Check out the new Dwarves and Ralph Champagne split single!

Today, we are PSYCHED to debut the new split single by The Dwarves and the mysterious Ralph Champagne.

It's fitting that these two songwriting virtuosos are teaming up for a split release. Blag of the Dwarves has mentored Ralph over the past few years and help Ralph release the most excellent Introducing Ralph Champagne album. And of course, the Dwarves just released the astoundignly great, sprawling masterpiece The Dwarves Concept Album . So, for the team-up, Dwarves release a single remix of their Fred Astaire meets Cheap Trick album opener "Feeling Great." Meanwhile, to contrast the uncharacteristic Dwarves positivity, Ralph turns in downcast "Wanna Die." It's a combo of two songwriting titans looking at both sides of the coin!

The release is out via Rad Girlfriend records (run by Josh of Raging Nathans). You can pick up the split right here… along with a bunch of other rad Dwarves records, Raging Nathans records, Candy Now records, Tandoori Knights (Bloodshot Bill and king Khan) and more!

Meanwhile, check out the new release below right now!… and also check out short interviews with Blag of Dwarves and Ralph Champagne himself!

Catching a 'Third Wind' with David Mitchell of Gulfer

On Wednesday Montreal-based Gulfer will be releasing their stellar fourth album Third Wind. A renewed sense of enthusiasm is palpable throughout the record as the band effortlessly blends elements from shoegaze and indie rock with their signature mathy emo sound. The ten unique tracks leave no doubt that even though Gulfer has been around for over a decade they are still a creative force to be reckoned with. Third Wind will be out everywhere on February 28 via Topshelf Records and Gulfer will be playing two shows in Quebec this spring.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with bassist David Mitchell over Zoom to talk about the new record, listening to the Universe, playing music festivals, dealing with burnout, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and David Mitchell took place in January 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Getting a clue with Mel, Jon, and Drew of Heavenly Blue

Michigan-based Heavenly Blue have been wowing audiences across North America with their excellent style of screamo since their formation in 2022 and they haven’t looked back since. The seven-piece band has harnessed their incredible energy and channeled it into their upcoming debut album We Have The Answer which finds them sharpening their sound. We Have The Answer will be out everywhere on April 12 via Secret Voice. Heavenly Blue will be touring the US with Frail Body starting in March, playing Pug Fest 2 in Michigan in June, and playing New Friends Fest in Toronto in August.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with vocalist Mel Caren, bassist Jon Riley, and drummer Drew Coughlin over Zoom to talk about their upcoming album, the first full year of the band, playing New Friends Fest, getting banned from TikTok, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Talking all things 'Die Laughing' with Cory Swope of ZOMBIESHARK!

Last week Philadelphia-based cybergrind artist ZOMBIESHARK! released one of the most intense albums of the year with Die Laughing. Dark and unsettling industrial arrangements are expertly used to create an ominous atmosphere that builds throughout the album before exploding on the closing track “Blue Mountain”. When combined with the haunting instrumentation, the deeply personal lyrics confronting trauma, depression, and isolation allow catharsis to reign supreme. Die Laughing is out everywhere now via Theoria Records.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Cory Swope to talk about the new album, growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, pop culture references, Monster Energy Drink, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Cory Swope took place in February 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Just How Dumb Are Mean Jeans?

Today, Mean Jeans release their brand new album Blasted, out via Fat Wreck Chords. The album finds the band saluting partying, reveling in wake of the destruction caused by partying, and also how awesome the Troma classic Class of Nukem High is. Oh, also, they sort of contemplate their place in the universe and ponder whether or not punk rock has guided them for the better.

But, despite this deep cosmic contemplation, they still insist that they are a dumb pop-punk band. Punknews' John Gentile spoke to MJ guitarist/singer Christian Blunda to see if the Mean Jeans kuncklehead pop-punk image is a facade, hiding something deeper and infinitely more Aristotelian, or if they really are stupid. You can read the interview below.

Alannagh and Hannah of CHERYM talk their debut LP, 'Take It Or Leave It'

Exactly one week from now Derry-based CHERYM will be releasing their excellent debut album Take It Or Leave It. The album shows the band truly coming into their own as they perfect their pop-punk sound and deliver sincere personal lyrics that rip into misogyny and misogynistic institutions such as the Catholic Church, celebrate queer love, and open the discussion around neurodivergence over the course of ten kick-ass tracks. Take It Or Leave It will be out everywhere on February 16 via Alcopop! Records. CHERYM kick off their tour of Ireland, Europe, and the UK tonight with their debut album show in Derry.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Hannah Richardson and drummer and vocalist Alannagh Doherty to talk about the new album, getting more political in their music, world domination, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, Hannah Richardson, and Alannagh Doherty took place in February 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Jeffrey Everett and Shawna Kenney - 'REFLEXXIONS' at the Punk Rock Museum

Shawna Kenney, author, zinester, and overall bad ass punk from the DC Area. Author of the memoir, I Was A Teenage Dominatrix, who just got a reissue with a new cover by Rockets Are Red’s Jeffrey Everett. Everett, a jack of so many artistic trades, designer, illustrator, and also author has been working the last twenty-plus years on art pieces for so many bands featured on Punknews as well as a plethora of work for corporate and non-profit organizations. The two will be exhibiting items at the The Punk Rock Museum with an all new temporary exhibition for the titled Reflexxions. The exhibit is showing now in Vegas and is running for a limited amount of time. Contributing Editor Samantha Barrett spoke with the two about the collaboration.

Nathan Spainhower of meth. talks the band's new album, 'SHAME'

It’s only February 2 but Chicago-based meth. have already put out one of the heaviest records of the year with their second album SHAME. An ominous feeling permeates the record as the band takes you to new depths of bleakness with stellar rhythm-driven instrumentation, hard-hitting lyrics that tackle religious trauma, guilt, addiction, and lost innocence, and visceral vocals that you can feel on a molecular level. SHAME is out now via Prosthetic Records. meth. are currently touring North America and will be touring the Western US in the spring.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with bassist Nathan Spainhower to talk about the album, becoming part of the band, ghosts, the purple curse, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Nathan Spainhower took place in February 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Talking all things Bitch Fest with Lexy Robidoux and Ashley Cachia

Bitch Fest formed three years ago with the goal of highlighting women, trans people, non-binary people, two-spirit people, and queer people in bands and their mission is still going strong as they prepare to take over Toronto this March for their third and largest edition to date. 53 bands and artists will be playing 12 shows across 9 different venues, filling Toronto with the sounds of anaracho-punk, hardcore punk, ska punk, folk punk, power pop, synth punk, and so much more every weekend in March. Save Toronto Music Venues and STMV Promotions owner Ashley Cachia and owner of Ryot Booking and booking manager for STMV Promotions Lexy Robidoux have been working hard to put Bitch Fest 2024 together and you can get your tickets right here.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Ashley and Lexy over Zoom to talk about the festival, the importance of community, making sure shows are safe, books, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Burning it all down with Eevie Echoes of Eevie Echoes and the Locations

Earlier this month, Brooklyn-based punk band Eevie Echoes and The Locations released their excellent debut album, The Cons of Being a Wallflower. The album follows the band as they explore the hardships and triumphs that go along with coming out and detail the journey to self-love and self-acceptance with honest, heartfelt lyrics that open discussions around parental acceptance, religious trauma, anxiety, trust, and community. Throughout the album, they make use of dynamic arrangements that take cues from ska-punk, garage rock, emo, spoken word, and chiptune to create a killer sound that is uniquely their own. Along with centering around a journey of self-discovery, The Cons of Being a Wallflower is also a perfect example of a band coming into their own.

The Cons of Being a Wallflower is out now via Ska Punk International. Eevie Echoes and the Locations will be playing their album release show on January 27 (this Saturday!) in Brooklyn, will be playing around Brooklyn next month, and will be hitting some festivals in the spring.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead guitarist and vocalist Eevie Echoes over Zoom to talk about the album, working with Reade Wolcott, protecting your energy in a capitalist society, the importance of using your voice, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Eevie Echoes took place in January 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The Melvins reflect on the 40th Year of The Melvins

2023 was the FORTIETH year of the Melvins. They've released 30+ albums. They've played thousands of shows. They've changed the landscape of rock music itself.

And yet, in the year 40 A.M., the band, instead of running around saying "We're 40! We're the best! Give us praise!", they decided to put out a TON of new releases and played a special tour. But, just before the band was set to jump off and play their iconic album Bullhead in full on the road, drummer Dale Crover had to have emergency back surgery. how could the tour go on without their crucial, illustrious drummer?! And yet, the Melvins, ever the artists and workmen, smashed forward through the tour and through the hurdles and through the year.

Punknews' John Gentile spoke with Melvins Buzz Osborne and Steven McDonald and some of the band's compatriots about the band's 40th year… and their place in history. You can read that below.