Here’s a nice little press release:

For “I.V.” the band’s Deathwish debut, Loma Prieta once again worked with longtime collaborator Jack Shirley (Atomic Garden Studio). With his guidance Loma Prieta tracked to tape 12 songs intensely emotional songs. Written during a time of great personal suffering and transition for the band “I.V.” is the creative culmination of those collective experiences. From the opening breath of “Fly by Night”, Loma Prieta crash and bang melody and discord together into one beautiful work of art. This grinding theme continues throughout “I.V.” in stunning songs like the aptly named three parter “Trilogy 4, 5, and 6″. Creating a powerful and unpredictable ebb and flow to their emotional outpouring. As the dust settles on the distorted haze in closer “Diamond Tooth”, an artistic coherency and clarity emerges that can only be described as Loma Prieta. A new kind of melancholy chaos that should be familiar, yet challenging, to those who enjoy bands like Love Lost But Not Forgotten, Pg. 99, La Quiete, and the ilk.

Download//Buy

+ By Surprise – $600 Dollar Exorcism

I’ve been jamming this By Surprise song a lot lately.  Good stuff – insanely catchy emo – but it took a while to grow on me.  Which reminds me, you should go download the Topshelf Records sampler because that’s where I discovered this song.

+ Longform.org

Longform is a blog that “posts great new and classic non-fiction articles, curated from across the web.”  If you have to spend a lot of time in front of a computer, this site will keep you entertained.

A few articles I’ve enjoyed:

+  DISPATCH FROM ANGOLA: FAITH-BASED SLAVERY IN A LOUISIANA PRISON

+  ENTER THE CYBER-DRAGON

+ The Usual – Light Letters

My friend Matt’s band The Usual recently released a new album called Light Letters.  They play a controlled driving style of screamo that instantly brought L’antietam to mind.  Apparently they recorded most of the album themselves, with the exception of drums.  Cool stuff, check it out!

There’s a nice little surprise around 1:40 from a skeleton.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I forgot how awesome this album is until it came on my shuffle this afternoon.  Elder features members of two other pretty big name Philly screamo bands – Towers and Balboa.  The Balboa presence is really prominent on this album (maybe they share a guitarist?) though Elder tends to be a bit more atmospheric/softer sounding than both of those bands.

Bleak but hopeful is the best way I can describe these 3 tracks.

Take it from the dudes in Balboa and Towers, who know how to build an atmosphere: If you want to write a near-perfect epic screamo song, look to the opener on Elder’s self-titled 10″ EP, “Town of Clay.” Everything you want in soft-hard/quiet-loud dynamics, budding guitars, huge, pounding drums and a desperate, pleading screamer atop it all is here.

The rest of Elder’s EP isn’t quite as overwhelming, but if you’re looking for a well-done version of this á la Envy and City of Caterpillar, you’ve come to the right place. “Shifting Gaze” is an appropriately titled followup to “Town of Clay,” finishing up the A side with more of an atmospheric and restrained touch. “Golden Flower” is a perfectly conclusive sounding number from the trio (!), with moments that recall Sirens-era On the Might of Princes.”

via Punknews

Elder released another album in 2009 called Reflect which features busier songwriting than their S/T.  I’m only going to link you to their S/T though.

Download: Elder – S/T

Our split with The Saddest Landscape is finally out.  We’re really happy with the way the vinyl turned out.  The etching looks incredible.  Thought I’d post it up for download.  If you would like to purchase the vinyl (limited to 600 w/ 18×24″ poster) you can do so through Just Say No! Records HERE.

Download:  The Saddest Landscape/Pianos Become the Teeth – Split 9″

Soooo the new Envy album Recitation leaked.  I found it on Skream your lungs out – which is where I will direct you to go download it. HEY BALTIMORE: Envy is playing with Touche Amore this Saturday the 25th at the Ottobar.  Go see them!

Aside from a few minor van troubles, tour has been going well.  We only have 8 days left.  It’s weird looking back on some of the earlier shows of tour and realizing that they weren’t that long ago even though it feels like months have passed between now and then.

Since I last updated we played a couple of shows with Touche Amore – one in LA on the 4th of July and one at the Che Cafe on the 6th.  I love watching people lose their shit when a band they loves starts playing and every time I’ve seen Touche play kids lose their minds.

+ Stoked to get home and play this.

+ I’ve been really missing drinking coffee for the past month and this video/recipe from Cool Hunting is giving me a coffee boner.

+ Stoner idea comes to life: Dude lives in a house built of Legos.

+ Just found The Reptillian’s new album Full Health online.  Haven’t listened to it yet, but I expect good things based on seeing them live.  Nicest dudes.

Download The Reptillian – Full Health.

So as most of you probably already know Age Sixteen broke up a few weeks prior to the release of this split.  It’s a shame because their half of this split absolutely kills.  Don’t worry though because 4/5ths of those guys are forming a new band which I’m sure will be just as good as Age Sixteen.

Wren Lloyd‘s half of this split sounds sick though I think they are a band that must be witnessed live to gain the full experience.  Musically they remind me of Canada Songs era Daughters – thick distortion, nauseating feedback and a lot of blast beats.

Download: Wren Lloyd|Age Sixteen Split.

If you have the chance to go see them live don’t hesitate – they blew me away.  Oh, and they’re coming back through Baltimore with Trash Talk and Alexisonfire at the Ottobar on April 24th.

They turn on lights about 2 minutes into the video – I wish my camera was able to capture better in low-light.

La Dispute – Such Small Hands & Said the King to the River

Click here to view the embedded video.

La Dispute – Bury Your Flames

Click here to view the embedded video.