Black Numbers new split EP from melodic punk rockers BANQUETS and MAYFLOWER is now available for digital purchase from the label’s Bandcamp page. Four of the six songs are also posted for streaming (the covers are excluded). A pre-order is available for the cassette version of the release, which also includes a digital copy.

- I’ve had a download of this for a few days now, really enjoyable split. Each band compliments the other well, but retains enough originality to separate themselves.

From the inbox:

A new addition to the Six Feet Under family is ALERT. Hailing from Western Massachusetts, ALERT play classic youth crew inspired straight edge hardcore with a slight melodic touch vocally. Think Youth Of Today/True Colors meets Uniform Choice. Find Your Way is their second 7″ and features 5 new songs recorded at Dead Air Studios by Will Killingsworth. You can check out the song “Strive” on the SFU homepage.

From Panic Records:

Originally intended for the full length (Who Is Going to Miss You When You Go?) this 7″ includes 2 songs weren’t finished in time and so this special 7″ was born. Limited to 300 copies only on white vinyl and featuring guest vocals from Travis of Piebald / TS & The Past Haunts fame. I don’t expect to have the 7″s in stock for too long, if you’d like one, grab one now. Purchase of this record comes with a digital download so you can listen to it immediately.

From the inbox:

NIGHT FEVER, Copenhagen, Denmark’s premiere hardcore punk band, formed in 2008, and have been taking names and tearing up stages across Europe ever since. Their catchy, raging hardcore songs come infused with a defiant, pissed-off, punk-as-fuck attitude and the kind of snotty, muscular vocals that a young Glenn Danzig would kill for. Think Boston in the 80′s, think Dead Kennedys, think Poison Idea, think Void, think Zero Boys. These K-Town killers have teamed up with Tankcrimes to release their latest full-length, New Blood, on 12″ LP and cassette. The tape will be available later this month, with the vinyl following in July.

In an absolutely perfect match between two contemporary hardcore bands that have done their best to master a particular 80s hardcore sound, Amendment Records has released a four song split EP with DC area band POLICE & THIEVES and Chile’s REMISSION. From the label: “Police & Thieves are known for their melodic brand of 80′s influenced harDCore, while Remission plays a style of hardcore reminiscent of bands like VERBAL ASSAULT and ONE STEP AHEAD. You can order the release here, and listen to a song apiece from each band’s respective Bandcamp page.

From the inbox:

Tankcrimes are pleased to announce the signing of metalpunks OBSESSOR to a multi-album deal, to commence with the release of the Obsession EP. A cassette and 7″ release of the album is in the very near future, but for now, the entire EP is available for free download on the Tankcrimes website. Listen and download here.

OBSESSOR is a new one-man project based in Richmond, VA that draws heavy influences from the godly likes of Celtic Frost, English Dogs, Venom, Sodom, and Discharge – dirty, dark, raucous punk/metal chaos! All instruments, vokills and concepts are handled by Brandon “The Obsessor” Ferrell, known best for his time spent in bands like Direct Control, Government Warning, Wasted Time, and Municipal Waste. He also runs No Way Records and the Vinyl Conflict Record Store in Richmond, and is incredibly active in the local scene. OBSESSOR’s sound is as old-school and raw as they come. Obsession thrashes hard and hits harder!

OBSESSOR are already hard at work on the next EP, with tons of releases planned for the next year – get into it!

Long Island bands AGENT and POLYGON have their brand new four song split EP (Iron Pier Records) streaming at Punknews.org. It’s the first batch of new tunes from either band since 2009. I am previously unfamiliar with POLYGON, but the AGENT material shows a more melodic, emo/post-hardcore direction compared the band’s faster, more linear earlier material. More listens required.

Gospel is my summer record. I know, every PR type good or bad lives for that designation, but FIREWORKS’ Gospel makes the designation fit and effortlessly, to boot. When it’s fast, Gospel squarely nails my NEW FOUND GLORY by way of BAD RELIGION comfort zone, but that’s not the only thing it can do. Gospel [...]