Current Malta Bands: A Guide to the Local Music Scene in 2026

Malta punches well above its weight for a country this size, and nowhere is that clearer than in its bands. From decades-old indie rock pioneers to death metal acts touring Asia, the local scene covers a lot of ground. Here's a rundown of the bands actively playing, releasing, and gigging around the islands right now, grouped by genre, with links to their own pages so you can go straight to the source.

Rock, Indie & Alternative

• Beangrowers — Indie rock/post-punk trio (Alison Galea, Mark Sansone, Ian Schranz) active since the late 1990s and considered Malta's indie rock pioneers. Facebook | Website

• Brikkuni — Credited with reviving Maltese-sung pop music since their 2008 debut Kuntrabanda, a genre-bending pop/rock/punk hybrid that made them a local cult phenomenon. Facebook | Website

• Djun — Indie pop/alternative group formed in 2017, marrying ear-friendly hooks with poetic lyrics; a favourite of the Maltese alternative scene. Facebook | Website

• The New Victorians — Award-winning sister duo (Bettina and Philippa Cassar) making indie/alternative pop and theatre; won the 2011 Alchemy Songwriting Competition in the US. Facebook | Website

• Brodu — Maltese-language rock band started by Mark "iz-Zizza" Abela in 2011, blending rock with funk, blues, and doom metal; albums include Kusksu Clan (2024). Facebook | Website

• Relikc — Pop rock/funk five-piece formed in 2009 (Keith Zammit, Luke Grech, Ivan Giordano, Joseph Axiak, Lesnich Vassallo), known for high-energy shows blending modern hits with crowd-pleasers. Facebook | Website

• Skimmed — Indie garage rock band (Alexandra Aquilina, Daniel Borg, Federico Cilia, Christopher Mercieca) active since 2007, echoing the Pixies with 80s/90s indie, grunge and punk influences. Facebook | Instagram

• The Violent Violets — Three-piece post-punk/alternative rock band (Matthew Shields, Samuel Xiberras, Andre Farrugia) formed in 2011; albums include TAME (2014) and Jade (2019). Facebook | Website

• Kill The Action — Four-piece electro-rock band blending melodic and heavy guitar with ambient synths, fat bass and groovy beats. Debut album Anti-Gravity. Facebook

• Wilted — Grunge band formed in 2023, blending 90s grunge influences with modern rock, known for raw sound and electrifying live shows. Website

• Neon Islands — Indie pop/rock four-piece with musicians from different countries, known for shimmering, electric songs; announced to perform at the Isle of Wight Festival. Facebook |

• Pyramid Suns — Progressive/psychedelic alternative rock band from Valletta active since 2014; released the album Reflections (2023) and has played the Farsons Beer Festival and Malta Takes London. Facebook | Website

• The Voyage — Alternative rock four-piece (Ian Bonnici, Ryen Refalo, Daniel Genuis, Daryl Curmi) whose single "We'll Run" hit No. 1 on Malta's PRS charts. Facebook

• Plato's Dream Machine — Five-piece "metaphysical rock" band active since 2009, known for vibrant synths paired with haunting vocals. Facebook

• Airport Impressions — Emotive melodic alternative rock four-piece formed in 2008, one of Malta's most successful musical exports; won MTV's Battle of the Bands and played Isle of MTV Malta to 60,000 fans. Facebook | Instagram

Punk & Hardcore

• BILA — Caustic Maltese punk three-piece delivering high-octane, bilingual (Maltese and English) punk energy; the first punk band from Malta to tour America. Debut album Bezzalart (2025). Facebook | Website

• Double Standard — Hardcore punk band running since 2016; debut full-length Mt. Focus (2023) tackles systemic racism, cosmology, misinformation and anxiety. Facebook | Website

• Batteries Not Included (Maltapunks) — Punk ska reggae three-piece (Malcolm on bass/vox, Miguel on guitar/vox, Steve on drums). Facebook | Instagram

• No Humano — International project rooted in Malta blending punk rawness, industrial textures and metal intensity, with members from Malta and Latin America. Facebook | Website

Metal & Doom

• Forsaken — One of Southern Europe's longest-standing doom metal outfits, formed in Malta in

• 1990; epic doom with Hammond-organ-driven soundscapes, multiple albums on Mighty Music. Facebook | Website

• Beheaded — One of Malta's most internationally recognised extreme metal bands, active since 1991, with six full-length albums and tours across Europe, the US and Asia. Latest album Għadam (2025) is the first death metal album in Maltese. Facebook | Instagram

• Haine — Deathcore band formed in 2017, entering a more focused phase in 2026; 2025 full-length album Fertile Void explores emotion and transformation across ten tracks. Facebook | Website

• Nomad Son — Doom metal band from Mellieha, formed in 2006, blending doom with 70s heavy rock and NWOBHM touches; ominous Hammond organ soundscapes. Albums include First Light and The Darkening. Facebook | Website

• Damaged & Co. — Alternative symphonic metal act returning in 2026 with a new setlist and expanded lineup: Warren on bass and Franny on keys join Daniel on guitar, Gwen on drums, and Peter on vocals. Performed twice in Italy and once in Israel; opened for Lordi and played Dark Malta Festival twice. Facebook | Instagram

• Hemplifier — Stoner/doom trio formed in 2019 (Emanuel Portelli, Fred Burd, Dino Mifsud Lepre), worshipping fuzzed-out amps and vintage gear. Debut album The Stoner Side Of The Doom (2023) via Electric Valley Records. Facebook | Website

• A Broken Design — Stoner metal/grunge act featuring members of SLIT, Nomad Son and Kill The Action; heavy, oldschool grooves. Debut album Another Day In Hell via Argonauta Records. Facebook | Website

• Align The Tide — Metalcore band from Mellieha, formed in 2015 and signed to Cleopatra Records; Danny Dalli (drums/vocals) and Kyle Farrugia (vocals/lead guitar). Album Dead Religion features monster riffs and thundering drums. Facebook | Website

• Lady Lizard — Four-piece sludge, stoner and desert rock band delivering raw, heavy grooves. Facebook | Instagram

• Victims Of Creation — Doom/death metal band from Santa Venera with a heavy down-tuned sound and sludgey elements. Signed to Cyclone Empire; debut album Symmetry Of Our Plagued Existence (2013). Facebook | Instagram

Have we missed your band out? Reach out to us and we'll have your details here updated.