Dillinger Escape Plan is gearing up for the release of their latest full length record entitled “Option Paralysis” – watch the video of “Farewell Mona Lisa” and see that they only get better…

I’ve seen Dillinger Escape Plan only once live and I was pretty much stunned after the concert – and I’ve seen and played more than a few concerts of my own. And to be honest with you, nothing came close to what they put together on stage. Yeah, it can sometimes be a bit, let’s say, difficult to listen to but if you really sit down and listen several times you realize how damn good this band is. Greg Puciato (vocals) can almost hypnotize you with his voice and the rest of the band (bassist Liam Wilson, guitarist Jeff Tuttle and new drummer Billy Rymer) make this band much much more than what some may think is experimental, jazz, or just noise. As usual I always say you can’t discuss taste – everybody has their own but try it, Dillinger Escape Plan could easily grab your attention if you give it a chance. Enjoy the video!

» check out their MySpace website for the latest news and tour dates

A various selection of bands I found, rediscovered and which made me remember them…

Let me get this started. I have been looking for some type of possibility to write about music and bands I find but everytime I begin writing I realize I don’t want to spend my time writing the one millionth review of a band. I’d rather just listen more to the music and let you know about the bands. Maybe some day a discussion with some of your readers will also pick up about bands and what you like as well. Maybe not *hehe* – this also gives me a chance to spend some time checking the web for bands I haven’t listened to yet and catching some of the smaller, less known bands. And there are enough out there…

We’ll see…so no big review here, just some music suggestions, maybe some videos, some songs to listen to and here and there some concert dates. Just a mix…hope you find something you like. PS: For some reason I couldn’t include the MySpace code this evening for easy music listening right here. I’ll see what I can do tomorrow!

1. Nothington:

Gabe Lindmen and Jay Northington from the now dysfunctional pop punk band Tsunami Bomb getting back to their punk rock roots with their latest project. “Roads, Bridges and Ruins” (released 2009) is simple, catchy punk rock with some good guitars. Right now on tour, hope to catch their concert in February here in Hamburg!

» Nothington on MySpace
» Record Label website: BYO Records

2. Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School Of Medicine:

Jello Biafra (aka as Eric Reed Boucher), Dead Kennedys and the band also features Ralph Spight (Victims Family, Freak Accident, Hellworms), Jon Weiss (Sharkbait, Horsey), Billy Gould (Faith No More), & Kimo Ball (Freak Accident, Carneyball Johnson, Mol Triffid, Griddle). Jello Biafra is the man and he still kicks some royal ass with his latest project, one of the best yet and the good man is 51 years old!

» Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School Of Medicine on MySpace
» Record Label website: Alternative Tentacles

3. Smoke Blow:

German hardcore band which has been around for over 10 years and keep churning out some really good music to throw your body around to. New record entitled “The Record” due to be released around the beginning of February 2010. They’ll be on tour through Germany in the next months.

And here’s a concert video straight out of Hamburg from 2008 – they’ll be back in April and it looks like some good fun!

» Smoke Blow on MySpace
» Record Label website: Alternative Tentacles

Dear Landlord out of Carbondale, Illinois, USA with some straight froward punk!

Listen in for yourself, I just discovered Dear Landlord last night while checking various music sites. Catchy lyrics, simple bass and guitar riffs and a singer that sings so that you can still understand him! Hope to hear more from them and maybe see them playing over in Europe? Currently on the No Idea record label.

Band members:
Adam Fletcher -Bass/Vocals
Brad – Drums/Words
Brett – Guitar/Vocals
Zack – Guitar/Vocals

» check out Dear Landlord on MySpace

For those of you who are into punk music Strung Out is a band to know that has been around since 1992. Sure, it’s not like we are expecting something amazingly new with this latest full length release (seventh studio album and 13th release on the Fat Wreck Chords label) “Agents Of The Underground” but they continue to put together a strong mix of fast drums, gripping melodies and the always present guitars which will get me to the next show here in Hamburg. Here and there it gets a bit close to the so-called pop-punk type of sound but still, good work guys!

This record has already been out since the end of September 2009 so yeah, I’m behind on this check-out but whatever – go listen in yourself!

» Strung Out MySpace website

“Pin Points and Gin Joints” is the name of the brand new studio album just released by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, seven years after their last album “A Jackknife to a Swan” which was release on SideOneDummy Records. After just having a listen it sounds to me like nothing has changed. Sure, it’s not as raucous as some of the earlier recordings but it does get you wanting to dance. If you like ska then this is definitely a record for you. The Bosstones are back and playing three shows in – where else? – Boston from December 26th – 28th. At the time of writing this two of three shows are already sold out.

» Listen in to some of the newest songs on The Mighty Mighty Bosstones MySpace website

There are and always will be bands which have such a large impact on many people that they live on forever. Pantera is definitely one of these bands and they accompanied me through my younger years either on the board, headbanging with some friends at the local metal bar or just alone at home.

Maybe a little bit of history about Pantera for those of you who don’t know them that well: they were formed back in 1981 by Darrell Lance Abbott aka Dimebag Darrell and his brother Vinne Paul and grew into one of the most influential metal bands ever. Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul later formed the band Damageplan in 2004 after mounting tensions dealing with Pantera’s singer Phil Anselmo and his drug abuse led to the break-up of Pantera. One album was recorded and brought out but tragically Dimebag was shot on stage in December 2004 and killed instantly.

To pay tribute to Dimebag Darrell, Metal Hammer has put together a compilation of some of the best bands in metal to unleash their interpretations of tracks from the Pantera albums which will be released along with their 200th issue December 216th 2009.

The full tracklisting runs:

01. Zakk Wylde – “Suicide Note, Pt. 1″
02. Machine Head – “Fucking Hostile”
03. Malefice – “I’m Broken”
04. Avenged Sevenfold – “Walk”
05. Evile – “Cemetary Gates”
06. Five Finger Death Punch – “A New Level”
07. Biohazard – “Mouth For War”
08. Sylosis – “Strength Beyond Strength”
09. Chimaira – “Slaughtered”
10. Unearth – “Sandblasted Skin”
11. Throwdown – “Becoming”
12. Kiaus – “This Love”
13. This Is Hell – “Rise”

Now this is one for the music fans out there – know who Joey Cape is? Maybe if I mention Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut or even Me First And The Gimme Gimmes that little bell in your head may just start ringing. Okay, he is the lead singer of Lagwagon and has played in all of the other bands as well. What I didn’t know is that he put out a solo acoustic album last year entitle “Bridge” on Bad Taste Records in Europe, and on Suburban Home Records in the US – and i like it. Sure, it’s quieter than what he usually puts out – yeah, acoustic – but there are just certain voices that always work and Joey’s got that type of voice!

Have a listen to the album stream while it’s available right here after the jump and if you are lucky and happen to be in South America, try and catch a show – they look pretty fun (check the video!)

Concert Dates in South America 2009

11/20 – Caracas, Miranda @ Sake Bar
11/21 – Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayas @ Diva Nicotina
11/22 – Bogota, D.C. @ Teatro La Mamma
11/24 – Lima @ La Noche
11/25 – Santiago @ Rock Y Guitarras
11/26 – Rosario @ El Sotano
11/27 – Buenos Aires @ Super Rock
11/28 – Curitiba, PR @ Ambiental Bar
11/29 – Sao Paulo, BR @ Inferno Club

» visit Joey Cape’s website
» visit the Bad Taste Records website
» visit the Suburban Home Records website

NOFX just keeps going on and on. Unlike some other bands which started up around the same time, I still love listening to the carefree attitude and fun which just immediately flows when getting a dose through my ears. For those of you you still like their style, here’s the latest video from the song “Cokie The Clown“.

» visit the NOFX profile on Fat Wreck Chords

Another goodie for all of those lovers of metalcore and loud guitars. The latest release from Atreyu entitled “Congregation Of The Damned” is just out and I’ll need a few more days to listen to it completely but I already like what I’m hearing. It does get here and there pretty close to pop-metal in some of the songs but I’m more than sure that the live shows will be something to catch. Right now there touring through North America.

» check out the official Atreyu website
» check out the Atreyu Myspace page
» check out the Atreyu Facebook page

I have always been a fan of loud guitars and screaming singers – there is just something about it that gets my blood boiling and puts me in the mood to get something done, basically have fun and enjoy myself. But there are loads of bands that put together a good record which doesn’t quite make it to a great record which you play over and over again – a record you remember.

Hatebreed’s fifth album gets the not too original name of, yeah “Hatebreed” but regarding the rest of this package, it is absolutely fantastic! If you like death/groove metal then this is one record you have to get…listen in here:

www.hatebreed.com
www.myspace.com/hatebreed
www.twitter.com/hatebreed