Diyno Mixtape: the best of April 2026 releases – our suggestions
April 2026 releases selected for our monthly column Diyno Mixtape
As usual, in April, we discovered and listened to a lot of new music, selecting the releases you’ll find in Diyno Mixtape. As always, ample space for different subgenres and bands from various countries around the world. Happy listening!
Be curious, and if you have advice or opinions on the April releases, feel free to contact us on our social media or via email!
If you’re interested in the physical copy of any of these albums, you can write to info@radiopunk.it. Some are in our catalog, and some could be available on demand.
On this page:
Hardcore Punk
ZANJEER زنجیر – Seher-e-Maqhoor سحرِ مقھور (Neon Nile Records | LP, CD, Tape)
The band Zanjeer (which means ‘chain’) formed in Bremen in 2020 and subsequently moved to Berlin, where they changed their line-up and created this album, whose title means ‘the dawn of the oppressed’. The album is a ferocious sonic assault that masterfully and originally blends hardcore punk, crust, thrash metal, and grind, whilst the vocals in Urdu (the lingua franca of Pakistan and India) are incredibly powerful and strike straight to the heart, both in sound and subject matter. Indeed, the lyrics tackle themes such as immigration, neo-colonialism, the exploitation of the Global South, Islamic extremism and the ongoing massacres in Palestine, with particular mention of the song “Anti-Deutsch”, a cover of “Reagan Youth” with reworked lyrics to attack and silence the eponymous – and shameful – German movement. The cover art by Chabieb is also stunning, drawing inspiration from the 1857 uprising against British colonial rule in British India. A magnificent album that is already an anthem to rebellion!
Pegs – Oscurità (Margini Records, Timebomb Records, Hellnation Records | LP)
The Pegs are back, a band from Grosseto releasing their first vinyl album featuring seven explosive tracks plus a cover of Kina’s “Sfoglio I Miei Giorni”. A sharp, heavy-hitting record, enhanced by lyrics that speak of these dark times and how, by standing together as a community, we can see the light, which is somewhat the impression I get from the artwork, created by Lucamaleonte with graphic design by Donato Loforese (Studio Co-Co). The sounds recorded at HombreLobo Studio perfectly capture the essence of the band, where hardcore and street punk blend into a sweeping mix, thanks in part to the vocals and backing vocals, the real highlight of this album. We can’t wait to hear it live!
Yambag – The Psycho (Convulse Records | 7″)
Eight tracks in under eight minutes should give you a pretty good idea of what we’re talking about. Cleveland’s Yambag make our ears bleed with a barrage of tupa-tupa beats, lightning-fast riffs and vitriolic screams. Hardcore punk that comes in only two modes: fast and faster! A real barrage!
Rake-Off – Total Venom
A good four years ago, we interviewed the Roman band to mark the release of their fabulous album Observing Madness. Rake-Off are now back in the spotlight with eight truly stunning tracks, steeped in crossover thrash with various hardcore punk influences. The album features an extremely striking cover and masterful sound engineering by Fabio Banfio, who is also the band’s singer. A magnificent album!
Corvo – La Gran Plaga
Hailing from Washington D.C., this quintet specialises in hardcore punk heavily influenced by crust and d-beat. The nine tracks, sung in Spanish, exude a dark atmosphere and maintain an impressive, explosive energy throughout the album, whilst also being a highly dynamic record thanks to its rhythm changes and catchy riffs. The beautifully crafted cover art by Thomas Sara is also fantastic. Let’s hope it gets released on vinyl too, because it’s a cracking album!
Shaved Ape – Loveletter to Hardcore (Sorry State Records | 12″ LP)
When the tempo picks up so much that you get the impression the band has somewhere to be in five minutes and is therefore in a right hurry, then you know you’re listening to a cracking hardcore record! Five new tracks pressed on vinyl join those already released on a 2022 demo available only on cassette. What can I say? In its simplicity, this is some absolutely brilliant hardcore punk: screamed, clanging and extremely effective. Not to be missed!
Termite – Inside These Walls (Goodbye Boozy Records | LP)
OK, OK, we’ve mentioned it’s out on LP, but to be fair, we should let you know that it’s coming out on physical format in September. And we’re telling you this straight away, because as soon as you press play below, you’ll absolutely want to rush to put the vinyl on your turntable. Almost 18 minutes of sensational, fast-paced hardcore punk with a rock ’n’ roll flavour that feels as much like the 80s as it does like Australia – which is, in fact, the country where this Perth-based band hails from. 13 fucking ggreat songs!
Punk Rock
I Am The Avalanche – The Horror Show (Rude Records, Equal Vision Records | LP / CD)
The grief of losing a loved one and the courage to pick oneself up by finding inner strength and the beauty of life in friendship and in the pure heart of a dog. This album, the New York band’s fifth full-length release, is honest and sincere because it stems from genuine emotions and succeeds in fully conveying them through the poetry of its lyrics and music. Singer-songwriter-style punk rock influenced by melodic hardcore and alternative rock, it strikes a deep chord and draws you into a cathartic process that transforms suffering into healing. “This record,” explains frontman Vinnie Caruana, “can become a lifelong companion for those who let it in. The message is simple: you are stronger than you think you are and you are not alone.” And the message comes through loud and clear, straight to the heart!
Circus Rhapsody – Chucky Sessions II (Mannequin Vanity Records)
With the release of their fourth and final double single, the Berlin band’s new album is finally complete. It’s punk rock with a nod to folk, transforming horror imagery into a bizarre circus where anything can happen. Even Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” becomes the title of an almost dance-like track that features the unmistakable riff from “I Just Can’t Get Enough.” Originality, irony, irresistible rhythms, and plenty of fun—currently available only digitally, but a vinyl release is coming soon. Don’t miss out!
Dead End Lane – Crush (Shakin’ Hips Records | LP)
Hailing from Baltimore, this quartet delivers a blend of energetic, fast-paced punk rock and melodic hardcore, with a horror-punk and ’50s-inspired flavor that adds to its charm. The lyrics, enhanced by Erin Maltese’s stunning vocals, offer a sarcastic take on life, with the grit needed to face even the toughest times. The 10 fast-paced tracks leave you no time to catch your breath, and the vocal melodies stick in your head from the very first listen: overwhelming and captivating, you won’t be able to get enough of it!
Codefendants – Lifers (This Is Crime Wave/Regime Music Group)
The rap/punk/electronic band formed by Sam King (lead singer of Get Dead) alongside Ceschi, a versatile rapper, is back, backed by that old fox Fat Mike. Their second album, Lifers, is once again an explosive mix of wild rap and punk guitars blended with electronic beats. Perhaps not quite on a par with their debut, but Lonely Life and Crime Wave are in a league of their own. Live, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears.
Ska Punk
Strollad – Hors du Tempo (B.A.ba music | LP)
If you love the fusion of ska, punk, and traditional music, you’re sure to be familiar with this eight-piece French band, which has been active for nearly 30 years. On this new album, their Breton ska-punk—infused with rock, reggae, and French chanson—once again blends modern and traditional instruments across nine festive, danceable tracks, all while delivering lyrics with social and political commentary. The first single, “La cour des gras,” for example, is a satire on the obsession with accumulating material goods to climb the social ladder at the expense of morality and human values. A great album that’s a must-have for your collection if you’re a fan of the genre!
Lickshot – Lick EP
Just over 12 minutes—an intro and three tracks—are all it takes for this Gloucester-based quartet to pique our curiosity and win us over. A highly original mix of ska-core, nu-metal, and hip hop with ironic and witty lyrics. The lyrics of “Flatline,” about the use of artificial intelligence in the arts, are particularly noteworthy, rich in alliteration and wordplay: “Take your zeros and ones ’cause they just kill the fun.” Don’t miss it!
Runaway Ricochet – Made From Recycled Materials Vol. II
Reminding us that recycling is a virtuous habit, this Minnesota band has put together an EP for the second time, featuring covers, re-recordings of old songs, and a B-side. The material is top-notch, though, made with their signature recipe: 1 cup of ska, 5 grams of punk, 3 tablespoons of emo, and a pinch of progressive jazz fusion. And if we add an amazing horn section, well, what are you waiting for? Hit play!
Weftin – Providence: The Lost Sessions
Weston Mohr, aka Weftin from New Jersey and vocalist for Chemical Imbalance, has recovered seven tracks—the sole survivors from a damaged hard drive—and turned them into an album available for free download on Bandcamp. Ska-core to the nth degree mixed with metal and progressive, featuring sincere and direct lyrics that launch a fierce tirade against humanity’s mad rush toward self-destruction and the current aberrant situation in the U.S. and the rest of the world. If you love the dark side of ska, this album is sure to become one of your favorites!
Street Punk / Oi!
Collaps – Getting Used To The Dirt (Primator Crew, Oi! The Boat | LP)
A new album from the German band we told you about in the last issue of Diyno Mixtape. This second album features four tracks from the promo tape plus seven more, all bursting with Oi! rock ’n’ roll – with just the right melodic edge, powerful vocals and choruses that stick in your head from the very first listen. A brilliant album!
Wrong Side – Temores (Primator Crew, Oi! The Boat | 12″ EP)
This band from San José, Costa Rica, has released a 6-track EP with a sound firmly rooted in raw, dark and punchy Oi! punk, yet featuring just the right amount of melody and a few hardcore and post-punk elements that pop up here and there. A robust yet multifaceted Oi! record that’s truly compelling!
Garage Punk
Choncy – Trademark (Feel It Records | LP)
On this third LP, the Cincinnati-based band continues its sound exploration, venturing into the broadest realms of punk, all with a massive dose of eclecticism and a verve that at times steers into funk. You’ll find echoes and influences from garage, egg-punk, post-punk, hardcore, jazz and alternative, all with a danceable edge that’s sure to win you over!
Crust Punk
Diktät – Problémy Prvého Sveta
While browsing Bandcamp, we came across this band from Poprad in Slovakia, who also have another album to their name, released in 2021. There’s no further information, but what matters here are these incredible seven tracks of furious, D-beat-infused crust punk in the tradition of the legendary Discharge. Anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist lyrics, a bleak atmosphere – and off we go. A wonderful discovery!
War//Plague / Svaveldioxid – Split EP (Organize and Arise, Phobia Records | 7″)
If you’re looking for something that sounds like a raid on your ears, this split is just what you need. Minneapolis’s War//Plague, who released one of our favourite albums of the year in 2025, team up with Svaveldioxid, a solid Stockholm-based band. A battle fought with spiked clubs, where the former’s explosive crust punk clashes with the latter’s vigorous Kängpunk/d-beat. To top off this masterpiece of decay, there’s the excellent and evocative artwork!