Skip to main content
Trending
  • Julian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, announces Belfast show
  • ALBUM REVIEW: Sparta – Cut A Silhouette
  • Inspiral Carpets announce ‘Burn Like The Sun’ – their first studio album in 12 years
  • Faithless Announce Special Guests For CHSq Belfast Show With Phil Hartnoll, Justin Robertson & Marion Hawkes
  • American hard rock band Clutch announce Belfast show at Telegraph Building
XS Noize | Independent Music News
  • News
        • Julian Marley
          News

          Julian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, announces Belfast show

          May 29, 2026

          Born in London, England on June 4, 1975, Julian Marley is the son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Barbados-born Lucy Pounder. Growing up as a youth in a musical atmosphere, the Grammy Award Nominated […]

          Inspiral Carpets
          News

          Inspiral Carpets announce ‘Burn Like The Sun’ – their first studio album in 12 years

          May 29, 2026

          Inspiral Carpets announce Burn Like The Sun – their first studio album in 12 years, out January 29th, 2027 via Scruff of the Neck Records. The band have unveiled a special announcement video, narrated by […]

          Faithless
          News

          Faithless Announce Special Guests For CHSq Belfast Show With Phil Hartnoll, Justin Robertson & Marion Hawkes

          May 28, 2026

          Dance pioneers Faithless are back with their biggest Belfast headline show to date at Custom House Square on Thursday 20th August 2026, alongside very special guests, Phil Hartnoll (Orbital), Justin Robertson and Marion Hawkes. Few […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Sparta - Cut A Silhouette
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Sparta – Cut A Silhouette

          May 29, 2026

          Having spent two decades parsing the shifting sands of alternative rock, it takes something genuinely striking to cut through the noise. Enter Sparta’s latest offering, Cut A Silhouette. Spanning ten tracks across an urgent 33 […]

          Mull Historical Society
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Mull Historical Society – In My Mind There’s a Photograph

          May 26, 2026

          For Mull Historical Society’s last album, Colin MacIntyre — who is, in essence, Mull Historical Society — invited acclaimed authors to write lyrics for his musical compositions. The result was 2023’s In My Mind There’s […]

        • 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

          Lone Assembly
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Lone Assembly bring dark synthpop and post-punk atmosphere to London’s MOTH Club

          May 27, 2026

          When a proposed property development threatened the future of the 300-capacity MOTH Club, the support to save it far exceeded the venue’s maximum attendance. Around 30,000 people signed a petition to protect the much-loved Hackney […]

          LIVE REVIEW: Kiefer Sutherland proves his country credentials with a heartfelt Union Chapel performance
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Kiefer Sutherland proves his country credentials with a heartfelt Union Chapel performance

          May 14, 2026

          Kiefer Sutherland may be known across the world as an actor and producer, but on stage at Union Chapel, that part of his life felt almost beside the point. With his fourth album, Grey, due […]

        • 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: Survivalist Bring the Thunder to Limelight 2, Belfast (with Foetal Juice, Existentialist & Suffer) Credit: Marc Leach
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS: Survivalist Bring the Thunder to Limelight 2, Belfast (with Foetal Juice, Existentialist & Suffer)

          April 5, 2026

          As Storm Dave closed in on Northern Ireland, another storm was already gathering. Inside Limelight 2, Belfast, local metal titans Survivalist unleashed thunder of their own — a fitting backdrop for the release of their […]

          IN FOCUS// Ash ignite La Scala with career-spanning London show Credit: Denise Esposito
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Ash ignite La Scala with career-spanning London show

          February 6, 2026

          On 3 February, Ash returned to La Scala for a blistering, high-energy London show. Packed wall to wall, the venue buzzed as the trio tore through a career-spanning set, seamlessly weaving in new material from […]

  • Gigs
        • December 10
          Gigs

          December 10 announce Ulster Hall, Belfast show for July 20th 2026

          April 2, 2026

          Britain’s brand-new boyband December 10 today announce December 10: The Next Step– kicking off in Edinburgh on Friday 10 July and wrapping in Dublin on Tuesday 21 July. “We loved our Introducing! run of shows […]

          White Denim
          Gigs

          White Denim set for Belfast return with Limelight 2 headline show on August 27th 2026

          March 30, 2026

          Formed in 2006, for approaching 20 years White Denim has been celebrated for their fearless blend of garage rock, soul, jazz fusion, psychedelia, and experimental improvisation. Based for much of that time in Austin, though […]

          Tom Jones
          Gigs

          Tom Jones to Play Dublin & Belfast Headline Shows This August 2026

          March 30, 2026

          Legendary Welsh singer and performer Tom Jones has announced a return to Ireland with a headline show within the idyllic grounds of Palmerstown House Estate, just 20 minutes from Dublin City Centre on Sunday 09th […]

  • Interviews
        • Col Gerrard
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Col Gerrard on his self-titled debut, touring with Boyzlife and what comes next

          April 20, 2026

          London-born singer-songwriter Col Gerrard has loved music from an early age, and that passion shines throughout his self-titled debut album. Drawing on a range of influences, the record takes listeners on an emotional journey, with […]

          Ganser
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Alicia Gaines on the Architecture of Ganser and Discomfort by Design

          April 12, 2026

          Chicago’s underground has always thrived in the margins, and few bands embody that restless, art-driven spirit quite like Ganser. Formed in the city’s DIY circuit, the group have carved out a reputation for wiry, confrontational […]

          Elles Bailey
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Elles Bailey on the Story Behind ‘Can’t Take My Story Away’

          March 9, 2026

          Singer-songwriter Elles Bailey released her latest album, Can’t Take My Story Away, at the beginning of this year. Produced by Luke Potashnick, the album is deeply personal and quietly powerful—rooted in resilience, reflection, and self-ownership. […]

  • Podcast
        • robert arkins - the commitments
          Podcast

          Robert Arkins on The Commitments, Jimmy Rabbitte and Life After the Film | XS Noize Podcast #286

          May 25, 2026

          In the latest episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Robert Arkins, best known to millions as Jimmy Rabbitte in Alan Parker’s classic 1991 film The Commitments. Robert joins Mark for […]

          Nerina Pallot on 25 Years of Music, "Fire Escape Symphonies" and Why Hope Still Matters | XS Noize Podcast #285
          Podcast

          Nerina Pallot on 25 Years of Music and Why Hope Still Matters | XS Noize Podcast #285

          May 19, 2026

          In the latest episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot. Nerina joins Mark for a warm, honest and reflective conversation about her new career-spanning […]

          Broken Social Scene on 'Remember The Humans,' grief and why music still saves people | XS Noize Podcast #284
          Podcast

          Broken Social Scene on ‘Remember The Humans,’ grief and why music still saves us

          May 12, 2026

          In the latest episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene. Kevin and Charles join Mark for a warm, reflective and deeply human […]

  • About Us
  • Contribute
  • Home
  • Author
  • Amanda
  • Page
  • 2

Articles by Amanda Stock

Xsnoize Author
Amanda Stock
Amanda is passionate for electronic music and in particular her devotion to Depeche Mode, a band that has remained a constant throughout her life since she saw them for the first time at Hammersmith Odeon in 1983, aged 15.Amanda contributes to album reviews mostly but has also written several “introducing” type features. Amanda loves discovering and writing about new music. Fave band : Depeche Mode Fave album: Violator
Website
ALBUM REVIEW: La Roux - Supervision
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: La Roux – Supervision

February 7, 2020 Amanda Stock

After a six-year absence since her second album “Trouble In Paradise” La Roux is back with a new record – “Supervision” – ironically named as she quite clearly doesn’t need any supervision and on this […]

VIDEO PREMIERE: J.Fla - 'Starlight' - Watch Now
Video Premiere

VIDEO PREMIERE: J.Fla – ‘Starlight’ – Watch Now

November 10, 2019 Amanda Stock

With over 4.5 billion views and 13.3 million subscribers on YouTube, 2 billion streams globally and 50 million total plays on Spotify, and 1.4 million social media followers, South Korea’s pop chameleon J.Fla is indeed […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Cigarettes After Sex - Cry
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Cigarettes After Sex – Cry

October 20, 2019 Amanda Stock

If ever a band’s sound is matched so perfectly to the name of the band itself, it’s this one. Cigarettes After Sex’s music is cinematically seductive and intensely visual – a description that would certainly […]

VIDEO PREMIERE: Chorus Grant - 'No Word for the Word' - Watch Now
Video Premiere

VIDEO PREMIERE: Chorus Grant – ‘No Word for the Word’ – Watch Now

October 1, 2019 Amanda Stock

XS Noize today premieres a music video for “No Word For The Word” from rising folk-act Chorus Grant (a.k.a.Danish singer/songwriter and guitarist Kristian Finne). The video sees Chorus Grant tumbling down a mental staircase portraying […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Alessandro Cortini - Volume Massimo
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Alessandro Cortini – Volume Massimo

September 24, 2019 Amanda Stock

Alessandro Cortini is an Italian musician, best known for being the keyboard player in the touring line up of American industrial rock band, Nine Inch Nails and a founding member of the electronic-alternative band, Modwheelmood. […]

TRACK OF THE DAY - Cardiochaos – 'Brother of Sleep'
Track Of The Day

TRACK OF THE DAY – Cardiochaos – ‘Brother of Sleep’

May 24, 2019 Amanda Stock

Cardiochaos is the solo electro-alternative pop music project of Viennese musician and filmmaker, Peter Brunner. Brunner suffers from extrasystoles that he feels in his chest – additional heartbeats that appear between regular beats, known as […]

REVIEW: Permafrost - 'Permafrost EP'
Album Reviews

REVIEW: Permafrost – ‘Permafrost EP’

May 14, 2019 Amanda Stock

If you are a fan of the sinister menace of Interpol, the jagged guitar lines of Gang Of Four or the grandiose gloom of The Cure, here is a band which is a mix of […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Maps – 'Colour. Reflect. Time. Loss'
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Maps – ‘Colour. Reflect. Time. Loss’

May 6, 2019 Amanda Stock

Mercury-nominated Northampton composer/producer Maps (James Chapman) releases his highly-anticipated fourth album ‘Colours. Reflect. Time. Loss.’ on the 10th May 2019 through Mute – it is his first album since 2014’s self-cathartic “Vicissitude”. Three years in […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Lydia Ainsworth - 'Phantom Forest'
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Lydia Ainsworth – ‘Phantom Forest’

May 6, 2019 Amanda Stock

Art-pop experimentalist Lydia Ainsworth returns with her self-produced album “Phantom Forest” on May 10th. Ainsworth’s third album introduces a lush, complex dream world that the singer, composer and producer created and inhabited pretty much independently. […]

TRACK OF THE DAY: Simon Bonney - ‘A Sweeter Kind of Pain’
Track Of The Day

TRACK OF THE DAY: Simon Bonney – ‘A Sweeter Kind of Pain’

April 24, 2019 Amanda Stock

Australian-born, singer/songwriter Simon Bonney ( Crime and the City Solution)  has shared a previously unreleased track, ‘A Sweeter Kind of Pain’, taken from the forthcoming compilation album “Past, Present, Future,” due to be released on […]

REVIEW: Sonja Sleator - 'Violent Strawberry' EP
Album Reviews

REVIEW: Sonja Sleator – ‘Violent Strawberry’ EP

April 5, 2019 Amanda Stock

Recorded in the weeks before her 2018 appearance at Hard Working Class Heroes, “Violent Strawberry” – the third EP from Belfast singer-songwriter Sonja Sleator is four tracks of some her most personal writing so far. […]

INTERVIEW: Sonja Sleator discusses her third EP, 'Violent Strawberry' 1
Interviews

INTERVIEW: Sonja Sleator discusses her third EP, ‘Violent Strawberry’

April 4, 2019 Amanda Stock

Sonja Sleator has established herself as one of Northern Ireland’s most recognisable singer/songwriters. Her story-driven songs are making her one to watch in the Irish music scene and have led to appearances on local radio, […]

TRACK OF THE DAY: Model Depose - 'Damage Control' - Listen Now
Track Of The Day

TRACK OF THE DAY: Model Depose – ‘Damage Control’ – Listen Now

April 1, 2019 Amanda Stock

“Damage Control” is the latest single from new wave, Netherlands – hailed Model Depose and the first from their second album, which also happens to be called “Damage Control” and is due for release this […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Sleeper - The Modern Age
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Sleeper – The Modern Age

March 7, 2019 Amanda Stock

On 22nd March 2019, after a musical hiatus of 21 years, Sleeper releases their new album “The Modern Age”. It wasn’t meant to happen. In fact, the band had promised each other it never would. […]

TRACK OF THE DAY: MOLINA - 'Venus' - Listen Now
Track Of The Day

TRACK OF THE DAY: MOLINA – ‘Venus’ – Listen Now

February 26, 2019 Amanda Stock

Copenhagen-based synth-pop artist Rebecca Maria Molina, better known as Molina returns with an enthralling new single “Venus” released through Copenhagen label Tambourhinoceros (Palace Winter, Pardans, The Entrepreneurs). “Venus” follows previous 2018 single releases (“Hey Kids” […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Japanese House – 'Good At Falling'
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Japanese House – ‘Good At Falling’

February 11, 2019 Amanda Stock

The Japanese House (the project of 23-year-old singer/songwriter/producer Amber Bain) first came to public attention back in 2015 when Zane Lowe selected “Still” from her debut EP “Pools To Bathe In” as his last ever […]

TRACK OF THE DAY: IRAH – 'Unity of Gods' - Listen Now
Track Of The Day

TRACK OF THE DAY: IRAH – ‘Unity of Gods’ – Listen Now

February 11, 2019 Amanda Stock

IRAH is the brain-child of Copenhagen-based musicians Stine Grøn (vocals) and Adi Zukanović (keyboards). The band came to life in early 2015 where Adi and Stine improvised together at the Copenhagen music conservatory and instinctively […]

TRACK OF THE DAY: NIMMO - 'No More'
Track Of The Day

TRACK OF THE DAY: NIMMO – ‘No More’

February 6, 2019 Amanda Stock

London-based future pop outfit Nimmo today share their new single ‘No More’. The track is the first to be shared from the duo’s forthcoming debut album, being independently released in May of this year. ‘No […]

Track of the Day: Model Depose - "Bombs Are Falling"
Track Of The Day

Track of the Day: Model Depose – “Bombs Are Falling”

January 22, 2019 Amanda Stock

Breaths of synth add foreboding to this cracking new track from new wave/synth pop electronic five-piece Model Depose who hails from the Netherlands. Bombs Are Falling is a taster of the band’s sophomore album to […]

Track of the Day – Hannah Grace – 'With You' - Listen Now
Track Of The Day

Track of the Day – Hannah Grace – ‘With You’ – Listen Now

January 21, 2019 Amanda Stock

Hannah Grace has released her brand new single ‘With You’ through Never Fade Records. Already proving a radio hit as a current feature on the BBC Radio Wales A-List, ‘With You’ is a bold demonstration […]

Posts pagination

« 1 2 3 … 5 »

LATEST PODCASTS

  • robert arkins - the commitments
    Robert Arkins on The Commitments, Jimmy Rabbitte and Life After the Film | XS Noize Podcast #286
    May 25, 2026
  • Nerina Pallot on 25 Years of Music, "Fire Escape Symphonies" and Why Hope Still Matters | XS Noize Podcast #285
    Nerina Pallot on 25 Years of Music and Why Hope Still Matters | XS Noize Podcast #285
    May 19, 2026
  • Broken Social Scene on 'Remember The Humans,' grief and why music still saves people | XS Noize Podcast #284
    Broken Social Scene on ‘Remember The Humans,’ grief and why music still saves us
    May 12, 2026
  • da Googie
    Deb Googe & Cara Tivey on da Googie and bringing immersive sound to Belfast | XS Noize Podcast #283
    May 5, 2026
  • Glen Hansard on ‘Transmissions East’, Bob Dylan and a Record That Isn’t Looking Back | XS Noize Podcast #282
    Glen Hansard on ‘Transmissions East’, Bob Dylan and a Record That Isn’t Looking Back | XS Noize Podcast #282
    April 29, 2026
  • Miles Hunt on 40 years of The Wonder Stuff, burnout, Vent 414 and starting over | XS Noize Podcast #281
    Miles Hunt on 40 years of The Wonder Stuff, burnout, Vent 414 and starting over | XS Noize Podcast #281
    April 22, 2026

TOP UK MUSIC BLOG 2026

Trending Articles

  • ALBUM REVIEW: Ed O’Brien - Blue MorphoALBUM REVIEW: Ed O’Brien – Blue Morpho May 20, 2026
  • The CoralALBUM REVIEW: The Coral – 388 May 21, 2026
  • Bad BunnyBad Bunny’s 2026 World Tour: Dates, venues, tickets, and more July 25, 2025
  • Global superstar ADELE returns with the release of her brand new single and video 'Easy On Me' 17 of Adele’s most successful hits August 11, 2024
  • Bad Bunny6 of Bad Bunny’s biggest selling hits August 5, 2025
  • kneecapAVA Belfast reveals full 2026 festival programme including afterparties, talks, workshops and more May 22, 2026
  • YungbludFive of Yungblud’s biggest hits August 24, 2025
  • Imagine Dragons11 of Imagine Dragons’ biggest selling hits April 10, 2025
  • Billie Eilish12 interesting facts about Billie Eilish January 11, 2025
  • Coldplay6 of Coldplay’s best-selling songs of all time June 12, 2024

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Youtube
  • instagram
  • Spotify
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2024 | XS Noize. Website by Skyhaven Media