If a career in music eludes these guys, it seems like they’re already doing their homework in preparing for a toddler-aimed DVD series. Just whatever you do, watch this long enough (the song is called “This Can’t Happen Again”) until you get to the dance sequence…

If you head on over to the MySpace Videos page, you can find STRIKE ANYWHERE’s brand new video for “Instinct,” a song from their upcoming release Dead FM. It’s a pretty sharp video, but unforunately to view, you must use Internet Explorer. Boourns!

Looking at the bills that are piling up on my desk at this time of the month, I’m alarmed by these two amounts:

Electricity: $104.18

Cable/Internet: $129.50

OK – igoring all sorts of “technical” issues like supply and demand, and those nebulous words that the cable companies are always throwing at us, like “programming costs,” and “fiber optic infrastructure upgrades,” isn’t it a bit shocking that something so necessary for modern life, like electricity costs less than a luxury service like cable television and high speed internet. I would however argue that having a broadband internet connection is more of a necessity than cable television. Even if the cable TV aspect of my bill dropped out and all that was left was the broadband connection (via Cox Communications), the total would be closer to $50-55. And as we all know, if you don’t pay your electricity bill, you won’t be using any of your 300 channels of television, or traversing the internets. Hmm….

From the inbox:

Century Media is extremely proud to welcome German melodic thrash powerhouse FEAR MY THOUGHTS to its worldwide family. The group’s last two albums, The Great Collapse and Hell Sweet Hell (Lifeforce), garnered critical acclaim throughout Europe and, along with their relentless touring, helped them solidify a die-hard fanbase. Their sound incorporates elements spanning the entire musical spectrum, successfully bridging the gap between the metal and hardcore genres and creating a vicious hybrid built on speed and aggression that is bound to catch the entire scene’s attention.

FEAR MY THOUGHTS are currently mixing Vulcanus, their Century Media debut, with acclaimed producer Jacob Hansen (Aborted, Hatesphere) in Denmark. Patrick Hagmann (guitars) checks in with the following studio report; ‚ÄúHey there, we’re still in the Jacob Hansen Studios in Denmark, working on the final mix for our new album. If you’re into blast beats and Deep Purple Hammond organs, you’ll probably like what we’re doing! Expect some more melody, some experimentation but also some old-school thrash vibes.‚Äù

“We’re excited to announce that we have signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. The label has always hosted bands we love, from one of the very first CM releases from our local buddies Poltergeist to their current roster with great influential bands like Nevermore, Napalm Death, Celtic Frost and The Haunted. We’re excited for things to come, and grateful for having one of the best labels in the world as our partners in crime. Thanks for believing in us, and thanks to all the people who brought us where we are today.”

link: fearmythoughts.com

- I have both of the band’s Lifeforce Records releases and while there’s no doubt that FEAR MY THOUGHTS are impressive musicians, the keep getting stuck with albums that have very cold and sterile recording styles. Maybe it’s just a German metalcore thing (e.g. CALIBAN and HEAVEN SHALL BURN), but here’s hoping that Vulcanus has a bit more a natural feel.

Descriptions like “bludgeoning,” “crushing,” and “brutal,” are tossed around like baseline formalities with many hardcore bands, but really, BLACK MY HEART just sorta scream “stabbing!” Hailing from Boston, this straight-edge five-piece carves out their own niche of mosh-intensive jams with slashing guitars and battering bass bombs. Complex musicianship isn’t exactly on the agenda with Before [...]

I think it’s no secret that I have a mild man-crush on the band ARSIS and their brand of blackened, neoclassical-esque death metal. So it goes without saying that when the opportunity to check them out live came up, I jumped at the chance and trekked down to Springfield, VA to see them in action. [...]

The video for “The Wolf Is Loose”, the surprisingly punked-up first single from MASTODON’s upcoming Warner Brothers debut Blood Mountain, has been posted on the band’s MySpace page. Head on over and check out the rock firsthand instead of having us tell you about it.

We’ll find out…

A few days ago we learned that Side One Dummy will be releasing an MXPX B-sides and rarities compilation called Let’s Rock (brillant title fellas…) on October 24th. Although no tracklisting has been posted, we’re told there will be all sorts of previously unreleased songs, re-recorded versions of songs and acoustic demos. Interpunk’s pre-listing says there will be 12 songs. Today, according to Indievisionmusic.com, there’s been news of Tooth and Nail planning to re-release MXPX’s first b-sides, rarities, and generally ‘really old stuff’ compilation, titled Let It Happen, which came out originally in 1998. The big news is that T&N appears to be adding three new songs by the band recorded with Aaron Sprinkle to the re-release, upping the total to 35 tunes. That my friends, is a lot of b-sides, rarities, and really old stuff. The re-release is set for a mid-November street date.