Boston 5-piece punk act Energy have posted a new Valentine’s Day song available as a free download. Click here to listen to, and download, the song “Be My Victimtine.”

The band last released an EP titled “Walk Into The Fire” in October, 2010 on Bridge Nine Records.

Lauren Denitzio (of The Measure (SA)) has posted a somewhat lengthy, well-written piece on sexism within punk rock and how she copes.

Denitzio, self-identified as a “queer, feminist, radical, and punk” talks about the “men [who] specifically say that the scene isn’t sexist, ‘because we’re all punks and obviously that’s not cool'” as well as all the name calling, inappropriate jokes, and other derogatory gestures that are made.

Denitzio also writes, “One benefit of being in the punk scene for me, even where these things still happen, is having people around who also don’t think these things are okay.  We’re responsible to call each other out if we’re doing things that make each other feel unsafe, myself included.  No one is perfect, and I don’t expect that.  What I do expect, however, is the ability to be held accountable for your actions, to apologize and hear everyone’s experience as valid. If you’re doing something that makes me feel unsafe at a show, I don’t care how long you’ve known me, or your history interacting with women, or how much you love Sleater Kinney.  If you can’t be held accountable and apologize, then none of those other things really make a difference to me.  This applies to anything from jokes in poor taste to sexual assault.  Just because we’ve all known someone for years at shows doesn’t change them calling me a cunt, or assaulting their partner.  Once people stop making the excuse of “we’re all on the same page” and start being honest with each other, we start creating real, physical, safer spaces for everyone, not just women.”

You can read the full blog entry here.

UK punks Lower Than Atlantis have announced that they’ve signed with Sumerian Records. Vocalist Mike Duce said in a statement,
“We’re extremely excited to be working with Sumerian Records. We met the team briefly at some rubbish club we were playing in London and we all seem to be on the same page. It’s every bands dream to have an album released (and to tour) in America and for this band, the dream’s come true twice because both our album’s are hitting U.S. shores at once. We can’t wait to show some American’s what this band’s all about and to just have a good time fucking around, meeting new people and getting pissed out of our heads on Budweiser! We also have the Sumerian guys to thank for making it possible for us broke fuckers to tour the states and even luckier for our first tour being the ‘Reckless And Relentless’ tour. We’re kind of the odd band out on the bill being a more punky/rock British band as opposed to our heavier U.S. touring buds, but I guess this is just a chance for us to win over some new fans. We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again. Lock up your daughters, wives, sisters, aunts, etc. See you all soon.”

Sumerian will be releasing the band’s upcoming album “World Record” on April 19th, with the band’s previous effort “Far Q” included as a bonus disc.

Say Anything frontman Max Bemis has announced that he will be playing material from Say Anything’s “Menorah/Majora” EP, as well as other early material on his upcoming solo tour.

In case you missed the announcement, Bemis will be touring throughout February. Check out the dates and locations here.

With 2 weeks left until the release of Bayside’s latest effort “Killing Time,” ShockHound.com is streaming short clips of the entire album. Click here to check them out.

“Killing Time” comes out February 22, 2011 on Wind Up Records. Aside from a live album, the band’s last release, “Shudder,” came out in 2008 on Victory Records.

Canadian screamo act Silverstein had a video of a new song titled “The Artist” recorded and posted on Youtube recently. The amateur footage is decent enough, and you can definitely make the song out, but by the looks of it, there’s probably going to be pro-shot footage released soon. Whether that’s for a music video or for a DVD remains to be seen. In any case, you can watch the video here.

Silverstein’s “Transitions” EP was released December 7th. A full-length record will be forthcoming on Hopeless Records.

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Massachusetts hardcore act Bury Your Dead have posted the first studio update video. The band has been in the studio for the past couple of months working on “Mosh & Roll,” the follow up to their 2009 release “It’s Nothing Personal.” Click here to watch.

“Mosh & Roll” is set to be released sometime this summer via Mediaskare Records.

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Michigan post-hardcore/screamo act I See Stars have posted a “track-by-track” explanation/behind the song-type deal on AltPress.com.

The band actually does a good job of breaking down each song for you. If you’re into finding out the story behind each song, this is definitely your cup of tea so make sure you check it out.

The new album “The End Of The World Party” comes out February 22 on Sumerian Records. Check out the first song “Wonderland” here.

Las Vegas rock-pop duo Panic! At The Disco have released the music video for the song “The Ballad Of Mona Lisa” on MTV.com. Click here to watch.

The song can be found off the band’s upcoming album “Virtues & Vices,” which is due out later this year. It will be a follow-up to their 2008 release “Pretty Odd”

The Bronx, Terror, H2O & Trash Talk are teaming up for one night only with proceeds from the show going to the victims of the recent Queensland floods.  For all my compadres in Brisbane, Australia, the show will be at the Step Inn on the 25th of February.  This is the night before all bands are scheduled to appear at the Soundwave Festival. Click here for full details including where to buy tickets.   Whose excited?

The Queensland floods have seen the punk rock community band together in an effort to provide financial relief to the victims.  Resist Records auctioned off a bunch of rare vinyl and there has been a swag of flood benefit shows around Australia in an effort to help with the fundraising.   GO TEAM!

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