Jade Puget (XTRMST)

For at least five albums now, the scene's most divisive band has abandoned its punk sound, venturing off into more mainstream areas, becoming more and more distant from their hardcore roots. But now AFI's Davey Havok and Jade Puget are making a return to form with their new band.

XTRMST is a straight-edge hardcore band that is louder and heavier than anything the creative duo has ever done before. On a day off in Baton Rouge, Louisiana during the never-ending Burials tour, guitarist and songwriter Jade Puget spoke to Punknews interviewer Gen Handley about why they started a straight-edge hardcore band now, how they ended up on Steve Aoki's label and if he still considers AFI a punk rock band.

Ethan Koozer and Kevin Dye (Gates)

Some of the best bands have come out of the DIY New Jersey punk/indie scene. Gates is another band that is an accurate reflection of that. Gates will be releasing their debut full length album Bloom & Breathe on Pure Noise Records on October 21st, 2014. Contributing Editor Samantha Barrett spoke with guitarist Ethan Koozer and guitarist/vocalist Kevin Dye about the new album, lighting effects and future plans.

Kepi Ghoulie

Process this: Kepi Ghoulie's been playing music for 30 years. While many of you were still in grade school, he was fronting pop-punk legends the Groovie Ghoulies, embarking on an accomplished solo career and producing one-of-a-kind artwork.

Now he's heading to Gainesville for Fest 13, and as part of the 'Org's preview coverage, Punknews editor Adam Eisenberg caught up with Kepi to talk about the big anniversary, his rotating cast of backing bands and spending Fest weekend looking for Mikey Erg.

Lou Koller (Sick of It All)

New York Hardcore and Sick of It All are synonymous. For the past three decades, the band has been keeping it hard and heavy, blasting out massive cut after massive cut.

But while many of the band’s peers slipped into cliché or routine, Sick of It All has kept their music constantly interesting, pushing the boundaries of hardcore’s sonic attack or addressing topics previously untouched.

For example, on the band’s new album, The Last Act of Defiance, frontman Lou Koller tackles topics including assassinations of political figures, aging gracefully in the hardcore scene and the issue of Constitutional rights.

To learn about the new album, Punknews Features Editor John Gentile spoke to Koller about the Constitution, the ethics of moshing and that time Will.I.Am (unknowingly?) included a Sick of It All reference on his solo album.

Jon Loudon (Restorations)

Philadelphia, PA has a lot going for it recently in the punk world. Notably, Restorations is much loved in that punk sphere and is sharing with us what they love to do best in musical format. Restorations have embarked on cranking out new music this year by releasing LP3 on October 28, 2014 on Side One Dummy Records. Contributing Editor Samantha Barrett chatted with guitarist Jon Loudon about the new LP and future plans for the band.

Prawn

Bands don't just find their signature sound overnight. In fact, it's usually a process that can take years to finally figure out. Such is the case with Prawn, who have released two LPs, two EPs and a plethora of splits and singles. Their latest full-length, Kingfisher, is a carefully constructed album that courses through twists and turns, yet seems methodically laid out. Garnering rave reviews and a spot on "Billboard," Kingfisher is the band's push into the spotlight. But the record didn't come easily. When writing the record, Prawn considered their past releases. They realized that while sonically unique, charming and creative, they weren't cohesive, nor did that have an initial hook that pulled listeners in. They were records that grew on you with time. In an era where music flows freely, the attention span of listeners is short at best. To compensate, Prawn had to rework their sound to have a more instantaneous appeal. They kept that idea with them during while writing Kingfisher. That attention worked, as the record is undoubtedly the band's strongest effort to date, and will most likely be the ticket into success the band has been looking for.

Prawn sat down with contributing editor Xan Mandell as they passed through Chicago on the Topshelf Records tour. They went over various aspects of the writing process, the relief that came with Kingfisher's critical acclaim and how it has helped solidify Prawn as being the main focus for the lives of each member.

Dean Clean (The Dead Milkmen)

Philadelphia’s most famous punk band, The Dead Milkmen, are about to release their new album Pretty Music for Pretty People. The album is one of the group’s most frantic, jumpy, twisted releases to date. The band flips off mainstream pop, ganks a Stooges title and, as always, take a couple of kidney punches at Reagan.

Because the band is on the verge of releasing a new, perverse marvel, features editor John Gentile spoke to drummer Dean Clean about the new LP, Tastykakes, playing shows in cemeteries and another famous Philadelphian band.

Nick Oliveri

A little over three years ago, Nick Oliveri, one of rock ‘n’ roll’s true wild men, was involved in a five-hour standoff with the SWAT team. He could have gotten the shit kicked out of him. He could have gotten shot. He could have gotten killed. But, in true chaotic luck, he survived with just a few scratches.

Since then, things have gotten better. He’s gone on to cut killer records with the Dwarves, record with the Moistboyz, tour with punk legends Bl’ast, and even reunited on stage with formerly estranged bandmate Josh Homme with Queens of the Stone Age.

Now, Oliveri will release his solo record, Leave Me Alone on October 28, 2014. On the LP, he details the SWAT stand off, almost dying in a car accident and partying too hard. To get the scoop, features editor John Gentile spoke with Oliveri about the new record, that nasty car accident and that one time a giant one-eyed robot smashed down his front door.

Cory Branan

Folk, roots, Americana, singer-songwriter… punk… Any of these descriptions suit Cory Branan. The latter being based more on theoretical aspects. But, consider that he’s currently touring with The Gaslight Anthem and Against Me!, you’ll realize punk rock isn’t just about sound, it’s about the ideas behind the music. "Punk music and country music, they're trying to get to something with the least amount of bullshit, and I find that that is the immediate tie between punk, roots and folk music," Branan says in his interview with us. His latest release, No Hit Wonder , signifies the soul of punk, yet in a much different package. A stellar release, No Hit Wonder , asks for repeated listens to full grasp, yet addictively straps you down from the first listen. You can grab it here.

On his tour, he spoke by phone to contributing editor Xan Mandell about touring with Against Me! and The Gaslight Anthem as a folk musician, the process of writing an album and the realities of making a career out of being a solo musician.

Ev Gold (Cinema Cinema)

Cinema Cinema is one bad-ass duo. Guitarist/vocalist Ev Gold stomps around the stage, swinging his guitar like an axe while he screams, growls, and hisses nasty things into the microphone. Meanwhile, Paul Claro, who is Gold's cousin, hits the drums so hard that they literally shimmy across the stage as he plays. It sounds sort of like heavy metal played as hardcore punk -- vicious, energetic and with a little bit of swing.

The group just released their new album A Night at the Fights and finished a really, really long tour opening for Black Flag. So, features editor John Gentile spoke to Gold about the new album, boxing, reincarnation and generally being nice to people.

You can click read more for the interview.

Keith Latinen (Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate))

Having just returned from tour with The Early November, Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) frontman and Count Your Lucky Stars co-owner Keith Latinen spoke with Punknews staff writer Adam Sever to discuss their new releases, the You Will Eventually Be Forgotten LP and the Ribbon graphic novel, based off of the lyrics from the album, plus working with Bob Nanna and Chris Simpson on the new album and if everything he’s done in music up to this point has been worth it.

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) will be hitting the road with label mates Free Throw starting tonight and will most likely be hitting a city near you as they make their way to FEST 13 on October 31st.