Metallica - Hardwired… to Self Destruct: Back in April, the band’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, confirmed that the band’s first album in 8 years - the follow-up to 2008’s Death Magnetic - was “pretty close.” They’ve since confirmed its release, and released lead single, ‘Hardwired’, an urgent, pulsing delight.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree: Cave’s first new album since the tragic death of his 15-year-old son last year will be released alongside a documentary film, One More Time With Feeling, the trailer of which suggests that Cave will tackle that loss both musically and via interview.

Regina Spektor - Remember Us To Life: We’ve had a sneaky listen to this album already, and - as is the case with most of Spektor’s albums - it weaves weird, lofty imagined narratives with more autobiographical, first person ones. It’s an absolute triumph.

Lady Gaga - untitled: A few years on from her jazz album with Tony Bennett, Gaga is overdue a collection of pop bangers. Her new single, ‘Perfect Illusion, is set for release next month, with an album to follow.

Warpaint - Heads Up: If we’re to take the album’s leads single, the appropriately titled ‘New Song’, as an indicator of what the album will sound like, then this will be Warpaint at their brilliant poppiest. You can never be quite sure with these guys though - they could be throwing us a curveball.

The xx - untitled: The band have been working on the follow-up to 2012’s Coexist for what feels like forever. Last year, they confirmed to Annie Mac that it would be arriving in 2016 - but there’s been no word since. Maybe they’re taking inspiration from Frank Ocean.

Frank Ocean - untitled: Speaking of Frank Ocean, it seems presumptuous to even assume his album will be out this year. Even though he’s teased its imminent release about 15 times in the past month. Supposedly the album, which was called Boys Don’t Cry but has reportedly had a name change, is due out this weekend. We’ll believe it when it happens.

Bon Iver - 22, A Million: Five years on from the release of the beautiful Bon Iver, Bon Iver (so good he named it twice), Bon Iver’s third album really is long overdue. We can’t wait.

The Rolling Stones - untitled: “We’re actually in the studio at the moment cutting new stuff,” Keith Richards told BBC 6 Music back in April. Their new, blues-inspired album - their first in over a decade - is set to be released at some point this year.

Green Day - Revolution Radio: According to Billie Joe Armstrong, Revolution Radio’s lead single, ‘Bang Bang’, is “about the culture of mass shooting that happens in America mixed with narcissistic social media.” We’d expect nothing less from Green Day.

M.I.A. - A.I.M.: Let’s face it, M.I.A. is due a bit of good press. Over the past six months or so, she’s been in the news more for her ill-thought-out views on Black Lives Matters, and her controversial place on, and subsequent removal from, the line-up of Afropunk London, than for her music. Hopefully, this new album will redeem her somewhat.

Bastille - Wild World: It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since Dan Smith burst onto the scene with debut album, Bad Blood. Knowing better than to rush out a follow-up to capitalise on Bad Blood’s phenomenal success, Bastille instead knuckled down with touring, and let a second album emerge organically. Lead single ‘Good Grief’ shows that this tactic worked.

Britney Spears - Glory: Ever since she had a very public breakdown almost a decade ago, the world has been willing Britney to fail. She’s nothing if not unshakeable though, and if the lead single from Glory, ‘Make Me Move’, is anything to go by, her ninth album is going to be massive.