FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND - CHAPTER AND VERSE

Welsh hardcore rockers Funeral For A Friend first burst onto the music scene back in 2003 with their hugely successful debut Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation. After a time trying out a more mainstream sound, the group, led by Matthew Davies-Kreye, returned to their aggressive roots for 2013's Conduit, and in seventh album Chapter And Verse, they continue to develop their brilliantly angry and emotional sound. With their trademark mix of raw screaming and sweet vocals, 1% and Pencil Pusher are classic shout-along Funeral tracks, while Brother is a beautiful acoustic number; perfectly mirroring the sweet sadness of old fan-favourite History. In contrast, opener Stand By Me For The Millionth Time is thundering and attention grabbing; a perfect reminder to all rock fans that the kings of hardcore are still as strong as ever. Fifteen years on, these dedicated musicians are still getting better and better.

Rating: 9/10

(Review by Harriet Shepherd)

PANDA BEAR - PANDA BEAR MEETS THE GRIM REAPER

Film director Ingmar Bergman had his lead character play chess with the Grim Reaper in The Seventh Seal, movie duo Bill and Ted challenged the wraith to a game of Twister and now, experimental artist Panda Bear is making music with him. However, Noah Lennox, one of electronic psychedelicists Animal Collective and the man behind Panda Bear, has found surprisingly poppy and upbeat results for such a corpuscular collaboration on his fifth solo album. Mr Noah sounds like a dance pop classic dragged from the bowels of hell with canine howls and demonic gurgles giving way to four-to-the-floor beats and Lennox's trademark exuberant vocal swirls. These vocal incantations are ping-ponged back and forth in the joyous Boys Latin and in Come To Your Senses, Lennox and producer Peter Kember - once Sonic Boom of late Eighties rockers Spacemen 3 - create an intoxicating soup of sounds driven by a head-nodding beat. Less familiar is the beautiful ballad Tropic Of Cancer, invoking his father's 2002 death, in which ethereal harp seems to send a rare, un-multi-tracked Lennox vocal heavenwards. With closing song Acid Wash hinting at death and rebirth, let's hope this isn't the end for Panda Bear.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Mark Edwards)

FALL OUT BOY - AMERICAN BEAUTY/AMERICAN PSYCHO

Named after the two films, American Beauty/American Psycho - that's AB/AP to fans - feels like a natural progression from Save Rock 'n' Roll, released in 2013. It's the second post-hiatus album from Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz and co, and blends the sounds of the original sound fans fell in love with back in the Grand Theft Autumn days with the band's solo sounds. In a nutshell, the album is that eclectic and electric 'wave your fist in the air' kind of anthemic. Opening track Irresistible is ridiculously catchy, while penultimate closer Immortals makes you want to throw on trainers and burst into a run. From Jet Pack Blues and Twin Skeletons (Hotel In NYC), AB/AP is one of the most energetic and catchiest records of the Illinois band's career, like one big anthem flowing through from start to finish. Yet each song brings a new and exciting energy. Bravo, once again, Fall Out Boy.

Rating: 9/10

(Review by Nicole Gallagher)

MARK RONSON - UPTOWN SPECIAL

It's been five years since Mark Ronson released Record Collection, and boy, does he know how to make an impact. The album's first single Uptown Funk, featuring vocals from Bruno Mars, is currently top of the UK charts (after it was given an early release when Fleur East covered it on The X Factor). Uptown Special, Ronson's fourth record, sees the producer collaborating with Stevie Wonder, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker and rapper Mystikal, and refers to that Eighties funk-filled and nostalgic Motown sound of yesteryear. Wonder beautifully book-ends the LP with Uptown's First Finale and Crack In The Pearl Part II, with Summer Breaking and Feel Right equally catchy. The other songs including Daffodils, In Case Of Fire, Leaving Los Feliz and Heavy And Rolling may be more mellow, but Ronson's magic touch ensures it all gels together.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Shereen Low)

ENTER SHIKARI - THE MINDSWEEP

As Bring Me The Horizon and Lower Than Atlantis seep on to Zane Lowe's playlists, Enter Shikari are challenged to retain credibility within an increasingly radio-friendly genre. Beginning with a call to arms and laden with social outrage, their fourth studio album The Mindsweep is book-ended by politicised mantras and filled with video game electronicore. Influenced by Shikari Sound System's mixes, the record sees the Hertfordshire four-piece's electro-dub overhaul polished to a shine. It's filled with lush, pulsating rhythms that are amped-up for unleashed breakdowns on The Last Garrison and pared back with ease for Myopia to create the eye-of-the storm soundscapes of their acclaimed 2007 debut, Take To The Skies. Enter Shikari's skill has always been their ability to pull softer nuances from moshpit-agitating metalcore, and every croon from Rou Reynolds or woeful chord of Dear Future Historians is met with a brutal payload of hoarse screamo and frenzied riffing: There's A Price On Your Head is a cathartic listen, with rat-trap snares and System Of A Down wordplay scorning bankers, politicians and class tension. Comparisons to Pendulum, Linkin Park and Skrillex aside, The Mindsweep manages not to be an excruciating listen thanks to a greater restraint and fresh ideas that see Enter Shikari retain its bite.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Lauren James)

MENACE BEACH - RATWORLD

Making a noise on the scene and on record, indie rockers Menace Beach are definitely one of this year's ones to watch. Core members Ryan Needham and Liza Violet take the reins of their Leeds-based group, for a high-octane, psychedelic ride through the scuzzy underbelly of Nineties' American indie. Despite the disparities of country and era, the band radiates such warmth, energy and conviction that somehow it seems to work. Moulding a joyous cacophony into a snappy tune, defining songs include the simultaneously melodic and grungy Drop Outs, carefree Tastes Like Medicine and the contradictorily titled Lowtalkin'. As an album, Ratworld is pretty full-on. Music that playfully refuses to be ignored, it's best to take the songs individually - captured by their mischievously sweet spirit you'll soon be humming along.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Nathania Hartley)

On The Road

:: Morrissey will play his first UK tour since 2011, with six March dates. The former Smiths frontman will kick off the gigs at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena on March 13, before heading to Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds and Glasgow and wrap up at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena on March 27. Tickets go on sale at 10am on January 16 from www.gigsandtours.com.

:: Idina Menzel, the voice behind Frozen hit Let It Go, has announced five UK shows in June. The Broadway star will perform at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, Manchester's O2 Apollo, Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, Bournemouth's BIC and London's Wembley SSE Arena. Tickets are available now from www.livenation.co.uk, www.gigsandtours.com and www.idinamenzel.com.