Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' Council Skies and Foo Fighters' But Here We Are vie for Number 1 album

In what's set to be one of the biggest chart battles of the year, two iconic rock acts - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Foo Fighters - will be going head-to-head to secure the UK's Number 1 album next week.

One of the biggest chart battles of the year is about to begin, especially if you're a dyed-in-the-wool rock fan.

This Friday (June 2) brings new studio albums from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Foo Fighters, two guitar acts with seriously impressive chart records.

In fact, Oasis icon Noel leads an elite group of artists who have reached Number 1 with all of their studio albums. All seven of Oasis's studio albums reached the top spot, beginning with the band's seminal 1994 debut Definitely Maybe and ending with 2008 swansong Dig Out Your Soul. See where every Oasis song and album charted in the UK here.

MORE: Where every Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds song and album charted in the UK

Since going solo under the Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds moniker, he has reeled off another four Number 1 albums – with the studio albums Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2011), Chasing Yesterday (2015) and Who Built the Moon? (2017), plus the compilation album Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2021).

If new LP Council Skies follows them to the top spot, Noel will extend his record of consecutive Number 1s with studio albums to 11. Council Skies is a particularly mouth-watering release for British rock fans, because Noel is joined on three tracks by The Smiths legend Johnny Marr.

However, standing in his way are American rock titans Foo Fighters, who are returning with their 11th studio album But Here We Are. This is an especially emotional release for Dave Grohl and co., as it's their first since the death of the band's long-time drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022.

If the Foos do manage to pip Noel to the top spot, they will add to their current tally of five Number 1 albums. Their previous chart-toppers came with One By One (2002), Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), Wasting Light (2011), Concrete and Gold (2017) and Medicine at Midnight (2021).

MORE: Where every Foo Fighters song and album charted in the UK

Oh, and adding a dash of spice to the battle is the fact Noel and the Foos have history.

During the band's set at the 2019 Reading Festival, Dave Grohl told the crowd that he wanted to start a petition to get Oasis to reunite. Noel doesn't appear to have been thrilled by these comments, because he later brought them up during a gig in San Diego, saying: "I hereby start a petition to break up the Foo Fighters. Anyone free can f***ing sign it."

Ouch!

As always, check back on OfficialCharts.com for updates next week on what promises to be one of the most hotly-contested battles of 2023.