We love DARKEST HOUR at Pastepunk, and while we don’t love vinyl to the same degree, we certainly appreciate its virtues. With that in mind, Victory will be putting out the vinyl for Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation, the breakthrough release from DC’s finest metal band. According to this post, Vinyl Collective will be getting an exclusive “dark putty” color for the double LP, and Victory will also be issuing it on clear red. More details to follow…

– We featured this California via Vermont band several months ago when Matt did an interview with them. The quick take on them is imagine a country version of THE POGUES. Whatever the description, this is an oddly infectious assemblage of twang.

– So many Yankees hats. We couldn’t fit a Mets hat in there at all? Not one? Some of those guys have to be from Queens!

The Fat Wreck newsletter passes along the following note from its leader, Mr. Fat Mike: Things I learned going to Ireland: Don’t order Bushmills in Dublin. Don’t order Jameson in Belfast. Don’t drink too much on the ferry, or too little, cuz either way, you will get sick. Oh, this is the important news: the NOFX record comes out today. What’s more important is that it will be priced under $10 in every store in North America. This is not a sale. This is how much this CD costs, and not only that, but EVERY CD on Fat Wreck Chords will now be under $10 and most will be under $8. No, we are not crazy. We just think that having a very low CD price is a fair way for scene supporting music fans to support their favorite independent bands and labels. Sound crazy? I think it sounds reasonable. We make less profit, but bands hopefully will sell more CDs to more people, which is why we started doing this in the first place. Ok, I’m off the ferry now, but still seasick. I think this whole island might be floating. Cheers, Mike – You can stream Coaster on NOFX’s MySpace page, or on the band’s Punknews profile.

I Scream Records has had line-up diversity as one of the label’s strengths in its present 15 year run, and today’s news featuring HOODS and THE LAST RESORT only confirms such. Streaming right now at Iscreamrecords.com is the new song “Pit Beast” by HOODS, and THE LAST RESORT’s cantankerous “My Retribution,” which together make a quality pairing of metallic hardcore and street punk/oi, respectively. Both bands will have new full-lengths out in the US on Iscream in June.

In 2006, THE DECEMBERISTS released The Crane Wife. It was a beefy, radio-friendly indie-rock record, and a stark contrast to the band’s past work, which reveled in acoustic beauty and singer Colin Meloy’s rich story telling abilities. Hazards of Love takes the Portland band further away from their humble folk beginnings, sonically and lyrically. THE [...]

For the past four years, This Is Hardcore has been a shining example of what is good in the current punk and hardcore scene. This years lineup seems to be no exception and features reunions from GUNS UP, FLOORPUNCH, THE SUICIDE FILE, and REACH THE SKY. Epic. All the info and lineup as of now can be found below or at ThisIsHardcoreFest.com: August 14,15,16 PHILADELPHIA, PA Once again at the Starlight Ballroom/ Club Polaris 452-468 N.9th Street (between Callowhill & Spring Garden Sts.) Philadelphia, Pa 19123 BAD SEED BANE BITTER END BLACKLISTED COLDWORLD CONVICTED CRUEL HAND CUT IT OUT FLOORPUNCH FORCEFED GIVING CHASE GUNS U HAVE HEART HOODS KNOW THE SCORE LET DOWN MINDSET MOTHER OF MERCY MY TURN TO WIN PULLING TEETH REACH THE SKY REIGN SUPREME SHIPWRECK STRENGTH FOR A REASON SUICIDE FILE THE CARRIER THE KILLER THE MONGOLOIDS UNTIL THE END WISDOM IN CHAINS

You heard it, folks. Noise-entrepreneurs SONIC YOUTH will traverse America from coast to coast in the persuit of musical audeinces, new and old alike. The tour closely coincides with the release of their new album The Eternal, which is being released by Matador records. If you haven’t seen this band live, I strongly suggest you do so. Here are the dates: June 28, 2009 Chicago, IL Vic Theater June 29, 2009 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre July 2, 2009 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory July 3, 2009 New York, NY United Palace Theatre July 6, 2009 Washington, DC 9:30 Club July 8, 2009 Richmond, VA The National July 10, 2009 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theater July 11, 2009 Nashville, TN War Memorial July 12, 2009 Birmingham, AL Sloss Furnaces July 13, 2009 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse July 15, 2009 Dallas, TX House of Blues July 16, 2009 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom July 18, 2009 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater July 20, 2009 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall July 21, 2009 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue July 23, 2009 Boise, ID Knitting Factory July 25, 2009 Seattle, WA Capitol Hill Block Party July 28, 2009 Portland, OR Roseland Ballroom July 30, 2009 Salt Lake City, UT Twilight Music Fest July 31, 2009 Denver, CO Ogden Theater August 2, 2009 Oakland, CA Fox Theater