- I was into this video pretty seriously until a skyscraper gained a mouth and started eating at things. Then I couldn’t stop laughing. Lotsa of sweet X-Files like special effects though. The metalcore band’s new full-length, Deep Blue hits stores in the US on June 29th.

From the inbox:

CI Records is excited to announce the latest addition to their roster – Philadelphia, PA’s WITH LIFE IN MIND, who are set to release their debut full-length this fall.

“Getting signed to CI is just about the best thing that has happened to us yet,” says drummer Josh Ireson. “Working with them has brought on a whole new level of this band that we’ve wanted since the beginning. We really feel that this album will take our band to the next level, and with CI there to back us up, we feel more than confident.”

The band is currently in the studio recording with producer Carson Slovak of CENTURY (Prosthetic Records) and ARMSBENDBACK (Trustkill Records) and, upon completion of the album, they will hit the road with now labelmates TEXAS IN JULY, dates below.

Since forming in early 2008, WITH LIFE IN MIND has created a name for themselves on in a number of markets on the East Coast, an area where the band has played countless shows. The band’s CI debut will follow-up their self-released 2009 EP, The Human Condition.

Now with WITH LIFE IN MIND, prepping for their first national release, the band is grateful for the chance to do what they do best – make music. Adds Ireson: “We’ve been working really hard for the past two years and [CI Records] were the ones to really take notice to that. They’re giving us a chance that we haven’t gotten until now, and we’re all very excited.”

- Not to be too critical, but here’s another press release that doesn’t at all hint at what the band sounds like (which turns out to be pretty impressive, screamy metalcore). Outside of their base area of Lancaster, PA, CI Records doesn’t draw a lot of attention, which is kind of amazing considering some of the bands that they have discovered over the years, including current metal sensations AUGUST BURNS RED and before they went lame, THE PINK SPIDERS.

For the first time since its release 15 years ago, STRONGARM’s Atonement will see a vinyl release. The influential 90s Christian hardcore band has seen its specter rise and rise since calling it quits over a decade ago, and Atonement and their latter recording The Advent of a Miracle have become critical hardcore records for the religious and non-religious alike. Blood & Ink is handling the vinyl and an assortment of pre-order packages are available here.

- It’s kind of mind-blowing to me how big STRONGARM’s imprint has become, especially over the past few years in hardcore and metalcore circles. What they started was really fleshed out by SHAI HULUD, and I think that without the latter band’s efforts, (not to mention a connection with FURTHER SEEMS FOREVER), it’s hard to guess if their doings would have made such an impact. The vinyl, according to Blood & Ink will be the only physical format currently in press for the band, thought both recordings are available from most digital stores.

From the inbox:

Equal Vision Records is pleased to welcome ORBS to its roster. After three years of cross-country collaborations, the band has united to release their debut full-length album, Asleep Next to Science, which will be released on August 17th.

ORBS blends progressive and experimental sounds through the creative workings of Adam Fisher and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak (Fear Before), Dan Briggs (Between the Buried and Me), Ashley Ellyllon (Abigail Williams/Cradle of Filth) and Chuck Johnson (Torch Runner).

Recorded at The Basement recording studio in Winston-Salem, N.C. with producer and engineer Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, Alesana), the nine song, 66-minute album is the product of long-distance friendships linked through an appreciation for nature and music and a mutual desire to defy common song structure.

By juxtaposing high energy, piano-infused choruses with a mixture of classic and space-rock interludes, the quintet breaks the mold of traditional songwriting and creates a sound all their own. Lyrically, the album transports the listener through a vivid, almost conversational, storytelling experience. Asleep Next to Science connects mind with matter as the lyrics and music unite space and sound to create a sound that simply put, is otherworldly.

No Sleep Records has announced the second pressing of BALANCE AND COMPOSURE’s 2009 EP Only Boundaries. The new iteration will be on clear gold and limited to 500 copies (all of which include a CD as well). You can check out the pre-order info here. The emo/post-hardcore band is currently riding a wave of extra attention and praise for their new split with TIGERS JAW (No Sleep/Run For Cover).

- This song is about a billion times more enjoyable to me than anything Mr. William did in AIDEN and the video is solid too. The Hanes product placement (which I imagine has to be intentional) is a bit over the top, however…

Upstate New York speedy pop-punk band BRAVER DAYS will be releasing a new EP this summer. The first song from that release, “Dumb Fucking Luck,” has hit their MySpace page. The self-released outing is expected in July.

- Love the galloping drums and racing guitars that kick this off. Reminds me of early (re: fast) OVER IT.

With their first release in six years, I figured that I would be pretty damn stoked on hearing some new music from THE GET UP KIDS. But what musical iteration of the band would it be? Earnest, emo/power-pop? Achingly mature alt-country? A little of column A and column B? It turns out that Simple Science, [...]