For the 2026 Carnival season, Machel Montano continues to dominate the soca scene with high-energy releases, delivering his latest album, Encore. Designed specifically for the Road March, the project aims to extend his winning streak following 2025’s One Degree Hotter and his NPR Tiny Desk performance. Reuniting with key songwriters and producers from Badjohn Republic, Encore captures the anticipation and eruption of a live crowd, blending polished production with raw, performance-driven intensity.

The album opens with “Compromise,” featuring Tano, bringing a sensual, soulful slow-winding groove. Instead of jumping straight into Power Soca madness, Montano sets the tone with a more intimate tempo, offering a slow wine vibe layered with smooth vocals and controlled energy.

“Tempa Wine,” produced by Travis World, modernizes the original hit with a refined, youth-driven touch. The update respects the nostalgic essence of the Patrice Roberts-assisted classic while sounding fresh and timely for Carnival 2026. It’s more of a strategic “touch-up” than a reinvention, maintaining familiarity while sharpening its impact.

“Dey-O” leans fully into Power Soca territory. Built on the fast-paced Elektra Riddim, the collaboration with Travis World pulses with blazing energy. It sticks to traditional soca themes—Carnival, pretty gyals, and fete culture—while Montano’s commanding vocals keep it firmly in championship form.

“Pull D Pin,” featuring Skinny Fabulous and Grenadian duo Lil Natty & Thunda, is pure Road March ammunition. Powered by the Monkey Business Riddim and aggressive production from King Bubba FM and Dwaingerous, the track is explosive, bass-heavy, and relentless. It feels engineered to dominate music trucks and large-scale road moments.

“Bam Bam,” alongside Voice and Litleboy, blends soca with bouyon influences, driven by heavy drums and chant-ready hooks designed to make dancers wuk up nonstop. It’s high-energy and fete-focused, aimed squarely at peak Carnival chaos.

“Dancing in the Streets,” featuring Mela Caribe and DJ Private Ryan, captures pure Carnival unity. With vibrant, celebratory energy, it mirrors the feeling of flags waving and crowds moving in sync, emphasizing freedom and Caribbean pride.

“Elevate,” featuring Nailah Blackman and produced by DJ Private Ryan on the Elevate Riddim, arrives with high anticipation but ultimately falls short of its potential. While polished, it lacks the explosive moment expected from such a pairing.

“Move Out D Way,” featuring Paris Coutain and Travis World, begins with a deceptively calm intro before erupting into drum-heavy intensity. The track quickly gained traction, positioning itself as another serious Road March contender.

The title track, “Encore,” produced by XplicitMevon and Badjohn Republic, delivers stadium-sized adrenaline with a driving cadence and commanding presence. Its early streaming numbers reflect strong reception, reinforcing its status as a centerpiece of the album. “Encore (Stage Mix)” amplifies that experience, extending the energy into a live-show simulation built for crowd eruption.

The nostalgic collaboration “Carnival Birthday” with Superblue bridges generations, celebrating Trinidad Carnival with feel-good energy and vibrant production from Kernal Roberts and Azikiwe Kellar. Meanwhile, “No Wayyy” sticks closely to the traditional soca formula, emphasizing repetitive chants and rhythmic drive built for crowd participation.

Encore reinforces Montano’s 40-plus-year mission to elevate soca globally while maintaining his dominance on the Road. With his pursuit of a 12th Road March title—potentially surpassing the legendary Lord Kitchener—the stakes are historic.

The album is a controlled blaze of Carnival energy: calculated, performance-ready, and strategically crafted to leave a lasting cultural imprint.

One Love - Todd M. Judd