Dan Yemin (Paint it Black)

"In my head, I feel like my voice is getting weaker," says Paint It Black lead singer Dan Yemin, "because the busier my life gets, the less we play and I have to get my voice back to where I want it to be. It can be hard getting back to that level when we play shows after not screaming for six months."

Paint it Black's most recent release, Invisible, doesn't show any signs of subdual, with the songs and vocals being louder than before. But he's right, Yemin doesn't get to scream as much as he used to. With full-time gigs as a father and a psychologist, it's not easy to find the time for music, especially when it's with at least three bands.

Because all of Paint It Black's members have their restless hands in a number of projects, the stars need to align for the guys to come together to make a record, which, after four years since their last EP, has finally happened.

Yemin found some time in his crazy schedule to chat with Punknews interviewer Gen Handley about how adulthood has influenced his music, the similarities between hip hop and hardcore and the joys of recording their latest release.

Nick Woods (Direct Hit!)

The thing you need to know about Direct Hit! is that they are not fucking dead; they're simply biding their time until their impending attack, coming this summer. Punknews staff writer Justin Dickman had a conversation with vocalist/guitarist Nick Woods about their first Fest experience, The Walking Dead, the upcoming Star Wars films and a little bit about music.

FLAG

What many thought would never happen has happened. The most unlikely scenario has come true. The prayers of teenage punks (and middle aged ones, too) have been answered. FLAG have risen.

Featuring Black Flag alumni Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Dez Cadena and Bill Stevenson, as well as Stephen Eggerton of the Descendents, FLAG are about to embark on a tour where they will play what is possibly the greatest music ever made: The music of Black Flag. Anticipation is high, but so are expectations. Not only do the band have to annihilate the stage, they have to stack up to their own history.

In order to learn about FLAG's vaunted history, their plans for the current shows and the emergence of the other Black Flag-related band, Punknews features editor John Gentile spoke with all five members of FLAG.

Read the history below.

Craig Englund (Round Eye)

A lot of bands think that they're wild dudes because they have a song or two about hating cops. Well, if the members of Round Eye say the wrong thing, they might get carried away in the night and be never heard from again.

A group composed of five white dudes living in the orient, Round Eye combine the explosively zaniness of early rock and roll with the danger and nastiness of early 80s punk. Still in their first year, the band have toured all over mainland China, bringing a bit of the west to other expats as well as showing a new culture to young Chinese people.

In order to get the scope of the danger that Round Eye is in, Punknews' John Gentile telephoned Round Eye founder Craig Englund across twelve time zones where they talked about danger in music, censorship and smoking the herb with Greg Ginn.

Jay Bentley and Brian Baker (Bad Religion)

Bad Religion tore up the stage one song at a time at the New York City stop of their world tour supporting their latest bar-setting album, True North. Punknews interviewer Jason Epstein got a chance to catch up once again with bassist Jay Bentley and guitarist Brian Baker before the show to chat about their "mediocre" albums, going to an S&M club with Fat Mike and of course, True North.

Mark Beemer (Shirts for a Cure)

Punk rock photographer Mark Beemer, founder of The Syrentha J. Savior Endowment (SSE) and Shirts For A Cure (SFAC), recently announced the launch of a new IndieGoGo campaign to fund the re-release of his discontinued book of live show and press images, Stealing Time. First published in 2001, the book features images from Beemer's two-plus decades as a staple on the punk and hardcore scenes. The book contains a number of updated images including punk and pop-punk stalwarts such as Rise Against and My Chemical Romance, as well as photos of scene veterans The Bouncing Souls and Hot Water Music.

The IndieGoGo campaign to fund Stealing Time ends April 9, 2013. Once the book has been funded, all proceeds from its sales will go directly to SSE to help underprivileged women battling breast cancer. You can find out more, or make a donation to the IndieGoGo campaign here.

Punknews' staffer Justine Rowland spoke with Mark this week about the book, working with Drexel University Music Industry students on the IndieGoGo campaign, and SSE/Shirts for a Cure.

Jon Curtis (The Cut Ups)

Jon Curtis might be one of the busiest people in UK punk, but he's also one of the nicest. His upbeat and engaging onstage banter has drawn many a drifting punter to his band, The Cut Ups.

When he's not playing guitar/singing for the Exeter punks, Jon is part of Exeter promoters Freakscene, runs Flying Saucer Tour Booking, works for (and is active within) the Methodist Church, and is a volunteer for Devon and Cornwall Food Association. He's also a husband and father. Despite these commitments, Jon found the time to chat with Punknews staffer Rich Cocksedge about punk rock, ethics, faith and football.

Steve Niles and Matt Pizzolo (Black Mask Studios)

Steve Niles and Matt Pizzolo grew up in the east coast hardcore scene, but never outgrew what they learned from it. Previously of Gray Matter and Three, Niles has established himself as one of the most respected writers in contemporary comics. He is best known for his horror work, including 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre and Edge of Doom. Pizzolo is the founder of Halo 8 Entertainment, putting out a mix of film, comics and transmedia works, including Your Mommy Kills Animals, N.Y.H.C. and Pizzolo's own Godkiller.

The pair recently launched a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign for their Occupy Comics initiative, and have teamed up with Epitaph Records boss Brett Gurewitz to form Black Mask Studios, a comics publisher seeking to combine the expertise of the three into a new outlet for interesting creators.

Andy Waterfield sat down with Steve and Matt to talk about Occupy, the birth of Black Mask, practical applications of the DIY ethic and why the comics industry needs some fresh thinking.

Ryan Young (Off With Their Heads)

Off With Their Heads frontman Ryan Young spoke with Punknews staff writer Adam Sever a few days before their 10 year anniversary / record release show to discuss the new album, the history of the band and the weirdness that comes with selling a tour van on Craigslist.

Their latest album Home was recently released via Epitaph and they are currently on tour through the end of March. The band will be kicking off a tour with Alkaline Trio and Bayside on April 25.

Joe Mack (Complete Failure)

Hailing from the Pittsburgh area, Complete Failure are a band that take their music seriously, but find balance by injecting some smart and subtle humor. The band play what could be defined as grindcore, but to stop there unfairly cheapens the listening experience plus comes with a number of preconceived notions. Much of their latest release, The Art Gospel of Aggravated Assault, never lets up and pushes listeners to examine their existence--all at the speed of a runaway train. Punknews staff interviewer Andrew Clark spoke with vocalist/lyricist/graphic designer Joe Mack about the band's work, Pittsburgh DIY, and sources of creativity outside of music

Scott Vogel (Terror)

When it was announced earlier this year that Terror had signed to Victory Records to release their forthcoming album Live By The Code, it surprised many. Having heard so many unsavory stories about the label circulated from various bands over the years; what led one of hardcore's most prevalent names to sign to them? Punknews staff interviewer Faye Turnbull chatted with outspoken vocalist Scott Vogel about the band's decision, Terror's turbulent relationship with Century Media, reiterating how The Ghost Inside and Refused are "fake" bands and a load more.