New Music Friday: Foo Fighters Reveal Your Favorite Toy, Maiden’s Ed Fest Details + Van Halen Album Talk

It’s a New Music Friday episode, so I’m switching the order: new releases first, then we rip through a LOT of music news so you can grab what you came for and get on with your life.

On the release radar for 2/20/26, it’s a lighter rock/metal week, but we’ve got new stuff from Clawfinger, Michael Monroe, Defaced, Choker, plus more — and I’ll tell you what I’m actually recommending right now.

Then the news run gets busy: Foo Fighters announce a new album (Your Favorite Toy) and a Hollywood Bowl symphonic show, Iron Maiden drop full details for Ed Fest (and it sounds insane), Alex Van Halen talks finishing Van Halen material with Steve Lukather (and the vocalist question is… a thing), Metallica get honored at the 2026 Red Cross Gala, Failure announce a new album + tour (with a Hayley Williams appearance), U2 release a new EP, Arch Enemy reveal their new singer and drop a new track, plus Tomahawk rumors heating up. Oh — and yes, we have to talk about that new Down cover.

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