If you didn't hear the news, Roy Scheider died this week at the age of 75. Jaws is one of my all-time favorite films. I am extremely sad. I fully intend to mourn the loss by watching this film multiple times.
I'm deleting my blogs because
Posted by Cory • February 2, 2008
They could make me look not so good to certain people. Nobody read them anyways.
Cory • February 2, 2008
In Remembrance of Kid Kilowatt
Posted by Bob • January 29, 2008
So, back when Cave In's Until Your Heart Stops dropped on the hardcore masses several years back, I had the chance of catching the band at Middlesex County Community College. Those who live in or went to shows in Jersey know about this place. Anyway, being the music nerd that I am, I asked Steve Brodsky about Kid Kilowatt (which was just featured in a news byte in Second Nature fanzine mentioning the band changing its name from Ester of Wood Rosin); he said if I mailed him a tape he would send it back to me with their demos on it.
So I did just that and waited a while before it popped in my mailbox. I listened to this tape for years hoping to see a full album from the band (remember, Cave In had not gone all Space Rock or Indie Rock on us all yet so Kid Kilowatt was kind of their softer alter ego except with guys from Piebald and Converge helping out at times). I got teased with a version of the Scope on the first Hydra Head sampler.
Finally several years after the fact...the Hit Single 7" record came out. And I played the hell out of that as well. It had 2 songs not on the demo so it was the closest to new I thought I would ever see from the band. A couple of years following that the LP version of the record came out. I played the hell out of this record until the CD came out. I was psyched about this because it finally had "Tug of War" on it which was one of my favorite songs from the demos.
I still love Kid Kilowatt to this day.
check out their only CD Guitar Method if you ever get the chance...it's good stuff
Bob • January 29, 2008
Oh Gehenna...how you make me smile
Posted by Bob • January 8, 2008
I broke out my CD for the Gehenna- The War of the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness and saw something that always made me smile. Allow me first to preface who this Gehenna is. These guys were a desperate batch of dudes who were rumored to be homeless vagabonds that made some of the most ragged and ruthless bands to ever play the hardcore/ punk scene. There recorded music is incredibly raw sounding but worth checking out.
The following is a tract that came with the CD, I do not endorse these activities and am posting this because it is funny to me
These Activities will enhance your enjoyment of Gehenna's music:
- Being paraded before press photographers by the FBI after a 10 week standoff at your Montana bunker
- Saving your urine in bottles to defend your squat when the pigs come
- Stealing a car to rush your girlfriend to the hospital after she has been shot in the head
- Finishing your root beer before attempting to set your broken nose bar-handed
- Spending an evening walking up and down the street looking for a place to shoplift dinner
- Shaking the roaches out of your clothes in the morning
- Smoking your last cigarette
These Activities may interfere with your appreciation of Gehenna's music:
- Taking communion
- Consulting a Lawyer
- Trimming your lawn
- Balancing your checkbook
- Shampooing and conditioning your hair
- Joining a video buyers club
- Becoming an officer of the peace
- Eating
Bob • January 8, 2008
Issue 2 of my print zine "I'm A Pretender" - available now!
Posted by Matt • December 7, 2007
Hello. Some of you might remember (or have participated in) my experiment over the summer collecting people's wishes on this page. I got over 160 entries and published them all in my print zine, "I'M A PRETENDER" (named after an Exploding Hearts song). This is what issue 2 looks like, and you can see the cover here.
The zine is a 24 page black and white A5-sized booklet that I write and design myself. Issue #1 was mainly 'creative writing' stuff (mostly short fiction and poetry); issue #2 has a wider mix of stuff and is hopefully a little funnier and more entertaining to read. The centrepoint of the issue is the Wishes project and the results, but as well as that there are such features as "My top 5 biggest social anxieties", "4 people you have never heard of", a modern-day retelling of the Viking armageddon story (Ragnarok) and perhaps the only zine columnist who happens to be an eagle. "How can I get my hands on this zine, Matt?!" I hear you cry. "Well", I answer confidently, "Pick an option from the list below:"
UK people
* Message me your address and I'll mail you a copy. Simple!
* If you fancy posting me a self-addressed envelope with a stamp on it, that would be nice, since I don't charge for the zine and don't include any ads, so I make a loss printing it.
Non-UK people
* Paypal me around $4 USD (or whatever your currency is). That's steeper than usual due to the crappy exchange rate and the pricey £2 I have to pay for international delivery, but I can't afford to mail it out myself (see above!).
* [email protected] is my Paypal address.
* Alternatively, if you wanna do a zine trade or something I'd be down for this. Email me, same address as above.
Some useful links:
- my deviantART page (with content from issue #1)
- I'M A PRETENDER Myspace Profile
Matt • December 7, 2007
Latest news stories
SPB featured stream: EFF - Zero
Posted in Records on December 2, 2025
After a string of singles, darkwave project EFF will release debut album Zero on Dec. 8. EFF started in 2023, with the songs that comprise Zero were written after July 2024 and take the sound in a new direction that balances reflection with transition. To steal some perfect language from … Read more
SoCal punks come together for LA benefit
Posted in Bands on December 14, 2025
Marking one year after the Los Angeles, CA wildfires, members of Social Distortion, Pennywise, the minutemen, Foo Fighters, Alkaline Trio, The Go Gos, and more have teamed up on the single "We Are LA," out Jan. 7, 2026. Sales will benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. More info about the 12" … Read more
Chalk Hands return with new single
Posted in Records on December 14, 2025
Chalk Hands of Brighton, UK, has shared a new single "Breaking Waves," an angular post-hardcore track out on streamers as of Dec. 12. The band also announced their second album, The Line That Shapes the Coast of Us, will come out nexy year on March 27, 2026 \via Dog Knights … Read more
Proton Packs launch a new album
Posted in Records on December 14, 2025
Proton Packs' fifth release is a-coming, the new Visions From The Void, featuring 12 new songs, a theme album to "guide you like Virgil through a maze of mind trips, hallucinations, dreams, nightmares and prophecies," per the band's announcement. The band from Tuscany, Italy formed 21 years ago in 2004. … Read more
Second Stress Spells
Posted in Records on December 13, 2025
Formed back in 2021, shortly after a pandemic forever changed a generation, Stress Spells is back with their second album. Hearts Never Tire comes out on Feb. 6 via Fuzz Records, a follow-up to mmxxii demo (2022). The band also shared a new single last year onn a 4-band split … Read more
Toys That Kills' Triple Sabotage
Posted in Records on December 13, 2025
February 20 is the release date ffor Triple Sabotage, the first new album from Toys That Kill in a decade. years. The album will release on Recess Records, with two two-minute boppers shared in advance (below). Born of F.Y.P, the band features Todd Congelliere, Sean Cold, Chachi Ferrara, and Jimmy … Read more
Bright Eyes full album shows announced
Posted in Shows on December 13, 2025
Bright Eyes will play three cross-country dates celebrating the 21st annniversary of their albums I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, stopping in New York, Colorado, and California in mid 2026. Tilly and the Wall will perform at Red Rocks, The Moldy Peaches at Hollywood … Read more
The bomb EP: Tsunami Bomb/Hammerbombs
Posted in Records on December 13, 2025
Tsunami Bomb (East Bay) and Hammerbombs (Oakland) will release a split EP on Dec. 26, Bombs Away!, out on Rad Girlfriend Records. In the label's own words, Rad Girlfriend's Josh Goldman states (via press release): Side A features Tsunami Bomb delivering the tight, hook-driven sound that helped cement their place … Read more
Wasting Time in 2026
Posted in Bands on December 13, 2025
Toronto punk band Wasting Time just released the new single "Ripped Blue Jeans," a 1990s throwback-style melodic punk effort from the band's upcoming Are You Out Of Your God Damn Mind?, due sometime in 2026. Formed in 2017, the band last released Hurry Up and Wait and has five EPs … Read more
The sound of Swirls
Posted in Bands on December 12, 2025
Howlin’ Banana Records and À Tant Rêver du Roi have teamed up to release the second album from French indie-punk band Swirls -- coming next year. Release info is still under wraps, but in the meantime the band shares the new single "Powerstation." The band says: "'Powerstation" is an anthem … Read more
Echo Says Echo again
Posted in Records on December 12, 2025
On Feb. 27, 2026, Echo Says Echo will release Aithaleia, the second album from the post-rock band, coming out on Voice Of The Unheard Records. The new album includes new drummer Thomas Baratte. The first single is "Stuck in Eternity." Read more Read more
Amon Amarth, Dethklok, and Castle Rat
Posted in Tours on December 12, 2025
Amon Amarth and Dethklok will cross North America on a co-headlining tour next year. Both bands have exciting news in 2026, namely a new album is coming from Amon Amarth, whereas cartoon death metal band Dethklok is celebrating its twentieth anniversary since starring in Metalocalypse. Castle Rat will play each … Read more
Fucked Up's Zodiac
Posted in Records on December 12, 2025
Out today, Fucked Up marks 2025's conclusion with Year Of The Goat via Tankcrimes. The record continues the band's nearly 20 year run through the Zodiac series, four+ years after Year Of The Horse. Year Of The Goat is the first in the 10-part series finale, Grass Can Move Stones, … Read more
Trust Bad Brains
Posted in Labels on December 12, 2025
Bad Brains has formed a partnership with Trust Records. Trust was formed in 2020 with a focus on maintaining the availability of classic punk records, thus far reissuing Circle Jerks, Youth Brigade, 7Seconds, and more. But the Bad Brains partnership extends beyond that, with bassist Darryl Jenifer also sitting on … Read more
The Fake Friends announce Let's Not Overthink This
Posted in Records on December 12, 2025
Montreal, QC post-punk band The Fake Friends just shared "A Sucker Born Every Minute," a dance-punk tune that harkens back to the early 2000s and provides an early glimpse at their debut full-length album, Let’s Not Overthink This, out Feb. 13, 2026 on Stomp Records. Read more Read more
Rocky & The Sweden celebrate 30 with Punks Pot Head
Posted in Records on December 12, 2025
Japanese hardcore band Rocky & The Sweden will release a new album on 1-23, Punks Pot Head, which also kicks off the group's thirtieth year in action. The record will release via Relapse, who is also reissuing the band's back catalog, including Total Hard Core, God Save The Green, and … Read more
PUP's Megacity Madness
Posted in Records on December 11, 2025
Toronto band PUP has yet another release, a newly announced live album called Megacity Madness (The Official Live Recordings), captured from the band's "tour de Toronto" earlier this year, played six shows across their home city. The 13-track collection will release on vinyl on March 13, 2026 with recordings from … Read more
OSEES in 2026
Posted in Tours on December 11, 2025
Busybody band OSEES has booked headlining tours int he US and EU for 2026, dayes posted below. The band just released Live At The Broad Museum. Additional John Dwyer of the band has released a stop-motion animated short film called PILOT, which also has a soundtrack featuring his work. Read … Read more
Unsane's Occupational Hazard
Posted in Records on December 11, 2025
Occupational Hazard, the Relapse Records debut from Insane that originally released in 1998 will be reissued next year on Feb. 6, 2026, now via their Lamb Unlimited imprint. This edition includes additional live-in-the-studio sessions recorded in AmRep studio in Minneapolis, MN. Besides 6 bonus tracks, the entire record was remastered … Read more
Forever Deaf Fest 2026 lineup announcement
Posted in Shows on December 10, 2025
Forever Deaf Fest 2026 returns to Chicago, taking place at 2 venues over 2 days on April 10-11, 2026 with an afterparty show in a third venue. This year's lineup features Atomic Rule (feat. members of Every Time I Die, Dry Kill Logic, The Acacia Strain, and Eternal Sleep), See … Read more
