Okay. I hope, hope, hope this is one of the few times I do this, but you know how in my review of SIGNALS MIDWEST’s Latitudes and Longitudes, I said I couldn’t quite get a feeling for what distinguished each song? A Flash Flood Of Colour by ENTER SHIKARI, I can promise you, does not [...]

- RED FANG + abundant shots of outrageous air guitar = good times.

From the inbox:

Nine years since their debut LP, The Jealous Sound has emerged with their sophomore full-length A Gentle Reminder, to be released January 31 via Music is Subjective and Fontana Distribution. Their previous and debut album Kill Them With Kindness was embraced by critics worldwide, named one of Spin’s best albums of ’03 and described by Spin writer Andy Greenwald as “heartfelt guitar rock capable of punching you in the gut and patting you on the back.”

After taking time away from the band, frontman Blair Shehan reconnected with founding guitarist Pedro Benito, whose friendship with Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) helped The Jealous Sound land an opening spot on the 2009 tour for the bassist’s previous band, emo pioneers SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE. The old juices started flowing.

Made in the Foo Fighters’ Studio 606 with John Lousteau producing, A Gentle Reminder features founding members Shehan and guitarist Benito working alongside Mendel (filling in on bass for the departed John McGinnis) and new drummer Bob Penn. Josh Staples (the Velvet Teen) contributes backing vocals and bass on two tracks.

- The stream will be available until the LP’s release on Tuesday, 1/31.

From the inbox:

No Sleep Records is proud to announce the signing of California/Albany’s DRUG CHURCH. Featuring End Of A Year (Albany NY, Deathwish Inc.) frontman Patrick Kindlon on vocals. Look for the bands new 7″ EP featuring 3 new songs (w/ a Bonus Alternate Version of 1 song via Digital Download) out on No Sleep Records mid 2012.

“Drug Church is the sound of “some college” and a delivery job. It’s what happens when you strip any pretense from music and are left with a room full of dudes with weird bodies and tenuous futures.

Pulling liberally from Seaweed, Quicksand, and Kerosene 454, the band fully embraces its hardcore-dudes-trying-to-play-alt-rock influences.

No heavy trips about how you should live. No white-guy slam poetry about love. Just music you can pushpit and stagedive to so you can forget for a moment that you have eczema and work at Pizza Hut. ACTUAL punk music for ACTUAL disaffected weirdos.”

- Cory, Chris, Patrick, Nick

- (1) For a moment I thought Kindlon was screwing with all us with another half-hearted name change for END OF A YEAR; (2) You can stream several DRUG CHURCH songs on the bands’ Facebook page – no doubt about that 90s post-hardcore vibe…

From the inbox:

KILL WEALTHY DOWAGER is the brainchild of New Brunswick mainstay Bill Henderson. Bill’s stamp on NJ music over the years has been incredible, he’s notably been a member of PURPOSE, was later a founding member of THURSDAY (playing on Waiting and being involved in the writing process for Full Collapse), and later went on to form THE PROCEDURE, BETWEEN THE WARS and a slew of other projects. Also notable is his mastering work on bands as varied as The Wonder Years, Attica Attica, Tiger’s Jaw, Balance and Composure, Banquets, Daytrader, Grey Area, etc.

The record takes a punk rock foundation and adds in progressive yet melodic guitar work with a mid nineties post-punk vibe throughout. Take a melodic band like No Motiv, add in equal parts Protest the Hero and Quicksand, and you might end up somewhere near Kill Wealthy Dowager. Track two, “What’s Behind Door Number Two” features guest vocals by Popeye from Farside and “Cooler Friends That Us” and “Don’t Fret About It” feature guest vocals by Alf from The Fire Still Burns and Ex Number Five.

Stream “What’s Behind Door Number Two” here.

- I’ve never been let down by a project connected to Bill Henderson, and the guest appearance list looks exceptionally strong. Looking forward to hearing the whole thing!

- Available as a free download as well via Bandcamp. THE HOAX PROGRAM as a hardcore/rock band from Slovenia, who originally got their start as an old-school hardcore band in the late 90s named LOW PUNCH. Impressive batch of tunes. FFO: BLACK CROSS, ACID TIGER, and COLISEUM.

- The 7″ was originally released as part of Run For Cover’s 2011 subscription series. Extra black vinyl copies are now available from the RFC store.

From the inbox:

SEAS WILL RISE, featuring Landmine Marathon founder Eric Saylor on guitar, has completed its debut full-length, Disease Is Our Refrain. The Tempe, Arizona band plays heavy, brooding hardcore punk, inspired by the likes of DISCHARGE and HIS HERO IS GONE.

Disease Is Our Refrain was recorded and mixed by Landmine Marathon guitarist Ryan Butler at Arcane Digital Recording (Phobia, Misery Index), and mastered by FROM ASHES RISE frontman Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Tragedy, OFF!). The album is the follow-up to the 2010 Cagematch EP (which you can stream below).

Disease Is Our Refrain sees a March 6 release via Man In Decline Records and Anxiety Machine Records – a limited pressing of 500 LPs, including three different colors of vinyl. Look for Seas Will Rise, performing live throughout 2012.