• PARKWAY DRIVE – Atlas
• PEACE’D OUT – S/T EP
• EARLY GRAVES – Red Horse
• THE COUP – Sorry to Bother You
• THE FAINT – Dance Macabre (Deluxe Edition)
• BROTHERFACE – Writer
• THE SCENICS – Dead Man Walks Down Bayview

- No surprises from PARKWAY DRIVE, just more crushing, polished, and sharply tuned metalcore from the Australian mainstays. PEACE’D OUT is the highlight from this week’s batch of new releases – the all-star band of sorts assembles a screamy, post-punk/hardcore deal that is remarkably intense and technical, boxed up into a 10 minute blast. For feel good, low-key rock, THE SCENICS will be a boon to any car drive.

- CAPITAL recently (I think) added their debut release to their Bandcamp page for streaming and low-priced download. That’s a good enough reason for me to post about it again (doesn’t take much). Don’t miss out on this crucial LIHC record!

- Pretty strong line-up here. You can grab a free download of the compilation from this blog page.

- Gripping, raw hardcore from Slovenia that would fit in well on the rosters of Deathwish or A389. None of the song titles are in English, and if the lyrics are in English, I’m definitely not picking up on it (still on my first cup of coffee today). Pretty great riffage going on in the second track, “Beg iz Raja”. Give it a whirl…

- MA’s THE STEREO STATE are back with a brand new six song release on Creator-Destructor Records. It comes barely a year after their excellent full-length “Have All My Friends Gone Deaf?” and I’m more than happy to accommodate a band ignoring the new-every-two-year cycle. What’s more noteworthy is that in just a year, the band has already grown its post-hardcore tinged pop-punk sound by leaps and bounds. With a singer than can actual belt out a tune and songwriting that dips into the best influences from GAMEFACE and FACE TO FACE (whole lotta ‘face’ going on), the combination of musical forces is mighty, mighty strong.

- Great pairing of bands. MIXTAPES should just end every one of their songs with Maura and Ryan singing today, slowly, as the music winds down and fades out. Never gets old.

From the inbox:

JUNIOR BATTLES has released a surprise two-song EP of brand-new material in celebration of its trip down to Gainesville, Fla., for FEST 11 this weekend. The EP, titled Wow, That’s Really Cool!, is also released in anticipation of a new Junior Battles full-length, due out next year.

“Believe It Or Not, George Isn’t At Home” can be streamed on AbsolutePunk.net now.

“TPS Reports” can be streamed at Punknews.org now.

Finally, the two-song EP can be purchased for $1.50 in Paper + Plastick Records’ webstore.

• TONY BENNETT – Viva Duets (just seeing if you’re paying attention…)
• BAYSIDE – Covers EP Vol. 1
• SISTER SIN – Now and Forever
• BEING AS AN OCEAN – Dear G-D
• PIG DESTROYER – Book Burner
• THE SKIES REVOLT – Making Moves
• THE SWORD – Apocryphon
• LAND OBSERVATIONS – Roman Roads VI-XI
• ARMS ALOFT – Sawdust City
• SHINY TOY GUNS – III

- Can’t say enough positive things about the positively bowel-loosening new PIG DESTROYER release. Not a whole lot of grind this time around, just immensely heavy, cold as a glacier hardcore/metal. A lot of clunky rhythms and add to the jarring effect and the recording style is downright nasty in how sharp it is. I’m still absorbing the new SWORD release, which is their first for Razor & Tie. It’s got plenty of the band’s trademark bombast with a little bit more melody evenly spread out.  I haven’t heard the new SISTER SIN, but I believe is pumping it by comparing it to SKID ROW. That’s worth a look, I think.