American Steel have posted the first track from their upcoming release, “Dear Friends Gentle Hearts”, out July 21st on Fat Wreck Chords. You can check out the song “Emergency House Party” at their myspace page.

My Life In Black And White may come from the rain soaked streets of Portland, Oregon but the gloomy weather does nothing to quiet the intensity these guys deliver in their folk infused punk rock.

“Bottles, Our Breakdown” is the band’s sophomore release containing 10 folk/punk tracks that will have you alternately pumping your fist, slapping your thigh while stomping your foot, or gazing out at the horizon in quiet reflection. The fist pumping starts right away with the album’s first track “Sink or Swim” but for the next 9 tracks My Life In Black And White deliver a diverse set of tunes that range from the slower, thoughtful “Michael Corleone”, to the knee slapping folk anthems like “Gunslinger” and “Broken White Lines”. One thing’s for sure, no matter what speed they’re playing at MLIBW delivers genuine lyrics and great songwriting on every track of this album.

Folk/Punk is a genre that doesn’t get much recognition and, to be honest, until I heard this album, didn’t get much attention from this reviewer either, but that has since changed. “Bottles, Our Breakdown” has got me looking forward to what comes out of the genre and especially to hearing more from My Life In Black And White.

Best Songs: “Sink or Swim”, “Gunslinger”, “Broken White Lines”

Four Letter Lie gave the following update on their myspace blog regarding their new album:

Time for a little update, we have been workin hard on new songs over here and just solidified that we will be entering the studio on JULY 13TH w/ producer Matt Goldman in Atlanta, Georgia. We are stoked to be working with Matt again, he also did our last record. We anticipate that it should be released sometime in the early fall, so get stoked!

More info will be coming soon, release date and album title!

Horn infused punk rockers Ceremonial Snips (aka The Snips) have entered the studio to record their, as yet untitled, 2nd full length.

This will be the follow up to 2007’s “Check Your Audio” released by Union 2112 Records.

Does It Matter is a melodic metal-ish, punk/thrash band from Jacksonville, Florida. “A Patriot’s Pride” is their first release put out DIY because as yet the band remains unsigned, which is unbelievable to this reviewer.

Instrumentally these guys play fast, hard hitting, metal tinged punk rock.  Vocals are melodic, but in that gritty, angst filled style that give their songs a catchiness without losing that pissed-off edge.

“A Patriot’s Pride” tares through 10 fist pumping, steering wheel pounding anthems before winding down with an acoustic tune to close the album with.  These days, finding an album that you can listen to all they way through without being tempted to hit the skip button is rare.  To find that in an unsigned punk band is even more rare, but in “A Patriot’s Pride” Does It Matter proves it can still be done.

Literally every song on this album is great.  You might even say that most of the songs are Awesome, particularly the first 3 tracks.  The song “Mankind” made me want to quit my day job and start a record label just so I could sign them and be the first to hear more from them.  Most of you reading this won’t have heard of this band before but Does It Matter?  Hell no!  Go give this album a listen!

Best Songs: “Mankind”, “A Patriot’s Pride”, “Savannah”

Austria based punk rockers Red Lights Flash have posted a new song from their upcoming, as yet untitled, album.  The album is due out October 30th and you can check out the tune on the band’s myspace page.  It’s worth a listen, especially if you’ve never heard of these guys.

Red Lights Flash released their last album “Free” on A-F Records in 2004.

Tiger Army is proud to announce the second annual Octoberflame festival! Like 2008, the shows will take place at the end of October, including Halloween night, but unlike ’08 the shows take place in Orange County AND Los Angeles! Tiger Army will be supported by top acts handpicked by Tiger Army’s Nick 13, including .45 Grave, Milwaukee Wildmen and more, with new guests being announced right up until October!

As most of 2009 has been earmarked for the writing and recording of a Nick 13 solo album that focuses on country/roots/rockabilly, these shows are the ONLY planned Tiger Army shows for the entire year!

You can get the details on the band’s myspace blog.

You can check out “IV”, The Aggrolites forthcoming album in it’s entirety over at their purevolume page.

“IV” is the band’s latest full length on Hellcat Records and hits stores June 9th.

For those of you that didn’t know, Bouncing Souls has been together as a group for 20 years and to celebrate they are releasing one new song a month for the rest of the year.  Today they released the sixth song entitled “Mental Bits”.  You can listen to this track, and the other 5 tunes, on their myspace (wtf?) facebook page.

You can check out a “hilarious” video of the Souls talking about their anniversary plans at alternative press.

You can hear/see MxPx do an acoustic version of “Heard That Sound” here.

MxPx released their second covers album, cleverly titled “On The Cover II” in March.