- It’s funny… for years and years it was drunk driving that hit home (at least tangentially), but now, it’s texting and driving that raises my fears the most. I see it every day when I drive my kids to and from their daycare, sometimes even while we’re all trying to navigate our ways through the busy parking lot. And despite my best attempts (and a wife that works for the Department of Transportation for cryin’ out loud), sometimes my hands too are a little sticky with my mobile device. Traffic is bad enough in the DC area as it is, why are trying to harm ourselves and everyone else? This brief spot from Belgium is brilliant, please pass it on.

- Massively moving new four song release from this Michigan hardcore band. As widely noted, the EP is centered around the drummer’s struggles in raising an 8 year old son who is autistic and deaf. If you’re a parent, it doesn’t take long before you feel the burning inside your heart while parsing the lyrics. Musically, the band is undeniably under the spell of “The Note” era BANE, and I think the influence is laid a bit too thick at times, but being a huge fan of BANE, I can appreciate the similarities more than not. Please give it a listen and consider picking up a copy from the band’s store. Their label blew up while this release was coming out and the band is on hook for significant unexpected costs.

- I listened to the whole album over the weekend… impossible to shake the feeling that it’s an ALKALINE TRIO record with an even bigger radio-friendly itch than Agony & Irony. That said, I enjoyed it immensely.

- One of the strongest songs from their new full-length “The Power Within”. So. Much. Shredding.

- One of my favorite WAR OF AGES songs. Great groove/flow to this tune, especially vocally. Also a fan of the verse “Live for something, hope for nothing / Regardless of what it’s worth / The battle for something greater / Is crawling up your back”

From the inbox:

As Denver grind bandits CATHETER prepare to attack the planet with their third full-length album, Southwest Doom Violence, this week today the savages at Stereokiller.com have posted a stream of the entire seventeen-track assault at the band’s official SK profile page.

Southwest Doom Violence is confirmed for release this May 1st, once again via Selfmadegod Records, who released CATHETER’s Preamble To Oblivion and Dimension 303 albums. The band’s first LP since 2005, Southwest Doom Violence sees the band commemorating 15 years of their brutal 303-style grind. The album surges with the band’s pissed-off style, wrangling 17 cataclysmic tunes in only twice as many minutes, an immediate adrenaline-booster for fans of classic, ripping grindcore in the tradition of Repulsion, Terrorizer, Phobia, early Napalm Death, with crust and doom metal infiltrating the mix.

CATHETER is currently embarked on tour take their horrifying grind attack to the European fans in support of the new album, with additional stateside live tour actions to be announced in the months ahead.

- (1) “303-style grind” … I suppose they’re not talking about a particular method for vaporizing coffee beans; (2) I am relieved that the band’s grind attack is “horrifying”. The last band to try a “pleasantly gentle” grind attack failed miserably…

- Uber impressive instrumental progressive rock out of Germany. “In Via” is the band’s second full-length and was released in North America on April 24th on Steamhammer. RIYL: OCEANSIZE, MOVING MOUNTAINS, Mylene Sheath Records.

From the inbox:

Please welcome MY FICTIONS to the Topshelf family! This one’s a long time coming and just made sense. We see half of this band just about every day and it’s been awesome hearing and seeing them grow in the greater Boston area and beyond. The band is hitting the road for some quick dates with ACHILLES and LIKE WOLVES in support of their most recent output, I Want Nothing released by Flannel Gurl Records.

- Screamy, driving hardcore not unlike early DEFEATER or SUICIDE FILE. Not overbearingly heavy either, which is an appreciated positive.