Gravves: “This Is Bliss”

A video for "This is Bliss" has been shared by Wales-based alt-punk outfit Gravves. The song is from their EP Oh the Joy. The EP was released in April via Loner Noise Records and is the follow-up to their 2017 debut Rattle.

Watch the video below.

Cro-Mags, DRI, Full of Hell to play Maryland Deathfest 2019

The first wave of acts have been announced for Maryland Death Fest 2019. The festival takes place May 23-26, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland at Rams Head Live and Baltimore Soundstage. The first wave of acts playing include Cro-Mags, D.R.I., Full of Hell, Hideous, Immolation, Indian, Mortician, Scour, Brutality, Chasm, Frightmare, Grotesque Organ Defilement, Guttural Secrete, Outre-Tomb, Pestilence, Skaphe, Squash Bowels, Sulaco, Tomb Mold, Vault Dweller, and Germany’s Blood, Sweden’s Unanimated, Brazil’s Violator, and Sweden’s Vomitory. More bands will be announced later.

William Francis of Aiden accused of running abusive sex cult

According to a lengthy report by the Daily Beast, William Francis, singer of Aiden allegedly was the ring-leader of a sex cult. According to the article, Francis physically and emotionally abused women, dislocated a woman's jaw and gave her a black eye during "rough sex", used other women to entice young women into the cult, encouraged underage women to change his identity on their cell phones to avoid detection, demanded women send him large amounts of money, and even had women sign contracts in their own blood. According to the daily beast, the blood contracts said, in part, "My body is His to use in any way He should choose, and I will never object to any actions He chooses to perform, or have myself perform on Him. There is no limitation to what kind of pain I am willing to endure for my Master."

Francis has issued a statement replying to the accusations: "The truth is: I went into the police for questioning about these allegations earlier this year. After showing the detective my side of the story, including private communication, he recommended no charges be pressed, because it was clear the behavior was consensual. “I have, in the past, engaged in heavy role play and bondage relationships WITH consent. However, I do not engage in that sort of play anymore. And for anyone who feels as though I have hurt them or violated their consent, I am sorry. It won’t ever happen again. There are lots of things that have been said that are outright lies. I have never been with underage girls. I have never been involved in a ‘sex cult."

This week The Federal Way Police Department in Washington state declined to press charges against Francis.

Watch the new video by Popes of Chillitown!

Today, Punknews is pleased to debut the new video by Popes of Chillitown!

Have you ever skanked in front of castle ruins? Popes of Chillitown have. In their new vid, the ska punk group warps from beach to city to ruined castle and back. The zone jumping is soundtracked by a modern take on two-tune, with a new wave buzz juicing up the up strokes. A certain whimsy ala Madness permeates the whole thing, and just like those legends, this band slips a dark undercurrent below the ostensible happy jam. There's still some cool tricks left in ska and this group has found a good number of them.

You can pick up the new album right here and watch the new video below, right now!

No Fun At All (North America)

No Fun At All have announced a North American tour that is scheduled for September. The band released GRIT in 2018 via Bird Attack Records. You can see the list of shows below.

Mountain Goats release song dedicated to wrestler Sasha Banks

The Mountain Goats have released a song for WWE wrestler Sasha Banks. It's called "For Sasha Banks" and you can check it out below. The band stated "We here in the @mountain_goats acknowledge @SashaBanksWWE as the Boss and we know no road worth traveling doesn't have some bumps and we promised her this song several years back and I wrote it last week and here it is." The band released the wrestling concept album Beat the Champ in 2015.

Jeff Rosenstock releases video benefitting sick children

Bedstock is an organization that raises funds for seriously sick children who are bedridden. In part, the organization raises awareness and funds by having artists record videos from their own beds. Jeff Rosenstock recently released a Bedstock video where he and drummer Kevin Higuchi record a version of "9/10" from a tent bed. At the start of the video, Rosenstock challenges pal Chris Farren to record a video as well. See the video below and check out Bed Stock right here.

OFF! recording new material

Yesterday, OFF! guitarist Dimitri Coats released some vague information about the new OFF! recordings. Via twitter, he simply stated " 14 songs and counting @OFFOfficial." It appears the band is recording new material, which they have been hinting at for the previous two years. Previously, the band remarked that they were working on a movie and an accompanying soundtrack, though its unclear if that is still the focus of the current work. We'll keep you updated. The band released Live from the BBC in 2015 and Wasted Years in 2014.

Subhumans (Europe)

Subhumans have announced some European shows that are scheduled for June. You can see the list of tour dates below.

They Might Be Giants to re-release 'Lincoln'

This past Friday, They Might Be Giants played two full sets at the Chameleon club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During the show, the band's singer/guitarist John Flansburgh stated that they will be re-releasing their second album, 1988's Lincoln. Flansburgh said the release as tentatively scheduled for issue later this year and will be remixed and remastered. He joked that the re-release will sound"very nearly identical" to the orignal issue, but will be "slightly louder." The band did not say if there will be bonus tracks or mention the format for the re-release. We'll keep you updated. The band released I Like Fun earlier this year.

Lagwagon/No Fun At All/Western Addiction/A Vulture Wake (California)

Lagwagon have announced some California shows wth No Fun At All, Western Addiction and A Vulture Wake. The band will be playing their album Let’s Talk About Feelings in its entirety. Lawagon last released Hang in 2014 via Fat Wreck Chords. You can see the list of shows below.