Latest articles by Emma Johnston
A rowdy Pearl Jam sweep the pretenders away on Dark Matter
There’s vim and vigour aplenty from Seattle survivors Pearl Jam on album number 12, Dark Matter
The Pineapple Thief are rejuvenated, regenerated and on a roll
The PineappleThief almost called it quits back in 2016, but with founder Bruce Soord bringing in creative partner Gavin Harrison it's like a whole new band
"It's our mission to keep the rock alive. It's important to keep the torch burning": The Gems were born out of solidarity, and now they want to invigorate classic rock
Swedish rockers The Gems hope that leaving "toxic" former band Thundermother will turn out to be a blessing in disguise
“You see people in music magazines who call themselves rebels. I’m more of a rebel because I really put my life at risk”: Aviv Geffen and Steven Wilson’s contrasting worlds make Blackfield’s work so powerful
Israeli musician and campaigner’s third album with Porcupine Tree leader was named Welcome To My DNA as an illustration of the pair’s powerful connection
"Nothing is off limits in a dizzying array of influences and styles mixed with the precision of a master of his craft": Gary Clark Jr hits a career high on Jpeg Raw
Texan electric blues multi-instrumentalist Gary Clark Jr's sixth album Jpeg Raw might be one of the best albums you'll hear this year
Every Patti Smith album ranked from worst to best
Creative polymath Patti Smith is one of music's most unique voices – here we go through her back catalogue in order of greatness
TesseracT's latest album is "near-future fantasy about two people that have to traverse a strange land": And if that sounds like a video game, well, that's the plan
Prog-metallers TesseracT returned last year with a concept album, and have plans to expand it beyond being just a record
"There's a charming vulnerability to it all, although they still amp up the rock when necessary": Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes' Dark Rainbow
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes shed another skin to show their most sensitive side on album five
“I knew how to play the whole of Misplaced Childhood when I was 12. I can’t bear to listen to it now – it reminds me of being a miserable 12-year-old”: How former Oceansize member Mike Vennart grew up and moved on
The band that made his name was a “troublesome, difficult” experience, but becoming a dad helped him put it all behind him
The 50 best rock albums of 2023
The past 12 months may go down in history as a period of tumult and turmoil, but on the positive side, rock'n'roll is very much alive and well – as the best 50 albums of 2023 reflect
"This has given me a whole new reason to live": Former Nymphs frontwoman Inger Lorre wants to shine some light into a very dark world
Inger Lorre's new album Gloryland is her first this century, and it's an album inspired by hope and healing
"Epidemically catchy, fearlessly camp and glam, air-punch anthemic and just the right level of daft": The Struts' Pretty Vicious
Derby’s ambitious classic rock crew The Struts aim for the stars with album number four Pretty Vicious
"I feel like any experience of humanity I’ve ever learned is from working in pubs": Meet Gallus, whose fiery mix of pessimism and furious energy is turning heads
Young Scots on the up, Gallus have already won a ‘best rock/alternative band’ award
"These songs aren’t written to be your friend, they're written to protect you": supergroup Empire State Bastard want you to join their riot
Members of Biffy Clyro, Slayer, Oceansize and Bitch Falcon have combined to form rock's most exciting new supergroup
Desert rock superstars Queens Of The Stone Age have returned to retain their crown
Queens Of The Stone Age explore the more experimental corners of their psyche on eighth album In Times New Roman
Inspector Cluzo: six things you need to know
Inspector Cluzo are the environmentally-friendly, goose saving, French farming blues rock duo you absolutely need in your life right now
Black Spiders' comeback album is an effervescent love letter to rock’n’roll at its most joyous and uncomplicated
Can’t Die, Won’t Die is a wonder web of rock’n’roll thrills from South Yorkshire’s comeback kids, Black Spiders
How PJ Harvey’s raw, violent, vengeful masterpiece Rid Of Me inspired Nirvana and set hearts ablaze among a new generation of fearless female musicians
PJ Harvey’s savage, soul-baring second album Rid Of Me is 30 years old. Its howls of pain, rage and revenge now sound more vital than ever
If you want immense melodies and uplifting choruses, Welshly Arms have got you
Irresistible choruses from start to finish on Welshly Arms' third album Wasted Words & Bad Decisions
The Answer's Sundowners is the sound of a band with nothing to prove to themselves or anyone else
Northern Irish blues brothers The Answer return after a lengthy hiatus, their instinctive feel for rock'n'roll still very much intact
Light Up The Sky: How Hundred Reasons rose from the dead to make the comeback of the year with Glorious Sunset
The story behind UK post-hardcore heroes Hundred Reason's unexpected return with the brilliant Glorious Sunset
Lifesigns in the beginning: the story of the band's debut album
Lifesigns began life a a trio that featured Nick Beggs and released their self-titled debut in 2013
By 1994 The Cranberries were stars: then came the incendiary song that made them massive
The Cranberries had already enjoyed success with their sweet ballads, but this storming left-turn, a furious track about the bombings in Northern Ireland, made them huge stars
