Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order)

In the music of Joy Division there is an massive, ominous sound that is perpetually hanging in the air. It is at once aggressive, metered, terrifying and cold. That sound is Peter Hook.

Forming the band with Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris after seeing the Sex Pistols, Hook introduced a radically new sound to music through his bass. With the ethos of punk rock firmly in hand, Hook strummed out thick notes that were wonderful and wonderfully dread-inducing. Following Curtis' suicide, the rest of the band would go on to form New Order which again used Hook's unique bass as a foundation for the group's sound.

But over the past decade, things between the members of New Order have become raw, and the group has fractured. Now on his own, Hook has toured with the band the Light playing Joy Division albums in their entirety. To further cap off the era, Hook has just released his recollection of his time in Joy Division in the form of the book Unknown Pleasures - Inside Joy Division (IT Books). Punknews Features Editor John Gentile spoke with Hook about his career, his bass and his first punk rock show. In your book

Darren Johns (Crazy Arm)

Plymouth, UK's Crazy Arm are a difficult band to pin down. Seamlessly combining genuinely varied influences, but maintaining a core of punk passion and sensibility, they've established themselves as one of the most exciting and compelling bands in the UK scene.

Vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Darren Johns is the elder statesman of the five-piece, with over two decades of involvement in punk and hardcore. Punknews editor Andy Waterfield sat down with him to discuss musical growth, rioting and the potential limitations of 'punk' dogma.

Undesirable People

Undesirable People caught a lot of people by surprise in 2012. With word spreading on the band's sound and illustrious efforts in the Detroit local scene, they began to chalk up quite a following, building on the small fanbase they had previously. Gaining notoriety as one of the most underrated bands in the area, as well as some of the coolest and most down-to-earth guys plying their trade on the scene, their self-titled EP gained some acclaim in 2011.

That paved the way for more tours but more specifically, a bit more trudging on in the studio to churn out Eugenics in the latter half of 2012, which was even better received. They caught up with Punknews staff writer Renaldo Matadeen to chat about how this heightened success goes a long way to getting their name out a bit more, and exactly how music ties into the lives of a couple of guys actually meting out a living the conventional way.

Justin Pearson (The Locust, Retox)

Many readers are probably well aware of Justin Pearson, seeing as his artistic career spans over two decades and his music, whether you love it or hate it, encourages individuals to reconsider what defines the hotly contested concept of "punk." For those less familiar with his background, Pearson's musical endeavors include Struggle, Swing Kids, All Leather, the Locust and most recently, Retox. In addition to being deeply involved with the punk community he also has published two books and continues to run the Three One G Records record label out of San Diego, California. Staff interviewer Andrew Clark spoke with Justin Pearson via e-mail about reflecting on 2012, using humor in shitty situations and the future.

Barney Boom (Sonic Boom Six)

It's been a long journey for Sonic Boom Six have spent the past decade tirelessly making a name for themselves in the UK punk scene and their hard work seems to have paid off, signing to Xtra Mile Recordings (Against Me!, Frank Turner), gaining more attention in the mainstream press, and selling out shows. Punknews interviewer Faye Turnbull sat down with Barney Boom (vocals & guitar) near the end of their recent UK tour in Newcastle; he talked about the band breaking free from people's ideals and the ska-punk scene, the importance of their social and political message, and how the band's future was in jeopardy.

Chris Wollard (Hot Water Music, the Ship Thieves)

Chris Wollard has had a busy year. On top of Hot Water Music's first album in eight years in Exister, the Gainesville artist also released the almost equally-as-buzzed-about Canyons, the second recording as Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves.

This album had listeners anxiously waiting not only because the self-titled debut was so impressive, but also that, at the time, the Ship Thieves project appeared to be a one-off idea, a fleeting spark that filled the creative vacancy left by the disassembled Hot Water Music. With an energetic, evolved sound, a stabilized band lineup as well as a thriving Hot Water Music in the background, Canyons swallows any fears of the Ship Thieves dropping anchor any time soon.

"I'm half happy and half relieved it's done," he said in a croaky, but almost jovial Florida drawl. "Putting an album together is a lot of work - you've got to do all the songs, you've got to put the art together, you have to record it, it's a lot of practice. By the time you get to the end of it, you're pretty exhausted."

"But man, it's so much fun."

Wollard recently sat down with Punknews interviewer Gen Handley to talk about his new album, what the past year's been like and how Hot Water Music is doing things a bit differently this time.

Nick Diener (The Swellers)

The Swellers are in a bit of a transitional period. While they aren't shedding any members or going through any life and band-altering decision-making, they have been putting out small releases in lieu of full-lengths lately and taking some time off from the grueling life on the road. Punknews interviewer Jason Epstein caught up with Swellers vocalist and guitarist Nick Diener via email to chat about the band's recent releases and plans for the future.

Mike Wiebe (Riverboat Gamblers)

Ah, the Riverboat Gamblers. Yes, you read that right. For a year that was lackluster in its releases, it was a breath of fresh air to get a new Riverboat Gamblers release. Their recent album The Wolf You Feed does not disappoint, and sounds like every stereotype of a maturing band you can think of: a progression yet still playful; raw yet polished; lactose intolerant yet in love with Chobani. But, in this case, is that such a bad thing?

Punknews staff writer Ollie Mikse had the great fortune of doing an interview with vocalist Mike Wiebe, the veteran sensation, and ask him a couple of pleasant and not-so-pleasant questions.

Do yourself a favor and pick up the new album, just make sure to skip "Gallows Bird." This interview is dedicated to the Merscheim brothers.

Basement

After announcing last July that they'd be going on an indefinite hiatus, Basement said farewell in October with their final record Colourmeinkindness, but they didn't go out quietly. In fact, they went out with a bang. After a few shows to promote the record in the US and in England, they stuck true to their word of looking at endeavors outside the musical realm to pursue. Punknews staff writer Renaldo Matadeen caught up with them to pick their thoughts on the road looking back while they got sentimental about the journey.

Mike Scornaienchi (Troubled Coast)

Troubled Coast had a pretty amazing 2012. January's I've Been Thinking About Leaving You was a pretty intuitive setup for October's Awake and Empty and Punknews staff writer Renaldo Matadeen caught up with them just after a few shows with My Iron Lung. Vocalist Mike Scornaienchi gave us some insight into the band's progression and the shift in their spoken-word style of delivery.

Jacob Bannon (Converge)

Though this interview is from a few months back, the show still resounds. It's hard to give Converge an intro because they are considered to be some of the most influential artists of all time in their style of music. At the time, Converge was on tour with Whips//Chains, Kvelertak and Torche and I've literally never seen a louder, crazier show. Converge's lead man, Jacob Bannon, is one hell of a busy man.

Catching up with him on a rainy, cold night at The End in Nashville, Tenn., we went from interviewing in the venue itself until Whips//Chains started sound check to finishing the series of questions in their gear trailer. From being a co-owner at Deathwish, a visual artist and musician, Bannon had a lot of detailed, yet simplistic, positive responses to share with us about their latest record, All We Love We Leave Behind, how Converge functions and everything in between as the interviewed unfolded.