Looks like Vevo is posting mad music videos again and advertising them all over YouTube. This particular advervideo is one that I stumbled across and actually enjoyed. (Who wouldn’t enjoy Charlize Theron killing terrorists with samurai swords and ninja starsin hopes of saving The Killers front man Brandon Flowers!?)

Too $hort proteges The Pack, hailing from Berkeley, CA and responsible for the noted semi-hit “Vans,” are prepping for the release of their new album, Wolfpack Party, and they’re kicking the festivities off with some fun shit. We’ve got said shit embedded below: the album’s titular first single and a video showing the aftermath of said soiree. I’m not a big hip-hop guy in general (Jere is our in-house street scholar), but I do know a little something about partying. And it looks like these dudes can party. Is that enough? Should that be enough? Of course. It’s all good in the hood, if by “hood” you mean fucked-up beer bash involving wolves. So check this stuff out, and get ready for Wolfpack Party -- it’s coming out sometime in the near future. Not sure when, though. The press release doesn’t say and I couldn’t find it online. I’m sure we’ll update you with more details when they’re available, because we’re hardcore. For now, feast your eyes on this shit:

WOLFPACK PARTY:

THE MORNING AFTER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXm99P3HvIU

THE PACK:

• Official Site
• MySpace
• Last.fm

Don’t know where I first saw this at but it looks like Trent Reznor has been up to something. He’s posted a video, and an image on the site HowToDestroyAnAngel.com. Site comes with a full list of sharing links:

More How To Destroy Angels

• How To Destroy Angels Twitter
• How To Destroy Angels Facebook
• How To Destroy Angels MySpace
• How To Destroy Angels YouTube
• How To Destroy Angels Vimeo

01 from How To Destroy Angels on Vimeo.

It’s been a few days since our last video post, and Cory Tendering has gone quiet in his boundless complaints of repetition of our editorial choices. In short, it’s time for another cool video, and because Cory does not know how to work wordpress, or upload video, or anything, I have decided that I would post another video from one of my favorite local Chicago acts, Makeshift Prodigy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AKKxLPCd3A

Makeshift Prodigy

• Listen to the new album stream for free!
• MySpace
• Official Website
• Facebook
• Interview with “Third World” Timmy

In honor of everyone’s favorite drinking holiday (and also because we just favorably reviewed their brand new live disc), we thought we’d sure this festive live clip of Dropkick Murphys performing their smash hit “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.” I’m getting thirsty for some green beer just thinking about this video. So raise a Guinness in salute to the patron saint of getting ridiculously shitfaced and enjoy:

We love The Swellers. We think Ups & Downsizing, their 2009 disc for Fueled By Ramen, was one of the best records released last year; we still listen to it every day while we punch each other in the nuts and make poo poo jokes at the office. And lead Swelldog Nick Diener was kind enough to let us interview him earlier this year, in probably the coolest thing that’s happened to us since we got into this blogging game. So we are contractually obligated to share any and all Swellers-related tidbits with you. Here’s a good one: it’s a video of the dudes rocking their massive, butt-bangingly crazy single “Fire Away” live on the recent Motion City Soundtrack Dino Initiative tour. I think you’re gonna like it – and when I say “think, ” I mean “know.” (Also: “like” means “lose your shit and dance around like you just scored tickets to the N*Sync reunion tour.”) Check it:

There’s also a quick interview with the guys about being more like truck drivers than musicians with all the touring they do.

The Swellers:

• MySpace
• Official Site
• Last FM
• iTunes

Hey, did you know that we’re grown-ass men who LOVE Paramore? Well, we are! We received their latest album, Brand New Eyes, quite enthusastically, and we’ve been impatiently waiting for some strong new video sauce from them. Now it’s here! Their new video for “The Only Exception” should be absolute manna to thirteen year-old girls and their pervy uncles alike, plus pop-punk lifers like us. I personally would not have chosen this for the next single (“Looking Up” and “The Only Exception” both shine brighter and bang harder), but I guess they gotta appease the wussies every now and then. Anyways — watch the shit now:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI2HjQSCTrc

More steamy pop-punk action:

• Official site

• MySpace

• LastFM

• Fan site

It’s no secret that Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy is one of the best songwriters currently working. He’s consistently delivered memorable, meat-and-potatoes heartland rock that stands the test of time. And one of the best ways to judge a song is by how well other bands cover it. JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, an enterprising soul/mod band from Chicago, recently covered the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot classic “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” for KDHX, and they transform it into a stomping, writhing pile of goodness. Get a load of this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7-7x5lJiaQ

I don’t believe it’s an exaggeration to call that “righteous.” I highly recommend you check these fiery bros out at one of their upcoming Chicago shows and get the glory live. They’re playing the Shrine on February 28, and you can see ‘em again at Tonic Room on March 10 and 24. 

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound:

• MySpace
• RCRDLBL
• CD Baby

I have a confession, and it may not exactly startle you: AFI, those long-runnings lords of the semi-dark arts, make exactly the kind of decadent, foofy cheese that I absolutely love to spread on my brain-crackers. I find them much more interesting as a bunch of trussed-up party boys melting teenage hearts than as Misfits-indebted hardcore punkers, so their latest album (last year’s amazing Crash Love) has been on pretty much constant rotation in my absinthe room ever since its release. You probably already know where you stand with these guys, but their flashy new video for “Beautiful Thieves” is definitely worth a look: it’s well-directed, features lots of attractive people in fancy clothes, and, well – Davey Havok is the kind of dude that, if he asked me to leave my girlfriend and run away with him to be fabulous and eat tofu, I probably would. If you doubt, go ahead and check yourself right here:

AFI across the web:

• Official Site
• LastFM
• MySpace
• Despair Faction (Fan Club)

Alkaline Trio has released the video to their latest single off of their new album of the same name, This Addiction. Check out the video below.

Want to go to the sold out album release show in Chicago?

We’re giving away two tickets to see Alkaline Trio at The Metro in Chicago to one of the people who sign up for our newsletter contest we have going on our site. (We’re not kidding, Third World Timmy is literally holding on to the tickets in his hand in the picture below. )

All you have to do is sign up for our newsletter and follow the directions sent to you on the 18th of this month (February) and if you’re the first one to finish the “scavenger” hunt of sorts you could win the two tickets, or an Alkaline Trio vinyl and a copy of the new album! The best part: beers on us before the show if you win!

A Facebook friend of ours turned us on to this video by the UK band Architects from their album Hollow Crown. (link opens in iTunes) It definitely appeals to me more aesthetically than the other video I posted this week by HIM. It’s full on, face-melting heavy metal. Just the way I like it.

Want to share stuff with us? Add us as a friend on Facebook and post to our wall!

Want to hear more Architects?

• Architects Official MySpace
• Architects album, Hollow Crown on iTunes
• Architects on Wikipedia

Las Vegas Rockers Adelita’s Way are headed out on their new tour in 2010 with Theory of a Deadman. The tour is in support of their self-titled, major label debut Virgin Records. As for the Assault team I’m not sure we’ll be able to make it to the show here in Chi-town as it’s on a school night, but for those of you mainsteam rock fans, you may want to check it out.

In the meantime, they’ve released a new single, “Dirty Little Thing” on their MySpace and they also show a tour video in their van–where all the magic happen son tour.

Upcoming tour dates with Theory of a Deadman:

Fireworks have released a new video for “Detroit,” which appears their 2009 full-length debut, All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion. If I were in a punk rock band, and I was going to make a music video. I would want it to be like this. Guerrilla style–except I think I’d break into my old high school and do it on the football field.

Checkout Fireworks on iTunes if you haven’t heard of them. They’re one of my favorite punk bands to rock to right now.

Want to hear more Fireworks?

• Fireworks on iTunes
• Fireworks MySpace
• Fireworks on Wikipedia

The Fold playing at Metro Chicago. (Link opens in iTunes)

A few weeks ago we bloggy mcblogstered a video from one of our Chicago favorites The Fold that was shot on their iPhone 3GS parodying pop punk to the tune of Miley Cyrus’ “Party In The USA.” As you may have heard on AbsolutePunk, The Fold are now being sued. Most of the activity on the boards was supportive of The Fold, but unfortunately for The Fold, Miley and friends–it wasn’t all nice.

Alas, she is not to blame in this particular scenario. I would imagine it’s her record company, Hollywood Records, who are making the big stink–like you needed another reason to hate a big record company. The Fold have unfortunately removed most of the mentions of their parody song from their MySpace and hidden the video from YouTube, but luckily here at Assault, I flat out do not care about getting sued because quite honestly, I don’t have a record contract of any kind, and I also don’t have any money! Plus, the file isn’t hosted here, and who knows who could have uploaded it? I just found it.

If you’d like to see the entire video in it’s entirety, you can download it here: The Fold – Every Band In The USA.

The one thing I couldn’t help but notice about the majority of the negative posts, especially the ones coming from Aaron Marsh of Copeland, was that the band deserves what they get because they made a parody–with t-shirts–with the direct intention of making a buck on the mainstream appeal of the Miley Cyrus song, coupled with digs at the Glamour Kills/3OH!3. Of course they did it to get mainstream attention. What do musicians on YouTube do when they want to get more views and more fans? They do a cover of a popular song with their own spin. What internet meme, or catchy one liner doesn’t get turned into a t-shirt in this day and age? The Fold is merely playing the game.

But when they printed those shirts it stopped being about their music and started being about the stunt, and I think that sucks. It sucks that bands have to resort to things other than their music to get attention. Maybe that’s just the way music is headed.

Feel free to disagree with me on this, but shouldn’t a band be doing everything it can to make mainstream success if it means nothing more than the ability to keep making music? (And Aaron Marsh isn’t out of line in what he said–he’s a talented musician and has valid points in what he said on AbsolutePunk.)

This whole situation reminds me of what Jim Powers of Minty Fresh Records said in his presentation at Tour:Smart Plus. He held up a venn diagram that he had drawn before his presentation, (Remember those?) which had the words, “The Mainstream” on the left side, dollar signs in the middle, and the words, “Your Creative Vision” on the right side. For extra emphasis he had a huge arrow pointed to the dollar signs in the middle with the words, “BOOYAH!!!!” above them.

In case you can’t visualize that illustrious description like me, former art college student can, the point was that you have to find the crossover in your creative vision that appeals to the masses to open up more doorways. Sure you can just stick to your guns, tour for 10+ years with the same band, van, crew, and fans, but most bands will never achieve the success that most musicians envision when they decide to make music their life.

Achieving, “mass appeal,” as The Situation would say, is always going to come at the cost of some of your ideals in the form of t-shirts and the occasional stunt–at least The Fold is having fun doing it. I have a feeling there are plenty of guys playing one man acoustic shows at your local Potbellies, or opening up at 5pm on a Tuesday at your local VFW who refused to compromise their creative ideals too.

If the worst thing a band I like ever did to me was release a cover song as a stunt to sell some shirts then that’s just fine with me. (See Rise Against – Making Christmas)

It’s also good to see the lawsuit hasn’t damaged their besties status with Miley. She’s still their top friend on MySpace. So I’m guessing this whole thing was a big joke–but nonetheless. I digress.

Our newest friends over at DyingScene have posted about a new video from A Wilhelm Scream for their hit song Australias that was just posted on Hurley.com. According to the band, “There will be more live songs added to the Hurley site thru the weekend, so be sure to keep checking back!”

Australias is the debut track off A Wilhelm Scream’s latest release, a self-titled EP that hit stores late November on Paper + Plastick Records.

More News On A Wilhelm Scream:

• Watch a new music video for “Fun Time” by A Wilhelm Scream
• Stream A Wilhelm Scream’s upcoming EP
• Band Spotlight: A Wilhelm Scream

Iconic Finnish rockers HIM have just released a new video for “Heartkiller,” the first single off their upcoming album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. While I can’t say I like the art direction, and overall aesthetic, the song isn’t all that bad. For some reason I can’t help but be reminded of that movie Queen of the Damned with that weird rocker vampire Lestat de Lioncourt. Check out the video and an interview with Ville about the video below.

HIM frontman Ville Valo recently sat down with Metal Hammer magazine to discuss the forthcoming album saying, “Lyrically, it’s the most sexual

Direct Hit - Ronnys | May 7, 2010

Nick Woods and his crew play an all ages show at Ronny's in Chicago. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

38 Photos

The Action Blast - House of Blues | February 2010

The Action Blast's first show at House of Blues in Chicago. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

80 Photos

Welcome To Ashley - Darkroom | Chicago, May 29, 2010

Oswald Hobbes and "Third World" Timmy's second show at the Darkroom, and Welcome To Ashley did not disappoint. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

36 Photos

Empires - Lincoln Hall | Chicago, February 12, 2010

Empires plays a show at one of "Third World" Timmy's favorite new venues in Chicago, Lincoln Hall. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

108 Photos

The Fireship - Lincoln Hall | February 12, 2010

The Fireship opened up for Empires at Lincoln Hall, and I can see why they won the Pacific Sun battle of the bands competition. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

13 Photos

This Is Me Smiling - Lincoln Hall | February 12, 2010

This Is Me Smiling also opened up for Empires at Lincoln Hall, and were the pleasant surprise of the night. Rufus Wainwright eat your heart out. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

20 Photos

A Hero Named Hope - The Metro | August 15, 2009

Adam Hendle and friends from A Hero Named Hope in their first headling show at Metro. Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

29 Photos

Jemina Pearl - Beat Kitchen | February 6, 2010

By far one of the most energetic punk rock shows I have been to in a long time. "It's JEMEEEEAAAAANA not like aunt Jemima!" Photography by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90.

20 Photos

Kid, You'll Move Mountains - Lincoln Hall | February 5, 2010

"Third World" Timmy's first show at Lincoln Hall and it was a doozy with indie-rockers Kid, You'll Move Mountains. All photography shot on a Nikon D90.

22 Photos

The Swellers - The Metro | November 24, 2009

One of "Third World" Timmy's favorite new bands of 2009, and he's lucky enough to snap a few shots of them with his D90 during their quick set at The Metro.

13 Photos

Torch Singer - Ronny's | January 8, 2010

The Sarmiento's and their new band play at the dark and mysterious dive bar Ronny's. All photography shot by "Third World" Timmy on his Nikon D90 after drinking 7 PBRs.

18 Photos

Welcome To Ashley - Empty Bottle | February 13, 2010

Photos from Welcome To Ashley's headlining set at one of my new favorite rock joints, The Empty Bottle. All photography on done with the Nikon D90.

19 Photos

Kina Grannis - Beat Kitchen | Chicago June 10, 2010

Kina Grannis plays to a packed house at Beat Kitchen and gets numerous requests for her hand in marriage. Photography by Tim Toomey on his Nikon D90.

6 Photos

Geronimo! - Fireside | June 22, 2010

Geronimo! headlines at the Fireside Bowl. All photography by Tim Toomey on his Nikon D90.

9 Photos

The Please And Thank Yous - Fireside | June 22, 2010

The Please And Thank Yous opened up for Geronimo! at the legendary Fireside Bowl in Chicago. For some reason they left the lights on though? All photos by Tim Toomey on his D90.

7 Photos

Jonny Rumble - Beat Kichen | June 25, 2010

Jonny Rumble rocks Oswald Hobbes' and "Third World" Timmy's fucking faces off at their album release show at the Beat Kitchen. All photography by Tim Toomey on his D90.

16 Photos

He added, “I like the immediacy of it. There’s a lot of information put in short songs and they don’t let go. That was the whole vibe for me. You should have seen me working the vocals out in the middle of the night, amongst my taxidermy owls in the tower screaming my guts out, unable to stop until 9:00 a.m. and then sleeping on a couch for two hours before starting again. So the whole process of the album is very close to that mental boner that just didn’t go away.”

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice will hit stores in the U.S. on February 9th. For more information on HIM, visit their official site at www.heartagram.com.

Ville talks about Heartkiller

Just caught wind of this band from Jamey of Hatebreed on Twitter. Thy Will Be Done “Earth’s Final Embrace” video from their debut album, “Was And Is To Come”. The band is released their follow up to ‘Was And Is To Come’, “In Ancient Of Days” on June 30th, 2009 via Stillborn Records.

One of the first hardcore heavy metal bands I ever became a die-hard fan of has just released their newest video featuring front man Corey Taylor. If you’ve never heard of Slipknot, punch yourself in the face.

Slipknot‘s new video for “Snuff” was co-directed by SLIPKNOT’s own M. Shawn Crahan and renowned photographer/director P.R. Brown. The “short-film” features frontman Corey Taylor as never seen before, interwoven in an intricate storyline.

Rise Against released their video for Savior awhile ago, but they had such good feedback they decided to release a performance only version of the video. I’ve been busy killing polar bears and fighting off frostbite in Chicago the last few days, and the power only came on in the last 20 minutes for me supply you with this tastey rock morsel, my little rock n roll bitches.

More Rise Against

• Official Rise Against Website
• Rise Against on Twitter
• Rise Against on MySpace
• Rise Against on iTunes

Like Rise Against? How about an orchestral version: The Vitamin String Quartet

And just in case you’re a fan of orchestral music, The Vitamin String Quartet did several covers of Rise Against’s songs. It’s the first time I ever considered a group of classical musicians totally badass. You can get it in iTunes here.

From time to time I am delighted with an “epic as fuck” music video that reminds me of the good old days when… well, when bands actually made cool, hip videos with totally sweet dance moves. This video is precisely that, and now I’m punching myself in the face for not going to see Chromeo when the funk duo was in town this October. God damn Halloween parties.

Want more Chromeo?

• Chromeo on iTunes
• Chromeo on Green Label Sound
• Chromeo Official Website