Billie Eilish’s third is a triumph, Shabaka goes woodwind and Yunchan Lim makesthe most thrilling piano debut of the decade … here are our music team’s picks of the best LPs from the first half of the year
May 2024
Bring Me the Horizon: Post Human: Nex Gen review – a defining album of our digitally overloaded era
Despite losing a key member, the arena-filling pop-metal stars still thrill with their surprise-released new record – a masterpiece of glutted sonic mayhem
Raye’s record-breaking Brits defied the limited imaginations of the British music industry
Laura Snapes
Raye’s six Brit awards marked a huge vindication for the newly independent artist and rightly shamed the major label that apparently couldn’t see her potential
Brit awards 2024: women dominate as Raye scores record-smashing six wins
Artists have previously only managed four wins in one ceremony, capping an astonishing year for the British singer who was once left in major label limbo
Brit awards 2024 – full list of winners
The winners of every category at the 2024 Brits, updated as the ceremony progresses
August 2023
Autumn arts preview 2023
Horror metal, J Hus and new Dolly: all of autumn 2023’s best music
Rock, rap and pop royalty are set for a strong season, with returns for the Chemical Brothers and Kylie. Tropicália pioneer Gilberto Gil celebrates a stellar career and Thomas Adès takes the reins at the Hallé
June 2023
Download festival review – 20th birthday brings double Metallica, occult glam and a new breed
After travel chaos this proves to be an epic four-dayer, with an eclectic mix from Bring Me the Horizon to AA Williams plus Metallica spanning their career
August 2022
Reading festival review – vibrant pop takeover leaves rock in the shade
Dominated by the likes of PinkPantheress, Little Simz and Megan Thee Stallion, it’s left to Arctic Monkeys and Wolf Alice to remind revellers of Reading’s still-beating rock heart
February 2022
Brit awards 2022: every performance reviewed, from Adele to Dave and Little Simz
From Ed Sheeran’s screamo turn with Bring Me the Horizon to Liam Gallagher arriving by helicopter, we rate all of this year’s live performances
December 2021
Reading and Leeds festival 2022 announce lineup with Arctic Monkeys, Dave and more
Megan Thee Stallion and Halsey are first female headliners since 2014, with Rage Against the Machine and Bring Me the Horizon rounding out the top billings
September 2021
Bring Me the Horizon review – clearly the UK’s greatest rock band right now
With Cybermen cheerleaders, hazmat suits and gigantic mosh pits, there’s a gloriously daft energy to the pop-metallers’ emotional, earth-shaking return
