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  • The Veils Return with New Album “Fragile World” — Hear “Lungs” and See UK Dates
  • LIVE REVIEW: Jack Savoretti and Katherine Jenkins Unite for War Child at London’s Emerald Theatre
  • Little Barrie Announce ‘Gravity Freeze’ Out 22 May 2026 – Hear ‘More Bad Miles Of Road’
  • Peter Gabriel Announces 2003 Live Album ‘In The Big Room’ – Out March 13, 2026
  • Best Electronic Music Concerts in the 21st Century
XS Noize | Independent Music News
  • News
        • The Veils
          News

          The Veils Return with New Album “Fragile World” — Hear “Lungs” and See UK Dates

          February 27, 2026

          Following the critically acclaimed release of ‘Asphodels’ in 2025, The Veils quickly return with a bold and invigorated new album titled ‘Fragile World’, out 19 June on V2 Records. The first single ‘Lungs’ is released […]

          Little Barrie
          News

          Little Barrie Announce ‘Gravity Freeze’ Out 22 May 2026 – Hear ‘More Bad Miles Of Road’

          February 26, 2026

          Little Barrie announce details of their new album Gravity Freeze, released Friday 22nd May 2026 on Easy Eye Sound. The trio, fronted by in-demand guitarist Barrie Cadogan, also have today shared the first single, ‘More […]

          Peter Gabriel
          News

          Peter Gabriel Announces 2003 Live Album ‘In The Big Room’ – Out March 13, 2026

          February 26, 2026

          Peter Gabriel will release the live album ‘In The Big Room’ on 13 March 2026. In The Big Room captures Peter Gabriel and band recorded live in the Big Room at Real World Studios on […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Iron and Wine - Hen’s Teeth
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Iron and Wine – Hen’s Teeth

          February 23, 2026

          Iron and Wine, the moniker of singer/songwriter Samuel Beam, is releasing his much anticipated follow up to 2024’s Light Verse at the end of February. Hen’s Teeth is a slightly darker sibling to Beam’s poetic […]

          ALBUM REVIEW: Nothing - A Short History Of Decay
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Nothing – A Short History Of Decay

          February 20, 2026

          Philadelphia shoegaze standard-bearers Nothing return in 2026 with A Short History Of Decay, a record that feels less like a reinvention and more like a reaffirmation of everything they’ve quietly perfected over the past decade […]

        • 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: Jack Savoretti and Katherine Jenkins Unite for War Child at London’s Emerald Theatre Credit Wiktoria Wolny
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Jack Savoretti and Katherine Jenkins Unite for War Child at London’s Emerald Theatre

          February 26, 2026

          In the heart of London’s Embankment, the recently opened Emerald Theatre feels part The Great Gatsby, part Emerald City — lavish, theatrical and unapologetically opulent. The room glows in rich green tones and, with its […]

          LIVE REVIEW: Of Monsters and Men Camden Roundhouse, London photos by Martin
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Of Monsters and Men Camden Roundhouse, London

          February 21, 2026

          Of Monsters and Men first broke through in 2010 after winning Músíktilraunir, Iceland’s annual Battle of the Bands. That early victory propelled the then-emerging collective onto the international stage, leading to a European Border Breakers […]

        • 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// 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 […]

          IN FOCUS// Biffy Clyro at 3Arena Dublin, Ireland Credit: Becca McCaffrey
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Biffy Clyro at 3Arena Dublin, Ireland

          January 11, 2026

          Biffy Clyro put on a brilliant show at the 3Arena on Saturday, 10 January, delivering a set that was as heavy and intense as it was open and emotional. The sold-out Dublin crowd were treated […]

  • 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
        • Jordan Anthony
          Interviews

          Jordan Anthony on “Lost In LA”, Finding His Voice in LA & Dream Tour Plans

          February 10, 2026

          He may only be 20, but Perth-born, LA-based artist Jordan Anthony already has more experience within the music industry than many might expect. He was writing songs and playing instruments before he hit double digits, […]

          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 […]

  • Podcast
        • credit Yagub Allahverdiyev
          Podcast

          Archive’s Dave Pen on ‘Glass Minds’ and evolving after 30 years | XS Noize Podcast #272

          February 24, 2026

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Dave Pen of Archive to talk about Glass Minds — the band’s 13th studio album and a bold new chapter in a […]

          Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on Re-Examining Howl | XS Noize Podcast #271
          Podcast

          Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on Re-Examining Howl | XS Noize Podcast #271

          February 17, 2026

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to revisit Howl — the band’s third album and a bold creative left turn […]

          Mark Shaw - Then Jerico | XS Noize Podcast #270
          Podcast

          Mark Shaw of Then Jerico on The Return, legacy, and bringing the full band show to Ireland | XS Noize Podcast #270

          February 10, 2026

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Mark Shaw of Then Jerico to talk about The Return — a moment that reconnects legacy, live energy, and purpose as the […]

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Album Review

Music Album Review
Features 2

How to Write a Music Album Review

November 28, 2023 XS Noize

When you discuss a new music album with your friends, the process is fun and exciting. However, once you need to write an album review, the task seems to have nothing in common with excitement. […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Aldous Harding - Warm Chris
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Aldous Harding – Warm Chris

March 21, 2022 Imelda Hehir

This review has been one of the more difficult ones I have ever sat down to write. Not because I did not enjoy the album, far from it, Aldous Harding’s fourth offering is a captivating […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Saint Etienne - I've Been Trying To Tell You 2
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Saint Etienne – I’ve Been Trying To Tell You

September 9, 2021 Lori Gava

St Etienne has always been masterful in their ability to convey emotion through their sonics. Their decades-long collaboration has produced engaging works winning them significant critical praise and a Mercury Award nomination. Their latest offering, […]

INTERVIEW: Gomez' Ben Ottewell Talks 20 years of ‘Liquid Skin' 2
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Gomez – Liquid Skin (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

July 12, 2019 Ben P Scott

Adding a dose of rootsy American influences to memorable British pop melodies, the genre-blending Gomez seemed determined to provide the indie scene with something more wide-ranging and dynamic when they arrived in the late 90s. […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Clinic - Wheeltappers and Shunters
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Clinic – Wheeltappers and Shunters

May 16, 2019 Ben P Scott

It’s been seven years since the innovative Liverpool four-piece Clinic last released an LP. After live dates this year confirmed a return to action, hopes for a new album have also finally been rewarded. The […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Chemical Brothers - No Geography
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Chemical Brothers – No Geography

April 8, 2019 Ben P Scott

While many of the great Britpop and alternative bands of the 90s have been pulling off brilliant comebacks recently, the era’s dance and electronica legends have also seen a definite resurgence lately. Last year saw […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Mansun - Six (Deluxe Edition)
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Mansun – Six (Deluxe Edition)

March 21, 2019 Ben P Scott

The last few years have seen many classic records of the ’90s celebrate their 20 year anniversaries. One of these was the second Mansun album ‘Six’, originally issued back in September 1998, and reissued this […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Lucid Dream - Actualisation
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Lucid Dream – Actualisation

October 23, 2018 Ben P Scott

Formed in 2008 and causing a stir since their 2013 debut ‘Songs Of Lies And Deceit’, Carlisle four-piece The Lucid Dream suffered a cruel blow early last year in 2017 when all of their equipment […]

ALBUM REVIEW: She Makes War - Brace For Impact
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: She Makes War – Brace For Impact

October 10, 2018 Ben P Scott

This week saw the release of the new She Makes War album ‘Brace For Impact’, which is at number 47 in the midweek charts. It marks a long-overdue chart debut for the brilliant Bristol-based multi-instrumentalist Laura Kidd, who […]

MENACE BEACH Share Video for 'Black Rainbow Sound' feat: Brix Smith - Watch Now 1
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Menace Beach – Black Rainbow Sound

September 11, 2018 Ben P Scott

The third album from Leeds-based duo Menace Beach is a celestial treat for lovers of alternative rock. The songs on ‘Black Rainbow Sound’ show a band who have come into their own. Having always embraced […]

ALBUM REVIEW: James - Living In Extraordinary Times
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: James – Living In Extraordinary Times

August 9, 2018 Ben P Scott

Their last two albums have found Manchester indie legends James enjoying something of a renaissance. This week they release their 15th record. 15? Surely we don’t need another James album, do we? You probably know […]

INTERVIEW: Pete Wilkinson (Aviator) discusses new album 'Omni' 6
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Aviator – Omni

August 8, 2018 Ben P Scott

Aviator is a musical project featuring former Cast/Shack bassist Pete Wilkinson, and Mark Neary, who was a member of The Hours. Liverpool-based Wilkinson quit Cast in 2015, a few years after they reformed. “It was […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Liam Gallagher - As You Were
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Liam Gallagher – As You Were

October 3, 2017 Elizabeth Manno

After two sub-par Beady Eye records and a messy divorce, former Oasis frontman, working-class hero, and the voice of a generation, Liam Gallagher thought about quitting music for good. After his post-Oasis band, Beady Eye, […]

THE HORRORS release their stunningly assertive fifth album ‘V’ on September 22 + announce UK & Irish tour for October 2017
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Horrors – ‘V’

September 25, 2017 Lori Gava

The British band The Horrors are standing on the edge of the precipice of wider popular renown. The September 22nd release of their fifth album, “V” is the answer to the question of whether the […]

LATEST PODCASTS

  • credit Yagub Allahverdiyev
    Archive’s Dave Pen on ‘Glass Minds’ and evolving after 30 years | XS Noize Podcast #272
    February 24, 2026
  • Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on Re-Examining Howl | XS Noize Podcast #271
    Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on Re-Examining Howl | XS Noize Podcast #271
    February 17, 2026
  • Mark Shaw - Then Jerico | XS Noize Podcast #270
    Mark Shaw of Then Jerico on The Return, legacy, and bringing the full band show to Ireland | XS Noize Podcast #270
    February 10, 2026
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    Crispian Mills of Kula Shaker on creativity, chaos, and Wormslayer | XS Noize Podcast #269
    February 8, 2026
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    Dani Larkin on Next Of Kin: life, loss, and learning to stay open | XS Noize Podcast #268
    February 3, 2026
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    Paul Draper on Mansun Retold: revisiting old songs with new perspective | XS Noize Podcast #267
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  • credit Yagub AllahverdiyevArchive’s Dave Pen on ‘Glass Minds’ and evolving after 30 years | XS Noize Podcast #272 February 24, 2026
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  • Bad Bunny6 of Bad Bunny’s biggest selling hits August 5, 2025
  • GeneGene Announce Roundhouse Dates Following Sold-Out Comeback Shows February 23, 2026
  • ALBUM REVIEW: Nothing - A Short History Of DecayALBUM REVIEW: Nothing – A Short History Of Decay February 20, 2026
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  • ALBUM REVIEW: Iron and Wine - Hen’s TeethALBUM REVIEW: Iron and Wine – Hen’s Teeth February 23, 2026
  • 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

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