MEMORIES OF A DEAD MAN . V.I.T.R.I.O.L from damien barquero on Vimeo.

- (1) Just when the music seems to find a stable groove, the band gets all tempo itchy; (2) Haven’t really heard much metalcore like this since early SKYCAMEFALLING and early NORMA JEAN. Technical with out being flashy; (3) If the visual elements in the video are to hint at the memories of a dead man, then we’ve all spent way too much time in the land graphic design…

Ohio melodic hardcore band LIGHT YEARS delicately straddle their heavier influences and pop-punk desires on Just Between Us, a brand new five song EP that’s digitally paired up with their prior eight song release This Will Come Back to Haunt Me. There’s no screaming with LIGHT YEARS, just well sung lead vocals over bouncy, speedy [...]

“What separates the fury and the filthy in me?” Polarizing. That’s the crime of Bury Me Standing. Well, that and being uneven. But it’s worth a backward glance into THE EXPLOSION’s discography. Between Steal This, Flash Flash Flash and Sick Of Modern Art, THE EXPLOSION made themselves instantly recognizable as one of the best punk [...]

- Four song split EP from Count Your Lucky Stars Records, featuring two indie/emo bands from Illinois. Pleasantly wistful.

From the inbox:

A389 Recordings have announced the formidable pairing of Maryland’s doom stalwarts EARTHRIDE with Florida’s sludge mavens JUNIOR BRUCE for an upcoming split LP release and string of shows based around this year’s SHOD XII Festival in Connecticut. (Aug 30-Sept 2 w/Pilgrim, War Injun, Revelation and tons more). Details for the release are being finalized, but we’ve been informed that both bands are booked to hit the studio with fresh material within the next few  weeks, and that the artwork is underway, ensuring a late summer release in time for the planned tour dates.

- H/T to BlanktTV.com. The band’s new full-length, Broken Machine, is available now from Warbird Entertainment. RIYL: ONE MAN ARMY, BOMBSHELL ROCKS, RANCID.

From the inbox:

Recently, THE SWELLERS decided that it was time to part ways with Fueled By Ramen. We’ve had a good run with them and have a lot of appreciation and respect for everyone at the label. While we wish the staff and their bands the best of luck, we’ve come to the conclusion that being part of a major label just isn’t the right fit for us right now. We’re ready to continue developing who we are as a band, and excited to give our fans the very best of us in whole new ways. We’re excited for this to be a bit of a return to form, while also being a whole new beginning.

On May 29th, we’re releasing a 7” of two songs recorded from the Good For Me sessions that weren’t on the album, but are some of our favorite songs we’ve ever written. They’re some of our fastest, most aggressive songs we’ve made to date. The 7” title came from the song “Vehicle City Blues,” which we wrote about the recent effects of a serial killer in Flint, MI. Our friends at SideOneDummy Records are releasing the 7” for us on limited blue, red, and green vinyl. We’re very proud of these songs and can’t wait for you to hear them.

However, we also want everyone to know that The Swellers are not slowing down by any means. Two days ago, we arrived in the UK to start a sold-out tour with Deaf Havana, return to Groezrock in Belgium (one of our favorite festivals), and then next month we tour the US with our friends in The Early November, The Wonder Years, and Young Statues. We’re planning on releasing an EP on our own later this year before signing with a new label for an album sometime in 2013.

A lot is changing in the way that artists are able to get their music out to people and we’re embracing it. This is going to be good.

- Far and away my favorite “sounds like NO USE FOR A NAME but isn’t” band.

- Melodic, pulsing rock by a Brooklyn three-piece (via Lexington, Kentucky), reminds me a bit of SUPERGRASS…