MasterCard British Album of the Year nominations announced

alt-J
Ed Sheeran
George Ezra
Royal Blood
Sam Smith

The BRIT Award for Mastercard British Album is always fiercely contested and it’s no different in 2015 as alt-J, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, Royal Blood and Sam Smith battle it out to win the award for the first time.

Experimental indie-rock outfit alt-J, who were nominated for three BRITs in 2012, are honoured for their UK No. 1 album, 'This Is All Yours', a critically acclaimed record produced by Charlie Andrew.

Two-time BRIT winner Ed Sheeran is nominated for his chart-topping second album 'X', the biggest and fastest selling album of 2014.

Bristol singer-songwriter Ezra caps an amazing breakthrough year with recognition for his first LP, 'Wanted On Voyage', featuring the contagious track ‘Budapest’.

Brighton duo Royal Blood, Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, had a similarly massive 2014, bringing rock back into the spotlight and to the top of album charts when their self-titled debut was released in August.

Last year’s Critics’ Choice Award winner Sam Smith is the final name in the running for his first record, 'In The Lonely Hour'. Alongside Sheeran, Sam was one of only two artists to sell over one million albums in the UK last year. Not bad going!

The BRIT Awards 2015 take place at London’s O2 Arena on 25 February and will be broadcast live on ITV at 8pm GMT. See all the nominations here.