Fenian, a word used to describe warriors from medieval Ireland, captures the erratic energy of their live performances, with the record including features from the likes of Kae Tempest and Fawzi.
Melanie C is also fighting for her first solo Number 1 LP with Sweat (2). Sporty Spice’s current personal best came courtesy of her 1999 debut Northern Star, which landed at Number 4. This week, her ninth studio cut could become the first solo album from a Spice Girl to hit the summit.
But can Michael Jackson top the chart once more with The Essential (3)? The 2005 compilation hit the top spot in July 2009, the month of his death, and stayed there for seven consecutive weeks. Will The Essential replicate its prior success almost 17 years later?
Overall, according to Official Charts data, just less than 3000 units separate third place from the top spot, so the race is well and truly ON!
MJ’s 1987 classic Bad may also break the Top 10 this week, currently up four places (9).
Looking at the rest of the chart, Texan singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves eyes her fourth Top 10 with Middle of Nowhere (4). This would join 2018’s Golden Hour (6) 2021 release star-crossed (10) and her current personal best, 2024’s Deeper Well (3).
The legendary Tori Amos could clinch her highest-charting album since 1998’s From the Choirgirl Hotel with latest project, In Times Of Dragons (7).
After Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) dropped in cinemas last week, the film’s soundtrack could land inside the Top 20 (11).
American rockers The Black Keys’ Peaches! looks to place strongly for duo Dan Auerbach and Peter Carney, currently sitting at Number 14.
Elsewhere, Nigerian rapper-songwriter Asake is on track for a fourth Top 40 with M$NEY (25), as Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun looks set for a main chart reappearance and a new personal best, following the release of Midnight Sun: Girls Trip, a remixed version of the original record (28).
And finally, as she continues her blockbuster tour, Olivia Dean’s 2023 album Messy could re-enter the main standings (37).
See the full Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 here from 5.45pm.