Embrace announce new album ‘Avalanche’ and share lead single ‘Road To Nowhere’

January 28, 2026

Today, Embrace return with details of their ninth album Avalanche, out 12th June via Cooking Vinyl. For over three decades, the five-piece have been a key part of the British music scene, selling over two million […]

Killerstar kick off 2026 with new single ‘The Afterglow’ featuring David Bowie alumni

January 26, 2026

Band founders Rob Fleming and James Sedge started the band to channel their passion for ‘70s art-rock and modern alternative sounds, while fate drew a phenomenal team of stellar David Bowie band members/collaborators into their world. That […]

The Bluetones mark 30 years of ‘Expecting to Fly’ with 2026 UK tour

January 26, 2026

The Bluetones return to mark 30 years of their classic debut album ‘Expecting to Fly’. The band celebrate the album’s success with a tour across the UK in October and November 2026 including dates in Manchester and London. […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Dry Cleaning – Secret Love

January 23, 2026

With their third studio album, Secret Love, South London’s Dry Cleaning have officially moved beyond the initial hype of the post-punk revival, evolving into a band willing to risk their established formula. Released via 4AD […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Kula Shaker – Wormslayer

January 23, 2026

Kula Shaker have never been a band in a hurry. Their history is dotted with long gaps between albums, sometimes stretching close to a decade. Since 2022’s 1st Congregational Church Of Eternal Love And Free […]

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

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 […]

‘Pop’ at 25: Looking back at the orphan child in U2's discography 2

‘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

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 REVIEW: Craic, Community and Conviction: The Mary Wallopers storm Belfast

December 29, 2025

The Mary Wallopers returned to Belfast on 23 December fresh from five consecutive nights at Glasgow’s Barrowlands, and if there was any risk of fatigue, it never showed. From the opening song, pints were flying, […]

LIVE REVIEW: Wool City Rockers: Paradise Lost, Terrorvision & New Model Army take over Bradford Live

December 23, 2025

On 13 December, Bradford proudly celebrated the strength and legacy of the Yorkshire heavy music scene with Wool City Rockers, staged at the city’s newly refurbished Bradford Live. The line-up brought together three iconic bands […]

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

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// 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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: 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

INTERVIEW: Fabrizio Cammarata on Solitude, Connection, and the Inner Worlds of His New Album “Insularities”

October 10, 2025

Sicilian singer-songwriter Fabrizio Cammarata has returned with Insularities — a quietly profound exploration of connection, isolation, transformation, and memory. The record invites listeners into a space between light and shadow, where grief and love share […]

Embrace announce new album ‘Avalanche’ and share lead single ‘Road To Nowhere’

Killerstar kick off 2026 with new single ‘The Afterglow’ featuring David Bowie alumni

The Bluetones mark 30 years of ‘Expecting to Fly’ with 2026 UK tour

Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Dry Cleaning – Secret Love

ALBUM REVIEW: Kula Shaker – Wormslayer

Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Y/N – Esther Yi

BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes

Classic Albums

‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

Live Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Craic, Community and Conviction: The Mary Wallopers storm Belfast

LIVE REVIEW: Wool City Rockers: Paradise Lost, Terrorvision & New Model Army take over Bradford Live

Round Up

XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

In Focus

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

IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square

Hans Zimmer: The ultimate fan’s guide

The ultimate fans guide to seeing Andrea Bocelli in Amsterdam

Eros Ramazzotti: Dates, venues, tickets and more

INTERVIEW: TAVE Talks ‘Fly Away,’ Self-Discovery, and the Art of Letting Go

INTERVIEW: :Panic :Over Are Turning Northern Irish Indie Into a Global Sound

INTERVIEW: Fabrizio Cammarata on Solitude, Connection, and the Inner Worlds of His New Album “Insularities”

Paul Draper on Mansun Retold: revisiting old songs with new perspective | XS Noize Podcast #267

Alexander Wolfe on ‘Everythinglessness’ and confronting masculinity through music | XS Noize Podcast #266

Callum Beattie on new album INDI and trusting his instinct | XS Noize Podcast #265

Creative Writing

7 Best Creative Writing Colleges That Turn Passion into Skill