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  • News
        • Snow Patrol
          News

          Snow Patrol announce huge outdoor show at St. Anne’s Park on 31st May 2026 with special guest Orla Gartland

          October 7, 2025

          Iconic Northern Irish indie-rock band Snow Patrol have announced their live return with a huge outdoor show at St. Anne’s Park, Dublin on 31st May 2026. Joining Snow Patrol as very special guest is Orla Gartland. After playing to a […]

          Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
          News

          Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Announce 2026 European Tour — Kicking Off June 10 at Malahide Castle, Ireland

          October 7, 2025

          Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds return to Europe in summer 2026 for a monumental run of outdoor headline shows and festival appearances, beginning on 10 June at Malahide Castle, Ireland, and touring through Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, […]

          Snow Patrol
          News

          Snow Patrol announce massive 2026 Crystal Palace Park show with Rag’n’Bone Man and Nieve Ella

          October 7, 2025

          Northern Irish alt-rock juggernauts Snow Patrol have today announced a huge, open-air show taking place at London’s Crystal Palace Park on Friday 3 July 2026. They’ll be joined on the day by evocative singer Rag […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Ash - Ad Astra
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Ash – Ad Astra

          October 3, 2025

          Perennial 90’s power-pop heroes Ash return this autumn with their ninth studio album, Ad Astra. Now well into their fourth decade together, Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray continue to show that their knack […]

          Idlewild
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Idlewild – ‘Idlewild’

          October 3, 2025

          The band’s tenth album is their first self-titled release, and it just so happens to be a collection of songs that reflects their majestic, melodic beauty. For a band to reach a tenth record is […]

        • 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

          LIVE REVIEW: Baroness Pay Tribute with Emotional Red & Blue Sets in Los Angeles Credit: Triffin Constantine
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Baroness Pay Tribute with Emotional Red & Blue Sets in Los Angeles

          September 22, 2025

          Sludge, prog, and post-metal band Baroness played an emotional set at Lodge Room in the Highland Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Saturday, September 20th. The night was one of remembrance, playing their first two […]

          LIVE REVIEW: Pendulum Celebrate "Inertia" with High-Energy London Launch Show Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Pendulum Celebrate “Inertia” with High-Energy London Launch Show

          September 10, 2025

          To mark the release of their new album Inertia, Pendulum’s Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen brought an electrifying DJ set to HERE at Outernet in London on September 5th. The Australian outfit has long been […]

        • 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
        • Asha Maclean
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Asha Maclean on Her Single “Yoga,” Creative Roots, and Staying True to Herself

          June 25, 2025

          Asha Maclean grew up in a deeply creative household, so it’s little surprise that she emerged as a multitalented artist in her own right. Immersed in music and dance from a young age, she first […]

          DURAN DURAN
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Roger Taylor on the Rhythm of Duran Duran: Hits, Influences & Life on the Road

          June 19, 2025

          John Kearns talks to Duran Duran –  The Duran Duran European summer tour is now in full swing. The DD truck has already rolled into cities such as Antwerp, Amsterdam and Rome and will continue […]

          Stephen Moore
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Stephen Moore on Post Death Soundtrack’s New Album & HE IS ME

          June 12, 2025

          Post Death Soundtrack, the musical project of Stephen Moore, recently unveiled his fifth album, IN ALL MY NIGHTMARES I AM ALONE, a 30-track collection of songs ranging across the stylistic spectrum, including rock, Gothic rock, […]

  • Podcast
        • Rick McMurray on Ash’s 30-Year Journey and the Rocket-Fuel of "Ad Astra" | XS Noize Podcast #248
          Podcasts

          Rick McMurray on Ash’s 30-Year Journey and the Rocket-Fuel of “Ad Astra” | XS Noize Podcast #248

          October 1, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Rick McMurray looks back on 30 years of Ash and the rocket-fuel energy behind their new album Ad Astra. From teenage beginnings in Downpatrick to global stages, […]

          The Jacques
          Podcasts

          Finn O’Brien on The Jacques’ New Album “Make Repetition!” | XS Noize Podcast #247

          September 28, 2025

          Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | YouTube “Will would be proud of us, and he’d never have wanted his loss to stop us doing what we love.” — Finn O’Brien, […]

          Gary Numan
          Podcasts

          Gary Numan on “Telekon” at 45, Wembley Ghosts & His Glastonbury Debut | XS Noize Podcast #246

          September 24, 2025

          Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | YouTube In Episode #246 of the XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar is joined by Gary Numan — one of electronic music’s true pioneers — for a powerful conversation marking the 45th […]

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Articles by Michael Barron

Xsnoize Author
Michael Barron
Michael first began writing whilst studying at university; reviewing the latest releases and live gigs. He has since contributed to the Fortean Times as well as other publications. Michael’s musical tastes vary from Indie to psychedelic, folk and dubstep.
Website
ALBUM REVIEW: FatNick - This Is Not A Chiptune
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: FatNick – This Is Not A Chiptune

September 8, 2020 Michael Barron

You may have come across “Chiptune” (“a type of music comprised of 8-bit music and sounds and sometimes modern-day percussion, resembling old video games” with “an extremely upbeat melody”). Japanese Electronic band Yellow Magic Orchestra […]

REVIEW: Handel & Hendrix in London Museum, Brook Street, London
Reviews

REVIEW: Handel & Hendrix in London Museum, Brook Street, London

August 26, 2020 Michael Barron

With COVID 19 taking its toll by closing music venues, festivals, museums and galleries; the only live events that you are likely to have seen since mid-March have probably been live streams. Thankfully some places […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Killers - Imploding the Mirage
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Killers – Imploding the Mirage

August 18, 2020 Michael Barron

Whilst The Killers are a Nevada, US-based band, their British connection is just as potent; for it was in 2004 behind the Brixton Academy where Brandon Flowers first met fans of his band wearing “The […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Levellers - Peace
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Levellers – Peace

August 10, 2020 Michael Barron

For over three decades the Levellers has consistently given the public authentic, relevant, thought-provoking and feet tapping classics.  Unlike so many bands that were conceived in the late eighties and enjoyed chart success in the […]

BOOK REVIEW: The Book of Drexciya: Volume One by Abdul Qadim Haqq and Dai Satō
Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Book of Drexciya: Volume One by Abdul Qadim Haqq and Dai Satō

August 4, 2020 Michael Barron

One of the most notable techno and electro acts that came out of 1980s Detroit was James Stinson and Gerald Donald’s project Drexciya. Noted for being “more productive than many of their peers”, releasing scores […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Coronas - True Love Waits
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Coronas – True Love Waits

July 28, 2020 Michael Barron

Towards the end of 2019 guitarist, Dave McPhillips decided to quit the band after being with The Coronas for over a decade. Despite the melancholy reaction, this news received from the remaining band members and […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Fontaines D.C. - A Hero’s Death
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Fontaines D.C. – A Hero’s Death

July 23, 2020 Michael Barron

In 2019 Fontaines D.C. released their acclaimed debut LP Dogrel earning the quintet the 2019 XS Noize Album of the year.  One year later A Hero’s Death is released promising to “kill some people’s ideas […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Asylums - Genetic Cabaret
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Asylums – Genetic Cabaret

July 9, 2020 Michael Barron

In 2018 after five years straight of touring and turbulence and releasing two LP’s; Southend-On-Sea based four-piece Asylums took six months off. Following a successful application for a grant from the PRS Foundation to make […]

BOOK REVIEW: Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell
Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell

July 6, 2020 Michael Barron

Utopia Avenue is the ninth novel by David Mitchell but is his first attempt at delving into the labyrinth of the late 1960’s music scene. From the opening line Mitchell festoons this novel with music […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Burning Condors - Live at Cowshed
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Burning Condors – Live at Cowshed

July 6, 2020 Michael Barron

When East London four-piece Lahayna split up in 2009 three quarters of Lahayna (Matthew Edun (guitar & backing vocals), Chris Church (bass & backing vocals) and Rory Littlebury (drums & percussion) joined forces with Marcus […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young - Homegrown
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young – Homegrown

June 22, 2020 Michael Barron

Initially scheduled for release in 1975 but shelved and replaced by Tonight’s the Night because Homegrown was “a little too personal” for Neil at the time is now being released. With legendary musicians, Levon Helm […]

BOOK REVIEW: Paul is Dead: When The Beatles Lost McCartney By Paolo Baron and Ernesto Carbonetti 1
Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Paul is Dead: When The Beatles Lost McCartney By Paolo Baron and Ernesto Carbonetti

June 15, 2020 Michael Barron

If one is interested in finding out more about the Paul is Dead (P.I.D.) conspiracy theory Paul is Dead: When The Beatles Lost McCartney is not the best place to start looking. Paul is Dead […]

FEATURE: Pop Rocks vinyl figures 1
Features

FEATURE: Pop Rocks vinyl figures

June 9, 2020 Michael Barron

Andy Warhol brought us “Pop Art”, the BBC brought us “Top of the Pops”, Kellogg’s introduced us to “Snap, Crackle and Pop” and Simon Fuller brought us erm… “Pop Idol”. Now Funko has done something […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The 1975 – Notes on a Conditional Form

May 18, 2020 Michael Barron

In an age where advertisers are told to keep their messages and sales pitches as concise as possible which has resulted in an increase in one-word titled LP’s and a surge of albums with seldom […]

BOOK REVIEW: Bob Marley in Comics by Sophie Blitman and Gaet's
Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Bob Marley in Comics by Sophie Blitman and Gaet’s

May 11, 2020 Michael Barron

The word “Reggae” has different connotations for various people, but for Bob Marley, the word didn’t even have African or Caribbean connotations, let alone Jamaican; Marley traced this word to Spain which means “King’s music”. […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Sparks - A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Sparks – A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

May 7, 2020 Michael Barron

With a career spanning over five decades and with Ron and Russell both being brothers, their ability to still be amicable to each other (let alone collaborate and make music together whilst trying to “Lighten […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Dears - Lovers Rock
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Dears – Lovers Rock

May 5, 2020 Michael Barron

There’s a direct line between the sort of doominess of No Cities Left and this album (Lovers Rock),” says frontman Murray. A. Lightburn. “You could go straight from Lovers Rock to No Cities Left and […]

BOOK REVIEW: J&K By John Pham
Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: J&K By John Pham

May 4, 2020 Michael Barron

One expects many things from a graphic novel: deftly drawn original artwork; exciting plots and garrulous text abridged for comic speech and thought bubbles and an original theme. “J&K” goes even further and introduces readers […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Thundercat - It Is What It Is
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Thundercat – It Is What It Is

April 23, 2020 Michael Barron

Stephen Lee Bruner aka Thundercat is best known for producing Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly earning Lee a Grammy. However there so much more to this jazz enthusiast than this.  Despite being […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Enter Shikari - Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Enter Shikari – Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible

April 1, 2020 Michael Barron

Beyond having a tenacious work ethic evidenced by Enter Shikari’s gruelling 2019 tour schedule (including their War Child show at The Dome) and releasing the standalone single “Stop the Clocks”; Enter Shikari’s strongest characteristic is […]

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