KNEECAP secure No. 2 on UK album charts with FENIAN after close race

KNEECAP have secured their first UK No. 2 with their second studio album FENIAN. The album narrowly missed out on the top spot this week to Michael Jackson.

The achievement still marks a significant milestone for the Belfast-based trio. Their previous album, Fine Art, peaked at No. 43 on the UK Albums Charts following its release in 2024.

The chart race also saw strong competition from Melanie C’s album SWEAT, which would have marked the first UK No. 1 solo album by one of the original members of Spice Girls. Kneecap outsold Melanie C – however, Michael Jackson renewed interest surrounding the upcoming biopic Michael, has helped drive sales of Michael Jackson's 2005 compilation The Essential Michael Jackson, which climbed from No.14 last week all the way to the No.1 spot. Meanwhile, Jackson's 1987 album Bad – the follow up to the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, which shifted a remarkable 70million copies – is at No.8.

Last week's No.1, The Great Divide by Noah Kahan, has dropped to No.4, with Olivia Dean's The Art of Loving – another former No.1 – at No.5. Also new to the UK Top 10 this week is Kacey Musgraves, with Middle of Nowhere.

The news of their UK breakthrough comes just hours after KNEECAP secured the No. 1 position on the Official Irish Albums Charts. This success marks a first for the trio, whose debut album Fine Art reached No. 2 in Ireland, after a closely contested chart battle with Taylor Swift in 2024.

While the Belfast group have missed out on the top spot in the UK, the symbolic achievement remains significant, with FENIAN marking the first time an Irish-language record has reached such a high level of chart success and visibility.

Their success is also a timely riposte to the UK authorities, who have been hounding the band for the past year. KNEECAP had a summer of controversy in the UK last year, with rapper Mo Chara being charged in relation to the alleged waving of a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London. The charge was brought in May 2025, but the case was dismissed in September following a technical error. A subsequent attempt to reinstate the terrorism-related charge was rejected by the court two months ago. The band dismissed the charges as an attempt by the British authorities to distract from the genocide taking place in Gaza – which has been facilitated in various ways by the UK government.

In a message shared with fans, the group, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, said they were “buzzing” about getting to No. 1 at home.

“Muintir na hÉireann, is Grá linn sibh," the band said – which translates as "People of Ireland, we love you."

"A big part of KNEECAP has always been bringing the Irish language into the contemporary space," the statement continued, "so young people see the language is of value and on par with any other language. And with this also comes showing solidarity with those who need it most around the world and at home.”

KNEECAP are preparing for a busy summer of live performances, with appearances scheduled at numerous festivals, including Primavera Sound, Rock Werchter, Reading and Leeds Festivals and All Together Now.