The Scoop: We have received official confirmation in an interview with Levi Benton himself, that Miss May I will be heading into the studio to record their fourth full length album with renowned producer Terry Date (Slipknot, Pantera) and hope to have it released by the end of the year. We will have the full interview up tomorrow.

The Spin: Stay tuned to MEB tomorrow when we debut the rest of the interview, in which Levi shares with us his thoughts on the Tim Lambesis debacle, MMI’s recent Golden Gods award nomination and how the band is leaving behind their -core based sound in favor of a more direct metal foundation.

The Question: What do you think of the announcement? Are you excited to hear what the band has in store for album number four? Do you think going with Date is a good decision? Let us know in the comments below!

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What does that all mean in terms of Damage? It mostly means that, because of people like me, there are probably some unreasonably high expectations of the album, and a lot of long-term criticisms of it will probably be a result of their fans wanting to go back to when Jimmy Eat World could change their lives all over again and not because the music is bad. In fact, if you look past all of that, there is a strong argument to be made that Damage is their best album ever. It is a focused step forward, and the songs themselves are some of the best and most emotional the band has penned to date.

Everything kicks off with the passionate opener “Appreciation.” The track opens with a bouncy guitar lead, which makes way for frontman Jim Adkins’ heartbroken lyrics. Things eventually crescendo to a passionate conclusion, and the distorted sounds are much more raw than almost anything in the band’s back catalogue. The song proves to be a solid opener, establishing the less pristine production sound and break-up lyrical content, two things that become motifs for the rest of the album. It is immediately followed by the title track “Damage,” easily one of the strongest moments, featuring inventive, off-kilter drumming, atmospheric guitar work, a memorable chorus, and a breathtaking bridge.

Many of the songs follow a similar combination of inoffensive, alternative rock songwriting combined with a palpable sense of angst, but the band somehow manage to make the experience feel varied. The vocals are put low in the mix on “Lean” and “I Will Steal You Back,” with the former creating an invigorating conclusion and the latter using weepy instrumentation to develop a numb feeling of despair. Both are easy to overlook on first listen, but upon further reflection, they prove to be strong, understated counterparts to less subtle ballads like “Book of Love” and “Please Say No.” Each is a more direct composition, with a heavier focus on melody, vocals, and very literal lyrics.

The album sags a little in its mid-late section, with “How’d You Have Me” and “Byebyelove” failing to either outdo similar songs or bring something new to the table. They’re not particularly bad songs, just not moments that will earn them a place in a collection of Jimmy Eat World’s best-ever tracks. Luckily, closer “You Were Good” could very well earn a spot on that list. It is a subtle, lo-fi acoustic song that serves as a fitting conclusion. The track is quiet and simple, but there is just this exhausted emotion flowing out of it that is unmatched by most songs. Each little development, whether it’s the shimmering distortion in the background or the airy background instrumentation, isn’t much in the literal sense of the word, but does a lot to flesh out the track. It is very much a closer in the same vein as Brand New’s classics “Soco Amaretto Lime” and “Play Crack the Sky,” but is so subtly beautiful it makes those sound slightly infantile by comparison.

Ultimately, Damage is a great and moving album. The songwriting is consistently strong, frequently beautiful, and always passionate. It might not carry the same weight as their earlier material for fans, but that’s okay. Because I know that for me, personally, I will never be a toddler who doesn’t know what music is again. No piece of music, and possibly any type of art, could affect me so strongly again, so at this point, I’m just glad that Jimmy Eat World put out another great record that I get to listen to.

The Scoop: The 2013 Vans Warped Tour officially kicked off today in Seattle, Washington and we have set lists from various bands taking part in the traveling Summer festival. We will be updating this from day to day as more sets are revealed. You can check out the few that we do have below.

The Early November

Frayed In Doubt
Decoration
I Want To Hear You Sad
Tell Me Why
Mountain Range
Fluxy
In Currents
Baby Blue

The Amity Affliction

R.I.P Bon
Chasing Ghosts
Greens Avenue
I Hate Hartley
Anchors
Open Letter

Silverstein

Stand Amid The Roar
Sacrifice
Bleeds No More
You Sword Vs. My Dagger
SOS
On Brave Mountains We Conquer
Vices
The Artist
My Heroine
It’s My Job To Keep The Punk Elite (NOFX Cover)
Smile In Your Sleep

Crown The Empire

Johnny’s Revenge
Voices
Memories Of A Broken Heart
Children Of Love
Makeshift Chemistry
The Fallout

Black Veil Brides

I Am Bulletproof
Shadows Die
Let You Down
Wretched and Divine
Rebel Yell (Billy Idol Cover)
Fallen Angels
In The End

Forever Came Calling

Font Porch Sunrise
The Office
For The Wolves
If Bukowski Could See Me Now
Harbours

For The Foxes

Son Of A Gun
We’re Coming Up
Running Back To You
Easy Way
The Revolution

letlive.

Le Prologue
The Sick Sick 6.8 Billion
Banshee (Ghost Fame)
Muther
H Ledger
27 Club
Renegade 86′

Woe, Is Me

A Story To Tell
Fame Over Demise
Nothing Left to Lose
Stand Up
I’ve Told You Once
Vengeance

Stick To Your Guns

Diamond
Amber
Such Pain
Bringing You Down
Empty Heads
We Still Believe
Built Up Upon The Sand

Handguns

Porch Light
Long October
The War At Home
Stay With Me
Early Retirement
Best Excuse
I Hope He Kills You
A Year In Review

We Came As Romans

Hope
Tracing Back Roots
Glad You Came
Just Keep Breathing
To Plant A Seed
Broken Statues

Like Moths To Flames

The Worst In Me
Something To Live For
Learn Your Place
Blackout
GNF
I Solemnly Swear
You Won’t Be Missed

Real Friends

Floorboards
Home For Fall
Late Nights In My Car
Anchor Down
Everything I Never Wanna Be
Dirty Water
Lost Boy
Hebron

Hawthorne Heights

Life On Standby
Silver Bullet
The Transition
Golden Parachute
Niki FM
Memories Of Misery
Ohio Is For Lovers

Motion City Soundtrack

Attractive Today
LGFUAD
Everything Is Alright
This Is For Real
Her Words Destroyed My Planet
The Future Freaks Me Out

Blessthefall

Awakening / Promised Ones
Bottomfeeder
The Reign
Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad
You Wear A Crown, But You’re No King (New Song)
40 Days
2.0 / What’s Left Of Me

Sleeping With Sirens

If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn
A Trophy Father’s Trophy Son
Tally It Up, Settle The Score
Congratulations
Scene Two: Roger Rabbit
Do It Now, Remember It Later
If You Can’t Hang

Anarbor

Whiskey In Hell
Let The Games Begin
Every High
Damage I’ve Done
Brightest Green
Always Dirty Never Clean

Hands Like Houses

Watchmaker
Lion Skin
This Ain’t No Place For Animals
Don’t Look Now, I’m Being Followed. Act Normal
Shape Shifters
Introduced Species
Antarctica

Never Shout Never

Magic
Trouble
Coffee & Cigarettes
Piggy Bank
On The Brightside
CheaterCheaterBestFriendEater
What Is Love?
Liar Liar

Set It Off

I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
Swan Song
Kill The Lights
Dream Catcher
Partners In Crime
@Reply

Action Item

Marching Band / Drumline
Somewhere Out There
Brave
Good or Bad
Lucky
Last Day Of Summer

Attila

Middle Fingers Up
Rage
Sex, Drugs, Violence
About That Life
Payback

Forever The Sickest Kids

Whoa Oh (Me Vs. Everyone)
Keep On Bringing Me Down
Hey Brittany
Chin Up Kid
Nice To Meet You
She’s A Lady

William Beckett

Scarlett
Oh!, Love
Dear Life
Benny and Joon
Great Night

Tonight Alive

Listening
Thank You and Goodnight
Wasting Away
Starlight
Breakdown
The Ocean
What Are You So Scared Of?
Breaking & Entering

The Summer Set

F*** U Over
The Boys You Do (Get Back At You)
Rescue
Someone Like You
Lightning In A Bottle
Boomerang
Chelsea

Go Radio

Collide
Redemption In The Verse
Things I Don’t See
Go To Hell
When Dreams Get Drastic
Goodnight Moon
I Won’t Lie

Man Overboard

Dead End Dreams
Something Weird
World Favorite
Where I Left You
Rare
White Lies
Atlas
Love Your Friends and Die Laughing
Montrose

Chiodos

The Undertaker’s Thirst for Revenge Is Unquenchable (The Final Battle)
Thermacare
There’s No Penguins In Alaska
Expensive Conversations In Cheap Hotels
The Words “Best Friend” Become Redefined
Baby, You Wouldn’t Last a Minute on the Creek

Memphis May Fire

Without Walls
Alive In The Lights
The Victim
Jezebel
The Sinner
Prove Me Right

Allstar Weekend

The American Dream
Not Your Birthday
Here With You
Clock Runs Out
Undercover
James

The Wonder Years

Passing Through A Screen Door
Local Man Ruins Everything
Washington Square Park
Dismantling Summer
Don’t Let Me Cave In
The B*******, The Vultures, The Wolves
Logan Circle
Came Out Swinging

The Spin: Warped Tour is officially underway! We here at MEB wish everyone a safe and fun time this year. See you in the pit!

The Question: Did you attend day one of the tour today? If so, what bands did you see? Did they play your favorite song of theirs? Let us know in the comments below!

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MEB staffer Nick Niedzielski recently caught up with I The Mighty vocalist and guitarist Brent Walsh to talk about the band’s debut album Satori - from lyrics to recording – as well as their upcoming tour with Say Anything and much more.

MEB: Y’all just released your debut full length Satori. What kind of sound were you going for with this record?

Brent: We didn’t have a specific sound in mind when we began writing the record. We just kind of wrote, and whatever felt right we kept.

What overall messages and themes are prevalent on this record?

Existentialism, acceptance, growth, heartbreak, friendship, and political corruption.

Your lyrics are often politically charged and have a message to them. How important is it to you as a band to write music that has a deeper meaning to it?

We don’t want to come off as preachy or seem like we constantly push a political agenda. However, I believe in writing what inspires you. Politics have always frustrated and fascinated me. There’s a lot of really interesting stuff going on, and I’m sure that won’t change, so it will likely always be a part of my writing.

How did the idea for the spoken word video come up, and how does the message delivered there incorporate into the album’s overall themes?

The spoken word was just a free-write that I wrote one night and that I eventually shared with my good friend/our manager Daniel Rubin. He kind of had the idea to record it as an album teaser. So right after we got done with the “Speak to Me” video shoot, he had me just stand there in front of the camera and let it all out. It felt good to be honest…but I have to admit I was quite nervous to put it out. It’s the most vulnerable thing I have ever done and I had no idea how people would react to it. Luckily, most people seemed to really connect with it and I got a number of really sweet emails and messages about how it helped or inspired people. I’m glad I was talked into recording it that day. There’s a section of the speech where I say “embrace your failures, abandon your ego…” etc. That section is where the album’s themes are laid out.

Was there any type of progression or experimentation that you wanted to dive into on this record that wasn’t necessarily there on Karma Never Sleeps?

We just wanted to really give it everything we had. Everyone pushed their abilities and limits musically, while always keeping in mind what would be best for the song and its vibe/message. I think the four of us as a group grew so much within the writing period just as songwriters and collaborators.

Were there any major differences in writing for a full length as opposed to an EP? What was the writing and recording process like for Satori?

You almost feel like with a debut EP it has to be comprised of all singles. You want to make a splash immediately. With a full length you’ve got so much more room for variety. Things can hang and breathe. I’ve always loved records that crescendo and decrescendo so that it feels like a journey. I’m really proud of what we did with this record and the tracklisting. The writing and recording process was pretty simple and organic.

The record definitely has a lot of really technical guitar parts on it, and the drumming is especially impressive. Do you feel that having the ability to play an intricate style gives you an advantage in writing? Like are you a little more free to get creative and break the mold a bit more? Alternately, is it ever a struggle to find a balance between technically challenging music and music that is catchy and melodic?

Luckily, the four of us are all melody-driven writers. We like to get down and play with strange time schemes/melodies, but we’re all big fans of a great hook. The balance we’ve struck between the two just kind of happened on its own. Again, it all comes down to the individual song. Some we felt it was okay to let loose and do some riffing, and others it felt better to just groove.

“Speak to Me” was the first track released, and it is also one of the most aggressive on the record, especially vocally. What was the thought process of putting it out first?

We just felt like that song was a banger with a big chorus. We wanted to catch people off guard a bit and grab some attention. Then we went with something a little more classic I The Mighty for the second single.

There have been a lot of albums leaking early recently. What are your thoughts on the issue of leaking albums and the handling of a leak?

At this stage in the game, albums are going to leak. Luckily ours didn’t TOO early. What can you really do though? Prevent it as much as you can and just be glad people are interested in it enough to download when it does leak.

You guys are fixing to go on tour with Say Anything. How are you looking forward to that?

As I write this, I am actually sitting on the front bench seat of our van, leaving California. The first show is in a few days away and I could not be more excited. We love every band on this tour. Say Anything has been one of my favorite bands for years.

I was lucky enough to catch one of your shows at SXSW this year and y’all definitely have a lot of energy live and have a commanding stage presence. How important is it for bands nowadays to have a tight and captivating live show?

I personally tend to truly fall in love with a band after I see them live. I think it’s really important for the music to translate. We work hard to do everything we can to make that happen. My favorite bands tend to be the ones that are better live than on their records and I hope people say that about us.

Do you guys have any plans for after the Say Anything tour?

We have another tour in the works for the fall. When we get back from Say Anything we’re probably going to just work on some stuff behind the scenes and get another chunk of songs from Satori in check so that we have a variety of songs to choose from for the next tour. We’ve got some ideas for additional content/videos for the new record that need some attention as well. On a more personal note, I’m going to do everything I can to make it to “Burning Man” this year. If anybody’s got a ticket to sell, get at me! Haha

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d like to add that we are so thankful and humbled for all the great feedback we’ve been getting for this new record and we hope to see anyone who reads this at a show someday. If you haven’t heard any of it yet, please check it out when you get a second and if you like it, TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

The Scoop: Christian pop rock outfit Relient K is currently premiering a brand new song titled “Part-Time Lover” via our friends over at Alternative Press. The track comes off the band’s upcoming full length album Collapsable Lung, which is due out July 2nd via Mono Vs. Stereo. You can check out the song here.

The Spin: It’s becoming quite obvious with every new song off of Collapsable Lung that this is not going to be your average Relient K record. Sure some fans are going to be somewhat disappointed, but others will be surprisingly pleased. That’s the risk you take as a band when you try something new.

The Question: What do you think of the song? Do you plan on picking up the record when it drops in a few weeks? Let us know in the comments below!

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Even though summer comes in at number four when I rank my favorite seasons, it’s hard to deny that some music simply sounds better with the sun shining and days scheduled to a slower pace. From sugary pop to country-twinged tracks to any brand of pop-punk, the pairing of certain songs and summertime makes for a perfect combination that makes both halves more enjoyable. All of this week’s bands have spent time on Warped Tour, which, for me, is an event that’s almost synonymous with summer. With spring officially coming to a close in just a few days, it’s only appropriate to look back on some songs released earlier this year and then look forward to how great they’re going to sound with windows down and volume up.

1. “Fuck U Over” – The Summer Set

The band name says everything. While The Summer Set’s last two records came out a little too late to get the full seasonal treatment, Legendary‘s April release gave a solid two months of preparation for these songs to get into your head in time for the heat to set in. “Fuck U Over” is maybe the record’s best offering in terms of saccharine melodies and carefree lyricism. The rhythmic verses are the perfect counterpoint for the string of “la”s that define the song, and it’s hard not to move when you hear this track. While there’s nothing particularly exciting about the instrumental elements here, Brian Dales continues to develop as a great, unique pop vocalist, and the band as a whole builds on past material instead of remaining stagnant. The album’s title track is my favorite, but this one lives up to the group’s name and is an anthem for worry-free nights. Summer.

2. “If I’m Gonna Fall In Love” – A Rocket To The Moon

Taking a step back from the bright, straightforward pop of my first pick, “If I’m Gonna Fall In Love” takes a more deliberate pace and adds hints of twang and earnest lyricism to make a fantastic soundtrack for summer evenings. The song builds organically, with electric guitar finding its way in post-chorus and swooping in and out periodically in the second verse to allow for a dynamic climb. The variation on the chorus near the two-thirds mark is wonderfully constructed, as Nick Santino’s voice carries just the right level of nostalgia and foresight, and the way the music cuts briefly before kicking back in leaves plenty of space for that voice to shine. While A Rocket To The Moon didn’t quite make it the whole way out of spring, Wild & Free helps soften the blow of that loss just a bit, with this song’s acoustic strumming and singalong chorus proving to be the sort of thing that’ll carry the band’s music forward even if they’re not together to play it anymore.

3. “Nothing Lasts Forever” – Transit

It took a year or so for Transit to make sense to me as a band, and exactly two listens for this song to get stuck in my head for weeks. In all honesty, “Nothing Lasts Forever” might not be necessarily better in the summer than at any time of year, but I know that it’s going to be so satisfying to listen to it while driving through assaulting heat. The lyrical concept is a reminder to enjoy things while they’re there and let go of whatever’s in the past, and I’m not sure if there’s a better set of ideas for summertime than that. With plenty of great guitar parts, that flawless one-liner in the first verse, and an extremely catchy chorus, this is hands-down the best track from the band’s latest release, and it’s the sort of song that’s ready-made for repeated listens and singalongs. Summer’s as good a time as any to do that.

The Scoop: Tony Dougard, former vocalist for the now deceased metalcore outfit The Air I Breathe, has announced his brand new band Burn It To The Ground. You can check out a teaser of the band’s upcoming, currently untitled, debut single below.

The Spin: Burn It To The Ground has been a long time coming for Tony and company. We received confirmation from Tony himself during TAIB’s farewell tour that he is indeed still in contract with Rise Records for three more albums, but would like to explore other label options nonetheless. Expect more information to be revealed in the near future. Here’s to hoping the band can keep it together and have a more fruitful experience that that of TAIB’s.

The Question: Are you excited to hear material from the band? What do you think of the teaser? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Scoop: Electronic post hardcore outfit Everyone Dies In Utah has announced that they have parted with bassist/vocalist Justin Yost and replaced him with Michael Crimlis, formerly of fellow post hardcore outfit Us, From Outside. You can check out an official press release from Tragic Hero Records below.

Everyone Dies In Utah have parted ways with bassist/vocalist Justin Yost. The band has found a replacement in Michael Crimlis formerly of Us, From Outside. “I used to be the vocalist for another band on Tragic Hero, so I’ve been labelmates with the EDIU dudes for a while and I was always a big fan of their style,” says Crimlis. “When I was offered the position to be their new vocalist it was pretty much a no brainer.” The rest of band released a statement saying “We look forward to the opportunity to share the adventure with such a talented musician!” Everyone Dies In Utah will perform all the dates at this year’s Scream the Prayer tour as scheduled.

The Spin: Just as Crimlis stated in the press release above, this move was a no brainer. What is a little perplexing, however, is how the band ended up on the Scream The Prayer Tour, as the tour is usually reserved for strictly Christian bands and EDIU don’t have a publicized faith-based past a band. Nevertheless, we hope here at MEB hope the band all the best on tour this Summer and all their endeavors that come to follow. 

The Question: What do you think of the announcement? Do you think Crimlis is a suitable replacement for the band? Are you planning on catching the band’s set on this Summer’s Scream The Payer Tour? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Scoop: Alternative rock outfit Sharks has released a brand new music video for their song “Sunday’s Hand.” The track comes off the band’s latest full length album Selfhood, which was released this past April via Rise Records. You can check out the video below.

The Spin: We’re not entirely sure what point Sharks were trying to convey with their video for “Sunday’s Hand,” but one thing we do know is that you’ll never be able to predict its final segment. So sit back, relax, and prepare yourself for one of those last minute, morbid twists.

The Question: What do you think of the video? Did you see its conclusion coming? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Scoop: Christian metalcore outfit Texas In July has released a brand new song titled “Time-Lapse.” The track comes off the band’s upcoming deluxe re-issue of their self-titled full length album, which is due out July 16th via Equal Vision Records. You can check out the song below.

The Spin: Any fan of TIJ, or metalcore itself for that matter, will almost certainly be able to find something to appreciate about “Time-Lapse.” Pernicious vocals, destructive breakdowns, and intricate guitar work make the track an impressive addition to the band’s ever-growing resume.

The Question: What do you think of the song? Do you plan on picking up the record’s re-issue when it hits shelves in a few weeks? Let us know in the comments below!

Have some news of your own? Spill it!