With her most recent single ‘Die Happy‘, Holly Humberstone closed 2025 by teasing an exciting new era. It truly felt like she was tapping in to something special, and it left me eager for more. Thankfully Holly hasn’t left us waiting for long, as her latest release ‘To Love Somebody’ is quick to build on the rapidly growing hype and anticipation for her sophomore album Cruel World (out 10th April). Inspired by the age old wisdom that “it’s better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all“, ‘To Love Somebody’ is a reflection on accepting the bad with the good. How heartbreak is as much an essential human experience as falling in love is. How knowing that kind of pain and sadness gives a better frame of reference, and a greater appreciation for, all the joy and happiness in our lives. The track is home to some stunning synth work, a wonderfully expressive rhythm section, and an addictive call and response pre-chorus. Best of all though is the incredible music video, drawing inspiration from Nosferatu and classic Hammer horror, which perfectly captures the enchanting gothic romanticism of this new era.
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Album Review: Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge
Live Review: Biffy Clyro, Nottingham Arena, 12th Jan 2026
I’m increasingly convinced that the key to getting through this absurd thing called life is simply having something to look forward to. I think that’s doubly important this time of year; we start the new year with such optimism, only to be faced with a cold, bleak January. These dull winter months need to be spiced up with a bit of excitement, and what better way to do that than an evening spent with one of Britain’s best live bands. Scottish alt rockers Biffy Clyro have been on my list of must-see live bands for the longest time, but somehow the stars never aligned for me to catch them on previous tours. Given how much fun I had with their latest record Futique, it felt like the time was finally right to see the Biffy lads in action. Continue reading
Belwood Music Awards 2025
As we look back on another year rapidly fading in the rearview mirror, it’s time to cap off our Listmas celebrations with one last round-up of the best that the music world had to offer these past twelve months. Thank you to everyone who has supported the site, and new music in general, this past year, and my utmost love and appreciation goes out to all the artists who have shared their work with us all. With the last few hours of 2025 rapidly ticking away, let’s take a final look at its highlights before we ring in the new year. Continue reading
Top Ten Albums of 2025
Though 2025 had its fair share of misfires and disappointments, a few high points rose out of the gloom to stand tall and proud. Musical highlights that made the year than bit brighter and more wondrous. Records that resonated in the back of my mind, that sparked an inferno of excitement in my veins right from first pressing play, that kept me coming back time and again for another helping. It’s time for this year’s Listmas celebrations to reach their grand crescendo as take a look back at the very best albums of the past twelve months. Continue reading
Top Ten EPs of 2025
They say that the best things come in small packages, and there have been plenty of EPs released this past year that give credence to that old adage. Some artists are able to say more in a handful of songs than many are able to across an entire album. Most often, EPs act as an elevator pitch for new and upcoming acts looking to leave their mark. First impressions matter, and what better way to win hearts and minds than by packing everything you’ve got into one intense opening salvo. Though we can always count on a few appearances from more established favourites, our EP list is first and foremost a celebration of rising talents, and this year is no exception. Continue reading
Top Ten Songs of 2025
It’s time for our Listmas celebrations to leave the world of visuals behind, and finally dive headfirst into the very best music of the past twelve months. The tracks that had me joyously dancing around the kitchen (if you can call my awkward flailing “dancing”). The hooks and melodies that have been playing on repeat in my head for months on end. The pieces of music that have wowed me just as much on my hundredth listen as they did the very first time I heard them. Without further ado, here’s a round-up of our favourite songs of 2025. Continue reading
Top Ten Videos of 2025
My favourite end-of-year list to compile changes every given year, but 2025 certainly feels like an exceptional year for music videos. I’ve adored revisiting so many different unique, inventive and entertaining visuals, many of which still feel fresh and exciting many months down the line. I truly think this is our strongest crop of videos to date, many of which could well have been worthy winners in their own right had the timing been a little different. So before we dive into the best music of the past year, let’s first feast our eyes on 2025’s most arresting visuals. Continue reading
Top Ten Album Covers of 2025
Season’s greetings to one and all! It’s the most wonderful time of the year – time for our annual Listmas celebrations! Starting in earnest with a look at the most interesting and imaginative artwork of the past year. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A great cover can say a lot about an album before you ever press play. Depending what the album calls for, the artwork can serve to catch your eye, spark your imagination, set the mood, or even tell an entire story all its own. Here’s a look at our favourite examples from 2025. Continue reading
Forgotten Gems 2025
We live in the golden age of new music. More new albums are released now than at any other point in history. We are quite literally spoiled for choice. Even with the best will in the world, we can only listen to a small fraction of all the albums released in a given year. Fewer still can be given the time and attention necessary for a proper review. Free time is in short supply, but that doesn’t mean that these records which fall by the wayside aren’t worthy of note. Brand new for this year, we’ll be kicking off our Listmas celebrations with a look at the “best of the rest”. The overlooked albums that didn’t get a proper feature on the site, but nonetheless left an impact on me, soundtracked my year, and left me longing to share them with people in some capacity. Here’s a brief shout out to a handful of the best Forgotten Gems of 2025. Continue reading
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