Canadian punk veterans D.O.A. have announced plans to release The Men of Action, a new 30th anniversary DVD. Due out August 11, the disc collects 26 songs with 10 videos and 16 live recordings. There are two ways to view the DVD: “Chaos Program” features the music videos only, while “Anarchy Program” features Joe Shithead Keithley, Canada’s godfather of punk, telling the story of D.O.A.and punk in general as the videos play.

The anniversary DVD package also includes as a bonus, D.O.A.’s critically acclaimed new album Northern Avenger, produced by Bob Rock.
Source Continue reading DOA to release “The Men of Action” →

AFI have announced the completion and release date for their long-awaited new album. The record is still titled Crash Love and is now headed for a September 29, 2009 release. Frontman Davey Havok made the announcement:

After two years of focused writing and recording we have finished Crash Love in it’s entirety and and are thrilled to hear it come to life – personally, I’ve never been more proud of an AFI record. We are writing to announce that on Sept 29th it will be released to the world. We wanted you to know first and do hope that you enjoy it!

The album will be the first since Decemberunderground in 2006.
Source Continue reading AFI complete “Crash Love,” set release date →

The ten albums shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize have been announced. The bands selected include Fucked Up, Metric, Joel Plaskett, Elliott Brood, Chad VanGaalen, Malajube, Great Lake Swimmers, Hey Rosetta!, K’naan and Patrick Watson. On September 21st in Toronto one of these 10 will be awarded with $20,000.

To qualify for Polaris, the Canadian acts had to have released an album between June 1st, 2008 and May 31st, 2009. Eligible records were nominated and voted for by a 190 member jury of music journalists from across the country, including Punknews’ own Ben Conoley.
Source Continue reading Fucked Up, Metric, Elliott Brood among Polaris short list nominees →

Lumberjack Mordam Music Group CEO Dirk Hemsath has sent out an email, regarding the unclear nature of its status. He sent out this email to affiliated labels which was sent to Punknews.org:

I want to give everyone an idea of where things stand with LMMG as of now and where things will be in the future. At this point LMMG will not be able to continue to provide distribution services for labels. We had hopes for the last several months that we’d be able to find a way to move forward but the triple hits of an expensive merger, a dying business and a bad economy have made it impossible. We are hoping to be able to get some money to labels, but I’m not sure how much or when as we have to try and collect money from customers. If you have not yet moved your distribution to another company, please make arrangements to do so as soon as possible.

More than 100 independent labels were partnered with LMMG at one point or another. Among them are 1917 Records, Asian Man Records, Dead Droid Records, Doghouse Records, Initial Records, Lookout Records, Negative Progression Records, Springman Records, Thick Records, Union Label Group, Bifocal Media, Big Wheel Recreation, Blackhouse Records, Blackout! Records, Chunksaah Records, CI Records, Corrosive Recordings, ECA Records, Gilead Media, Hex Records, Hobbledehoy Records, Insubordination Records, Jailhouse Records, Jump Start Records, Lobster Records, Martyr Records, Red Leader Records, Red Scare, Sargent House, Second Nature Recordings, Spook City Records, Sympathy For the Record Industry, Black Numbers, State of Mind, Tribunal, Riot Fest Records and many others.
Source Continue reading Lumberjack issues statement, shutting down →

Good Old War haven’t been a band for too long, but the four-piece has been stirring up quite a bit of buzz since the release of their debut album, Only Way to Be Alone. Punknews interviewer Zack Shapiro saw the band perform recently at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ where he had a chance to have a short chat with the band.

Source Continue reading Good Old War →

Panic at the Disco have announced the departure of co-founder/guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker. They explained:

Ryan and Jon will be leaving to embark on a musical excursion of their own. Though the four of us have made music together in the past, we’ve creatively evolved in different directions which has compromised what each of us want to personally achieve. Over the years, we have remained close and honest with each other, which helped us to realize that our goals were different and that parting ways is truly what is best for each of us. We are all excited for the future, you should be too.

No touring or album plans have changed in light of the news.
Source Continue reading Two Members of Panic At The Disco depart →

Four Letter Lie drummer Derek Smith has left the band to pursue a hip hop career. His former bandmates made the announcement:

Our good friend and drummer Derek Smith will no longer be a part of Four Letter Lie as he will be pursuing his rap career with his project Modern Sunshine. Our friend Tim Java will be drumming on the new record. Tim is extremely talented and has drummed for Dead To Fall, With Dead Hands Rising and currently his project modernsextrash.

We will be looking for a drummer to join the band permanently, so if you or anyone you know are interested please send an email to: [email protected]

Check out the rap project here.
Source Continue reading Four Letter Lie drumer leaves to pursue hip-hop career →

Cave In have announced a new 12-inch EP, Planets of Old. Due out July 28, 2009, the EP will feature four new songs and is currently slated for a limited vinyl release only. Just one of the songs, “Retina Sees Rewind” is available via iTunes here.

Source Continue reading Cave In announce “Planets of Old” EP →

Slayer has posted a new video featuring new music and interviews with the band and producers to preview their forthcoming album, World Painted Blood. The album has an as-yet unconfirmed release date and is their first since Christ Illusion in 2006.

Source Continue reading Slayer posts “digital press release” →

Brendan Urie of Panic At the Disco recently recorded a cover of the Bob Marley classic, “Three Little Birds.”

Check out the song here.

Last week, Urie released a cover of the Sublime track, “Boss D.J.”
Source Continue reading Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco: “Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)” →

Gaslight Anthem recently visited BBC Live Lounge to record a live-to-air version of “The ’59 Sound” as well as a cover of the Kelly Clarkson track, “I Do Not Hook Up.”

For some pictures from the performance, check here.
Source Continue reading Gaslight Anthem record original, cover for BBC Radio →

Today we’re streaming the brand new album from the Cobra Skulls. The record, American Rubicon, is due out July 14, 2009 and is their first release since Never Be a Machine in 2008.

You can check it out on their Punknews.org Profile
Source Continue reading Cobra Skulls: “American Rubicon” →

Evergreen Terrace have posted the first song from Almost Home, due out September 29, 2009.

Check out “Enemy Sex” on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Evergreen Terrace: “Enemy Sex” →