Interviews
Death Cassette

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!

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Interviews
Dollar Signs

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!

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Interviews
Upchuck

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!

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Interviews
Taking Back Sunday

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!

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Interviews
Mega Infinity

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!

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Interviews
Quicksand

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.

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Interviews
Dreamwell

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!

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Interviews
Magnolia Park

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!

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Interviews
Thank You, I'm Sorry

'Growing in Strange Places' with Thank You, I'm Sorry

Exactly one week from today, indie band Thank You, I’m Sorry (who are currently based between Minneapolis and Seattle) will be releasing their wonderful third album Growing In Strange Places. The band, now with the addition of their long-time collaborator Abe Anderson on guitar and synths, mixes together indie rock, emo, punk, and dream pop to create a sound that is introspective, honest, and energetic. Over the course of 13 tracks, they look at what it truly means to grow and they do not shy away from exploring the struggles that come with change or the emotional complexities that growth can bring. The band tells us that, much like the plants that adorn the cover of the album, when we give ourselves the space and time to develop, we will bloom into who we are truly meant to be. Growing In Strange Places will be out everywhere on September 29 via Count Your Lucky Stars and Thank You, I’m Sorry will be touring the US and Canada starting in October.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Colleen “Lleen” Dow, bassist Bee Schreiner, and drummer Sage Livergood over Zoom to talk about the new album, self-growth, tour snacks, and so much more. Read the interview below!

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Interviews
Sincere Engineer

Talking all things 'Cheap Grills' with Deanna Belos of Sincere Engineer

Sincere Engineer are one day away from releasing their stellar third album Cheap Grills. The album is chock full of infectious hooks and references to Chicago as the band explores growing up, anxiety, longing, burnout, and more with Deanna Belos’ signature lyricism that is both heartfelt and humourous. Cheap Grills will be out everywhere on September 22 (tomorrow!) via Hopeless Records. Deanna Belos will be playing a handful of solo acoustic shows this month and Sincere Engineer will be touring the US as a full band starting in October.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Deanna over Zoom to talk about the new album, baseball, corn dogs, and so much more. Read the interview below!

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