1. Bridge Nine and ENERGY have parted ways after three releases, including the noteworthy 2008 full-length Invasions of the Mind. Immediately after the news broke, Bridge Nine put all of the band’s remaining merch with the label on sale for $1, which seemed at first to be a little bit in poor taste. Later in the day, Bridge Nine noted on Facebook “We wish Energy absolutely nothing but the best. But, we let them go because we put out 3 records with them, and didn’t make the $ back. Couldn’t do it a 4th time. Hopefully, things will work out for them in the long run, they are a talented band.” I wish all labels were that honest in their dealings. I also imagine constant line-up changes and a sharp turn in musical style didn’t help the band’s cause. I still recommend Invasions though… probably the best cross between AFI and IGNITE we will ever get to hear.

2. Tunecore (who I use to distribute several digital reissues)  has a very interesting blog post up today about the concept of “Gold Records” in the digital sales age. I learned a lot about the issuance (or some might say, ‘the farce’) of Gold, Platinum and Diamond Records when I was a summer law intern with the RIAA eight years ago… they are easy to be impressed by, but for some records it is more of an illusion of success over anything else. (I sometimes sat under a desk with a huge nine-times platinum display for GREEN DAY’s Dookie… it was mesmerizing and oh how I would love to have that hanging in my basement). In today’s digital retailing world however, the concept is almost entirely arbitrary and yet still exclusionary, and perhaps a record keeping disaster as well. Check out the informative and entertaining piece here.

3. Opening line of Century Media Records press release today: “EARTH CRISIS is the most controversial band in hardcore”. Wrong decade. No matter, the band’s upcoming full-length Neutralize The Threat is due out July 12th and was once again recorded with Zeuss, who also helmed their 2009 reunion effort, To The Death.

4. Stream of the Day: DEAR LIONS – S/T EP. Features Adam Rubenstein of CHAMBERLAIN on guitar and vocalist Rickey Lewis. Singer/songwriter stuff with a loose, dark vibe.

After several releases on Robotic Empire, Florida hardcore/punk band CAPSULE are pushing for a breakthrough their new brand new Rorschach Records full-length No Ghost. The whole thing is up for streaming via Soundcloud, and I highly recommend taking a listen. Kinda reminds me of a ultra fast and slimmed down (but no less complex) version former DC hardcore band MAJORITY RULE.

- Louisville punk/hardcore… spawned from BLACK CROSS, BLACK WIDOWS, etc… you should already know what it sounds like. Vinyl is now available from No Idea Records.

Metalsucks is hosting a stream of FOUNDATION’s brand new full-length, When The Smoke Clears, their first for Bridge Nine. The Atlanta based straight-edge hardcore band made waves with the release of Hang Your Head on Six Feet Under in 2009. Check out the stream here.

- We’re moshing.

From the inbox:

DYNASTY has released a new song from their upcoming Strike First debut Truer Living with a Youthful Vengeance. Go have a listen to “Way of the Wolf” on the band’s Facebook page, and then get entered to win a pair of custom Dynasty Nikes by pre-ordering the new album. The band will be releasing Truer Living…, mixed and mastered by Paul Miner (H2O, Terror, Ignite), on May 24. Dynasty will be out promoting the new album with CALL TO PRESERVE on the latter’s farewell tour this summer, dates TBA.

• 1. THE DOWNTOWN FICTION – Let’s Be Animals
• 2. BOWLING FOR SOUP – Fishin’ For Woos (maybe “notable” is a stretch, but I got a soft spot for this band; repetitive as all hell, but in perfect modern pop-punk form)
• 3. SILVERSTEIN – Rescue (Liberated from Victory, the Canadian band knocks out their best full-length yet)
• 4. NIGHTSHADE – Lost In Motion
• 5. TEXAS IN JULY – One Reality (Equal Vision signs their own version of AUGUST BURNS RED, jury is still out)
• 6. SWINGIN’ UTTERS – Here Under Protest (So very awesome , and well worth the wait after all these years!!)

Oregon’s ABOLITIONIST play melodic mid-tempo punk rock that smoothly rolls across the ears. I’m fairly certain I hear a SUPERCHUNK influence in their music – maybe its wishful thinking. Regardless, the band’s new three song 7″ EP At The Level of the Ear is worth checking out and for your benefit is available for streaming/name-your-price download on the band’s Bandcamp page.

Need a quick blast of stellar sounding posi straight-edge, vegan hardcore from Sweden? (Don’t we all). FOREVER YOUNG deliver seven songs in barely five minutes on their EP The Chance, the follow-up to the band’s The Guarantee full-length. Copies of the 7″ are available from Disobedience distribution.