LOS ANGELES, Jan 9 — 2022 was rich with new musical offerings. And it looks like 2023 will be just as rich, if not even more so. Many artists have already announced that they will release new albums in the coming months. Here are the major upcoming album releases that are confirmed.
“RUSH!” by Måneskin
It’s been two years since Italian band Måneskin won the Eurovision contest with the song Zitti E Buoni. The quartet is now back with a new album called Rush! An aura of mystery surrounds this third opus, even if it is very likely that it will contain the latest singles of Måneskin, namely Supermodel, I Wanna Be Your Slave or The Loneliest. In an interview with Variety, bassist Victoria De Angelis said the album is all about experimentation. “It’s always us, of course, but I think the fans will like it. We also have some songs we wrote a couple years ago, songs we wrote completely on our own,” she said.
Rush by Måneskin is set to be released January 20.
“Gloria” by Sam Smith
Sam Smith is back, three years after the acclaimed Love Goes. The British singer-songwriter, who identifies as non-binary, will soon unveil their fourth album, Gloria. It will feature collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Jessie Reyez and Koffee, in addition to Unholy with Kim Petras. This opus marks a turning point in the career of Sam Smith since it is the first time they take part in the production and arrangements of one of their records. The singer describes Gloria as “an emotional, sexual and spiritual liberation.” “It was beautiful, with this album, to sing freely again. Oddly, it feels like my first-ever record,” they explained in a statement.
Gloria by Sam Smith is set to be released January 27.
“Queen of Me” by Shania Twain
Shania Twain’s fans had to wait six years after the release of Now to discover new musical creations from the country-pop veteran. They will all be brought together in Queen of Me, her sixth studio album. It includes the singles Waking Up Dreaming, Last Day of Summer, Giddy Up! and Not Just a Girl. That last track can be heard in the Netflix documentary, Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl, which looks back at the triumphs and setbacks of the Canadian singer.
Queen of Me by Shania Twain is set to be released February 3.
“Higher than Heaven” by Ellie Goulding
Since the release of Lights in 2010, Ellie Goulding has established herself as a major player in the British music scene. She has surrounded herself with renowned composers and producers like Greg Kurstin, Koz and Jessie Shatkin for her fifth studio album, Higher than Heaven. The opus, buoyed by the poignant Let It Die, was dreamed up during the pandemic. “There was definitely a darkness about [the past two years] that was palpable in the studio, with everyone having gone through it differently. I think for that reason, nobody wanted to sit and agonize over some relationship or some drama. So that’s how this album came together,” she said in a statement.
Higher than Heaven by Ellie Goulding is set to be released February 3.
“This Is Why” by Paramore
This is without a doubt one of the most awaited works of the year. The band Paramore will soon release a new studio album, This Is Why, six years after After Laughter. It will feature the song that inspired the title of the record, as well as The News. Singer Hayley Williams shared some details about This Is Why in her podcast series for BBC Sounds, Everything is Emo. She explained that she and her bandmates drew inspiration from the discography of indie rock bands like Bloc Party while recording.
This Is Why by Paramore is set to be released February 10.
“Trustfall” by Pink
There are few pop singers who are as prolific as Pink. The American singer-songwriter will unveil her ninth studio album, Trustfall, this winter. It follows her acclaimed Hurts 2B Human, which hit number one on the UK and US charts upon its release in April 2019. This opus is driven by the upbeat track, Never Gonna Not Dance Again.
Trustfall by Pink is set to be released February 17.
“Cracker Island” by Gorillaz
The virtual members of Gorillaz are about to return to centre stage with Cracker Island. The eighth album by the British band, formed by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, will feature collaborations with Tame Impala, Booty Brown, Bad Bunny, Thundercat, Beck and many others. It follows the EP Meanwhile (2021) and the collection of tracks Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez (2020), which already featured high-profile collaborations.
Cracker Island by Gorillaz is set to be released February 24.
“Memento Mori” by Depeche Mode
The title of Depeche Mode’s 15th album, Memento Mori, took on a special meaning when Andrew Fletcher, one of the British band’s co-founders, died on May 26. Dave Gahan returned to this painful episode in an interview with Rolling Stone. “All the songs [for Memento Mori] were already written before Fletch passed,” he told the magazine. “But when something happens, an event like this in your life, songs change: they take on different forms and have different meanings when you sing them.” The new album will come six years after Depeche Mode’s previous album, Spirit.
Memento Mori by Depeche Mode is set to be released in March, at an unspecified date.
“Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” by Lana Del Rey
The release of Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album, was seriously jeopardised when a hard drive containing the songs from the album was stolen in October. Despite this setback, the album will be released in March. Lana Del Rey put the album together with the help of American singer-songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff, with whom she has collaborated on many occasions. More surprisingly, the American singer also invited... her pastor Judah Smith to participate.
Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey is set to be released March 10.
“72 Seasons” by Metallica
Metallica is ready to, once again, get the planet rumbling with their 12th studio album. This is their first opus since 2016. It features 12 tracks, including Lux Aeterna. The title of 72 Seasons refers to the “first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves,” as explained by singer and guitarist James Hetfield. The legendary heavy metal band will promote their new record on a tour of Europe and North America in 2023 and 2024.
72 Seasons by Metallica is set to be released April 14.
“Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent” by Lewis Capaldi
Lewis Capaldi returns with his second studio album, Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, four years after Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. The Scottish singer announced in March 2021 that he would not be performing for the time being to focus on writing and composing his new album. He went back on the road the following summer, and in September released the track Forget Me, from Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent.
Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent by Lewis Capaldi is set to be released May 19. — ETX Studio
