Skip to main content
Trending
  • ALBUM REVIEW: Sugar – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection
  • What Is an AI Wife Chat?
  • The Cure announce “The Show of a Lost World” — remixed, recut, remastered — arriving on Blu-ray & DVD this December
  • Matt Cardle Returns with New Album ‘The Great Escape’ and First Single ‘Drinking Dreams’
  • REVIEW: debdepan “Lovers & Others” EP
XS Noize | Independent Music News
  • News
        • the cure
          News

          The Cure announce “The Show of a Lost World” — remixed, recut, remastered — arriving on Blu-ray & DVD this December

          November 28, 2025

          On 1st November 2024, The Cure released their widely acclaimed, now Grammy-nominated album Songs Of A Lost World. To mark the occasion, the band performed the album in full — for the first and only […]

          Matt Cardle
          News

          Matt Cardle Returns with New Album ‘The Great Escape’ and First Single ‘Drinking Dreams’

          November 27, 2025

          ‘The Great Escape’ cements Matt’s longevity as a recording artist in a career that now spans over 15 years, with record sales in excess of 3 million. Matt Cardle’s stunning four-octave vocal range made him […]

          Saint Etienne
          News

          Saint Etienne Announce Farewell UK & Ireland Tour for September 2026

          November 27, 2025

          Saint Etienne played their first ever live show on 15 November 1990 at Heaven nightclub in London, just months after releasing their debut single ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’. Since then, they’ve appeared at […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          Sugar - Copper Blue
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Sugar – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection

          November 28, 2025

          For fans of Sugar – and for anyone who still feels the shockwave of Copper Blue more than three decades on – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection arrives as a dream artefact. Pressed across four […]

          debdepan "Lovers & Others" EP
          Album Reviews

          REVIEW: debdepan “Lovers & Others” EP

          November 27, 2025

          In recent years, the vibrant seaside town of Margate has evolved into a heady blend of coastal charm and DIY creativity — a place where visual artists, musicians and free-thinking makers thrive. It’s the perfect […]

        • Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Y/N - Esther Yi
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Y/N – Esther Yi

          October 30, 2023

          K-Pop has reached an international audience. This year, BLACKPINK made history as the first K-pop band to headline a major UK festival at Hyde Park. The media’s coverage of BTS member’s enlistment into compulsory military […]

          BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes

          August 29, 2023

          How does one become qualified to write a fictional music novel? The author of Sophomore Songs offers some clues. Growing up reading NME, doing a stint at Clash, drumming for several bands on and off, and […]

        • Classic Albums

          ‘Pop’ at 25: Looking back at the orphan child in U2's discography 2
          Classic Albums

          ‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

          March 3, 2022

          In March of 1997, 26 years ago, U2 released their much anticipated ninth studio album POP; for fans and critics alike, it quickly became their most polarizing release. There is a prevailing feeling that POP […]

          CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran 2
          Album Reviews

          CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

          June 17, 2021

          This week sees the 40th anniversary of Duran Duran’s self-titled debut album. XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s. It was December […]

        • Live Reviews

          Drowning Pool Ignite a Packed Rock City with a Heavy-Hitting Nottingham Show Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Drowning Pool Ignite a Packed Rock City with a Heavy-Hitting Nottingham Show

          November 25, 2025

          One of America’s most successful heavy rock exports, Drowning Pool descended on Nottingham’s Rock City on November 19th with a set that hit like a wrecking ball. It was one of the busiest nights the […]

          Bastille
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Bastille – Songs from The First 15 Years at The O2, London

          November 19, 2025

          With three UK number-one albums, a string of major hits, and—impressively—their original core line-up still intact since forming in 2010, now seems the perfect moment for Bastille to take stock of everything they’ve built.  Their […]

        • Round Up

          XS Noize Best Albums of 2018
          Round Up

          XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

          December 22, 2018

          2018 has been an incredible year for albums. The year saw the strongest new acts in decades release their debuts, as well as a number of alternative legends returning to top form. The world of dance […]

          The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP
          Round Up

          The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

          October 29, 2018

          Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to support […]

        • In Focus

          IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square © Bernie McAllister
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square

          August 17, 2025

          Putting the Fast in Belfast 7 once again proved why it has become a staple of the city’s summer music calendar. A packed Custom House Square buzzed with anticipation as fans from across generations gathered […]

          IN FOCUS// Bryan Adams Brings Joy and Nostalgia to Leeds on ‘Roll With the Punches’ Tour Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Bryan Adams Brings Joy and Nostalgia to Leeds on ‘Roll With the Punches’ Tour

          May 20, 2025

          Legendary Canadian rocker Bryan Adams brought his unstoppable energy to Leeds on May 10th as part of his Roll With the Punches tour — and it was nothing short of a euphoric celebration of life, […]

  • Gigs
        • Hans Zimmer
          Gigs

          Hans Zimmer: The ultimate fan’s guide

          August 27, 2025

          Hans Zimmer, the genius behind Hollywood’s most unforgettable scores, is back on tour with an electrifying live experience to share with his fans. From “Inception” to “Dune”, Zimmer is preparing to transform his soundscapes into […]

          Andrea Bocelli
          Gigs

          The ultimate fans guide to seeing Andrea Bocelli in Amsterdam

          August 21, 2025

          The Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will be at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on March 29 and 30, 2026. The show will feature a mix of operatic tracks, pop songs, and classical repertoire. Bocelli is […]

          Eros Ramazzotti
          Gigs

          Eros Ramazzotti: Dates, venues, tickets and more

          August 18, 2025

          To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his breakout single, “Una Storia Importante”, Eros Ramazzotti will be performing live on some of the grandest stages across Europe, Latin America, and North America. Ramazzotti is a world-renowned […]

  • Interviews
        • TAVE
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: TAVE Talks ‘Fly Away,’ Self-Discovery, and the Art of Letting Go

          November 11, 2025

          Rising artist TAVE has had an extraordinary journey — from earning a scholarship at just 13 and performing with some of music’s biggest names to now stepping into the spotlight with his deeply personal debut […]

          :Panic :Over
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: :Panic :Over Are Turning Northern Irish Indie Into a Global Sound

          October 16, 2025

          Neal McClelland meets the Northern Irish band whose anthemic sound is turning heads from Belfast to Tokyo. There’s something electric about catching a band right before liftoff — that mix of confidence, humour, and disbelief […]

          Fabrizio Cammarata
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Fabrizio Cammarata on Solitude, Connection, and the Inner Worlds of His New Album “Insularities”

          October 10, 2025

          Sicilian singer-songwriter Fabrizio Cammarata has returned with Insularities — a quietly profound exploration of connection, isolation, transformation, and memory. The record invites listeners into a space between light and shadow, where grief and love share […]

  • Podcast
        • The Altered Hours
          Podcast

          The Altered Hours: Cathal Mac Gabhann on Their Stunning New Self-Titled Album | XS Noize Podcast #261

          November 27, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by guitarist and songwriter Cathal Mac Gabhann from Cork alt-rock and shoegaze outfit The Altered Hours — one of Ireland’s most vital underground […]

          The Clause
          Podcast

          Pearce Macca: The Clause’s Rise and Debut Album “Victim of a Casual Thing” | XS Noize Podcast #260

          November 23, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Pearce Macca — frontman of Birmingham indie-rockers The Clause, a band whose rise has become one of the most inspiring new stories […]

          Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals
          Podcast

          Roland Gift on 40 Years of Fine Young Cannibals & His New Christmas Single | XS Noize Podcast #259

          November 16, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Roland Gift — the iconic voice of Fine Young Cannibals and one of the most instantly recognisable singers in British music. With […]

  • About Us
  • Contribute
  • Home
  • Author
  • Alex Hoggard

Articles by Alex Hoggard

Xsnoize Author
Alex Hoggard
Having started about music by reviewing live performances for Pearl Jam fansites, led to writing for the band's official website which led to writing gig and album reviews for a number of music sites and local newspapers. Enjoying an eclectic taste in genres has been found to relieve the stresses of following Hull Kingston Rovers RLFC!Favourite bands/artists include; Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Brad, The Levellers, Stone Roses, Oasis, Harvey Danger, London Grammar, Ride & Manic Street Preachers to name but a few! Favourite album: Yield - Pearl Jam.
Website
ALBUM REVIEW: Deftones - Private Music
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Deftones – Private Music

August 21, 2025 Alex Hoggard

It has taken five years for new Deftones music, the longest gap between studio albums for the Sacramento, California-based alternative metal icons, but now they return with the outstandingly atmospheric offering Private Music. However, things […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Who - Live At The Oval 1971
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Who – Live At The Oval 1971

August 21, 2025 Alex Hoggard

On the 18th of September 1971, The Who took to the stage at The Oval cricket ground in South London to headline ‘Goodbye Summer: A Rock Concert in aid of Famine Relief for the People […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Manic Street Preachers - Critical Thinking
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking

February 13, 2025 Alex Hoggard

The fifteenth studio album from Manic Street Preachers, Critical Thinking, finds the legendary Welsh band laying a positive soundscape while introspectively questioning life through the lyrics. The band have tapped into their influences, ranging from […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The National - Rome
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The National – Rome

December 12, 2024 Alex Hoggard

The National is often described as a band “you must see live.” Those who have not been fortunate enough to see them in the past can now experience the band’s performances through new enthralling live […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Dale Crover - Glossolalia
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Dale Crover – Glossolalia

September 11, 2024 Alex Hoggard

Dale Crover was already well assured of a place in musical history long before he embarked on a solo career. Having initially been recruited from an Iron Maiden cover band, Crover has served as the […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Redd Kross - Redd Kross
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Redd Kross – Redd Kross

June 27, 2024 Alex Hoggard

The eighth full-length studio album from Red Kross provides a bumper eighteen stellar rock tracks, and what better way to celebrate your band’s 45th anniversary than by releasing a self-titled double album? Brothers Jeff and […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Pearl Jam – Dark Matter

April 18, 2024 Alex Hoggard

When Pearl Jam premiered Dark Matter at an exclusive listening event in January, frontman Eddie Vedder made a big claim – “this is our best work yet”. The remark raised a few eyebrows, particularly as […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Slow Pulp - Yard
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Slow Pulp – Yard

October 2, 2023 Alex Hoggard

The sophomore effort from Slow Pulp, Yard, builds on the hugely promising groundwork laid by their fine debut effort Moveys, which was released in 2020. Yard continues the themes of introspective reflection, only this time […]

Explosions In The Sky - End
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Explosions In The Sky – End

September 14, 2023 Alex Hoggard

In April this year, when Explosions in the Sky announced their first North American tour since 2019, the excitement was matched with a sense of worry that it would be their last as it was […]

Grian Chatten - Chaos For The Fly
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Grian Chatten – Chaos For The Fly

June 28, 2023 Alex Hoggard

In the last four years since their debut album Dogrel, Fontaines D.C. have enormously impacted the post-punk scene. Their debut received a Mercury Prize nomination, then a year later, A Hero’s Death earned a Grammy […]

Far From Saints
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Far From Saints – Far From Saints

June 18, 2023 Alex Hoggard

Far From Saints sees Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics team up with Patty Lynn and Dwight Baker of The Wind and The Wave to present an album that successfully freewheels through genres from country to […]

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - Council Skies
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Council Skies

June 1, 2023 Alex Hoggard

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds return for the first time in six years with Council Skies. The long-awaited return sees Noel Gallagher successfully make numerous stylistic changes while contemplating a range of emotions to piece […]

Blondshell
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Blondshell – Blondshell 

April 6, 2023 Alex Hoggard

The debut eponymous album from Blondshell offers a compelling journey through nine tracks of self-discovery and reflection sprinkled with humour and memorable lyricism to provide one of the most promising debuts of 2023. 25-year-old Sabrina […]

Neutral Milk Hotel
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Neutral Milk Hotel – The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel

February 22, 2023 Alex Hoggard

The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel is an almost exhaustive recorded history of Jeff Mangum’s esteemed band Neutral Milk Hotel. The boxset is compiled of four 12” LPs, two 10” records and three 7” […]

Shame – Food for Worms
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Shame – Food for Worms

February 22, 2023 Alex Hoggard

The South London five-piece Shame return with their third album, Food for Worms, which marks a departure from their previous efforts. Moving away from their post-punk beginnings, the band have tapped into their eclectic range […]

Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World

February 9, 2023 Alex Hoggard

Now in their fourth decade as a band, indie rock trio Yo La Tengo understand the intricacies of time. On their first LP since 2018, This Stupid World, the group debates the passing of time, […]

The Waeve
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Waeve – The Waeve

February 2, 2023 Alex Hoggard

The Waeve sees Blur‘s Graham Coxon team up with Rose Elinor Dougall, of The Pipettes, to release their debut eponymous collection of ten songs that travel through genres. Elements of jazz, punk and rock combine […]

Fucked Up – One Day
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Fucked Up – One Day

January 28, 2023 Alex Hoggard

Throughout their three decades of existence, Fucked Up haven’t built up a reputation for doing things on a small scale. From enormous concept albums to twelve-hour performances, it’s obvious they like to take their time. […]

The Subways
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Subways – Uncertain Joys

January 12, 2023 Alex Hoggard

After an extended hiatus of eight years, The Subways are back with their fifth studio album, Uncertain Joys, a record of driving riffs and catchy choruses. This time, there is a different look to the […]

David Bowie – Divine Symmetry
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: David Bowie – Divine Symmetry

November 24, 2022 Alex Hoggard

The year 1971 proved defining for David Bowie; having become a father for the first time, he signed a record deal with RCA before going on to meet Andy Warhol, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed […]

Posts pagination

1 2 »

LATEST REVIEWS

  • Sugar - Copper Blue
    ALBUM REVIEW: Sugar – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection
    November 28, 2025
  • debdepan "Lovers & Others" EP
    REVIEW: debdepan “Lovers & Others” EP
    November 27, 2025
  • ALBUM REVIEW: Gary Numan - 1,000: Live at the Electric Ballroom
    ALBUM REVIEW: Gary Numan – 1,000: Live at the Electric Ballroom
    November 25, 2025
  • Aerosmith & Yungblud
    REVIEW: Aerosmith & Yungblud – One More Time EP
    November 20, 2025
  • ALBUM REVIEW: James – Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of
    ALBUM REVIEW: James – Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of
    November 19, 2025
  • ALBUM REVIEW: The Belair Lip Bombs – Again
    ALBUM REVIEW: The Belair Lip Bombs – Again
    November 10, 2025

TOP UK MUSIC BLOG 2025

Vuelio Top 10 Blog 2025 - XS Noize

Trending

  • Aerosmith & Yungblud
    REVIEW: Aerosmith & Yungblud – One More Time EP
  • Sex Pistols
    Punk Legends Sex Pistols Team with Frank Carter for 50 Years of Punk – 2026 Headline Dates Announced
  • Oasis
    How much could Oasis earn from their 2025 tour? 
  • Guns N’ Roses
    Guns N’ Roses Announce 2026 World Tour — Dublin Show Confirmed for 10 June with Mammoth WVH
  • ALBUM REVIEW: James – Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of
    ALBUM REVIEW: James – Nothing But Love: The Definitive Best Of
  • Yungblud
    Five of Yungblud’s biggest hits
  • Mani on The Stone Roses, Primal Scream & the Resurrection | XS Noize Podcast #256
    Mani on The Stone Roses, Primal Scream & the Resurrection | XS Noize Podcast #256
  • Simple Minds
    Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr & Charlie Burchill announce two special Scottish events ahead of joint memoir release
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Youtube
  • instagram
  • Spotify
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2024 | XS Noize. Website by Skyhaven Media