diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c782e38..ffb2234 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -200,6 +200,6 @@ logger.debug("state", () => buildHugeSnapshot()); // skipped when debug is suppr
 
 Woodpecker verifies pull requests and `main`, reports CI to Mattermost, then automatically releases from Conventional Commits merged to `main`. It updates `package.json` and `CHANGELOG.md`, creates a `vX.Y.Z` tag, and publishes to the private `@mifi` registry.
 
-Use `fix:` for a patch, `feat:` for a minor release, and `!` or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer for a major release. Commits such as `docs:`, `test:`, and `chore:` do not release a package.
+Use `fix:` for a patch, `feat:` for a minor release, and `feat!` / `fix!` (or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer) for a major release. Commits such as `docs:`, `test:`, and `chore:` do not release a package.
 
 The release workflow uses the existing global `gitea_package_token`, `gitea_registry_username`, `gitea_release_token`, `mattermost_bot_access_token`, `mattermost_tests_channel_id`, `mattermost_pushes_channel_id`, and `mattermost_post_api_url` secrets.
diff --git a/release.config.cjs b/release.config.cjs
index c5cbc3f..2114e9c 100644
--- a/release.config.cjs
+++ b/release.config.cjs
@@ -5,13 +5,23 @@ const repositoryUrl =
         ? `https://${encodeURIComponent(releaseUsername)}:${encodeURIComponent(releaseToken)}@git.mifi.dev/mifi/logger.git`
         : "https://git.mifi.dev/mifi/logger.git";
 
+/**
+ * Default Angular preset rejects `feat!` / `fix!` headers entirely (no release).
+ * These parser options match Conventional Commits so `!` becomes a BREAKING CHANGE note.
+ */
+const conventionalCommitParserOpts = {
+    headerPattern: /^(\w*)(?:\((.*)\))?!?: (.*)$/,
+    breakingHeaderPattern: /^(\w*)(?:\((.*)\))?!: (.*)$/,
+    noteKeywords: ["BREAKING CHANGE", "BREAKING-CHANGE"],
+};
+
 module.exports = {
     branches: ["main"],
     repositoryUrl,
     tagFormat: "v${version}",
     plugins: [
-        "@semantic-release/commit-analyzer",
-        "@semantic-release/release-notes-generator",
+        ["@semantic-release/commit-analyzer", { parserOpts: conventionalCommitParserOpts }],
+        ["@semantic-release/release-notes-generator", { parserOpts: conventionalCommitParserOpts }],
         ["@semantic-release/changelog", { changelogFile: "CHANGELOG.md" }],
         "@semantic-release/npm",
         [