Okay, so here’s MY list… #20: PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES – “The New Romance” (Matador) PGMG were a band that had a big underground buzz coming into 2003, and when they released their Matador debut, they did not disappoint. Even MTV2 took notice showing them on a recent airing of Advance Warning. “This is Our [...]

Solid State has added Tennessee’s TRENCHES to its roster. The heavy, progressive metal/hardcore band will release their full-length The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole in mid-tempo September. You can check out the new song “Sacrament” on the band’s MySpace page.

- I likey!

OVERSTAND are new hardcore band Red Bank, New Jersey. They play crunchy, mid-tempo music with big riffs, and outstretched, burly vocals. The group recently recorded a four song demo titled Kali Yuga, which can be heard on their MySpace page. The songs are currently unmastered, but higher quality versions will be available soon. Notably, the band will be opening for the classic hardcore act ABSOLUTION at a show in New York City in early August.

Four Year Strong Bada Bing! Wit’ A Pipe! Music Video

- Do you ever get the feeling that the majority of music videos just don’t have a point? It’s like, let’s just pick the catchiest song we have, come up with general themes of goofiness, and hope no one notices that really, there’s no connection between any of the various elements. Ah well… at least it’s better than another video of metal band looking all tough in a strangely empty warehouse, or my personal favorite, a group bringing the mosh to a bunch of cacti in the desert, who simply do not seem to give a shit.

PORTUGAL. THE MAN have announced a partnership with Eqaul Vision Records to release their upcoming full-length, Censured Colors. It is vaguely described as follows:

Portugal. The Man and their label and publishing company, Approaching AIRBalloons, and Equal Vision Records have inked a unique agreement, it has been announced. One of the factors that makes this partnership so unique is that the members of Portugal. The Man will share in the risk as well as in the rewards with Equal Vision, something that is easier for a Platinum act than a developing artist. Having self-financed the Censored Colors album, and while they had other label options, P.TM welcomed the idea of having an “open canvas” with Equal Vision, where they could work at their own pace and be intimately involved in all factors of their recording career.

This partnership comes after the Alaska-based band released two albums with Fearless Records, including last year’s Church Mouth. The new disc is due out on September 16.

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s THE AGONY SCENE burst into the metalcore community with their stunning 2003 self-titled Solid State debut. Taking a rare path, and arguably, shunning the Christian tag of the label, the band left Solid State for its follow-up, The Darkest Red, and took up residence in the metal powerhouse, Roadrunner Records. Things never got [...]

This was one heck of a good year for music… #20: POISON THE WELL – You Come Before You (Atlantic). Bands constantly say that they are pushing new boundaries with each release, but few live up to their words. “You Come Before You,” is a tremendous leap of progress for the metalcore genre that fails [...]

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Suburban Home will release “Bridge” in North America on Vinyl, CD, and digital formats. Joey had mentioned the possibility of a bonus track not available on the European and Japanese versions, but I can’t completely confirm that. We are aiming to release the album in October which could possibly be the same month we new release albums from Useless I.D., Drag the River, Tim Barry, and Two Cow Garage! Joey has gone on record as saying the following about his first solo offering, “The strange part of all this is, now that it is done, I’m not sure how to feel. It is my first attempt at making a solo record, something I am totally unfamiliar with. I know this, I will never make a record this way again. From now on, no second guessing or obsessing. Ultimately, I am proud of this record. I made something I like and it’s time to move on. I hope most of you will appreciate it. I have decided to call it “Bridge”. I think the musical metaphor is appropriate because it is something new for me and it will lead me to another place as a songwriter, whether it be a better appreciation of my craft or the butt of another songwriter’s joke. Either way, I’m on my way”