Punknews interviewer Ryan Raffin recently caught up with Transistor Transistor‘s Nat Coghlan to speak about their new album, Ruined Lives, as well as Coghlan’s recent trip to the hospital to deal with a trouble-making appendix.

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NME and The Guardian are reporting that Russia is currently formulating legislation to crack down on emo. The plan involves heavy regulation of emo websites and a ban on the display of emo and goth fashion in schools and government buildings. The legislation was first presented last month at a hearing held by at the State Duma on “Government Strategy in the Sphere of Spiritual and Ethical Education,” a piece of legislation which aims to curb “dangerous teen trends”. Among the stereotypes that are driving fears are claims that emo culture leads to depression, glorifies suicide and encourages anti-social behavior. Bill sponsor Yevgeny Yuryev hopes to pass the legistlation by the end of the year. From Guardian reports:

The new bill describes “emos” as 12-16 year-olds with black and pink clothing, studded belts, painted fingernails, ear and eyebrow piercings, and black hair with fringes that “cover half the face”. Emo culture’s “negative ideology” may encourage depression, social withdrawal and even suicide, the bill alleges – with young girls being particularly vulnerable.

Bill co-author Igor Ponkin explained to the Moscow Times “Of course, there are emo teens who just listen to their music. But our actions are not directed at them but rather at those who also hurt themselves, commit suicide and promote those acts.” Advisor Alexander Grishunin explained “The point of the bill is so that by 2020, Moscow will have someone to rule its government… This is the first step in the public discourse.”

Members of Russian bands have spoken out, with Dmitry Gilevich of Moscow’s MAIO underlining “Expressing psychological emotions is not forbidden by law.” Fans have also begun to hit the streets in protest, notably in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, where the legislation is being fast tracked.
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Silent Drive and Equal Vision Records have parted ways, according to a blog post recently made by the band:

It looks like this next record will NOT be coming out on Equal Vision. I am sad to say that because all of us and EVR go back a long way and we love those dudes. But they just can’t offer us what we need right now. It’s a 100% mutual split with absolutely no hard feelings whatsoever. That said, we’ve been talking to a few other well known labels and are currently waiting for things to solidify. That type of shit doesn’t happen over night. Our good friend and producer Bill Stevenson is also helping to pitch the record to other labels. We’ll get a budget soon enough and be back in the studio as quick as we can.

The band also made mention that their long-awaited follow-up to Love Is Worth It is nearing completion.
Source Continue reading Silent Drive leave Equal Vision →

We’ve got a new stream of Richmond, VA’s Landmines. The melodic hardcore band is one of the first signings to Vinnie from Less Than Jake’s Paper & Plastick and the record was recorded last year with Brian McTernan (Hot Water Music, Strike Anywhere, Bane).

As with all the label’s releases, the record is available digitally and also as a vinyl LP.

You can check it out on their Punknews.org Profile.
Source Continue reading Landmines: “Landmines” →

Los Angeles, CA’s Jughead’s Revenge will have their albums Image Is Everything, Just Joined, and Pearly Gates re-issued through Nitro via iTunes. The albums had been out of print due to a lawsuit with Archie comics, which has since been resolved, leaving the band to change their name to Jugg’s Revenge.

The band has been on an undetermined hiatus since 1999.
Source Continue reading Nitro to re-issue Jughead’s Revenge catalog through iTunes →

Portland, OR’s 31 Knots have two new tracks available for streaming. Titled “The Breaks,” and “Compass Commands,” the songs are from their upcoming Polyvinyl release, Worried Well. The group released The Days and Nights of Everything Anywhere last year.

“Compass Commands” can be found through Polyvinyl here, while “The Breaks” is exclusively streaming at Bitter Press
Source Continue reading 31Knots: “Compass Commands” “The Breaks” →

Israel’s Useless ID has signed to Suburban Home for the North American release of their upcoming album The Lost Broken Bones. The label will issue the work on vinyl, CD and digitally. Label head Virgil Dickerson recounted how such a pairing came to be:

I first met Useless I.D. when I was out on the Warped tour with the Gamits back in the day. We ended up having our tent next to theirs and we quickly became friends. I remember on at least a one occasion getting really drunk around those guys when the Gamits had called it quits in the middle of Warped and they were there for moral support. Chris from the Gamits even sang on a track on their last album, Redemption.

I ran into Ishay and Guy from Useless I.D. earlier this year in Ft Collins (of all places) while the band were recording their album at the Blasting Room. I was in the middle of the Drag the River reunion weekend and they had come out to the show after a day of recording. They had mentioned that they were looking for a label in the states to release their new album and I was way into the idea. We have been talking on and off since then and today, we have come to an agreement.

Suburban Home will release the The Lost Broken Bones in October of this year.
Source Continue reading Suburban Home signs Useless I.D. →

A number of sources are reporting that Chiodos frontman Craig Owens is currently recovering from an overdose attempt at an undisclosed mental health facility. A statement was reportedly posted by Owens on the band’s website explaining what happened and apologizing to fans. The band’s website currently has no message to that effect, but music news site Ultimate Guitar has reprinted the alleged post. Moderators on the band’s message board have indicated that there was some incident of concern, but they are keeping their community mum about the details at this time:

Craig is going through a hard time right now and he appreciates his fans support. However, I have been asked that we give him the privacy he deserves during this time. If I see any posts or threads regarding what is going on I’ve been asked to delete them. I think this is fair enough. Lets give Craig the space and respect he deserves. My prayers and best wishes are with him and his family.

Chiodos released Bone Palace Ballet in 2007 via Equal Vision.
Source Continue reading Rumors circulate regarding health of Chiodos frontman Craig Owens →

My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way recently spoke with Comic Book Resources about the upcoming second season of his acclaimed comic series The Umbrella Academy. Published through Dark Horse, the recently concluded first season of stories featured artwork by Gabriel Ba and covers by James Jean (Fables). Way discusses plans to have the comic continue with a planned 5 to 7 issues a year and addresses rumors that the work had been optioned for film. You can read the whole interview at CBR.

Gerard Way will appear at this weekend’s San Diego Comic Con at a joint panel with superstar Scottish writer Grant Morrison (The Invisibles, Seven Soldiers, currently Final Crisis). Their Saturday panel is billed:

Born Under a Black Sun- Grant Morrison (The Invisibles) and Gerard Way (The Umbrella Academy) discuss death, death, and everything: comics, culture, the war on youth, and how you can fight back. This panel will change your life!

The Punknews community recently discussed series 1 of the Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite.
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Pittsburgh, PA’s Anti-Flag have announced that they will be letting their fans pick their setlist for their Lock-Up tent set at this year’s Reading/Leeds Festival. In order to make your vote count, you can visit their page on PickRset.com.

The band was also recently part of the KFC anti-cruelty campaign.
Source Continue reading Pick Anti-Flag’s set at Reading/Leeds →

Stillborn Records has signed Modesto, CA’s Better Left Unsaid, Oakland, CA’s Lionheart’ and Providence, RI’s She Rides.

Better Left Unsaid‘s debut full-length The Fight Within hits streets July 22, while Lionheart’s debut The Will to Survive will see a re-release September 2 and She Rides‘s self-titled effort is tentatively set for release in October.
Source Continue reading Stillborn Records sign Better Left Unsaid, Lionheart, She Rides →

Tallahassee, Florida’s Mayday Parade have unveiled their new video for the track “Jamie All Over.” The clip is available via MTV along with photos and a video interview. If you’re outside of the US you won’t be able to view the clip however, as Mayday Parade music videos are a closely guarded part of the American dream and unfit for the unwashed masses elsewhere. Granted, kids these days are pretty good at ignoring arbitrary restrictions so don’t be surprised to find out if a less than official version shows up on YouTube.

The song appeared on the band’s 2007 album A Lesson in Romantics.
Source Continue reading Mayday Parade: “Jamie All Over” →

Spanish Bombs have posted a new demo song on their MySpace page. Titled “Beats: Man is God!,” the track is part of a four song demo.

Listen to the song at the band’s MySpace page.
Source Continue reading Spanish Bombs: “Beasts: Man Is God!” →