The title track of NIGHT BIRDS upcoming full-length The Other Side of Darkness is now streaming on the band’s Bandcamp page. It’s the second track to seep out, following the premiere of “Landfill Land”. Other Side was originally slated for an August release on Grave Mistake Records, but a street date has been pushed back to September 13th.

The ex/current/former band member list for GHOST ROBOT NINJA BEAR is about a mile long and readily noted on their Bandcamp page, so I will spare you the details, but I reckon that anything formally connected to the long-ago great band DE LA HOYA can’t possibly be bad (and that goes for NAKATOMI PLAZA as well). This is one of those releases that doesn’t instantly stand out or become something that’s a “must listen”, but its organic feel and delicate balance of range and creativity for the post-punk/noisy indie genre presents its own set of charms.

From the inbox:

New Jersey’s TORCHBEARER have posted two new songs from their pending full-length The Dirty Swagger as well as an internet-only bonus track. The songs can be found at the band’s Facebook page.

The Dirty Swagger was recorded at CDR studios, and was mastered by Carson Slovak (Century, Armsbendback) at Atrium Audio . The record is currently scheduled for a digital release on August 30th via All Ears Records, with a limited pressing on vinyl to follow.

The full-length is the follow-up release to 2009’s The Worst is Yet to Come 7-inch on Soul Rebel records, and sees the band (which features current and ex-members of Nora, Ensign, and For the Love of) expanding upon their own personal blend of Deadguy-inspired metalcore to incorporate new influences from the entire spectrum of hardcore, metal, noise, thrash and beyond.

From the inbox:

Today, Revolver Magazine hosts a worldwide premiere of BATTLECROSS’s upcoming full-length debut Pursuit of Honor, scheduled to hit North American record shelves on August 2nd. Pursuit of Honor contains 11 tracks (10 songs plus intro) that Metal Assault says are “bristling with fist-pumping, face-melting heavy metal at its finest.” While Metal Sucks notes “Guitarists Tony Asta and Hiran Deraniyagala of Detroit’s BATTLECROSS are childhood friends just like Axl and Vince — ain’t that cute? But for realz, there’s a certain kind of chemistry that comes with knowing someone for so long, and in the case of BATTLECROSS you can hear it in the tightness, conciseness and stellar riffery of their MB debut Pursuit of Honor.”

“Our mindset was to deliver a no bulls***, straight to the point, bang your head, relentless punishment kind of record. I want this album to give people chills. Like driving 90 in a 40 mph speed zone and not even realizing it. We want people to feel like they can take on the world after listening to this record” comments the band of the record.

You can stream the release here.

- Oh the shreddery!

From the inbox:

WHATEVER BRAINS: Self-titled 12″ – Without a doubt the most sonically adventurous release thus far on Sorry State, North Carolina’s Whatever Brains use their previous 4 7″s as a launching pad into completely uncharted musical waters. While the foundation is still spazzy, weird garage punk, this time around Whatever Brains incorporate electronic beats, tons of synth, some quieter parts, and a few truly epic compositions. This album is so expansive that it probably has something for everyone, but fans of Total Control, early Pavement, prime-era Fall, and catchy garage punk in the Marked Men mold will probably be the ones in the front row banging their fists along. The packaging on this one is also particularly ambitious, including a full-color gatefold jacket, obi strip, 14-page newsprint booklet, and a download card with the LP and remastered versions of all four of the band’s previous EPs.

Watch the music video for the song “The Future of Porn” from this record here: [vimeo.com]

DOUBLE NEGATIVE: Hardcore Confusion Vol I 7″ – Double Negative return with the first volume of their follow-up to the epic Daydreamnation LP, and they haven’t slowed down one step. Continuing the progression displayed between their first and second LPs, the two songs on this 7″ are harder, faster, and weirder than anything they’ve done before. “Writhe,” in particular, is probably the best song they’ve written so far. Includes color vinyl, deluxe jackets with spot-gloss printing and digital download.

DOUBLE NEGATIVE: Hardcore Confusion Vol II 7″ – The second in Double Negative’s four-volume Hardcore Confusion 7″ series finds the band blasting out two more certified riff monsters. For those of you who who like their mid-paced stompers like “Endless Disappointment” and “Stop Growing,” these two songs might be your new favorites. Includes color vinyl, deluxe jackets with spot-gloss printing and digital download.

DARK AGES: Can America Survive? 12″ - After a couple of great but under the radar 7″s, Kansas City’s Dark Ages return with their first full-length and it is a hardcore monster. Eschewing the recent vogue for raw recordings, Dark Ages have nailed a crystal clear, precise sound in which all of the fascinating little nuances hit you with full force. While the pedal is always to the floor, it’s the weird little parts–quirky touches that remind one of Die Kreuzen’s first LP or Hüsker Dü circa Everything Falls Apart–that really separate this band from the pack. I can think of no other band that captures the angry, alienated, and isolated sound of the midwest better than Dark Ages. Deluxe packaging, including heavyweight, tip-on style sleeves, a 24″x26″ poster, and digital download. Mailorder version on red vinyl (ltd. to 150 copies).

Merchants of Cool by sorrystaterecords

Makabert Fynd / Glöm Da!: Split 12″ – Here’s something a little different for Sorry State: a split 7″ pairing two of the heaviest, most raging current crusty hardcore bands from Sweden. Makabert Fynd (who have released earlier records on Yellow Dog and Flat Black) play raw, straightforward hardcore in the tradition of old Swedish bands like Asocial and Avskum, but with huge, modern production. Of course these guys also boast Poffen of Totalitär as one of their vocalists, and fans of that band won’t be disappointed. As for Glöm Da!, they go for the throat in a similar fashion, but are perhaps even wilder and more unhinged. Whether you like the fast and raw old Swedish stuff or more metal-influenced käng like Skitsystem and Disfear, this one will knock you on your ass. Includes gatefold jacket and digital download.

Sorry State Records

Reunited upstate New York emo band JOSHUA have put up their brand new full-length Choices for stream/download on Bandcamp. The band was most active in the late 90s, and put out a couple of excellent releases on Doghouse Records.

HALF HEARTED HERO – Running Water (Animal Style): It’s the clash of generations on Running Water, HALF HEARTED HERO’s latest release. Channeling the forbidden-beat, whiplash pop-punk of 90s TEN FOOT POLE and NOFX, and bending it around a pole with modern technical immersions, not unlike THE FULLBLAST or contemporaries LIVING WITH LIONS, the five piece band impresses across a large spectrum of qualities. The stunner here is simply how smooth the band is, with wild guitar licks and thunderous drumming rolling out of my speakers as if they were served on velvet carpet. The same can be said for Anthony Savino’s, rich, but pleasantly understated vocals. With a bit of luck, these guys could make a ton of fans quick.

ALTARS – Opposition (Strike First): Opposition is the debut EP from this Colorado Springs metalcore group.  The band caught my attention early on with its EP opener (and title track), which is basically a minute-long, deliciously tense, double-bass driven breakdown. No hiding the ball with ALTARS, the band is coming from your moshing shoes and doing it with plenty of ammo. Like many young bands with a debut EP, the music suffers a bit from overshooting on breakdowns and going for the most brutal of moments. Songwriting maturity will hopefully cutback on the jerkiness of the songs as well – “Advocate” feels like an endless ride on an escalator with hiccups. “Severance” is the EP’s highlight, combining the all-out metal intensity of pseudo-labelmates A PLEA FOR PURGING with the wound-up, deliberate gusto of STRONGARM. A few quibbles can’t put a damper on what is otherwise a rousing 15 minutes.