In an interview with News-Herald.com, Social Distortion vocalist/guitarist Mike Ness discussed a lot of things about the band’s long-anticipated new album “Hard Times and Nursery,” including its title, musical direction, and (sort of) why we waited so long for the album to arrive. Here’s something interesting he said about the record:

“On this record I really wanted to not paint myself into a corner, at least lyrically, and not be just autobiographic. Although some of my best songs have come from that (type of writing), that’s not the only way I write. So there’s fiction and nonfiction and there’s heavy and light. There’s a song, ‘Give Me the Sweet and Lowdown,’ that’s just tongue-in-cheek. It’s almost like the song ‘Bad Luck’ taken a step further — like a priest in a confession booth and someone is laying their life on you and you’re like, ‘I know bro, I’ve been there.’  There’s also a song called ‘Machine Gun Blues,’ where I wrote it exactly like I wrote ‘1945.’ It’s kind of a gangster song, but he’s not happy with his life. As a matter of fact, he knows it’s almost over anyways.”

“Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes” will finally be released on January 18, 2011. That’s their first record since 2004’s Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll as well as their first on Epitaph.

Scranton’s Captain, We’re Sinking are streaming 2 new songs from a split with Timeshares and 3 new songs from an upcoming 7-inch on Evil Weevil Records right here.

If there’s more info on these releases I sure as hell don’t know where to find it!

Folk-punk singer Frank Turner definitely keeps himself busy.  He recently announced that he will be releasing an EP titled “Rock And Roll” on December 6th featuring 5 new tracks and now he’s planning a new full-length.  Turner will head into the studio in January to begin recording.  He says that only one song from the EP, “Believe,” will appear on the coming album.  Fans can expect a release date sometime next Spring.

His critically-acclaimed Poetry for the Dead was released this past September on Epitaph.

Pop-punkers Second To Last have announced plans for a whole slew of new releases.  According to an update on their MySpace the band is currently writing new material and preparing for an upcoming split with Late Nite Wars, a nu-metal cover comp, and a brand new EP that they hope to release next Winter.

The band released their last EP, “Runaway” on Pure Noise last month.

The Almost have premiered the music video for the title track off their most recent release “Monster Monster” and you can check it out right here.

“Monster Monster” was released last year on Tooth & Nail Records. A deluxe version of the album featuring b-sides from the original is being released this week.

Antillectual have posted another new song off their upcoming album Start From Scratch. The song is titled “Classic Themes Never Get Old” and you can give it a listen (as well check out the liner notes and lyrics) here. Fans of Propagandhi will probably dig this track.

The band had this to say on the song:

Contrary to the other songs, this song has absolutely nothing to do with current affairs. Or does it? “Classic Themes Never Get Old” is an ode to issues we should never forget about, even though media hypes focus on other stuff and some themes might not seem very popular to address these days. An ode to worn off patches, graffiti on squatted walls and the roots of our movement.

“Start From Scratch” is planned for a November 1 release and until then the band will be streaming one new song from the album each week.

The band’s last album Testimony was released in 2008.

Minneapolis pop-punk act Don’t Miss Out are releasing their debut EP “Looking For More Sense Than This” November 21st.

To get a taste for the band’s music head over to their MySpace page where they are streaming 3 new tracks (“They’re All Crazy”, “Your .02”, “Lifecoach Lessons”) from the release.

Aussie Punks Burning Fiction have uploaded the track “1000 Yards” off their upcoming split album with Jet Market. Listen to the track out on the band’s MySpace Page.

The split is set to drop December 18th on Pee Records.

The UK’s progressive ska-punk / punk-hop (?) band Sonic Boom Six have released a new track from their upcoming  album “Rude Awakening.”

You can listen to the song “Addicted To Bass,” a track found on the UK-version of the album, on their MySpace page. The album is set to drop tomorrow, October 26th.

Sonic Boom Six released their last album City Of Thieves last year on Rebel Alliance Records.

My Chemical Romance have found a replacement for former drummer Bob Bryar in the form of former The Bled drummer, Mike Pedicone.  Pedicone announced it via a tweet which read,

“I am thrilled to be drumming in MCR exclusively and to be a part of the fam. See you all soon!”

My Chemical Romance will be releasing their fourth album, “Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys,” November 22nd on Reprise Records.