consistent success and growth will prove fruitful in
the years to come.

2) LEVELS
Budding from Little Rock, Arkansas, LEVELS emerged in 2016 combining electronic
elements with modern metal on their debut single “Slip” marking the beginning of a new chapter
into their musical journey. In the years that followed, the band consistently released one to two
singles annually, establishing their sound and solidifying their presence in the metal scene.
In 2023, the band signed with Sharptone Records — a defining moment of what was to come.
Just 4 months later, in 2024 the band's first EP under the label titled PULSE marked a major
milestone, surpassing over one million streams across its tracks, expanding the troupe's reach
and setting the stage for their future success. To close out 2025, the band released a
groundbreaking single that premiered on Sirius XM Octane Test Drive titled ‘Black Dove’ which
has since become the band's fastest growing single to date. With over 163,000 streams on
Spotify in just two months after its initial release, marks new heights for the up-and-coming
group. In addition to their end of year successes, LEVELS announced they are set to take the
stage at Rock Fest 2026 while also preparing to release a brand-new full-length album on April
10 — two giant steps forward and a move that promises to elevate their sound and presence
even further.

3) Blindlove
Amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, a group of Salt Lake City locals came together to
form Blindlove. Their debut release of I Wanna Be Okay captured listeners' attention, and
soared into the National Top 40 Alternative Charts immediately launching the band’s career
forward. Riding the success of the band's initial debut, in 2022 Blindlove released their second single titled “Anthem for Broken People” which has amassed over 550,000 streams on Spotify
since its release.

Since then, the band has consistently outperformed previous releases breaking momentous
milestones early in their young musical careers. In addition to the many eventful previous years,
2026 has by far been the most rewarding as their newest entirely self produced, self mixed, and
self mastered album Broken Heart Syndrome has already taken 4 of their 10 top song spots on
Spotify just a month after its release. Most notably, “Armageddon” , previously released as a
single a year prior to its EP, has claimed the number one spot for the band’s most trending
release. As Blindlove continues to shatter expectations and dominate the charts, their journey
stands as a testament to creativity, dedication, and the power of music to connect with listeners
worldwide

4) Stray View
Initially releasing their first single in 2023, the past 3 years have shaped the band’s trajectory
in landmarking ways. These milestones included signing with rock label Hopeless Records just
one year after their debut and the release Wasteland off their EP titled Displace/Erase the same
year becoming one of their “Most Popular” according to Spotify with nearly 400,000 streams.
In the upcoming months, the band is set to share the stage with label mates Melrose Avenue
and Autumn Kings spanning across the U.S. this spring. The band’s rapid growth and success
reflects their rising influence in the rock scene and hints at even greater achievements on the
horizon in the years to come for the budding musicians.

5) Above, Below
Ten years ago, Above, Below was formed with a clear vision: to craft a sound that was
unmistakably their own. Over the years, the Australia-based ensemble steadily released a
series of singles that grew and familiarized fans with a sound that became distinctively
Above, Below. 

​February 2026 I Guess it Was Nowhere was released and was an overnight
groundbreaking success. It captured widespread attention and marked an explosive new
chapter in their career. Just one week after its release, I Guess It Was Nowhere reached No. 5
on the ARIA Albums Chart in Australia, solidifying the band’s rapid growth.
Tracks from the project have since dominated nine out of the ten “Most Popular” songs on
Spotify marking 2026 a career defining year for the group and one of the best years to come.