by James Moore
The waiting room: 24 albums to look out for in 2016
New releases are inbound from the likes of Gorillaz, Kanye west and The Last Shadow Puppets
The Last Shadow Puppets: Praise the Lord! Miles Kane and Alex Turner are reportedly set to release their long awaited follow-up to 2008's The Age Of The Understatement next March. Owen Pallett (who arranged the strings on their debut) tweeted on 9 October, "That rare and thrilling moment when the record you're working on crosses the threshold into Classic Status #tlsp2." Give us a sneak peak asap guys, we've been waiting 7 years!
Gorillaz: If reports are correct, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett are in their musical laboratory as we speak, working on the first Gorillaz project in five years. Damon Albarn recently told the Guardian that it's "early days for the next album but that "so far, its really fast, and it's got quite a lot of energy." A couple images of Russell and Noodle posted a few months ago suggest some Motown and late 70's influences, with the former rocking a trilby and the latter playing a guitar with a John Travolta sticker plastered on it. Keep your ears peeled.
Kanye West: SWISH - Kanye needs a swift kick up the backside. After re-titling his album from So Help Me God (powerful) to SWISH (that terrible Will Smith track? Oh that was 'Switch') and then premiering the unrelenting and infectious 'All Day' at the Brit awards, it seemed that the album was arriving soon. He's now described the album as a "two year painting" and explained that he's "not worried" to take another 12 months. Let's hope he's exaggerating and that it arrives before the end of 2016.
Green Day: Speaking with Rolling Stone, Billie Joe Armstrong said, "I've got, like, four or five songs right now. I'm gonna take it really slow. I'm just gonna make sure every moment is inspired and that we have something that's really special to us." After releasing three studio albums within three months with the fairly gimmicky Uno!, Dos!, Tre! trilogy, hopefully this offering will be a more focused and polished affair.
Bloc Party - After a mini hiatus, Bloc Party returned with 'The Love Within', simultaneously combining their old school indie vibes with more zany sonics that are heading in different directions. They're releasing their new album HYMNS 29 January and performed two new songs at Maida Vale for BBC 6 Music, 'Exes' and 'The Good News'.
The Killers - Brandon Flowers recently told NME that a new LP was possible if the band come together to mend some fences. "Once [the band] all get on the same page, it'll work. I need to persuade them to like the same things as I do." He also said that 2012's Battle Born "wasnt good enough."
Queens Of The Stone Age - After dropping their storming record Like Cologne back in 2013, Bassist Mikey 'Shoe'' Shuman explained that a new album was definitely in the works, but that "we decided to take a break because we had been going so hard for so long." A record should be surfacing next year, though, with whatever they produce being as hard hitting as ever.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Back in July, the Chili's bassist Flea revealed that the band had been working on their untitled new album with legendary producer, Dangermouse. By utilising such an effective musical maestro, Anthony Kiedis and co will probably be infusing their newest tracks with previously undiscovered levels of funk and crystal clear coolness.
Frightened Rabbit - With 2013's Pedestrian Verse, the scottish band solidified themselves as an alternative rock band not to be reckoned with. With his razor sharp lyricism, frontman Scott Hutchison released his solo Owl John project, but the band are now working together again. Speaking with Gigwise earlier this year, Scott said, "I imagine there will be at least be a song out by the end of this year and maybe be out on the road with a few little shows to whet the whistle, but the full album won't be until next year."
Metallica: For any Metallica fan, it's been a long and dark six years, 2008's Death Magnetic serving as the metal legends' last full length offering. Lars Ulrich spoke with Rolling Stone about the forthcoming, long awaited record. "We are fucking in it. We've got lots of songs, and we're honing them and tweaking them. It's pretty close." Hurry up Lars, or they'll be metal related riots sparking up across the western hemisphere.
Massive Attack - With their last release Heligoland hitting the airwaves over five years ago, all Massive Attack fans are probably on the edge of their seats waiting for some new sounds. Gigwise spoke with the group last year about the music they've been sitting on. "To be honest there's a whole album of new material sitting in a studio at the moment which isn't finished and hasn't been played at all yet," said Rob Del Naja, known to fans as 3D.
Azealia Banks: When the Harlem rapper isn't being homophobic on airplanes or engaging in endless twitter debates and feuds, she occasionally steps foot in a studio to cook up some tracks. Her sophomore studio LP, Business And Pleasure is set to arrive in the first quarter of the new year, and is certain to contain a whirlwind of controversy and polarising sonic choices.
The Cure - Speaking with NME earlier this year, Robert Smith confirmed that "There's new stuff that we're doing with this line-up and stuff we finished with the old line up." The original 4:13 Dreamsessions concept album will contain at least ten new songs that have never been heard before, while 4:14 Scream will be a 14-track album including some of the tracks from 4:26 Dreams, "but these 4:14 Scream versions will all have words and vocals."
Brand new: This is more wishful thinking than concrete fact, but the band finally released a new studio track this year with the blisteringly powerful 'Mene', and considering their joy in making loyal fans wait, we're guessing any new LP will be arriving next year at the very earliest. During an emotional speech at a recent show, Jesse Lacey explained that the band wouldn't last much longer, but "we'll probably have a record for you." Keep your fingers and toes crossed for this one, you may start cramping up, though
Arcade Fire - Back in July, the band told NME that they'd be hitting the studio after following the headline show they played at London's Hyde Park. Win Butler said, "We're in a position now where we can have an idea and the people around us to make it happen. It starts when you get off the road. If I ever feel bored now, it's the best feeling in the world, because I know that's when the next idea is going to come into my brain and it will start again."
The National - Although they already released A Lot Of Sorrow this year, The National have confirmed that they're already working on new music, Matt Berninger told Gigwise, "none of us know what it's going to turn out like, but we are trying to change our process just to keep it interesting and see what happens."
Bad Religion: The 35 year strong band have been ridiculously prolific throughout their time together, with Greg Graffin recently speaking about their next LP after the band finished their American tour. It'll be a while before we record and then a new album will be out. I don't know when that will be. Probably late next year." If it's anything like their last offering, True North, Bad Religion will continue to prove that age is simply a number.
Rammstein - The German industrial metal legends confirmed they were back in the studio last week, posting this picture with the caption, "Rammstein: Back on!" via their Facebook. Itll be their first new material in six years, and we expect nothing less than absolutely terrifying, metal induced chaos.
Mystery Jets - The band have just re-emerged with a new trailer for their album and an announcement for a launch show at London's ICA in November. Band member Will Rees spoke about the new record. "For us we've been through quite a lot in the last couple of years and there have been certain realistions that come with playing in a band that has been together for over two decades. I think these songs have real feeling about them."
Daughter - After finishing their touring for If You Leave, the band have been working on new material in their own studio in London. They recently told NME the sounds they're experimenting with have become heavier and more "Extreme" after their older songs became "rockier on stage." Not To Disappear will be arriving next year.
London Grammar - The trio's last studio album If You Wait was released over two years ago, so we have to assume that they're locked away in some undisclosed location, throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks. We need some more sweet and soothing harmonies in our life, so fingers crossed, eh.
Hinds - The Madrid four piece will be releasing their debut album Leave Me Alone January 8 through Lucky Number. They spoke about the record on their Soundcloud. "It's funny 'cause we thought this album would be all party and cheerfulness but, surprise, it's not. Feelings are more balanced, like in life. So suddenly we had a more sober or even sad album than we expected." Their latest single 'Garden' showcases their unique blend of DIY rock, infectious screeches and lush atmospherics. We can't wait to hear what else they've been working on.
Sun Kill Moon and JESU are set to release a collaborative album together in February. Jesu's Justin K. Broadrick confirming the news via Twitter back in April. "A lot of questions about a new Jesu record, I've been working on it for some time, it's a collaboration LP between Sun Kil Moon and Jesu." With no other details, we can only imagine what this incredibly intriguing collaboration of spoken word and richly layered, droning ambience will bring about.
Savages - Their second studio album Adore Life will be arriving 22 January, with the band dropping a new video for their surprise single 'The Answer', a relentless and gloriously unforgiving punk song. The band spoke passionately about the hotly anticipated record. "It's about change and the power to change. It's about metamorphosis and evolution. It's about sticking to your guns and toughing it out. It's about now, not tomorrow. It's about recognising your potential.
Tags: Kanye West, Gorillaz Photo: WENN
Winter is slowly creeping up on us, and with the introduction of the cold and the early Christmas advertisements soon being plastered in every conceivable direction, you may be losing all hope.
Never fear, though, because with Winter comes the new year, and there's a bunch of brand new records coming your way in 2016 that'll serve as your soundtrack for the next 12 months.
From the delayed Kanye album and the long awaited Gorillaz follow-up, to the reuniting of Alex Turner and Miles Kanye for The Last Shadow Puppets, click ahead for 24 albums that will be shaping the musical stratosphere in 2016.