After a year and a half hiatus, the popular punk band Alkaline Trio are in the recording studio making their new album Agony and Irony which is out on July 1st. The band said that that with this particular album they wanted to go ‘back to their roots’ with songs closer to their early work. Alkaline Trio also stated that the music will still be dark like 2005’s Crimson but in a different way. You can check out one of their new songs on their myspace Here

Alkaline Trio’s music was popularized by their fast tempos, additively catchy choruses, and dark themes. This included things like: Alcoholism, fire, and death. The band had been around since 1996 and if you haven’t checked them out I strongly suggest you do.

Another popular band recording are The All-American Rejects releasing their third album. They stated that they won’t try anything revolutionary and are just trying to ‘go with the flow’ with this album. AAR are trying for a more ‘real’ sound, and said they are going to make every song count. The album should be released sometime mid September if ‘all goes as planned.’

If you don’t know who the All-American Rejects are you should. The bands first album wasn’t a huge success but the song Swing Swing. The song garnered much popularity but many supposed the band was a one hit wonder. However with their second album came Dirty Little Secret. Move Along won two categories in the 2006 MTV music awards.

Finally the band Anberlin is also in the studio making an album. This will be a follow up to their 2007 Cities. Frontman Stephen Christan stated ‘Luckily, this album is gonna be the best work of our careers.’ A new contract with Universal will allow them to make the album exactly the way they want to. The album is currently unnamed but is set for August 1st.

Anberlin has released many singles including: A Day Late, Paperthin Hymn Godspeed, and The Unwinding Cable Car They’re a great band and I strongly recommend them.

Be sure to check in soon, I’ll be posting Alternative Magazines ‘100 Bands you need to know in ‘08′.

If you have any news for upcoming albums, new bands, or band break ups, PM me on the forums or send me a message on my myspace

-Xenomorph