CARTEL has turned out to be a pretty big influence on bands. I didn’t see it coming, but the polished, infectious pop-punk/melodic rock of the band’s first couple of releases has definitely found life downstream, especially on a band like WE ARE THE IN CROWD. This Poughkeepsie, NY five piece features the talented female vocals [...]

• 1. H20 – F.T.T.W.
• 2. RANCID – And Out Come The Wolves
• 3. THE RAMONES – Greatest Hits
• 4. RISE AGAINST – Revolutions Per Minute
• 5. GET THE MOST – Together

UK hardcore label Dead & Gone had decided to shut down. The label’s final release will be a 7″ titled Bad Moon Rising from COLD SNAP, which D&G describes as being influenced by OUTBURST, BREAKDOWN, and CROWN OF THORNZ. The 7″ is also a split with Carry The Weight Records. The title track from the release can be streamed on the band’s MySpace page.

- I really should have titled this post to be “Dead & Gone Records to be Dead & Gone”

The ascendancy of a band like WHITECHAPEL eerily mirrors that of SUICIDE SILENCE. Both bands offer a cross-pollinated death metal/grind/hardcore sound that effortlessly moves between rolling dynamics, virtuoso performance, and hard-to-sustain momentum. Like their last full-length This Is Exile, the band seemingly arms up for ‘the fight’ as the songs charge on. WHITECHAPEL just kind of wear [...]

After a startlingly good comeback era, COALESCE have announced some upcoming downtime. Here’s the word from the band:

“It’s been a fun couple of years. We’ve had excellent tours with bands we love (Converge, Harvey Milk, Torche, Kylesa, Atlas Moth, Gaza, Touche Amore, Black Breath), been to Europe, East Coast, West Coast, released a new record (Ox) and a follow up EP (OXEP), played some great festivals and had the opportunity to see some old friends, and meet a ton of new people.

This is a good time for a break.

Sean just bought a new house, Junior is starting his new business, Jes is putting the finishing touches on his PhD, and I’m going to sit on my couch and watch Shaun of the Dead.

Thanks for your continued support. Even if Jes put his thumb in your eye, I spit on you, sean puked RIGHT in front of you and Junior gave you a sweaty hug.” – Nathan Ellis

- COALESCE really deserve a medal or something for the way they handled the latest chapter in their existence. No drama, seriously great recordings, and nothing corny or reaching about it. LIFETIME kind of did the same thing, but then they totally disappeared off the map and it’s like their whole comeback thing from a few years ago was a mirage (but also with a very solid recording) or a very public Pete Wentz ‘dream come true’ episode. Given all the wacky shit that followed COALESCE around during their 90s prime-time, who would have guessed things would have gone so smooth?

From the inbox:

New England’s progressive punk rock outfit, ASHERS, has set a release date for their debut full-length record, Kill Your Master. The punishing debut will hit stores on July 13th, courtesy of Thorp Records. Kill Your Master was recorded in February at The Outpost in Stoughton, MA, and was produced by Ashers and Jim Siegal (Blood for Blood, Cave In, Dropkick Murphys). Artwork comes courtesy of Amy Toxic, and the layout by Justin Brooks.

Fronted by punk legend, Mark Civitarese (THE UNSEEN), Ashers aims to create a new sense of aggression on Kill Your Master, combining elements of hardcore, rock, punk, and metal to create a unique sound that will be a rallying cry for all fans of aggressive music. It is their first release since their debut EP, Cold Dark Place (Welfare Records), in 2008.

“I’m pumped on this album,” states Civitarese. “We recorded it at The Outpost, the same place where many great bands recorded: Blood for Blood, Dropkick Murphys, Slapshot – along with mine and Billy’s other bands – The Unseen and Crash and Burn. The album sounds killer, but is not overproduced – we wanted it to be very raw.”

- Gotta admit, I read the subject of the email and nearly jumped out of my chair thinking this was about the 90s band ASHES. Ah well… ASHERS ain’t too bad either. The title track to the full-length is streaming on their MySpace page… sounds a bit like COLISEUM.

The tireless people behind Six Feet Under Records have tossed up some new music from THE RIVAL MOB (“Minefield” from the upcoming 7″ Hardcore for Hardcore), THE MONGOLOIDS (“New Beginnings” from the upcoming 7″ New Beginnings), and SKIN LIKE IRON (“Violent Trauma” from the upcoming 12″ Descent Into Light). All three songs can be streamed on the label’s MySpace page.

Denver’s GLASS HITS have released their first 7″, a self-titled, self-released affair limited to 300 copies. The four song outing of gloomy, driving post-punk brings to much such bands as DECAHEDRON and a messier FUGAZI. You can stream the entire thing on the band’s Bandcamp page.