Blag Dahlia talks art, violence, and the new Dwarves album

The Dwarves have just released their latest masterpiece- the sprawling The Dwarves Concept Album . The album finds the band dipping their toes in everything from punk to pop to dance to whatever the feel like. Yet again, it shows that they Dwarves are a band that just can;t be pigeonholed, all they while walking the line between camp and serious dissection of the modern American artist… or something like that. Punknews' John Gentile just interviewed Dwarves frontman Blag Dahlia and you can read his very deep thoughts below.

Lizzie from Teens In Trouble and Bailey from Desert Mambas talk their new split EP

Raleigh’s Teens In Trouble and Los Angeles’ Desert Mambas have created something wonderful together on their new split EP. Teens in Trouble kick out two gloriously fuzzy punky indie tracks that explore what it means to live in the moment and what to do when your therapist ghosts you. Those are followed by Desert Mambas’ two brilliantly bluesy rock songs that dive into longing, identity, and mental health. The strong friendship between Lizzie Killian of Teens In Trouble and Bailey Moses of Desert Mambas can be felt in every aspect of the EP as they highlight the importance of creating art with your friends and the joy that collaboration can bring. Teens In Trouble / Desert Mambas is available everywhere today via Asian Man Records and Kill Rock Stars. Teens In Trouble and Desert Mambas will be touring the US together in December.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Lizzie and Bailey over Zoom to talk about the new EP, songwriting, The Artist’s Way, Elvis, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Photo credit: Rochelle Shipman

Mandy and Lindsey of Death Cassette talk their new EP 'Get Rid Of It'

Winnipeg’s Death Cassette are just days away from releasing their excellent new EP Get Rid Of It. The band’s electric energy is present on all six tracks as they refine their grunge punk sound. From the short, fast punk ripper “Get Gone” to the deep, grunge-y slow burn that is “Solstice” the band are on top of their game. Get Rid Of It will be available everywhere on November 17 via High End Denim Records and Cat’s Claw Records. Death Cassette will also be playing a release show for the EP at Good Will Social Club in Winnipeg on November 17 with Screaming At Traffic, MOSA, and howtoboilwater.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Mandy and guitarist Lindsey to talk about the new EP, Evil Dead, wanting to play Pouzza Fest, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Marc Whelan talks Fuming Mouth's new album

PN staffer Sam Houlden spoke to Fuming Mouth’s Marc Whelan in the hours leading up to the new Fuming Mouth album(Last Day of Sun)’s release about the complex development of the record and what it has resulted in.

Going 'Legend Tripping' with Erik Button of Dollar Signs

Exactly one week ago, North Carolina-based punk rockers Dollar Signs released their superb fifth album Legend Tripping. The band asks themselves what it means to return home as they explore the contradictions of the Southern US, take a close look at the passage of time, and celebrate friendship over the course of 11 tracks. The songs are packed with exciting, layered arrangements and lyrics that burst with horror imagery, folklore, and history. Legend Tripping is available everywhere digitally now and is available physically via Self Aware Records. Dollar Signs are currently touring the US.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Erik Button over Zoom to talk about the new album, growing up in the South, the importance of folklore, cryptids, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Biting the hand that feeds with KT and Mikey of Upchuck

Earlier this month Atlanta-based punk rockers Upchuck released their excellent second album Bite The Hand That Feeds. In just under half an hour the band rips through thirteen extremely high-energy tracks that will have you dancing, moshing, and looking for a shopping cart to crowd surf in within seconds. Throughout the album, you can hear elements of doom, garage rock, and psychedelia interwoven with punk rock which makes their sound that much heavier. Bite The Hand That Feeds is out now via Famous Class Records and Upchuck are currently on the road with Faye Webster.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist KT and guitarist Mikey over Zoom to talk about the new album, filming tour documentaries, paying homage to Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and so much more. Read the interview below!

John Nolan of Taking Back Sunday talks their new album '152'

Tomorrow, Taking Back Sunday will be releasing their eighth studio album 152. The album sees the band continuing to expand musically as they incorporate elements from classic rock and pop into their unique sound. They explore their relationship with the past and what it means to grow with heartfelt lyrics, a healthy dose of optimism, and infectious melodies. 152 will be out everywhere on October 27 via Fantasy Records and Taking Back Sunday will be hitting the road in November.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead guitarist John Nolan over Zoom to talk about the new album, playing house shows, throwing out the first pitch for the Mets, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Creating 'Chaos Magick' with Michi and Mike of Mega Infinity

Last week Long Island-based Mega Infinity released their new genre-bending EP Chaos Magick into the world. The EP sees the band leaning more into their ska influences while continuing to explore their mathier prog-rock side over the course of four tracks. They tackle toxic masculinity, channel their energy into their community, and bring Skalannis Morrisette to life with plenty of heart, a great deal of passion, and a little help from their friends. Chaos Magick is available now via Ska Punk International. Mega Infinity will be playing Bat Mary's Skalloween Skapunkalypse tonight at Mr. Beery's in Bethpage, New York and will be playing their EP release show on their Twitch channel (https://www.twitch.tv/megawednesday) on October 25.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Michi and Mike DiGiulio over Zoom to talk about the EP, the parallels between being married and being in a band, practicing chaos magick, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Walter of Quicksand talks reunions, Riot Fest, and retrospectives

The name Walter Schreifels is certainly not foreign to fans of hardcore or post-hardcore. Most first became familiar with his legendary work in the seminal New York hardcore band Gorilla Biscuits. Following their breakup, he formed the genre defining Quicksand. Beyond Quicksand, Walter has worked on many projects including Rival Schools. Punknews staffer Jason Baygood had the chance to catch up with Walter at this year’s edition of the annual Riot Fest in Chicago where he pulled triple duty, including performing the debut Quicksand album Slip in full.

Unpopping your punk with KZ, Aki, and Ryan of Dreamwell

Later this month Providence-based emo post-skramz band Dreamwell will be releasing their heaviest album to date with In My Saddest Dreams, I Am Beside You. Over the course of eleven songs, you are guided through a world of waking nightmares and hallucinations as you follow a character grappling with their mental health and reality itself. The band is in top form as they deliver a sound that is both intricate and crushing, a perfect compliment to the emotional imagery-laden lyrics. In My Saddest Dreams, I Am Beside You will be out on October 20 via Prosthetic Records and Dreamwell will be touring North America in November.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist KZ Staska and guitarists Aki McCullough and Ryan Couitt over Zoom to talk about the new album, songwriting, the world’s weirdest bathroom, creating bits, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Talking 'Halloween Mixtape II' with Freddie Criales of Magnolia Park

After dropping two EPs, SoulEater and MoonEater, in August Orlando’s Magnolia Park are getting ready to release their new album Halloween Mixtape II later this month. On the self-described “spiritual counterpart” to the first Halloween Mixtape (which was released in 2021) the band showcases how much they’ve grown over the course of 17 tracks. They incorporate elements of phonk, pop-punk, hip-hop, nu-metal, and emo as they explore anxiety, heartbreak, the political state of the US, and much more along with offering four special tips for the Halloween season. Halloween Mixtape II will be out on October 27 via Epitaph Records and Magnolia Park will be touring the US starting later this week.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with guitarist Freddie Criales over Zoom to talk about the new album, building the Magnolia Park fictional universe, Halloween, and so much more. Read the interview below!