- (1) Best thing CHIODOS ever did was change vocalists and get the musical tantrums out of their songwriting; (2) Scenery in video could use a sand monster or two; (3) When the new singer makes those very artificial sounding screams, his head should turn into a velociraptor.

Connecticut hardcore band SIGNS OF HOPE have added two new demo songs to their MySpace page. You can check out the ragers “Fight My Way Out” and “Life Everyday” right here. The band is currently working on a new full-length for 2011.

- These guys have come a long, loooong way from their “We Love FLOORPUNCH” beginnings… If you miss HAVE HEART these two demo songs should give a lot of hope on what these guys are capable of doing.

AFFIANCE – No Secret Revealed (Bullet Tooth): I’ve always had a thing for bands with seriously good singers. Zoli of IGNITE (and now PENNYWISE), Nathan of BOYSETSFIRE, Greg Graffin, and so forth… If you can believe in the emotion of a band’s vocalist, then everything else about the band’s music becomes a little easier to swallow. AFFIANCE puts this to a test on No Secret Revealed, which feels like part BOYSETSFIRE, part AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and part tacky operatic Euro metal. Combine that with a disjointed songwriting style that occasionally lapses into endless cycles of moshy guitar chugging, and well… you have a confounding but still sort of compelling listen. It’s a good thing that vocalist Dennis (buy a vowel) Tvrdik can sing himself out of a paper bag because without that, AFFIANCE’s flair for the theatrical would run flat.

From the inbox:

BRIGHT EYES will release The People’s Key on February 15th 2011 on Saddle Creek. The People’s Key – the band’s seventh studio album – is the eagerly awaited follow-up to 2007’s acclaimed Cassadaga. In support of the album Bright Eyes can announce two very special shows next year: Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 9th and London’s famed Royal Albert Hall on June 23rd.

Since 2006 the once revolving cast of Bright Eyes players has settled around permanent members Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott, with additional musicians joining them in the studio and on tour. Fully realized and bursting with charisma, The People’s Key is an assured and accomplished album, artfully arranged and filled with the engaging and mesmeric songwriting for which Oberst is renowned. Recorded in Omaha, Nebraska, at the band’s own ARC Studios, The People’s Key was produced by Mike Mogis and engineered by Mogis and Andy LeMaster.

From the inbox:

Legendary drummer Travis Barker along with FSAS (Famous Stars and Straps) has teamed up with the One Life One Chance (OLOC) organization headed by Toby Morse, the front man of the punk rock band H20. OLOC is an organization that promotes a Drug Free culture. Toby introduces today’s youth to his friends who all live clean healthy Positive lifestyles to show kids that they too can be Drug Free and be cool too.

Morse travels to schools to inform elementary through high school students about cool alternatives to alcohol and drugs and having a positive mental attitude. “From the streets of NY to the stages worldwide and to the schools, the message is clear; just because people are covered in tattoos from head to toe, and play music for a living, does not mean they are druggies, or thugs. OLOC breaks all kinds of stereotypes” Morse states. In an industry famous for drug use, drug-related deaths and overall self-destructive behavior, Toby chose to never experiment with alcohol, tobacco or drugs and came to his friends for some help with his cause. Barker can relate, as he is a musician with a ton of tattoos and a target for labeling, it is because of that and Toby’s passion that got Travis involved. Barker says “I love and support what Toby is doing for the youth. It’s good that these kids can see that not every rock star is a drug addict and he [Morse] is such a positive all-around role model for them. Most people that come and speak at a schools are immediately written off by the kids; but Toby looks like them and they can relate to him. I am getting involved to help any school Toby speaks at that is in need of instruments and / or a music program.”

Through Barkers involvement some very lucky schools in NYC will be given entire drum kits. Barkers clothing brand Famous Stars and Straps is also involved. “Toby, a long time friend and Family member of Famous Stars and Straps, approached the company about his ongoing efforts to spread the message of living with a “positive mental attitude”. Toby’s passion is undeniable and sincere, and understanding that kids all across America may benefit from Toby’s message, we wanted to provide any support we could. If it’s providing promotional goods or helping him get to schools who can’t afford to have a speaker, we understand that Toby’s message of PMA (positive mental attitude) and way of life is something we all could use.”

- Doing it for the kids. Literally.

Eulogy Records has added metallic hardcore band THROUGH THE FIRE to its roster. The group previously released a full-length titled The World at Our Feet via Hotfoot Records in May of 2009 (stream it here). THROUGH THE FIRE will be heading into the studio to record their next full-length this December with a Spring 2011 release date planned.

1. Just a week after a number of high-profile indie labels left eMusic in a dispute over the download site’s compensation and pricing scheme, Amazonmp3 is making a splash with some very high-profile discounts on related indie rock titles, including a limited-time $1.99 full-length download price for ARCADE FIRE’s Suburbs. But rest assured eMusic fans, we now have the entire LIMP BIZKIT collection available on the service, so you know… all is good again.

2. Here’s a hooky bit of guitar/keyboard heavy power pop that’s been stuck in my head all day…

What You Want/What You Need by You Animals

3. A sentence from the inbox: “JOURNAL is an ultra-technical, Nintendo influenced, Indie-Noisecore band residing in Sacramento, CA.” For a writer whose Nintendo repertoire in the late 80s consisted mainly of Blades of Steel, Duck Hunt, and Ms. Pacman (one tough lady, I might add), I’m just not seeing it. The band isn’t half bad though…

4. Punknews.org is probably having a high traffic day.

5. DARKO are a melodic hardcore band from the UK that’s probably got a few A WILHELM SCREAM, STRUNG OUT, and PROPAGANDHI releases in their collection. You can stream their six song EP via Bandcamp.

HOSTAGE CALM is making a late 2010 push to make sure everyone can hear their (still new) Run For Cover self-titled full-length. You can now stream the whole thing via Bandcamp (embedded below) and purchase a digital download for only $8. CD and vinyl copies are also still available from the RFC webstore. I think this is one of the most interesting and perception challenging releases of the year… it strikes me as something that would come from a band well versed in Revelation Records’ earliest releases and also their mid-90s post-hardcore 90 degree turn and then trying to do something that would tie together two very distinct periods of time in hardcore music.