Ska’s failure to catch on since the fall out of the third wave movement can arguably be attributed to the lack of artistic development within the genre. The vast majority of bands trying to make a go of it are just rehashing the late 90’s sound to a tee. The only bands that have garnered [...]

When reflecting upon the number of words I could use to describe DRAGONFORCE’s show at the 9:30 Club, the one word that consistently came to mind was “”spectacle‚Äù because there is really no other way to describe the entire evening. There was the spectacle of HORSE THE BAND playing a bone-crushing version of “”Birdo”” accompanied [...]

Every couple of months I plug aversionline.com, usually complimenting the site about their scope of coverage. This time, I am happy to note that the site’s proprietor, Andrew, has decided to finally get into the record label business. Here’s the announcement:

“In October of last year, when I decided to stop writing full-length reviews and (eventually) switch entirely over to this mp3 blog format, I had mentioned toying with the idea of starting my own label. So… I’m pleased to report that after much toil, said notion is finally becoming a reality. My label is called Due Process, and my “first” release (though it will actually be the second catalog number) is a discography CD for the long-defunct late-80′s thrash metal band FORMICIDE, from Boston. The CD is at the plant as we speak and should see the light in mid-October. You can check out an unmastered mp3 at the aforementioned link, so hopefully people will dig it. I’ll post more thoroughly about FORMICIDE and the discography in a couple of weeks when the final product is in my hands. Until then, please help spread the word if you enjoy the song, and if you’d be down to help distribute this thing absolutely get in touch. Thanks! Hopefully there will be more on the way in 2007!”

SPANISH BOMBS – Self-Titled EP (Chunksaah)

listen: “Gamblers”

This has to be one of the strangest press releases I have ever seen:

From RED SPAROWES:

“As some of you may have heard, the limited, colored vinyl of Every Red Heart Shines Toward The Red Sun that was exclusive to Neurot Recordings was sold out before it actually went on sale. Unfortunately someone managed to hack into the Neurot Recordings webstore and gain access to this item before it was available. To make things worse, this person actually posted a link to the hidden section of the Neurot Recordings webstore on a forum, which allowed anyone to purchase this item.

‚ÄúWe realize how frustrating this is for the fans that were patiently waiting for the sale. To remedy this situation, Neurot Recordings is refunding everyone that ordered the album using the illegal link and *all copies will go back on sale as they were intended*. In other words, don’t worry if you’ve been waiting anxiously to get the record, you’ll still get your chance.

“We apologize to anyone that ordered the record thinking that the link was valid. We hope that you understand that, by ordering the album before it was actually for sale, you basically cut in front of a line of people that were waiting to purchase this item. Although you may not have realized this at the time, we ask you to understand that we must sell the record in a way that will be fair to everyone. When the record officially goes on sale you will have a chance to purchase it along with everyone else.

“To the person who posted the illegal link: We hope you understand how much additional work and frustration this has caused, not only to us, Red Sparowes, but to our good friends at Neurot Recordings.”

Neurot recordings has also issued the disclaimer on its Web site that these sales of the colored vinyl will be limited to one per customer. “As with previous ultra-limited items, the band wishes to give as many people as possible a chance to order,” the label states. “All orders over and above one copy will be refunded, i.e. Рyou will be charged for one copy and you will receive one copy.”

- Hacking into a label’s online store in order to score HOTTTT vinyl? Intense.

From Vagrant Records:

In association with Pitchforkmedia we have posted an entire album stream for THE HOLD STEADY’s anticipated new album Boys and Girls in America. You can join in on this listening party and listen to the album in its entirety on vagrant.com/holdsteady_listeningparty

Boys and Girls in America hits stores this Tuesday and in select retail locations you will receive a limited editon Boys and Girls in America comic book, drawn by James Callahan (BARF Comics). To find out what stores in your area have the comic books check out this site. Supplies are VERY limited, so get their early to ensure you get and copy.

- I think what we’re seeing with Vagrant lately is similar to what Epitaph is doing with their Anti- imprint — diversifying their audience base in a way that isn’t so reliant on the whims of music industry trends. There are a lot of smart people working behind the scenes at Vagrant and with their signings of acts like LEMONHEADS, JOHN RALSTON, FRENCH KICKS, THE FUTUREHEADS, and THE HOLD STEADY, the label seems to be on firm footing, or perhaps, focused on rebuilding after a cleansing of being at the forefront of the modern emo era.

Details are in the graphic below:

From the inbox:

“At one point or another, everyone has had a friend who has pulled you out of a dark place; Someone who has believed and cared enough to provide you with new hope and encouragement. For us, Victory Records is that friend. Victory has released the most progressive and influential hardcore bands for nearly 2 decades (This FACT is undeniable), and we‚Äôre more than honored to carry the torch. Will this change the content of our records, musically or visually? Absolutely not. We are now and ever shall be dedicated to creating music that is both honest, progressive and most importantly ‚ÄúHardcore‚Äù, as we have come to define it for ourselves. Our love and dedication for what we do will only be amplified by this new friendship. So from Cause For Alarm, Warzone, Snapcase to Comeback Kid, the Victory hardcore legacy continues. Our friends at Eulogy Recordings will forever remain friends. We will never forget their efforts and generosity. Eulogy gave us life, now Victory will ensure our survival as a band. From this point on any future Warriors records will proudly bare the mark of the Bull Dog.

Above all we would like to thank anyone who has invested even an ounce of support for our band in the past 5 years. ‘You‚Äôd die for me, I‚Äôd die for you.’”

- This is an interesting match. THE WARRIORS have a huge upside – their music, while still very much attuned to hardcore, also has the potential for strong mainstream appeal. As line-up changes have affected the band as of late, it will be interesting to see where Victory can take them.