It’s fitting that after a night where I barely slept since watching my beloved Washington Capitals lose in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs, that the first band to come across my way this morning is THIS IS HELL. That sums it up nicely (first world problems, I know, I know…). The newly signed to Rise Records act has posted two brand new songs to their MySpace page. “Bloodlines” and “Shadows” are from the band’s forthcoming third full-length Weight of the World. Looks like it’ll be a good one!

- The track is from the pop-punk band’s full-length I’m Telling Everyone. Very well-done and professional looking!

- Ignoring the context of the lyrics in the song, I gotta admit, the ending chant of “DEATH OR JAIL!!” is a little awkward to join in on…

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THE STORY CHANGES / LET GO – Analogies Split MCD (Future Destination): Two exceptionally slick pop-rock bands come together to release eight exceptionally slick pop-rock songs. Jamie Woolford is a hero to this genre, as his time in THE STEREO has only become more revered over the years. LET GO is basically THE STEREO part deux, but with more polish, less tension, and just as huge lead vocals. When it’s playing from my speakers, these songs are pure melodic bliss, but alarmingly, I don’t remember much from them otherwise.

AT THE SOUNDAWN – Shifting (Lifeforce):  The press sheet comparison for Shifting was a smirk inducing “SHAI HULUD meets MOGWAI.” The smirk was unwarranted. The Italian band has transformed into a largely instrumental beast over their past few recordings and this one really explodes with moody, tumultuous rhythms and spacey atmospherics (and epicly epic horns – think of summoning a unicorn out of the sky). A lot of great bands are in this area right now, but only a few have credible, minimalist vocals like AT THE SOUNDAWN, and that’s a big plus.

RANDY THUNDERBIRD – How to Talk to Kids About Robots (Bemuda Mohawk Production): Solid gritty melodic punk in the vein of OFF WITH THEIR HEADS, LAWRENCE ARMS, and DILLINGER FOUR. Snarlin’, clever lyrics, and a dry, urgent guitar allow the band to buzzsaw through 10 songs in a scant 20 minutes. Basement shows, beer-soaked dive bars… you know the drill.

KILLS AND THRILLS – Liars (Hotfoot): Super-loud, southern-influenced hardcore out of Long Island that closely plays to the book of EVERY TIME I DIE. Hotfoot did a tremendous job with the CD packaging, with it feeling good just to hold in your hands. Some of the songs tend to run together, but there’s at least two real standouts here where the band engages in some next-level riffage and coordinated percussion.

Neutral Territory Records has signed the Worcester, MA hardcore band SHORT RIDE. The label will be releasing the group’s debut full-length, Can’t Keep Us Out in May. Several new songs are streaming on the band’s MySpace page. RIYL: HOPE CONSPIRACY, LAST LIGHTS, and OUTBREAK.

1. Here’s something out of left-field: according to Alternative Press, pop-rock band RUNNER RUNNER (members of RUFIO and OVER IT), are the first band signed to David Letterman’s new EMI affiliated label C.E. Music. An interview about the signing and the label set up is here. There’s some information about the state of OVER IT in the interview as well.

2. Tim Barry will be supporting THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM in July in the band’s first tour for American Slang. Sounds like a perfect match to me, and another touring step-up for Barry. Anyone else thinking a split 7″ between the two would be total gravy?

3. Solid State’s TO SPEAK OF WOLVES have added a third new song to their MySpace from their upcoming full-length Myself <Letting Go. The post-hardcore/metal band has drawn comparisons to bands like BELOVED and TWELVE TRIBES. I’ve been rockin’ this one pretty often lately – it’s a good mix of heaviness and melody without being too harsh on the ears.

4. Volume III of the “Enough Is Enough” donation-based MP3 compilation is now available and features  new songs from: Hostage Calm, Debaser, Borderland, Forming, Blocked Out, Skyscraper, Mountain Asleep, and Paul Blest. There is also material from from Touche Amore, Transit, Ambush!, Unrestrained, and Remission. Check it all out of the compilation’s Bandcamp page, which is streaming the songs as well.

5. Release of the Day: WALTER SCHREIFELS – An Open Letter To The Scene (Big Scary Monsters). I was kind of leery of this at first as Walter’s solo material has never knocked me down, but after a few listens, so far so good. If you try really hard, you can just convince yourself that it’s a quieter RIVAL SCHOOLS recording. Hey – when’s that RS full-length coming out anyway?

From the inbox:

Paper + Plastick  is excited to welcome Philadelphia’s RESTORATIONS to its impressive, ever-growing roster of bands.

Featuring members of the sorely missed JENA BERLIN, Restorations’ debut EP, Strange Behavior, was recorded by Algernon Cadwallader’s Joe Reinhart and will be released digitally by the Gainesville label on May 4th via iTunes and other digital retailers, and then on 12-inch vinyl in late June.

The first offering from the four-song EP, “Title Track,” is now featured in the streaming media player on Paper + Plastick’s home page.

Restorations occupies a truly rarefied air, existing somewhere between indie rock’s off-kilter jangle, the dynamic nature of punk and hardcore, shoegaze’s contemplative restraint and the breeziness of a front porch romp through rustic Americana. There’s a taut, electrified undercurrent that keeps Strange Behavior tense and ominous – and maybe even a little dangerous-sounding – but the Philly quintet still manages to exude warmth and earnestness throughout the duration. These four songs envelope the listener in Jon Loudon’s gravely, soulful vocals and the band’s pulsing, fuzzy indie stylings. You’ll lose yourself in atmospheric peaks and valleys while Restorations keep you on edge with songs that burn slowly before careening down unexpected, yet always exciting avenues.

“One Million Motors,” the twelfth track on WE ARE THE UNION’s debut full-length, Great Leaps Forward basically sums everything that’s awesome about their forbidden-beat style of melodic punk with horns. Listen closely and you’ll hear some terrific bass playing too.