Trending
  • INTERVIEW: The Answer’s Cormac Neeson on new album ‘Sundowners’
  • INCUBUS announce UK summer headline shows
  • THE JAPANESE HOUSE returns with new single ‘BOYHOOD’
  • OCEAN COLOUR SCENE announce headline show at Belfast’s Telegraph Building on 7th December 2023
  • BEN HOWARD Announces Huge UK, Irish + European Tour – His First European Run In Five Years
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Youtube
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • Spotify
  • RSS
XS Noize | Online Music Magazine
  • News
        • Incubus
          Gigs

          INCUBUS announce UK summer headline shows

          March 21, 2023

          Following a major sold-out UK tour last year, iconic multi-platinum Los Angeles rock band Incubus have announced a return to the UK with two headline summer shows at London’s Eventim Apollo on Friday 23rd June […]

          The Japanese House
          News

          THE JAPANESE HOUSE returns with new single ‘BOYHOOD’

          March 21, 2023

          The Japanese House returns with new single ‘BOYHOOD’, out now via Dirty Hit and debuted as BBC Radio 1’s ‘Hottest Record’. The Japanese House is the acclaimed project of Amber Bain, who has released music […]

          Ocean Colour Scene
          Gigs

          OCEAN COLOUR SCENE announce headline show at Belfast’s Telegraph Building on 7th December 2023

          March 21, 2023

          Indie-rock legends Ocean Colour Scene have announced details of their upcoming UK & Irish December tour, which includes a show in Belfast’s Telegraph Building on 7th December 2023. Formed in Birmingham in 1989, OCS spent […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          All Time Low - Tell Me I'm Alive
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: All Time Low – Tell Me I’m Alive

          March 20, 2023

          The ninth album from the pop-punk legends sees the band reach for mainstream stardom. All Time Low formed twenty years ago this year. In that time they have ridden the pop-punk wave seeing it become […]

          Manchester Orchestra - The Valley Of Vision
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Manchester Orchestra – The Valley Of Vision

          March 20, 2023

          The best artists evolve. Those with longevity learn to lean into other genres, other styles, and other emotions. On The Valley Of Vision, we have Manchester Orchestra as you’ve never heard them before and yet […]

        • Book Reviews

          Ziggy Marley - Music Is In Everything
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Ziggy Marley – Music Is In Everything

          January 16, 2023

          Back in 2020, Ziggy Marley teamed up with Lisa Loeb to release a catchy and infectious song that will get people of all ages to sing along called “Music Is in everything”. This song which […]

          pop rock icons
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Pop Rock Icons by Philippe Margotin

          December 15, 2022

          Judging by the front cover, one might expect Pop Rock Icons to be festooned with infographics. It isn’t. Instead, it’s a collection of photographs depicting “London’s Swingin’ 60s & 70s”. Rather than homogenise and cluster […]

        • 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

          LIVE REVIEW: F*cked Up at Lafayette, London Credit: Dani Bolton/Lafayette
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: F*cked Up at Lafayette, London

          March 20, 2023

          If someone was to bring up in conversation “Who was that band that fought the law…?” Most people would think of either The Clash or Sonny Curtis and his band The Crickets. Canadian hardcore band […]

          LIVE REVIEW: Stiff Little Fingers  – O2 City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne © Iam Burn
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Stiff Little Fingers  – O2 City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne

          March 18, 2023

          You know you are in for an interesting evening when the last song playing before the band’s intro music kicks in is ‘You’re the One That I Want’ by Hylda Baker & Arthur Mullard. This […]

        • 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// Ville Valo at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Ville Valo at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland

          March 15, 2023

          Ville Valo is one of the most well-known Finnish musicians, who gained most of his success as a frontman and songwriter of the band named HIM that disbanded in 2017. In 2023, Ville released his […]

          IN FOCUS// Killing Joke at London’s Royal Albert Hall
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Killing Joke at London’s Royal Albert Hall

          March 13, 2023

          Killing Joke headlined a sold-out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 12th 2023. Founder members Jaz Coleman, Youth, Geordie Walker, and Paul Ferguson performed the entirety of their first self-titled debut album ‘Killing […]

  • Gigs
        • Incubus
          Gigs

          INCUBUS announce UK summer headline shows

          March 21, 2023

          Following a major sold-out UK tour last year, iconic multi-platinum Los Angeles rock band Incubus have announced a return to the UK with two headline summer shows at London’s Eventim Apollo on Friday 23rd June […]

          Ocean Colour Scene
          Gigs

          OCEAN COLOUR SCENE announce headline show at Belfast’s Telegraph Building on 7th December 2023

          March 21, 2023

          Indie-rock legends Ocean Colour Scene have announced details of their upcoming UK & Irish December tour, which includes a show in Belfast’s Telegraph Building on 7th December 2023. Formed in Birmingham in 1989, OCS spent […]

          Ben Howard
          Gigs

          BEN HOWARD Announces Huge UK, Irish + European Tour – His First European Run In Five Years

          March 20, 2023

          Ben Howard is pleased to announce a huge 26-date live run of the UK, Ireland and Europe for this year. The tour kicks off at La Riviera in Madrid on the 18th of May and […]

  • Interviews
        • Thumpasaurus
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Indie pop-funk outfit Thumpasaurus on new single ‘Lipstick Makeup’

          March 20, 2023

          Los Angeles-based indie pop-funk outfit Thumpasaurus recently released their latest single/music video, “Lipstick Makeup.” According to Thumpasaurus, “‘Lipstick Makeup’ is about saying f*ck it. I’m letting my freak out tonight and getting real nice with […]

          Billy Lockett
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Billy Lockett talks ‘Abington Grove’, mental health & the future

          February 22, 2023

          10 years ago, Billy Lockett came to huge attention, notably in the UK, when he toured with KT Tunstall. Three EPs, a family tragedy and a long and hard battle with sobriety later, this past […]

          Coach Party
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Coach Party talk ahead of their headline show at Voodoo, Belfast

          February 20, 2023

          Isle of Wight rising stars Coach Party have spent the past year honing their explosive live show, playing over 120 shows in total. Particular live highlights included the 100k capacity Stade de France supporting Indochine, […]

  • Podcast
        • The Answer
          Podcast

          INTERVIEW: The Answer’s Cormac Neeson on new album ‘Sundowners’

          March 21, 2023

          In episode #123 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar catches up with Cormac Neeson from the Irish rock band The Answer. The Answer makes a spectacular and long-awaited return with Sundowners – their first […]

          Sleaford Mods
          Podcast

          INTERVIEW: Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson on new album UK GRIM

          March 17, 2023

          In episode #122 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar catches up with Jason Williamson from Sleaford Mods to talk about their new album UK GRIM out now on Rough Trade Records. The album is […]

          Tide Lines
          Podcast

          INTERVIEW: Tide Lines frontman Robert Robertson on new album ‘An Ocean Full of Islands’

          March 9, 2023

          In episode #121 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar catches up with Robert Robertson lead singer with Glasgow-based 4-piece, Tide Lines to talk about their new album ‘An Ocean Full of Islands’ An Ocean […]

  • About Us
  • Contribute
  • Home
  • Author
  • Gareth

Articles by Gareth O'Malley

Gareth O'Malley
Gareth a writer from the west of Ireland. He got his start in music journalism in 2009 and hasn't looked back since. Music is one of Gareth's main passions in life. Gareth's main contribution to XS NOIZE is album reviews, and will also write the odd live review or feature piece here and there. Fav Bands: The National, Anathema, Frightened Rabbit Fav Album: The National - Boxer
Website Facebook Twitter
ALBUM REVIEW: Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams

January 28, 2021 Gareth O'Malley

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Arlo Parks has seen her career take off at speed – since making her bow with the Super Sad Generation EP in April of 2019, the London-based […]

TRACK PREMIERE: Waves of Dread - Stars (beach cut)
Exclusive!

TRACK PREMIERE: Waves of Dread – Stars (beach cut)

November 19, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Newcastle trio Waves of Dread have certainly been busy. The band haven’t allowed themselves to be knocked back by pandemic-related uncertainty in the slightest, releasing their aptly-named second EP II back in July, with more […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Paddy Hanna - The Hill
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Paddy Hanna – The Hill

October 16, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

You didn’t expect someone who called his last record Frankly, I Mutate to stay in one place for long, did you? Once the leader of the sorely missed Grand Pocket Orchestra and a key part […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Touché Amoré - Lament
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Touché Amoré – Lament

October 6, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Last time out, Touché Amoré offered up an unflinching document of loss, with 2016’s Stage Four recounting Jeremy Bolm losing his mother to cancer in excruciating detail. It was, to say the least, a tough listen, […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Deftones - Ohms
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Deftones – Ohms

September 21, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

In some aspects, Ohms finds Deftones going back to their roots. Perhaps not musically – there’s as much of Adrenaline and Around the Fur’s DNA present here as there is anything else, in that the […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Dream Nails - Dream Nails
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Dream Nails – Dream Nails

August 26, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

You may have heard Dream Nails before, but you haven’t heard them like this. Formed in 2015, the London band quickly made waves thanks to their quick-witted, razor-edged punk rock, but their self-titled debut album […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Marsicans - Ursa Major
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Marsicans – Ursa Major

August 17, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

For how long they’ve been around, it’s certainly surprising that Leeds quartet Marsicans are just now getting around to releasing their debut album. They’ve been on the go for close to a decade already, with […]

ALBUM REVIEW: sleepmakeswaves - these are not your dreams
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: sleepmakeswaves – these are not your dreams

July 16, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

There’s something to be said for ambition in the world of instrumental music. sleepmakeswaves know a thing or two about that – the Australian post-rock act have spent much of the past 14 years carving […]

ALBUM REVIEW: bdrmm - Bedroom
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: bdrmm – Bedroom

July 7, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

It would be easy to assume that this Hull-based band arrived fully-formed, but their career has in fact been a slow burn that started in 2016 with a demo that singer and guitarist Ryan Smith […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Long Distance Calling - How Do We Want to Live?
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Long Distance Calling – How Do We Want to Live?

June 29, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

In their 14 years together, Germans Long Distance Calling have never been ones to stand still. Since forming in 2006, the quartet – namely, David Jordan and Florian Füntman on guitar; Jan Hoffman on bass; […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Braids - Shadow Offering
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Braids – Shadow Offering

June 19, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

In the years since their third album Deep in the Iris, the output from Montreal trio Braids (namely, Raphaelle Standell-Preston, Austin Tufts & Taylor Smith) has been sporadic – they’ve released a double-sided single and […]

TRACK PREMIERE: Blake’s Fortune - Redwood Heart
Exclusive!

TRACK PREMIERE: Blake’s Fortune – Redwood Heart

April 29, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Dubliner John Lennon has been making accomplished alt-folk as Blake’s Fortune for a number of years, and he’s got a follow-up to his aptly named 2017 debut album Hello World on the way. New track […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Columbia Mills - CCTV
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Columbia Mills – CCTV

April 23, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Columbia Mills have always been drawn to the dark. From their early singles right up to 2018’s ‘Close to You’, the Dublin-based quintet – namely, brothers Fiachra and Uisneagh Treacy (vocals and bass, respectively), Stephen […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA

April 16, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Reckoning with the past is never easy and can sometimes be excruciating – Rina Sawayama knows that as well as anyone, and her debut album explores life through lived experience and harsh truths. She’s lived […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Locate S,1 - Personalia
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Locate S,1 – Personalia

April 3, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

In the fast-moving world of music creation, appreciation and consumption, sometimes you just have to put yourself first. Just ask Christina Schneider; the Athens, Georgia-based artist has been involved in a number of different musical […]

ALBUM REVIEW: CMON - Confusing Mix Of Nations
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: CMON – Confusing Mix Of Nations

April 2, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

This might be CMON’s first album, but it’s far from their first rodeo; the band’s made up of Josh da Costa and Jamen Whitelock, both of whom were part of New Yorkers Regal Degal – […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Orchards - Lovecore
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Orchards – Lovecore

March 12, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

It’s been almost 7 years since Brighton band Orchards planted the seeds for what would eventually grow into their debut album. It took them a little bit to establish themselves, too, but there’s a clear […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Snarls - Burst
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Snarls – Burst

March 6, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Have you ever stopped and thought about the fundamentals of being alive? You’re a single person, trying to make your way in the world just like everyone else – a place that feels increasingly fragmented […]

ALBUM REVIEW: ROCH - Via Media
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: ROCH – Via Media

March 5, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

Kate Miller has always known what she’s about. The process of creating her opening statement as an artist may have taken a while, but it’s something the 24-year-old Londoner has been focused on for years. […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Post Animal - Forward Motion Godyssey
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Post Animal – Forward Motion Godyssey

February 14, 2020 Gareth O'Malley

On their 2018 debut album When I Think Of You In A Castle, Chicago-based outfit Post Animal displayed the sort of appealing scrappiness that marked them out as a band to keep an eye on, […]

Posts navigation

1 2 »

Trending

  • LIVE REVIEW: Ladytron & DSM IV at The Camp And Furnace, Liverpool
  • Blacklite District
    TRACK PREMIERE: Blacklite District gets personal & powerful with ‘The Struggle XL’
  • Inspiral Carpets - The Complete Singles
    ALBUM REVIEW: Inspiral Carpets – The Complete Singles
  • U2 - Songs of Surrender
    ALBUM REVIEW: U2 – Songs of Surrender
  • LIVE REVIEW: Stiff Little Fingers  – O2 City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne © Iam Burn
    LIVE REVIEW: Stiff Little Fingers  – O2 City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Van Morrison – Moving On Skiffle
    ALBUM REVIEW: Van Morrison – Moving On Skiffle
  • IN FOCUS// Killing Joke at London’s Royal Albert Hall
    IN FOCUS// Killing Joke at London’s Royal Albert Hall
  • Ben Howard
    BEN HOWARD Announces Huge UK, Irish + European Tour – His First European Run In Five Years
  • All Time Low - Tell Me I'm Alive
    ALBUM REVIEW: All Time Low – Tell Me I’m Alive
  • Manchester Orchestra - The Valley Of Vision
    ALBUM REVIEW: Manchester Orchestra – The Valley Of Vision

TOP UK MUSIC BLOG 2023

VuelioTop10Badge2023

Twitter Feed

Follow on Facebook

eire wave logo
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 | XS Noize. Website by Skyhaven Media

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT
error: Alert: Content selection is disabled!!