MIRACLE OF 86 has not done anything new or innovative on their new EP Last Gasp. Vocalist Kevin Devine writes passionate lyrics and vocal melodies that paint a portrait of everyday reality . He manages to translate his words in a style of hope and hostility, allowing ups and downs along the way. Tinges of [...]

The amazing Aversionline MP3 Blog is at it again with another great write-up on the best and most important emo/post-hardcore bands from the past. This time around, it’s Revelation’s TEXAS IS THE REASON. Aversionline discusses in-depth the band’s 1996 opus Do You Know What You Are? and provides three mp3s from the release as well. Give it a read here and download those immaculate songs if you don’t already have them!

1. NO FUN AT ALL – The Big Knockover

2. ONE KING DOWN – Bloodlust Revenge

3. LESS THAN JAKE – Borders and Boundaries

4. RANCID – Indestructible

5. GORILLA BISCUITS – Start Today

From News.com:

Sony BMG has struck a deal with the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit over copy-restriction software it used in music CDs, according to a settlement document filed at a New York court Wednesday.

The record label has agreed to compensate buyers of CDs that contained the XCP and MediaMax DRM programs and to provide software utilities to allow consumers to uninstall both types of software from their computer.

The furor over Sony’s DRM software began at the end of October when a U.S. programmer discovered that XCP software on a Sony music CD had installed copy-restriction software on his computer that was hidden using a rootkit. Antivirus companies later discovered Trojan horses that exploited this software to avoid detection and found that another type of Sony DRM, MediaMax, also posed a security risk.

During November a number of individuals filed cases against Sony at courts across America. These cases were granted class action status Dec. 1.

Sony BMG met lawyers from the firm handling the class action suit in early December and engaged in “”virtual round-the-clock settlement negotiations”", according to the settlement filing, which has been posted on the Sunbelt Software Web site.

In the settlement filing, Sony states that it will immediately recall all XCP CDs and replace them with non-content-protected CDs. It has also agreed to offer incentives to U.S. customers to “”ensure that XCP CDs are promptly removed from the market.”" Sony first released details about its CD recall scheme in late November.

link: Read the entire article here…

One Day Savior has posted more info on its site about the upcoming REMEMBERING NEVER reissue for Suffocates My Words To You.

“”Originally released in 2001, Suffocates My Words To You was the debut EP from Ft. Lauderdale, FL’s Remembering Never. With combined catalog sales now well over 50,000 units, RN have become a household name in the hardcore community. Wanting to document the entire recording span with original vocalist Justin Daily, Suffocates My Words To You has been remastered with a never before released bonus track. Complete with a new design from RN guitarist Norm Murray for Insomnia Images.”"

For more info, head over here. A street date has yet to be announced.

- I remember getting the REMEMBERING NEVER debut EP in the same One Day Savior package with IN DYING DAYS’ “”Life As A Balancing Act.”" I thought the latter was a much better release and figured RN would be broken up in no time, and that IN DYING DAYS would become huge. I guess I got that one wrong…

Pittsburgh’s SHIVER are one of the few relatively new bands playing that still have a good bit of PENNYWISE in their sound. The band’s 2005 Da’Core Records full-length Last Rides of the Midway was produced by Darian Rundall (Stall No. 2) and retains much of the West Coat’s traditional melodicore charm. You can listen to three high-quality mp3s from the band on their site shiver-music.com. If you’re a fan of PENNYWISE, BAD RELIGION or STRUNG OUT, I recommend you check ‘em out.

From the inbox:

UK webzine Punktastic.com has launched the first of its monthly podcasts. Featuring an array of UK-based bands, the 40-minute MP3 acts as a taster for some quality homegrown talent you may not yet have heard of. It features new, previously unheard tracks by Chaser, Fleeing From Finales, Milk2Sugars, Penknifelovelife, Short Warning and Tauntra, plus an interview with The Bled. You just need WinAmp, Windows Media Player, or any other player capable of handling MP3s and then visit identit.34sp.com/podcast.php. It’s 32mb so it’ll take you less than 9 minutes to download on basic broadband, and hardly any time at all on a faster connection.

It’s only 31 days into 2005, but already, standout releases have been made available by hardcore luminaries, 7 SECONDS and KILL YOUR IDOLS. Shortly, the legendary SLAPSHOT, now its in 20th year, will join that list with its latest contribution, Tear It Down, a seven-song exodus of Jack Kelly’s imfamous gravel-mouthed vocals, and the band’s [...]