Death & Memphis talk their new EP

Death & Memphis are no strangers to the punk rock community. The band collectively has decades of experience playing in bands throughout Chicagoland and surrounding areas. The band recently released a new EP of six heartfelt songs which will appeal to fans of the classic Chicago sound as well as fans of bands such as Off With Their Heads and Hot Water Music. Punknews staffer Jason Baygood recently had the chance to sit down with guitarist / vocalist Paul Garcia, guitarist Steev Custer and bassist Devin Morris to discuss the band’s history, member changes, the current state of the music industry and beyond.

Cloe Madonna talks about Destiny Bond's debut LP, 'Be My Vengeance"

Denver-based hardcore punk band Destiny Bond are one day away from releasing their superb debut album, Be My Vengeance. The album sees the band continuing to build on their classic punk and hardcore sound that they introduced us to on their 2021 Demo and then on their 2022 Promo. They address the vital power that community holds, the value of being true to yourself, the importance of trans pride, and highlight the significance of self-empowerment as they rip through 10 tracks in quick succession. Be My Vengeace will be out every where on June 23 (tomorrow!!) via Convulse Records and Destiny Bond will be touring the US in July.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist Cloe Madonna to talk about the new album, the importance of community, embracing goofiness, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Joining the 'Blouse Club' with Problem Patterns

It goes without saying that Problem Patterns are one of the most exciting punk bands going right now. Since forming in 2018, the Belfast-based quartet has been kicking out urgent, furious, and fun tracks that always seem to arrive at the perfect time and this is extremely evident on the first two singles from their upcoming album Blouse Club. “Who Do We Not Save?” sees the band ripping into the privatization of healthcare and “Letter of Resignation” is an upbeat, rage-fuelled yet joyful call for people to “tear it down and start again”. Blouse Club will be out later this year via Alcopop! Records and Problem Patterns will be playing some festival dates around Europe and the UK this summer.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Beverley Boal, Bethany Crooks, Ciara King, and Alanah Smith over Zoom to talk about the new album, being called Kathleen Hanna's favourite new band, sausages, and so much more. Read the interview below!

'Screaming At The Top of My Lungs' with Amy Gabba

Today marks the release of Toronto-based Amy Gabba and The Almost Famous’ new album, Screaming At The Top of My Lungs. The album is out now on Jump Up Records and features twelve outstanding tracks that showcase the band's versatility and knack for incredible songwriting. There is truly something for everyone on this record as the band kicks out tracks like the pure ska-pop of "He's All Yours", the raging punk of "How Dare You", the country-tinged "Ashes", and the bluesy rock of "Heavy" among others. Amy Gabba and The Almost Famous will be playing their album release show at the El Mocambo in Toronto on June 24 and you can get tickets to that show right here. The band will also be playing Buffalo Ska Fest and touring Ontario with Among Legends in July.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Amy over Zoom to talk about the new record, the importance of collaboration, playing Punk Rock Bowling, true crime, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Nerdin' about birdin' with Julian of Avem

Southern Ontario-based punks and avid birders Avem have just released their excellent new EP Nerdin About Birdin that sees them tackling the negative effects climate change is having on birds (and humans!), talking about addiction, and discussing the mating rituals of bowerbirds over kick-ass Ramonescore riffs. The band are getting ready to spread their wings and take their bird-conscious punk to the international stage. Along with recently signing with Belgium's Bearded Punk Records, the band will be playing Punk Rock Raduno in Italy and Festivalkult in Germany in July. They will also be crossing the border and playing Fest in Gainesville this October. And if you live in Ontario or Montreal, fear not! Avem will be coming your way later this month. Nerdin About Birdin is out now on Mom's Basement Records.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with bassist and vocalist Julian Warmland over Zoom to talk about playing festivals, their new EP, what we can do to help birds, and so much more. Read the interview below!

In conversation with Chris Dowd of Fishbone

Fishbone have just released their new self-titled EP. Recorded and produced by Fat Mike of NOFX, this EP sees 4 of the 6 original members reuniting to create powerful, vital music that serves as the soundtrack to the world we are living in now. The five tracks prove without a doubt that even as Fishbone celebrate 40 years, they remain red hot. Fishbone will be playing Punk Rock Bowling this weekend, will be touring Europe in July, and will be supporting George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic on their US tour this summer. Fishbone is out now via Bottles To The Ground.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Chris Dowd to talk about recording with the band for the first time since the 90s, working on the new EP, the state of the world, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Getting inside the mind of a composer with JER

Multi-talented multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Hunter is known for many things including their Skatune Network YouTube channel, being the trombonist in We Are The Union, and releasing excellent solo music under the name JER. On top of all of this, they are also an incredible composer who wrote the soundtrack for the upcoming video game Sunshine Shuffle. The game centers around a group of cartoon animals involved in a high-stakes poker game and it’s your job to uncover the part each one played in a bank robbery. JER’s instrumental traditional-ska-infused soundtrack complements the game perfectly, evoking a laid-back yet upbeat vibe that is ideal for sleuthing on the S.S. Sunshine. Sunshine Shuffle will be available on Nintendo Switch and Steam on May 24 via Strange Scaffold.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with JER over Zoom to talk about what goes into composing a soundtrack, what drew them to music composition, the connection between video games and ska, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Finding the Party with Julez and The Rollerz

Julez and the Rollerz are one day away from releasing their stellar debut EP Is This Where The Party Is?. The five-song EP sees the band kicking out blues-infused garage rock with a hint of psychedelia as they confront insecurities head-on, urge people to chase their dreams, and deal with change. Is This Where The Party Is? will be out everywhere on May 19 via Party Mermaid Records (you can pre-order it here or pre-save it here!) and the band will be kicking off their Californian tour tomorrow with their album release show at Non Plus Ultra in Los Angeles.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Jules Batterman, synth player Shea Carothers, and guitarist Hannah Hughes over Zoom to talk about the new EP, working with a new lineup, dealing with insecurity, making tour scrapbooks, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Dave of F.O.D. has a new band called HellCo and they have a new album coming out!

Here's something really cool- you all know FOD aka Flag of Democracy. They were, and are, the first wave hardcore band from Philly that smashed out a TON of songs that sprinted at 400 mph.

Well, Dave of F.O.D. has a newish band called HellCo. And get this, they play hardcore that sprints at 450mph. Dave pulled in Mike and Josh from Rest Etiquette with the intention of forming something new that also still kicked out the windows. This band is fast, funny, and the riffs slash! But… the new band also gets a little arty here and little weird there. It's an evolution that stays true to Dave's hardcore roots without being derivative.

AND! they have their debut LP coming out on Philly's own SRA records. The band's self-titled LP is in stock now and is ready to ship! It frikkin' rocks!

You can pick it up right here! Also, the band is playing at Century Bar in Philly this Saturday and on June 9 they are throwing a record release party!

But meanwhile, you can hear the brand new single, "Self Pity Party," below AND you can read a short interview with Dave!

Tending to A Garden of Dead Flowers with Harry Bailey of Death Goals

UK-based queercore duo Death Goals are just one day away from releasing their incredible second album A Garden of Dead Flowers. The duo, made up of guitarist Harry Bailey and drummer George “Grog” Milner, share vocal duties as they unleash gloriously chaotic hardcore which takes cues from black metal, sludge, metalcore, pop, and powerviolence. Over the course of eleven tracks, they tackle the joy of queerness and self-acceptance along with the struggle that comes with that as well as talking about dysphoria, addiction, mental health, and lost love with poetic, image-laden lyrics. A Garden of Dead Flowers will be out everywhere on May 5 via Prosthetic Records and Death Goals will be kicking off their UK tour with Vicarage tomorrow night at their album release show at the New Cross Inn in London.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Harry over Zoom to talk about the new album, the importance of visuals, the connection between hardcore music and queerness, cereal, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Jason Cruz talks Jason Cruz and Howl's new album

Jason Cruz, best known for being the lead singer of Strung Out, is getting ready to release his third album with Jason Cruz and Howl entitled Wolves. The album will be out on April 7 via Liars Club Records. Punknews writer Jason Baygood caught up with Jason Cruz over Zoom to discuss the upcoming album, his artwork, Strung Out, and lots more. Read the interview below.