From the inbox:

TORCHE’s second full-length, Meanderthal, is set for an April 8th release through Hydra Head imprint (vinyl to be released on Robotic Empire). Recorded throughout November 2007 at God City Studios, the 13 track album is TORCHE’s first with Kurt Ballou (Converge, Genghis Tron, Disfear) at the helm.

link: hydrahead.com

From the inbox:

AZAZEL are possibly still one of North Carolina’s best kept secrets. We [Tribunal Records] first released their debut EP in 2000 and it quickly (and unfortunately) went out of print as the group disbanded and members went onto to join BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and ARIA. They are gone, but their influence can still be heard (and seen) throughout North Carolina’s remaining and diverse mix of bands.

Now, this criminally overlooked material has been unearthed and remixed by original engineer, Jamie King at his Basement Studios. We are proud to present Ashes To Ashes, a final look at the magnificence that AZAZEL created long ago.

This reissue contains not only the Music For The Ritual Chamber EP, but also includes remixed version of 3 classics contained on their first demo tape. This is it…a complete discography of AZAZEL.

We expect Ashes To Ashes to hit the streets in May or June 2008. We will have new preview tracks available very soon.

link: tribunalrecords.net

Jamison Covington (aka the Jamison half of former group JAMISON PARKER has set out on his own without his better half and is currently prepping his Eyeball Records debut. Under the guide of E FOR EXPLOSIONS, Covington is recording with producer Dave Trumfio, who has an impressive resume of working with bands like Earlimart, Grandaddy, Billy Bragg & Wilco, My Morning Jacket, and more. No word on a release date, but apparently the group’s sound is in a similar vein to groups like SEA WOLF and SILVERSUN PICKUPS.

E For Explosion Live:

Jan 27 2008 @ The Well Poplar – Bluff, Missouri

Jan 28 2008 @ The Record Bar – Kansas City, Missouri

Jan 29 2008 @ The Tree – Tulsa, Oklahoma

Jan 30 2008 @ Convergence – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Jan 31 2008 @ Quixote’s РDenver, Colorado

Feb 2 2008 @ The Unity Center – Roswell, New Mexico

Feb 4 2008 @ Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, Utah

Feb 7 2008 @ Studio 7 – Seattle, Washington

Feb 8 2008 @ Washington State University – Pullman, Washington

Feb 9 2008 @ Viaduct – Tacoma, Washington

Feb 10 2008 @ Rock N Roll Pizza – Portland, Oregon

Feb 13 2008 @ Satellite Lounge – Reno, Nevada

Feb 17 2008 @ The Belly Up Tavern – San Diego, California

You can count the number of ska bands that I actively listen to on two hands. I still think I’m in recovery mode from the ska-craze of the late 90s, still jittery at the prospect of actually liking newly created ska music. In the case of BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE, these guys are [...]

Long-running Colorado based webzine Aversion.com caught DRAG THE RIVER this past weekend at the band’s final Fort Collins show. The site posted a photo gallery here with some brief running commentary. DRAG THE RIVER released its latest full-length, You Can’t Live This Way, last week, on Suburban Home Records.

From the inbox:

Jump Start is extremely happy to announce that we’ll be handling the CD and digital release for the debut full-length release from Philly upstarts, LIGHTEN UP!. The record will also be released in vinyl format by the fine fellas over at Braindrain Records. The band has tentatively titled the new record, Life on Earth, but that could change. Expect a summer release, and as soon as we have more concrete info we’ll let everyone know.

- Strangely enough, we posted about this band yesterday and a new song of theirs named “Parental Advisory.” Jump Start continues its climb as a regional force.

Spin? Meh. THE LOVED ONES? Woohoo! Philly’s finest are about to release their second full-length, Build & Burn on Fat Wreck. The group is presently being featured at Spin.com where you can download an MP3 of the song “The Bridge.” The melodic punk/rock goodness of Build & Burn will be in stores next week.

Besides having a unique name that caught my attention, someone posted a link to this band’s MySpace page with the notation “ex-BY THE GRACE OF GOD / ENKINDLE.” Oooooooh. The ex-member happens to be drummer Thommy Browne, and LINCOLN & THE LOST PRAYERS happen to sound nothing at all like the former Kentucky hardcore legends. Rather, the jig is all indie/alt-country this time around, with a purported influence from JETS TO BRAZIL. You can check out a brand new song titled “Catalyst,” at the above link, which is from the band’s upcoming 10 song debut Language of the Night.