Billie Eilish won’t be beaten to the U.K. chart crown.
Based on sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, Eilish’s latest LP Hit Me Hard And Soft (Interscope) is outselling the rest of the top 5 combined.
It would be Eilish’s third consecutive U.K. No. 1 album. Her debut When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? bowed at No. 1 in 2019 and stayed there for three weeks, while Happier Than Ever opened at the summit in 2021, where it logged a single week.
In a distant second place on the chart blast is Zayn’s Room Under The Stairs (Republic Records), his fourth solo album and first in eight years. It’s set to become the former One Direction singer’s second solo top 10 album in the U.K., after 2016’s chart-topping debut effort Mind of Mine.
Taylor Swift’s former chart champion The Tortured Poets Department (EMI) is predicted to complete the podium, down 2-3.
Meanwhile, Guns’N’Roses star Slash could snag a U.K. top 5 debut with his all-star collection Orgy Of The Damned (Gibson), new at No. 4 on the Official Chart Update. The guitar hero previously cracked the top 10 with three solo albums featuring Myles Kennedy — 2014’s World On Fire (No. 7), 2018’s Living The Dream (No. 4) and 2022’s 4 (No. 5).
Portishead singer Beth Gibbons is eying a U.K. top 10 with Lives Outgrown (Domino Recordings), her first solo record. It’s new at No. 5 on the chart blast. As a member of Bristol, England electronica act Portishead, Gibbons has three U.K. top 10 appearances.
Also on track for a top 10 berth is Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band, with Loophole (Modern Sky). Its set to arrive at No. 6, for the Liverpool, England act’s second top 10 appearance after 2022’s Dear Scott peaked at No. 6.
Finally, new releases from Kerry King (From Hell I Rise at No. 15 via Reigning Phoenix Music), Jack Savoretti (Miss Italia at No. 16 via Universal Music Italia), Bright Light Bright Light (Enjoy Youth at No. 23 via YSKWN), Ferocious Dog (Kleptocracy at No. 35 via Graphite), New Kids On The Block (Still Kids at No. 37 via BMG) and Clavish (Chapter 16 at No. 38 via Polydor) could snag top 40 spots.
All will be revealed when the Official Chart is published late Friday, May 24.
