Massachusetts hardcore-punk act Defeater have posted a live video of them performing their new songs “I Don’t Mind” and “Dear Father” off their upcoming album “Empty Days and Sleepless Nights.” You can watch it here.

“Empty Days and Sleepless Nights” is due out March 8th on Bridge Nine Records.

[Read more…]

“First Four EPs,” the so-called compilation by hardcore supergroup OFF! (only the first EP was ever actually released), was finally available this past week on CD, and it is the type of record that leaves you breathless. The album has an immediacy that sounds as if it might have been recorded overnight, in a musical and personal frenzy. Keith Morris, frontman for pre-Henry Rollins Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, offers his wonderfully throaty and emotive voice, and co-wrote the album with guitarist Dimitri Coats, of Burning Brides. All four members of the group—including bassist Steven Shane McDonald and drummer Mario Rubalcaba—are well-credentialed and able-bodied veterans of the somewhat incestuous hardcore punk scene, who demonstrate their considerable, blistering chops on this album, which stands as a worthy exemplar of hardcore in all of its vitriolic, impassioned, confrontational glory.

The first track, “Black Thoughts,” is an immediate standout, in which Morris wails so loudly that his voice seems to strain the limits of the microphone’s recording capacity, while Coats lays down seriously crunchy guitar and the rhythm pounds ceaselessly forward. It feels like a victory over studio machinations, proof that raw power can win out over production technique. Hot on the heels of the minute-long opener comes “Darkness,” which ratchets up the volume and intensity, and from there OFF! never lets up. And though the album looks and sounds as though it could have been unearthed from somewhere on the West Coast in the mid-80’s (even the artwork was done by Raymond Pettibon, Black Flag’s resident artist), the music has the punch of something brand-spanking new.

This is hardcore in its very essence. The songs go by at breakneck pace—sixteen in all, the longest among them barely longer than a minute-and-a-half—all of them utterly succinct and brutal in their attack. The lyrics are concise, blunt, impressively poetic and entirely effective—it’s all social dysfunction and existential angst, as it should be (titles like “Fuck People” and “Panic Attack” are fairly representative). And despite the raucousness of the playing, OFF!’s musicianship is precise, and the players do not leave a second of wasted space. Every note feels entirely necessary, serving to drive the music forward, ever forward—I’ll go for one of the most well-worn adjectives in hardcore punk’s literary canon and call it “relentless.” Morris’s vocal work either dangles on the edge of sanity or else is flailing on the way down. Never has a sonic beating been so consistently satisfying. The full album clocks in at under eighteen minutes, and as Morris menacingly draws out the final vocal on closing track “Peace in Hermosa,” while the music slows ominously, catharsis sets in. And repeat.

The fact that OFF! recently joined Twitter seems strangely appropriate; “First Four EPs” are the short, furious songs of a band working within a perpetual 140-character limit, the clipped, reductionist product of our weird, digital age. I can’t recall many albums that have had this visceral an effect on me. There’s nothing truly groundbreaking here, but the music nonetheless feels refreshing, and you wonder why there isn’t more of it being recorded nowadays. It’s a damn inspiring record—the entire philosophy of a genre, encompassed in eighteen minutes. If I had any semblance of musical talent, just hearing this CD would have sent me out to start up my own band. Hell, I still want to, even given the no-talent thing.

**The Album Reviews published on Dying Scene are written and submitted by fans of punk music, just like you. If you disagree with an album’s rating, feel free to voice your opinion and give it your own rating in the comments. If you’d like to submit your own review do it here.

Say Anything frontman Max Bemis and his side project “Max Bemis & The Painful Splits” have released the tracklisting, and album artwork, for his upcoming release. Click here to check out the picture in full-size, as well as the tracklisting.

Bemis recently concluded a solo tour in which he played material from Say Anything’s “Menorah/Majora” EP, as well as other early material [Read more…]

Ohio’s Hawthorne Heights and Southern pop-punk newcomers Veara have announced the dates for a Spring tour set to begin at the end of March. Click here for the tour dates.

Hawthorne Heights latest album “Skeletons” was released June 1st on Wind-Up Records, while Veara’s latest album “What We Left Behind” was released May 25 via Epitaph Records

[Read more…]

Up until this past October 2010, I had never seen Bayside perform in a club setting. The 2 other times I had seen them had been at Warped Tour in 2007 and 2009. There was also the solo acoustic tour frontman and guitarist Anthony Raneri embarked on in 2007, but that doesn’t count. Indoor shows are much more different and intense than their outdoor counterparts and my first experience seeing them indoors didn’t disappoint. Something funny happened during their set. They played a couple of new songs, but the people were singing along and dancing as if the songs were old, fan favorites. At that moment it hit me. “Killing Time,” their upcoming release on their brand new label home Wind Up Records would serve as the new benchmark by which the band will measure themselves.  The band has finally made it and they’re here to stay.

If you’re not familiar with Bayside, they are one of the most unique bands in our scene. It’s hard to put a genre label on this foursome from Queens, New York. They play musical that is as catchy as it is deep and Raneri’s trademark raspy vocals really add a different dimension to their music. For me, they’re one of those bands whose older album, “The Walking Wounded,” remains as one of my all-time favorites. When I think about the summer of 2007, the album serves as the soundtrack to that particular time of my life. Not many bands can do that to me.

With the release of “Killing Time,” that may soon change.

I’ve been listening to this album for a couple of weeks now and there are definitely a couple of songs that stand out above the others, although this album is definitely solid from beginning to end. My personal favorites: “Sick, Sick, Sick,” “Sinking And Swimming On Long Island,” “Seeing Sound,” and “On Love, On Life.” I had the privilege of talking with Raneri a couple of weeks ago and he mentions that the songs were written and recorded a year ago and were then reviewed, re-recorded, and the final product is the best it’s going to be.

I completely agree.

The production on the album is perfect and the lyrics are some of the most personal that Raneri has ever written. The song “Sick, Sick, Sick,” is the perfect example of taking a subject matter that is extremely personal to him (it’s about the failed relationship between him and his ex) and turning it into something that everyone can relate to.  Each song can mean something completely different to someone else. That’s what music should be about. The song is one of those sing-along songs that Bayside is famous for and it’s definitely one of the faster ones on the album.

“On Love, On Life” is one of the songs that closes out the album and lyrically, it seems to come full-circle from “Sick, Sick, Sick.” This song contains a full orchestra backing a subdued and introspective Raneri singing along to piano and guitar. The chorus states “and I can’t let it bother me if fact and fate just can’t agree. on love, on life, can we stop taking ourselves too seriously.” Out of the four songs I chose, this one is probably my favorite one, lyrically.

The biggest gripe I have with this album is how short it is. It’s only 10 tracks long and when you’re listening to it, it’s over before you know it. With that said, it’s obviously a testament as to how good the album is. Bayside aren’t really known for having long  albums anyway.

This album will be the one that Bayside gets remembered for. Long judged by the immensely successful “The Walking Wounded,” “Killing Time” sets a new benchmark for the band. Complete with the lyrics that you can associate with, a delivery that only Raneri himself can match, melodic progressions that will leave you satisfied, and tracks that you can sing along to at shows, this album marks the beginning of the new Bayside.

**The Album Reviews published on Dying Scene are written and submitted by fans of punk music, just like you. If you disagree with an album’s rating, feel free to voice your opinion and give it your own rating in the comments. If you’d like to submit your own review do it here.

Ok, now I’m jealous.  Propagandhi, the Canadian masters of face thrashing punk rock will be heading down to Australia in May!

The tour runs from May 18th through the 29th, and further information can be found over at Blue Murder Touring.

Propagandhi released their last album “Supporting Caste” March 10th, 2009 on Smallman Records.

Last week we posted an interview I had with Steve Ludwig, the ex-Nations Afire frontman who’s now the full-time drummer for O.C. rock band Sederra., but today we bring you another interview with Sederra’s frontman Tom Schmitt and bassist Eric Bootow.

The guys talked about how interacting with fans is evolving and how much easier it is for people to discover a band, as well as how things have been going now that Steve is on board, the different musical tastes within the band, and what’s next for Sederra. Click here to read the full interview.

Sederra were our latest guests for the Dying Scene Sessions. The videos will be posted tomorrow, but until then, check out both interviews! [Read more…]

2011 looks to be a big year for Pennsylvania punks Title Fight, who just announced their first full headlining tour across the United States in support of their upcoming debut album “Shed”.

The tour starts May 19th in Pennsylvania and will bring Touche Amore, The Menzingers, and Dead End Path along for the ride up until it’s conclusion June 25th.  All tour dates and further details can be found right here.

“Shed” will be released May 3rd on Side One Dummy Records.

Endlessly energetic frontman Jason DeVore of Authority Zero is picking up his acoustic guitar and getting ready to release his second solo album.  Fans can expect the record, titled “Conviction 2:  The Crooked Path” March 8th on Operation Records.

Check out this cool video for a taste of what the album has to offer.  Like what you see and hear?  Preorder packages can be found here.

Jason DeVore released his first solo record “Conviction” in 2006, also on Operation Records.

[Read more…]

Stiff Little Fingers, Leftover Crack, Citizen Fish and loads more bands have now been added to this year’s Punk Rock Bowling music festival.  Among the other names just announced are The Aggrolites, Off With Their Heads, The Black Pacific, Larry And His Flask, the Krum Bums, and Killing Joke.

Already set to headline this year are Cock Sparrer, Descendents, Dropkick Murphys, Bouncing Souls, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, the Undertones, and the Dwarves.  More bands are still expected to be announced.

All the madness of the 13th Annual Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival will take place Memorial Day Weekend, May 27th through the 30th, in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.  Head on over to the official event website for all the details you could ask for.