Jake Sun, Journalist

Azelia Banks was a bright spot of Jake Sun's year, along with Swans and Amon Tobin.

They bid farewell to the adoring throng, leaving nothing but fond memories in the wake of yet another triumphant performance.

And what a storm Smiles becomes! With this, their final song, Spiritualized unleash a final immensity of sound – one that is usually reserved only for legend.

Once more Neurosis exercise their position as one of the most influential bands in heavy music history.

Balancing the great dualities of humanity in ideal equilibrium, Perry and Gerrard both remain a rare complement to each other’s exquisite gifts.

The conceptual scene is set, on the stunning title track and opener, as looped samples and spoken-word head a mounting crescendo, which detonates into a fury of controlled riffs and mechanical blast beats that are systematically scrutinised by a scanning synth beam.