1. Bridge Nine and ENERGY have parted ways after three releases, including the noteworthy 2008 full-length Invasions of the Mind. Immediately after the news broke, Bridge Nine put all of the band’s remaining merch with the label on sale for $1, which seemed at first to be a little bit in poor taste. Later in the day, Bridge Nine noted on Facebook “We wish Energy absolutely nothing but the best. But, we let them go because we put out 3 records with them, and didn’t make the $ back. Couldn’t do it a 4th time. Hopefully, things will work out for them in the long run, they are a talented band.” I wish all labels were that honest in their dealings. I also imagine constant line-up changes and a sharp turn in musical style didn’t help the band’s cause. I still recommend Invasions though… probably the best cross between AFI and IGNITE we will ever get to hear.

2. Tunecore (who I use to distribute several digital reissues)  has a very interesting blog post up today about the concept of “Gold Records” in the digital sales age. I learned a lot about the issuance (or some might say, ‘the farce’) of Gold, Platinum and Diamond Records when I was a summer law intern with the RIAA eight years ago… they are easy to be impressed by, but for some records it is more of an illusion of success over anything else. (I sometimes sat under a desk with a huge nine-times platinum display for GREEN DAY’s Dookie… it was mesmerizing and oh how I would love to have that hanging in my basement). In today’s digital retailing world however, the concept is almost entirely arbitrary and yet still exclusionary, and perhaps a record keeping disaster as well. Check out the informative and entertaining piece here.

3. Opening line of Century Media Records press release today: “EARTH CRISIS is the most controversial band in hardcore”. Wrong decade. No matter, the band’s upcoming full-length Neutralize The Threat is due out July 12th and was once again recorded with Zeuss, who also helmed their 2009 reunion effort, To The Death.

4. Stream of the Day: DEAR LIONS – S/T EP. Features Adam Rubenstein of CHAMBERLAIN on guitar and vocalist Rickey Lewis. Singer/songwriter stuff with a loose, dark vibe.