Brendan Benson returns with his latest solo album, Dear Life, seven years since his last. His career now spans over twenty years and, as a result, he’s certainly allowed the freedom of experimentation we hear across the album’s […]
Malojian, aka Stevie Scullion, sends his latest album, Humm, out into the world with the message, “if it brings you even a few minutes of distraction during these strange times then happy days”. Mission accomplished. […]
Followers of the Northern Irish artist Malojian were surprised and delighted when his fifth studio album Humm was released months ahead of schedule. In a note to fans, Malojian (aka Stevie Scullion), said, “if it brings you […]
On his third solo album, we catch up with a Brian Fallon more mature and comfortable in himself than we’ve ever known. Long gone are the days of The Gaslight Anthem’s punk rock. Fallon has […]
With Ordinary Man, Ozzy Osbourne reminds us that he’s anything but. A difficult 2019 for the Prince of Darkness resulted in the cancellation of all his tour dates and in early 2020 he revealed he’d been diagnosed […]
The passing of Lyndon Stephens, who founded Belfast based label Quiet Arch, was marked with a celebration of the music he helped create at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall. The Goodbye Quiet Arch event was initially […]
It is fitting that among the first lines of the first track on A Beginner’s Guide To Bravery David Keenan references Samuel Beckett. The young man from Dundalk has produced a stunning debut album which […]
Cast your mind back to Christmas 2016 and the idea of a new Status Quo album seemed about as likely as… well, something very unlikely. With the death of founding member Rick Parfitt, the band […]
The new album from Status Quo has divided the band’s legion of fans. The first new music since the death of founding member Rick Parfitt in 2016, Backbone marks out a new era for a band that’s […]
Finally a glimpse into the mind of one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting rising talents. Anyone following Sam Wickens closely might have had a frustrating wait since his emergence a few years ago. Since 2016, […]
Craig Finn’s lyricism could just as easily be classed as poetry, prose or short story telling. His turn of phrase and timing are a delight throughout I Need A New War, his fourth solo album. […]
White Feather announces a new musical direction for Cormac Neeson, best known for his powerhouse vocals fronting The Answer. The singer has fused a who’s who of the Nashville and Irish music scenes to sculpt […]
These aren’t the rock and roll covers you’ll hear on fancy new car advertisements on the TV. Hayseed Dixie take classic rock, get it drunk on homemade alcohol, spin it around a few times and […]
Perhaps expectations of something in-between Bruce Springsteen on Broadway and a Tom Waits interview were too lofty for Brian Fallon’s first foray into an entirely solo tour. The former Gaslight Anthem frontman travelled light, alternating […]
Much will be made of the ties between Mercy Union’s members and their previous projects. Jared Hart fronted the Scandals, and Benny Horowitz was the drummer of arguably the most successful band to emerge from the […]
Black Peak’s second album fades in on feedback and the gradually increasing hum of a distorted guitar. A rolling snare ups the anticipation. Like a driver revving an engine before catapulting themselves off around the […]
Deep Dive: Take a Deep Dive into some of XS Noize contributors’ favourite artists. We’ll guide you through back catalogues, side projects and career highlights so you can choose which music to put at the […]
For Alt-J fans whose musical tastes don’t overlap into R&B and rap, Reduxer might be a tough listen. Reduxer is a reimagined and extended version of the trio’s 2017 release, Relaxer. The new album takes an […]
Deep Dive: Take a Deep Dive into some of XS Noize contributors’ favourite artists. We’ll guide you through back catalogues, side projects and career highlights so you can choose which music to put at the […]
Heartbreaker is the stop-gap album that came to define a career. Released 18 years ago this month, Adams himself described it as “An amazing stroll down the back alley of my soul with some fine company.” With […]