For Deryck Whibley, frontman and guitarist for Canadian foursome Sum 41, the song-writing process on the new album  “Screaming Bloody Murder” was something he said he had “no-control over.” Not in the sense that he wasn’t doing the writing, but rather he just wrote freely and had no idea what was going to come out. The end product? An album in which he poured his heart out into the lyrics and one that is personal, emotional, but most importantly, totally rocking.

Whatever you want to call it, the writing on this album could be attributed to the maturing process. After all, the guys are older and are now considered musical veterans. But it also meant taking that next step in their careers. I’ve seen bands try to come back and write another song like their “greatest song ever” off their “best record of all time.” Not these guys. In a recent interview, Whibley stated that he can’t ever write the same song twice and that he writes whatever comes out.

That’s what “Screaming Bloody Murder,” the latest album from arguably one of Canada’s greatest punk/rock exports, is.  “Screaming Bloody Murder” doesn’t try to be that “back-to-our-old-school-sound-to-appease-our-fans”-record, but stands alone as a solid album that shows us exactly where Sum 41 wants to be right now.

The production on the these songs are good, but it certainly helps that Whibley’s voice has seemingly gotten stronger. He still maintains his trademark vocal style, but he sings better here than on any other album the band has put out. My only criticism of the album is that it doesn’t seem to flow as smoothly as I would have liked. At times, the ideas feel disjointed. I don’t know if that’s something that the band wanted to do, but I found myself looking back to see what track I was on.

Stand out songs? “What Am I Supposed To Say?” and “Holy Image of Lies (A Dark Road Out Of Hell)” (and the ensuing 2 songs are good also.) Final verdict? It’s a solid album, it’s worth a listen or to if you can get past your “I hate Sum 41, they killed the scene”-type of mentality.

“Screaming Bloody Murder” was released yesterday, March 29th, on Island Records.

Hot Water Music frontman Chuck Ragan will soon be releasing a new solo album. He’s working out of Fireside Sound Studios with Blind Melon’s Chris Thorn. Check out an interview with Ragan, where he talks about the new album, touring without his wife and the possibility of a new Hot Water Music somewhere down the road. Read the whole thing here.

Chuck Ragan released his latest album Gold Country in 2009 through SideOneDummy Records. The new album is due out in September.

Dave Hause, singer and guitarist of Philadelphia punk rockers The Loved Ones, will be taking fan questions on Fan Time Live. He’ll also perform some tracks from his album Resolutions. It starts at 8 PM EST right over here.

Resolutions came out in January on Paper + Plastick Records. It’s Hause’s first full-length solo album.

Yesterday we reported that Frank Turner had made the track “I Am Disappeared” available for streaming. Well, today we can do you one better, because the song is available for free download. Head over here to snag it (hint: right click the link and save as).

The track is off Turner’s upcoming album, England Keep My Bones, which comes out in the UK June 6 and everywhere else June 7. Frank and his band are currently on tour of the globe, and you can find a full list of dates here.

Century Media has re-signed Norwegian black metal band Borknagar, who left the label in 2007. They had been working with Indie Recordings between 2007 and the re-signing to Century.

The band signed to a three-album deal and are about to start working on the first of those, which is tentatively due out in 2012. Their last album, Universal, was released in 2010 in Indie Recordings.

Blink 182 will be re-releasing their 2000 live album, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show, on vinyl. The release will be a double EP; one record is transparent blue and the other transparent green. It’s a limited pressing of 2000 copies and will be sold at Hot Topic starting in mid-April.

Blink is working on a new record to be released (most likely) this summer. The as-yet-untitled album is the band’s first since their self-titled LP came out in 2003. Drummer Travis Barker also released a solo album, Give the Drummer Some, on March 15.

My Chemical Romance recently stopped by Los Angeles radio station 98.7 and performed an acoustic version of their song “Cancer.” You can check it out right here.

The band’s latest album “Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys” was released November 22nd on Reprise Records. They are also currently on tour so head over here to see all tour dates, as well as to get ticket info.

[Read more…]

Last Saturday, March 26th, New York hardcore legends Sick of it All celebrated 25 years of non-stop hardcore. They played alongside Buffalo’s Snapcase, Brooklyn’s Merauder and New Jersey’s Razorblade Handgrenade.

You can can check out loads of live videos and awesome photos here.

SOIA’s latest album, Based On A True Story, came out in 2010  on Century Media. Be sure to check out my interview with Lou Koller of Sick of it all right here.

Florida punk band Protagonist have announced their April tour dates. Click here for the dates with Go Rydell and Divided Heaven.

Last time we checked in with Protagonist, they were recording an E.P. We’ve since received no word on the progress of that release, but as always, check back later for more information.

[Read more…]

NJ pop-punk outfit I Call Fives have released a new song entitled “Too Much To Lose,” and it can be streamed here.

The song will appear on the band’s upcoming split with New York’s Rust Belt Lights, which will be released on April 5th via Broken Rim Records.