If you haven’t heard of The Pyongyang Metro, don’t feel bad, neither have I. The group formed in 2006 and was around for just one short year. In that year though, they managed to record a 13-track album  entitled, Tower of White Tigers. Acccording to Nate Gangelhoff (guitarist (of Banner Pilot), the album is,

“raw, short, sorta sloppy punk stuff. Reviewers compared it to Scared of Chaka, ‘Cometbus bands’, Young Pioneers, and ‘dogs barking in an echo chamber’ (I forget the exact quote).”

If you’re a fan of gritty, sloppy punk, be sure to check this band out. Oh, and to sweeten the deal, The Pyongyang Metro’s only album is available to download for free right here. How awesome is that?

I’ve tried finding more about this band on the web, but all I get is information on the North Korean public transportation system…

Every Friday the punk rock geniuses here at Dying Scene are going to unleash a little bit of punk scene trivia all over your asses.  Today’s “fun factoid” is about Jason Cruz, the lead singer of iconic punk act Strung Out:

Besides being the chief song writer and lead vocalist for the epic punk rock act Strung Out, Jason Cruz is apparently an amazing painter as well.  Under the moniker of “Amerikan Black Heart” Cruz has exhibited his oil paintings regularly in galleries across LA for the last few years (see his work here).  You can add even more talent to Cruz’s repertoire too.  He was also a tattoo artist apprentice for 2 years and is a published poet.

Know an interesting story or bit of punk rock trivia?  Share it with us here and if we publish it, we just might send you a reward.

In anticipation of their DVD release, Live at The Greek Theatre, the lads and lassie of Flogging Molly have just uploaded a live video of their song Seven Deadly Sins. The song appears on their 2004 release Within A Mile of Home. The song was performed during a live set in Los Angeles, but I have no idea what venue. Any LA punks want to help me out? It very well could be at the Greek Theatre and I’m just an idiot. Watch the video here.

Be sure to grab your copy of Flogging Molly’s live DVD Live At The Greek Theatre, which hits stores March 2, and check out when the band will be touring near you here.

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The Measure [SA] are putting the finishing touches on their next full length. Simply entitled Notes, the album spans 14 new songs recorded with Chris Pierce at Technical Ecstasy in Milltown, NJ in the Fall of 2009. The band is currently mixing the album and expects to have it out by early summer 2010 on their new home, No Idea Records.

Singer/guitarist Lauren Denitzio had this to say about the direction writing has come on the new album:

“2009 was a hard year, let’s put it that way. I think it shows loud and clear on this record. These songs, for me, are definitely about a place and a time and were my way of working through the whole spectrum of things from being in love, to not knowing how to handle that, to life threatening illness, abusive relationships, to hating New York and my place in it. The record is louder and faster than our previous ones, and we know that we definitely became a more aggressive band. There are some of the most upbeat and optimistic songs we’ve ever written along with the most pessimistic. I love this record, and I think it’s the equivalent of a lightbulb going off over our head, musically. This is what we were always supposed to sound like.”

The Measure [SA] will also be doing a short tour run on their way to and from their performance at Harvest of Hope Fest in St. Augustine, FL.  Check out the dates and locations here.

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Listen up, ska fans!  UK ska/punk act New Riot are releasing their new album Riot. Sleep. Repeat on March 11th (pre-order here) and you can stream three of the album’s tracks right now.  The songs are titled Riot. Sleep. Repeat., Punk Radio, and Guilty Pleasure and you can check them out on the band’s MySpace page.

Sorta Less Than Jake-ish – definitely worth a listen.

Coheed And Cambria have released the cover art for their upcoming album Year Of The Black Rainbow, which you can see in its full glory right here.

The album is due out April 13th, 2010 and you can listen to one of its tracks (The Broken) right now on the band’s MySpace page.

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In the 22nd studio update from Sum 41, lead singer Deryck Whibley goes pedal shopping and talks about the “weirdness” of the coming album’s sound.  Check it out here.

Sum 41 is currently recording their follow album up to 2007’s Underclass Hero.

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After reading all of the album reviews and lengthy interviews about Alkaline Trio’s latest release, This Addiction,  Shockhound filmed a brief video interview with the dudes.  During the interview, Alk3 discuss their departure from Epic and the formation of their own label, Heart & Skull, as well as what influenced their songwriting for their 7th LP.  All of this to the background of the title track as the music video flashes in-and-out.  Watch the interview here.

Pick up This Addiction out now on Heart & Skull.

Lamentably, Anchor Arms’ drummer, Merk, will be departing from the band following their appearance on the Harvest Of Hope Festival mid-March.  Anchor Arms member, James, says that Merk will be leaving to focus on his growing family.  Interested parties should contact the band at quizmo31@aol.com to inquire further.  Best of luck to you, Merk!

Anchor Arms’ last LP, Cold Blooded, came out in 2008 on Fail Safe Records.

Tonight at 7:30 EST, Philly punkers The Menzingers will be partaking in an interview via their Twitter account (as if “Twitterview” didn’t give it that away).  So grab a pen and pad and get those questions ready!

The Menzingers’ next release, Chamberlain Waits, drops this April on Red Scare Records.  Also be sure to check them out on tour in the coming months.  After they play the Harvest Of Hope Festival, they’ll be playing a few select shows around the US, so check out Dying Scene’s Shows page for more info.