From the inbox:

2012 marks the fifteenth anniversary for a Doghouse Records classic, THE GET UP KIDS’ first full-length, Four Minute Mile. We figured a proper celebration was in order. But while we were figuring out how to unveil the reissue, we remembered that it was also the 15th anniversary of the Woodson 7-inch. So we will be reissuing both of them together in a very special, limited-edition bundle.

This is the first time the Woodson 7-inch will be back in print in years!

There will be four options to chose from:

1) Four Minute Mile on opaque white and aqua blue splatter vinyl, an original 18″x24″ Four Minute Mile poster, and a download code for the album. This bundle option is limited to 30 copies and costs $15 + shipping.

2) Four Minute Mile on opaque white vinyl, special aqua blue Woodson 7-inch, 18″x24″ Four Minute Mile poster, and a download code for the album. This bundle is limited to 265 copies and costs $25 + shipping.

3) Four Minute Mile on opaque white and aqua blue splatter, aqua blue Woodson 7-inch, 18″x24″ Four Minute Mile poster and a download code for the album. This bundle option is limited to 200 copies and costs $25 + shipping.

4) Four Minute Mile on opaque white and aqua blue splatter, a test pressing, aqua blue Woodson 7-inch, 18″x24″ Four Minute Mile poster and a download code for the album. This bundle option is limited to 10 copies. and costs $60 + shipping.

Check out all the bundle options.

These bundle options will only be available for a extremely limited, one-month-only window. Once each bundle is sold out, they will be removed and no longer available for purchase. Be sure to pick one of them today before they are gone.

- (1) I think we can bet on Doghouse doing reissues of Four Minute Mile every five years. Maybe the 20th anniversary edition will come in the form of an energy drink; (2) Anyone else think that THE GET UP KIDS should do one of those releases that are just new studio recordings of their hits, like SICK OF IT ALL’s Non-Stop?

NEVER FACE DEFEAT – Convicted (Demons Run Amok): Long-running German metallic hardcore band NEVER FACE DEFEAT released this five song EP in 2011, primarily as a very limited picture disc 7″ with a bonus CD, and then digitally across the world.  The four-piece band strongly identifies with mid-90s NYHC, slamming down thick, bulky guitars, surly bass lines and an overall streak of meanness, reflected effortlessly in the barked out lead vocals. Not an original bone to it, but a nice change of pace after digesting the latest material from Germany’s precision-obsessed metal outfits CALIBAN and HEAVEN SHALL BURN.

MIND SPIDERS – Meltdown (Dirtnap): More fuzzed out garage punk from the Dirtnap camp, this time with bonus organ and synth content! I’ve always had a hard time distinguishing between the bands on Dirtnap’s voluminous (but high quality) roster, MIND SPIDERS certainly identify with the evolved, uptempo, melodic style that the label has banked on for years. Meltdown’s standout elements are warm guitars and pushy, alternating sweet/snotty vocals that rise above the noisy rhythm section. It’s a slow-grower at first, but memorable after several focused spins.

CLASSICS OF LOVE – S/T (Asian Man): You can take OPERATION IVY out of the living cauldron of active bands (for well over 20 years now), but you can’t remove them from from memory when a few million kids (literally) mark them as a cornerstone of punk and ska… So if you’re Jesse Michaels, and you’re trying to downplay whatever history you’re connected with in discussing CLASSICS OF LOVE, it is going to be a losing effort, especially when a 40 something year old Jesse Michaels still largely sounds like his junior self. And holy hell is that awesome. Even better – CLASSICS OF LOVE seemingly revisit the heaviest songs from OPERATION IVY’s short output and trend in that direction, with a few patches of ska thrown in for good measure, plus all of the socially relevant lyrics Michaels has become known for. The 13 song release blasts by in 22 minutes with no let up at all, and is destined to be a year long favorite at Pastepunk HQ.

From the inbox:

Rite of Passage Records is proud to announce the signing of Johannesburg, South Africa based TRUTH AND ITS BURDEN. The band’s new album Choices is set to be released on May 22nd through Rite of Passage; a song from the album titled “Threadbare” can be listened to on the band’s Facebook page (or below via YouTube).

Formed in 2008, TRUTH AND ITS BURDEN started out as an idea to bring a sincere message of hope, and to do so with a real sense of urgency. Those same ideals that gave life to this band still chorus through in every song 4 years later. To be aware, to challenge, to follow through, to ignite ideas into dreams, to re-invigorate life itself and to find meaning and purpose. Over the past four years, the band has toured throughout Europe and Africa with bands like The Ghost Inside, Haste The Day, Have Heart, and many others.

“The main idea behind ‘Choices’ is pretty simple;” stated vocalist Ashley DeBeer. “Making choices that reflect clear consideration for dreams and aspirations, it’s not something that merely applies to me/us alone, but rather something many can relate to. I wrote a lot of the songs during a period in my life when change was necessary and I guess with choices in my life I found there was a constant balancing act that took place.”

“There are many contributing factors to making serious life decisions that balance a good choice and help make things a little clearer,” added DeBeer. “Many of the songs reflect the idea of finding myself, building myself, deciding things and just trying to make a conscious effort at being a better person in general.”

- Great band name. Musically, the band is the vein of contemporaries IT PREVAILS, COUNTERPARTS, MISERY SIGNALS (i.e., The Post Shai Huludic Era)

From the inbox:

Today, Paper + Plastick Records is honored to announce the release of the biography of metal legend Dan Lilker. Entitled “Perpetual Conversion: 30 Years & Counting in the Life of Metal Veteran Dan Lilker”, the book follows Lilker’s career from his pre-Anthrax band, White Heat in 1980, through Brutal Truth’s latest 2011 release, End Time.

“Perpetual Conversion” traces Lilker’s time spent in seminal metal bands Nuclear Assault, Brutal Truth, Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death (S.O.D.) and Hemlock, and also includes his lesser-known projects The Ravenous, Crab Society, Crab Society North, Exit-13, Extra Hot Sauce, Crucifist, Nokturnal Hellstorm, Nunfuckritual, Last Satanic Dance, Overlord Exterminator and more.

The life-spanning biography was written by Dave Hofer, a Chicago-based music fan, record store employee and sporadic freelance writer. Although not classically trained in long-form writing, Hofer spent years interviewing Lilker, his friends and his family to present what Hofer calls “the most comprehensive interview Lilker has ever done.”

More after the jump…

- Released just a week ago by Topshelf Records. Finally got around to listening to it last night and again this morning. Beautifully executed controlled chaos.

• SLEIGH BELLS – Reign of Terror
• CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – S/T
• STARSEED – Peace Machine
• THE SIDEKICKS – Awkward Breeds
• CURSIVE – I Am Gemini
• CHEAP GIRLS – Giant Orange
• DIRTY GHOSTS – Metal Moon

- Not a huge week overall for new releases, but the CHEAP GIRLS record is an early 2012 highlight and something that will be locked into my playlist hard for the foreseeable future. I think the new SLEIGH BELLS is much more listenable than Treats, but the female vocals continue to grate on me. I wonder what fans of J-pop think of them…

From the inbox:

Los Angeles, California based label 6131 Records have announced the signing of Seattle, Washington’s ILL INTENT. Following recent tours with labelmates Bent Life and The Beautiful Ones, ILL INTENT entered the studio with Taylor Young (Rotting Out, Xibalba) in early February to record their debut EP for 6131. The effort, entitled No Masters, will be released this Spring on 7″ and via digital outlets worldwide. You can check out the song “Numbskull” below.

- Very cool to see the band branching out their songwriting and generally, writing such a memorable tune. Anyone else think Keith Buckley looks like a young Dennis Leary in this video?