In a recent MySpace bulletin, Seattle, Washington’s SHOOK ONES discussed two upcoming recordings. The band will be heading into the studio soon to record songs for their already announced split with END OF A YEAR, on Runner Records, and also for a split with HOUR OF THE WOLF, on No Idea Records. Release dates are unknown at this time. In other band news, the group has made available a series of very limited new t-shirt designs on their webstore. The designs will not be reprinted after they sell out.

- I’m particularly a fan of their “Everything Shooks” shirts. Maybe I’ve had my head in the sand over this, but I find it interesting that so many bands have turned towards the ‘ultra-limited one time only’ run of clothing as means to create exclusivity, now that the availability of music has become so ubiquitous. As it has been commonly said, you still can’t download a t-shirt…

During the past five years or so it has become increasingly common for young bands to play a combination of melodic-pop and heavier rock set to a mixture of singing and screaming. Occasionally these bands add in a metallic or atmospheric element, leading to the use of breakdowns, keyboards, and noodly guitar riffs. Subsequently, a [...]

Amazingly, everyone who played on HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE’s debut EP is back for the full-length despite their status as ex-members of a large list of hardcore and punk bands. That full-length, the twelve-track The Longue Duree, is a rocking/beautiful offering from the Chicago-based quintet. In the past, one of the major complaints against the band [...]

Here’s some crunch early 90s-style hardcore out of Albany, New York. IT’S ALIVE feature ex-members of ONE KING DOWN and THE PROMISE, and their four song demo bears those traits in full force. You can stream and download the demo from the band’s MySpace page.

From the inbox:

SICK CITY has just released a video for “Smiles & Cries” off their album Nightlife, released Sept 25, 2007 through Smallman Records in Canada and Trustkill Records worldwide. Front-page exclusive premiere placement for “Smiles & Cries” is now in full effect at Yahoo! Music Canada. (music.yahoo.ca).

Produced by video director W. James Meagher, the video for “Smiles & Cries” is inspired by the black and white silent film era, featuring a heroic urban-sandinista who encounters snowball vigilanteism while trying to cross enemy held Little Chinatown!

“Smiles & Cries” is the second video released off Nightlife. The first was “Turning Heads,” directed by Colin Minihan (The Gorgeous, Protest the Hero).

Watch it on YouTube.

- I’m a fan of “Nightlife” but I can’t shake the thought that it reminds me of someone merging THE JULIANA THEORY with TAKING BACK SUNDAY.

From the inbox:

“Check out NO USE FOR A NAME’s latest full length, The Feel Good Record Of The Year — it’s streaming at myspace.com/nouseforaname.

[This is] the 9th proper studio release from one of Fat‚Äôs original, founding bands. Recorded in Ft. Collins, CO at the Blasting Room with legendary producers Bill Stevenson & Jason Livermore (Descendents, Rise Against, Good Riddance, 7 Seconds, etc.). This could very well be their best record to date, both in song quality and production value. Fourteen new songs that are a perfect blend of all their previous albums.”

- I’ve been totally smitten with this release. Listen to it and bask in the glow of the Blasting Room and their perfect understanding of melodicore.

Richmond’s Grave Mistake Records is getting ready to put out three new releases. Here’s what’s new:

DEEP SLEEP – “MANIC EUPHORIA” 7″

Two years, lineup changes, drugs, jail, and other assorted misfortunes can’t keep a good band down. Baltimore’s DEEP SLEEP are back with a vengeance, this time around firing out six more tracks of their brand of seething yet addictive punk rock. Expanding on the early southern california punk influences of the first record, and adding an extra dosage of ALL/Descendents style weirdness and catchiness to the picture, MANIC EUPHORIA shows a distinct evolution from their debut while maintaining all of the elements you grew to love in the first place.

CLOAK/DAGGER – “KAMIKAZES” 7″

CLOAK/DAGGER tear through the distinctive guitar fuzz driven track “KAMIKAZES” off of their 2007 “WE ARE” full length (vinyl version out spring 2008 on GRAVE MISTAKE) on the A-side, then a blistering rendition of the MODERN LOVER’S cut “SHE CRACKED” on the flip. Still out of control, and you’ve still got a problem.

NIGHTSTICK JUSTICE – “CLAUSTROPHOBIC E.P.” 7″

On their second E.P. (and third vinyl output) California’s NIGHTSTICK JUSTICE bring you five more discordant cuts of raw and explosive hardcore! If you were lucky enough to grab either their demo 7″ or the MINDLESS VIOLENCE E.P. on WAY BACK WHEN / EVEN WORSE you have an idea of what to expect: fast and biting hardcore that combines a range of influences and elements from early Boston and California hardcore to Japanese hardcore. With this new E.P., NIGHTSTICK JUSTICE have honed their sound even tighter and cranked up the power and intensity times ten, pummeling you with a nonstop barrage of sonic insanity. If you are still standing by the end of this EP, their upcoming 12″ on TANKCRIMES will be sure to finish the job this summer.

link: gravemistakerecords.com