It's been another phenomenal year for Irish music across the board – and it's not over yet! To celebrate two of the most eagerly anticipated Irish albums of the year, The Coronas' upcoming Thoughts & Observations and Snow Patrol's chart-topping The Forest Is The Path, we're proud to present a dual-cover special issue of Hot Press – en route to shops, and available to pre-order now! – with a cover starring each of the era-defining bands.

First up, Will Russell joins The Coronas on the road, to hear about their new album, and to discover what makes this phenomenally successful band tick...

Then it's the turn of Northern rock heroes Snow Patrol – with love, family, mental health, Möbius strips, Kneecap and more on the agenda as Gary Lightbody talks to Stuart Clark.

And that's not all... Each copy of this action-packed issue will also feature one of the year's most hotly anticipated films, Joker: Folie à Deux, over on the flip-cover, as Paul Nolan takes us on a deep-dive into the blockbuster sequel...

Elsewhere in the issue...

Having established herself as one of Ireland's best young artists with her acclaimed debut Woman On The Internet, Orla Gartland ascends to a new artistic level with her much-awaited follow-up, Everybody Needs A Hero – which she tells Caroline Kelly all about...

Back with his sixth album, A Modern Day Distraction, Jake Bugg talks about his social conscience, overcoming difficult times, maintaining a sense of humour, and touring with Liam Gallagher and John Squire.

Jake Bugg. Credit: Kevin Westenberg

Texas soul star Leon Bridges on his stunning new album Leon, melding eclectic musical influences, and being a fan of Van Morrison.

As Bricknasty return with their brazenly experimental new mixtape, XONGZ አስቀያሚ ጡብ, we sit down with Fatboy and the band in Ballymun – and discuss indulgence, sobriety, division, and dreams of living in Howth...

As she returns with her first album in 10 years, Blind Faith, Gemma Hayes talks confidence, internet rabbit holes, and her ultimate goal of forming a punk band…

Gemma Hayes. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Indie-pop maestros London Grammar discuss their new album The Greatest Love, entering a new artistic phase, and embracing the creative possibilities of AI.

Irish star Jack Reynor discusses his new Netflix series The Perfect Couple, a gripping whodunnit set amongst an upper class American family.

With her outstanding performances in Kathleen Is Here and Say Nothing, Hazel Doupe is set to join Ireland's ever-expanding ranks of major screen stars.

Hazel Doupe in Kathleen Is Here (2024)

In a stacked Books section, meanwhile, John Banville discusses his gripping new mystery The Drowned, Donna Tartt, Nabokov, and his friendship with late literary icons Cormac McCarthy and Martin Amis. Plus we meet Robert Harris and Colin Barrett...

Inside this brand new issue you'll also find Seán Kelly MEP, Emma O'Halloran, Macdara Yeates, Kʒːlu, an Irish Music Month special, Part 2 of our Student Special, and much more...

So, take your pick between our two vibrant covers, and pre-order your copy now: