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Ouch.

Andy "The Butcher" Mrotek, former drummer of THE ACADEMY IS... and incredible SJC Drums artist (check out the wood-burning work he did on the snare in the photo), was allegedly assaulted while on a late night walk in Milwaukee. He was apparently hit in the head with a vase and then kicked in the face repeatedly. His recovery will require plastic surgery for reconstructive purposes. His tweets with links to his photos can be found below. They're a bit brutal.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Oh, and this is my my good side. Getting a vase smashed in your face, and kicked in in your eyes- getting jumped rules! lockerz.com/s/228230095

— Andy Mrotek (@animalupstairs) July 25, 2012

Jaw broken in five places, R&L orbitals fractured, 25 stitches. And I get to get plastic surgery in one week. Yay! :) lockerz.com/s/228229368

— Andy Mrotek (@animalupstairs) July 25, 2012

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Lamb of God, Dethklok, Gojira Tour Canceled

The ordeal with LAMB OF GOD vocalist, Randy Blythe, continues to be full of bad news, as today the band's upcoming tour with DETHKLOK and GOJIRA had to be canceled. The band's statement is below.

Due to the continued incarceration of LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe in the Czech Republic, the band’s co-headline tour with Dethklok scheduled to begin August 1st in Seattle is being cancelled. The band regrets the decision but the uncertainty of Randy’s release makes it impossible to carry on with the tour. Upon Randy’s release, it is the band’s intention to rebook a tour in the fall and at this time the band fully intends to participate in the Mayhem Cruise in December. 

LAMB OF GOD wishes to thank Dethklok, Adult Swim and Gojira for their support and patience as well as all of the promoters who had dates on the tour. Last but certainly not least, the band thanks all of the fans who bought tickets for the tour and who have been supportive of Randy and the band over the last month that Randy has been held in Prague. Without the fans, there is no LAMB OF GOD.

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Review: The Early November - "In Currents"

Life is full of disappointing band reunions: Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, Eve 6...all bands that, if I’m being honest, have back catalogues that I’ve clocked in way more hours with than any release by THE EARLY NOVEMBER. Yet TEN is the only band mentioned above that not only released an album that lives up to their past works, but maybe even surpasses them. Yes, life is full of flopped band reunions, but thankfully for all of us, this is not one of those stories.

“A Stain On The Carpet” creates a different sort of ambience with the strings  and delicate outro that took time to grow on me. It’s not something expected of an opener since it takes some time to build up - a common trait on rest of the album. The band does one hell of a job being patient and crafting solid songs though, something also found in closer, which I’ll come back to.

On other hand, songs like “Frayed In Doubt” and “Like a Kid” start hard and maintain that energy throughout the song, while the acoustic tracks “Digital Age” and “That’s Not Your Real Name” are completely stripped of the lush textures that define the rest of the album, making them stand out that much more. “The Smell of This Place” has a bit of a folky-country vibe similar to what you might find with City and Colour. It’s clean. Conversely, “Tell Me Why” shifts between Enders’ clean and effect filtered vocals and also comes out really well, though the song sounds incredibly familiar - like we’ve heard the melodies from other songs in the genre before.

The heart wrenching closer “Call Off The Bells” isn’t unlike something Jimmy Eat World would close an album with. A lone guitar riff with some snaps and harmonized “oohs” enter into a build up with the accompaniment of a female vocalist, and into an explosion of emotion. It’s like slowly filling up a water balloon until it bursts. I recommend listening to this album at full volume, as it just seems to sound better that way.

RIYL: I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business, The Starting Line, classic The Early November

Review by Alisha Kirby

For streaming music visit likeZEBRA.com

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FYF Mixtape Contest

Do you still have a cassette recorder?

FYF Fest announced a new contest that will see a winner receiving five FYF Fest VIP passes and $500 spending money. All you need to do is create the perfect mix tape. According to the contest details, there's no wrong answers.

We want to hear the songs you’ll never get tired of and the songs that you are gonna be in love with for the rest of your life. This mixtape won’t just be a bunch of songs in a pile—it’ll be you.

The rest of the details, including the address to send the tape to, can be found here. Yes, your entry has to actually be on a cassette tape. See the flyer for this year's festival here.

For streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com.

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Genetically Modified Food in Hot Water

HOT WATER MUSIC have a new music video online for "State of Grace." The song is from their latest album, Exister, and it focuses on the concerns of genetically modified food and their effects on health. Watch it below.

Listen to streaming music from Hot Water Music at likeZEBRA.com.

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Review: Mixtapes - "Even On The Worst Nights"

MIXTAPES has always been the band that’s just having fun and writing about the day-to-day things most everyone might go through. Whether they’re going to Dunkin Donuts or just hanging out in front yards, you can bet it’s easily relatable. That’s not always bad. Straightforward songs can be just as emotional or entertaining as obscure analogies and structures. I mean, even The Clash wrote about getting lost in the supermarket and having a less than enjoyable shopping experience (“Lost in The Supermarket”). 

If this review were a Mixtapes song it’d be short, sweet and to the point, like this:

• You won’t find a better summer album, maybe for the next few summers. Put this on in the car and you’ll see what I mean.

• Vocalists Ryan Rockwell and Maura Weaver have finally found the perfect blend and sound fantastic.

• If you can’t appreciate lines like “I’ve spent these last few years on the fence about who I am/And I’ll probably go through it again, and that’s just who I am,” [I'm Wearing the Device (Bridge, Water)] then we have nothing in common.

• In fact, the lyrics in every track have the potential to speak to anyone - this is what makes this album a lasting one.

• Standard four chord pop-punk songs can get old, but not in this case. 

• The drumming is damn good (you’ll catch yourself playing along on the steering wheel more than once, and then realize you don’t care that the car next to you is staring and keep playing).

• Catchy.

• And to expand upon that: You will be singing along after two full listens.

Stream it here.

RIYL: the artists I usually highly recommend to you. Don’t take this short review as me not liking this album, I love it. In fact the first drafts were more like excited rants than reviews.

Review by Alisha Kirby

For streaming music visit likeZEBRA.com

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Goodtime Pre-orders

Bridge 9 Records launched pre-order options and a new song from GOODTIME BOYS, once of the recent additions to the label. Their new EP, Every Landscape, will be available on August 28 and their full-length debut will follow later. Listen to "Callous" here and order the album here.

For streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com.

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Head In The Ceiling Fan

TITLE FIGHT released a music video for a song from their upcoming record, Floral Green. The track, "Head in the Ceiling Fan," can be seen/heard below and a free download link is under the video.

For streaming music and more news, visit likeZEBRA.com.