The Offspring guitarist Noodles confirmed on his Instagram account that the band’s long-awaited new album is finished. He’s quoted as saying:

“The album is done. Working on getting it to the fans now. Stay tuned!”

The follow-up to 2012’s Days Go By is reportedly due for release later this year, and Noodles said a while ago that they were working on two albums, though it’s not clear if it will result in separate or double album(s).

Billboard has an article on Mike Ness signing a publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. Aside from archival releases to come this year, the article confirms that Social Distortion have a new album in the works that will be released via Epitaph. It’s been seven years since the last studio album ‘Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes’ also on Epitaph.

Despite the band existing for a staggering 40 years, Mike Ness has shown no signs of declining when it comes to song-writing. The new album will be a release to look out for this year!

B-side and rarities compilations can be hit or miss. On the one hand, they’re a way to collect and gather non-LP tracks into one place, which is particularly great for non-obsessives who don’t track down every out-of-print 7-inch or promotional flexis with demos. On the other hand, because these songs are from a number of recording sessions, putting them together in one place can give the final product something of a disjointed feeling. AJJ’s Ugly Spiral: Lost Works 2012-2016, released last summer on SideOneDummy, largely avoids the latter while gathering a number of unreleased songs, a handful of non-LP singles, and alternate takes.

As the title implies, these songs only span a four year gap. Specifically, they come from a four year gap in which the band released Christmas Island and The Bible 2– two albums that have a fairly similar sound in a discography that is overall varied from album-to-album. In fact, one of the unreleased songs is the title track from Christmas Island and it sticks very closely to that album’s aesthetic. Opening track, “Space & Time,” similarly sticks to the optimistic side of AJJ shown on The Bible 2 with declarations of “I’m close enough to happy to say that I won’t throw my memories away.”

Out of all of the songs here, the one that sticks out the most is the band’s cover of Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut.” AJJ has recorded plenty of covers in the past (many of which have made their way onto the band’s previous rarities collections Rompilation and the digital only Rompilation 2) but this is the first one that really feels surprising because Pink Floyd hardly seems like the type of band AJJ would cover. And yet they do an admirable job- you can tell it’s not the band’s usual style but it doesn’t feel out of place even on a collection of songs that are from a handful of different sessions.

Like almost any other b-sides compilation, Ugly Spiral isn’t likely going to turn on new listeners (or win back any former ones) but it still provides access to unreleased songs and a way to tide over fans while the band gears up for their next proper studio album.

4 / 5 Stars

After nine years in the wind, The Damned Things have announced that they’re returned with the release of a new album. The “supergroup”, freshly revised with a lineup consisting of Keith Buckley – Vocals (Every Time I Die), Scott Ian – Guitar (Anthrax), Dan Andriano – Bass (The Alkaline Trio), Joe Trohman – Guitar (Fall Out Boy) and Andy Hurley – Drums (Fall Out Boy), will release “High Crimes” on April 26th through Nuclear Blast Records.

The band have dropped the first single “Cells”, which you can check out using the player below and in all the usual places. [Read more…]

Here at Dying Scene, we’ve been talking a lot behind the scenes about how to maximize our content—not only covering more, but covering better. We’ll be making some changes to our output in the coming months, and the end goal will be to provide our writers with more opportunities to write in-depth reviews, editorials, and interviews. Part of this is adapting our review format—there is simply too much out there to cover and full-length reviews just aren’t time effective. That doesn’t mean we’re getting rid of longform reviews (we’d rather die), only that when we do them, we’ll be investing more in them and treating them as we would a feature. For the rest, we want to cover the multitude of bands that are working hard out there but might get squashed under the great wheel of the album submissions game. Short-form reviews—as short and loud as punk itself—will be a way for us to cover more while still providing honest, dependable feedback. Let us know what you think of the new format, we plan to roll out capsule reviews as they accumulate from here on out.

Political punks Abolitionist are back with A New Militance, an eight song album that is neither LP or EP, but inhabiting a weird Twilight Zone all its own. Personally, I prefer this in-between format—it’s a reflection of punk itself, refusing arbitrary rules and following the muse. A New Militance continues Abolitionists’ post-hardcore-ish punk rock with a little more emphasis on the post- this time around. This results in meatier leads throughout, such as that on the metallic and stomping “RED.” The changes are welcome additions, but personally, I think A New Militance would be an even stronger album taking their influences further. This is a band of chugging claustrophobia, but with the taste of something new, it makes one wonder what they could do with sparser, airier, more subtle instrumentation.

But, that being said, A New Militance is a good listen. In the long tradition of Abolitionist concept albums, this one focuses on a worldwide feminist uprising. Mid-album banger “ACTUALLY” begins with the line (an ode to mansplaining), “Actually… just shut the fuck up.” Righteous, cathartic, and maybe just a little funny—Abolitionist are still as scrappy, interesting, and devoutly political as ever.

Check out: “PINK,” “ACTUALLY,” “NOPE”

Pop Punk veterans New Found Glory have detailed the release of “From The Screen To Your Stereo 3”, The full length movie inspired covers record lands on May 3 via Hopeless Records.

The first track to appear from the release is a cover of Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Power Of Love”, which you can check out using the player below.

[Read more…]

Nothington have revealed details of their final shows. The band will play San Diego and Los Angeles this April, with a final ever show scheduled in San Francisco this June. See what the band had to say about the shows and full details below.

“As many of you are aware, we announced last fall that the band would be calling it quits for good pretty soon. Well, that time is upon us and we have finally pieced together a few last shows in California to say goodbye. We wish that time would permit us to do more tour dates in the United States, but we are already moving on individually with other things, and these will be our VERY last shows ever. So catch one if you can! Thank you, everyone, for your support over the years – can’t express our gratitude enough. Cheers!”

4/12 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar (La Escalera Fest)
4/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Resident (early show!)
6/8 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill (Final Show)

Canadian punks Downway have revealed a lyric video for their latest single “Part of The Show”, taken from their forthcoming album “Last Chance For More Regrets”. The record is due out this spring via Thousand Islands Records.

“Last Chance For More Regrets” will be the band’s first new album in 15 years. It follows “Hometown Advantage”, a split with Belvedere that came out in 2003. Downway will be touring eastern Canada with Hit The Switch this coming May.

More details about Downway’s new album will soon be available. Check out the video using the player below. [Read more…]

Flogging Molly has revealed the second wave of bands for their 5th annual Salty Dog Cruise. The cruise leaves November 8th from Fort Lauderdale for a 4-nights, and now features Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Pennywise, Stiff Little Fingers, Hepcat, Mariachi El Bronx, Face To Face, Street Dogs, The Bronx and more. Tickets can be purchased from the cruise website.

Check out the full line up on the poster below.

[Read more…]