The first half of 2016 already saw many musical favourites return to the scene, so we can’t help but ask: who else is readying themselves for a new album?

2016 has so far been a gigantic year for music. We welcomed the unexpected return ofRadioheadand The Avalanches,grappled with albums from three of the biggest contemporary acts in the world (Beyoncé, Drake and Kanye) and mourned the loss of two of the greatest in David Bowie and Prince.

All this and we’ve only just hit July. So what’s in store for the rest of the year? There are plenty of rumoured comebacks as equally significant as the two mentioned earlier, among them The Rolling Stones and Massive Attack. But more importantly are some definite returns from younger acts armed with fresh material. Here’s looking ahead to the artists who are set to release new material by the end of the year, helping cap off a musically dense 2016.

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Haim

The Haim sisters have been pretty busy being the core members of Taylor Swift’s squad, but fortunately they have also been working on a new record to follow-up 2013’s Days Are Gone.“The oven is pre-heated and the oven door is open,” the band told Zane Lowe last October. And a more recent tweet from the band regarding an interview with Rolling Stonesuggests at “new” stuff, with theRSarticleconfirming that “new things” means a second album.

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Gorillaz

Although there is not yet a confirmed release date for Gorillaz’s new album, there have been a lot of vague conversations surrounding new material. Damon Albarn has teased the idea in several interviews, including aRolling Stonearticle where he mentions that new music is on the cards:

“I’m in the very early days on a new Gorillaz record. So far, it’s really fast, and it’s got quite a lot of energy. I’ve been stuck on piano, somewhere off Broadway, for years now. I want to go somewhere completely opposite of that.”

In another interview last year, Albarn said he would begin working on the album in September 2015, that’s almost a year ago now…could it be almost done? We hope so. Then again,more recent hearsay speculationseems to suggest the record won’t arrive until next year. Time will tell.

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Bon Iver

Not much is known about a new album from these guys given Justin Vernon’s mysterious and private nature, but a recent tweet confirmed that Bon Iver have got new music to share to the world, and that their festival audiences would be the first to hear it: “to everyone asking: its a SET of ALL new music xxxxoo.”

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Crystal Castles

They’re still around and kicking, and a new album is definitely on the way next month. The band originally confirmed that the album would be released in Spring 2016, which in Australia is March through to June, but now it’s been rescheduled to Friday August 19. We’ve so far got the album cover art (see below), track list and three songs from the album: ‘Concrete’, ‘Frail’ and ‘Char’.

crystal castles concrete artwork via shazam

Image: Shazam

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Sky Ferreira

Sky Ferreira is not one to hide behind walls: her music is brutally honest and her presence on social media is equally as genuine, so keeping tabs on her throughout the years, you can see the journey that has led her to this forthcoming album. She’s had health issues, subsequent delays, and the people she’s been working with have been radically different from those onNight Time, My Time.She’s teased at a collaboration with Charli XCX, worked with Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes. And she’s also spent studio time with Ariel Rechtshaid, Rakhi and Mike Dean. But judging from the album title, Masochism,we’re sure it’s going to be as honest and revealing as her first. Ferreira has made it clear that she isn’t one to rush, though, sending out a series of tweets explaining that Masochismis on the way, but is in no fever to finish:

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The Shins

They’ve been using #shinstagram and sharing Instagram clips to tease snippets of new music, obviously hinting at a new album. Their last album, Port Of Morrow, came out in 2012, and we can only guess this new album will be out very soon. Keep an eye out for that hashtag.

King Puffin #shinstagram

A video posted by theshins (@theshins) on Apr 13, 2016 at 10:55am PDT

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Sigur Rós
Last November, the band announced a European tour and with it a little description of what fans could expect: “It’s going to be different, with new unreleased songs, a new show and maybe some other *new* things,” they wrote on their website. “Beyond that, we can only ask you to trust us on this one.” Is the clock ticking down to a new record this year?

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The xx

It’s good news to know that Jamie xx has not abandoned his project with Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. The Brits have been working on new material and apparently it’s going well. The trio have been working on the third album between Texas and Iceland, and have said it will be a “completely different concept”to what’s come before.

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LCD Soundsystem
This is happening (ha): no, but really, the band posted a lengthy note on its website confirming not only a live return earlier this year, but a new album to boot: “we’re not just playing coachella. we’re playing all over. we’re not just having some reunion tour. we’re releasing a record (sometime this year—still working on it, actually)”.

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M.I.A.

Only last week, M.I.A. shared a text on her website by writer Sinthujan Varatharajah, commenting on the treatment of asylum seekers. The text is titled “M.I.A.//A.I.M.” and finishes with a confirmation of the new single release, which also landed last week in the US. Also, M.I.A.’s representative confirms that AIM is the title of the new album, which is due out Friday September 9. Expect the album to provide commentary on human rights, refugees and freedom.

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Grizzly Bear

Like The Shins, the four-piece have taken to Instagram to ease restless fans, confirming (with a rather nice photo) that they are beginning work on a new album. The band officially started the new album on June 1, so a 2016 release seems a little unreasonable, but hey, you never know.

It begins !

A photo posted by EdDroste (@edroste) on Jun 2, 2016 at 2:06pm PDT

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Lorde

Every artist has a unique approach to writing an album, and for Lorde that means spending time alone in the wilderness. Her highly anticipated follow-up to Pure Heroinelooks to be in the works as Lorde confirmed in her tweet:

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Montaigne

The Aussie singer has been making serious traction since her appearance on the music scene. Her mammoth vocals are unforgettable, so everybody is pretty psyched for her debut album, Glorious Heights. Luckily we know that the album is out very soon – Friday August 5 in fact – and will feature recent singles ‘In The Dark’, ‘Clip My Wings’ and ‘Because I Love You’, which you can listen to below.

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The Amity Affliction

The Gynpie rockers dropped their last post-hardcore collection, Let The Ocean Take Me, two years ago, and looking at their recent single ‘I Bring The Weather With Me’, the new album is set to be dark and true to the Amity Affliction sound. Listen to the single below.This Could Be Heartbreakis out Friday August 12.

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Honourable Mentions

And here are a few artists who have teased the idea of new music, but have nothing confirmed or in the works just yet. Nevertheless, we’re hanging out for new albums from:

The Jesus and Mary Chain

Kings Of Leon

Massive Attack

The Rolling Stones

Warpaint

Jimmy Page

Future Islands

What album are you most looking forward to in the second half of 2016? Let us know in the comments below.

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