HAPPY MONDAYS Celebrate 40 Years with New Singles Compilation ‘The Factory Singles’ – Out December 5

October 15, 2025

London Records are to mark 40 years of the Happy Mondays with a series of special releases, beginning with the new compilation ‘The Factory Singles’, available November 28th on double CD, double LP & cassette. […]

Courtney Barnett Returns with New Single and Video “Stay in Your Lane”

October 15, 2025

Today, GRAMMY-nominated Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett makes an exciting return with her brand new single, “Stay In Your Lane.” The song kicks off her next musical chapter and is the first new material since the […]

Culture Wars Swing Back Hard with Anthemic New Single “Bittersweet”

October 15, 2025

Emotion-fueled rock collective Culture Wars return with their new single “Bittersweet,” an arena-ready, shout-from-the-rooftops anthem that showcases frontman Alex Dugan’s dynamic vocal range and the band’s ability to blend soaring hooks with raw angst. The […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Dust – Sky Is Falling

October 15, 2025

Dust’s Sky Is Falling doesn’t so much make a statement as just show up and grab your attention. The Australian 5-piece follow up on their 2023 debut with an album that isn’t polished or overworked; […]

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 […]

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: The Divine Comedy Illuminate the Barbican with ‘Rainy Sunday Afternoon’ and Timeless Wit

October 13, 2025

For some, thirteen is an unlucky number. But for The Divine Comedy, their thirteenth studio album Rainy Sunday Afternoon — recorded in Abbey Road’s Studio 3 — proves anything but cursed. As the band took […]

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 […]

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// 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

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, […]

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: 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 […]

HAPPY MONDAYS Celebrate 40 Years with New Singles Compilation ‘The Factory Singles’ – Out December 5

Courtney Barnett Returns with New Single and Video “Stay in Your Lane”

Culture Wars Swing Back Hard with Anthemic New Single “Bittersweet”

Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Dust – Sky Is Falling

ALBUM REVIEW: Ash – Ad Astra

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: The Divine Comedy Illuminate the Barbican with ‘Rainy Sunday Afternoon’ and Timeless Wit

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

Round Up

XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

In Focus

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

IN FOCUS// Bryan Adams Brings Joy and Nostalgia to Leeds on ‘Roll With the Punches’ Tour

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

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

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

Miles Kane on new album ‘Sunlight in the Shadows’ & Working with Dan Auerbach | XS Noize Podcast #251

Ciaran Lavery & Bear’s Den discuss their new collaborative EP “Promiser” | XS Noize Podcast #250

Inside Moon Panda’s Dreamy New Album “Dumb Luck” | XS Noize Podcast #249

Steven Machat

BOOK REVIEW: Gods, Gangsters & Honor: A rock ‘n’ roll odyssey by Steven Machat