As announced last Friday, the world’s most irresponsibly deadly animated metal band, Dethklok, will be hitting the road starting June 2nd to annihilate the masses in real time. This is of course exciting in and of itself. But in addition, the barbaric five piece has been busy sharpening their guitar headstocks and Flying V tail fins for decapitations/impalings on the continuation of their second season on [adult swim], which will premier Sunday, May 18th at the only time imaginable (midnight). This follows up a wildly successful start:

In fall 2007, a real-life version of Dethklok, led by co-creator Brendon Small, embarked on a national tour, playing at college campuses around the United States. The college tour heralded the release of the hugely successful album The Dethalbum. The album features songs written and performed by Small from the first season of Metalocalypse, and it debuted at #21 on the Billboard Top 200 as the highest-charting death metal album of all time. Dethklok will embark on its second nationwide tour this summer when Adult Swim Presents Metalocalype’s Dethklok kicks-off on June 2 and travels to 28 cities.

On their Sonic Bids page bio, Lords and Barons simply write, “We make noise.” And they do. And it’s good.

This trio of Los Angelean rockers keep it simple with their sound, too. It’s just sloppy-good rock ‘n’ roll without excess tricks or gimmicks. The lineup is simple guitar, vocals and drums, though it sounds like they had someone playing bass on the recordings. “Sidewalks” is a fun dose of ballsy guitar-heavy pop/rock, but I really like their dirge-y, plaintive anthem “Prelude” the best so far.

Their MySpace page is pretty light on the details, but all you need to know is that they’re pretty rocking. Save all the thinking for something more important and just enjoy yourself.

The highly touted boys from Brighton are back with their sophomore release, Konk, that hit stores earlier this week, but some are questioning whether the pre-release hype matches the merit. The Kook’s debut release Inside In/Inside Out was exceedingly well received, but reviews for Konk have been mixed. Betty Clarke of The Guardian gave the record 4 out 5 stars saying, “The woolliness of their debut has been replaced with a determined pop sound that dips into hard-edged rock,” but New Music Express was less than optimistic, and rather disappointed:

“What’s clear is that they’ve lost the songwriterly knack they originally wielded with abandon and replaced it with clichés and a foggy palimpsest of what they once had. We recommend they search high and low for that spark of brightness in time for album three.” NME.com

I haven’t picked up the record yet, but if the single is any indication it looks like I’m in store for a watered down version of Inside In/Inside Out. To be honest, when I first heard “Always Where I Need To Be” I thought I was still listening to The Kooks first album. Check out thise video below and decide for yourself.

The Kooks- “Always Where I Need To Be”

As previously mentioned, Sub Pop has been planning a little party for their 20th anniversary. Rumors circulate, but now, Sub Pop has made an official announcement. From their press release:

In unabashedly conspicuous celebration of 20 years of not going out of business (sometimes only barely), Seattle’s Sub Pop Records will gather past and present label-mates for a series of events, including a two-day festival at Marymoor Park on July 12 & 13 and a comedy show on July 11 at Seattle’s Moore Theatre. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will go to support beneficiaries of each participating act’s choosing. Tickets go on sale April 26 at 12 PM Pacific at SubPop.com and all Ticketmaster locations.

Confirmed performers include Iron & Wine, Kiwi comedy/rock duo Flight of the Conchords and influential grunge band Green River will make a reunion. Performers for the comedy show include Patton Oswalt, Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry and surprise guests. Sub Pop promises more performer announcements in the coming months as well as special guests.

Tickets go on sale and noon Pacific, April 26th at Subpop.com, Ticketmaster.com or by calling (206) 628-0888. And they’re not even that expensive. Early discount tickets will cost $30 for a one-day pass, $50 for two days; prices will increase to $35 and $60 respectively after May 10th. Comedy show tickets are $20 and available starting the same day and via the same venues. A full list of confirmed bands performing after the jump.
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This is a bit atypical of the bands that we generally choose for Synthesis Band of the Day. No horn-rimmed glasses, waifish broads with ugly indie-rock haircuts, ‘roid-bicep hardcore meatheads, striped sweater wussies or epic Dungeons & Dragons progressive metalheads. No, Phredley brings the funk-rock.

In my fledgling college days, back when tie-dye wasn’t as vomitous and my roommate’s constant Phish-Grateful Dead-Phish musical rotation didn’t drive me completely bonkers, I would have broken my left leg to check out a band like Phredley. Now bad photoshop effects kinda irk me, patchouli oil makes me want to hurl and hippie funk in general just pisses me off. But not Phredley. They’s alright.

Based around a brother-sister duo (Phred Brown on Vocals, Guitar & Horns; Alesha Brown on Keys & Vocals) and a rhythm section (Paul Loos, Drums & Vocals; Samuel Tobias Winn, Bass & Vocals) Phredley lays down funk that is far closer to the heart of nearby Detroit than that of longhair revivalists in Colorado or Vermont. And when they stray toward the pop side of the spectrum, it comes across more as radio-friendly than looking for a parking lot miracle. More importantly (for me at least), their lyrics hold water. With the aforementioned hippie-funk enthusiasts, it’s most often the lyrics that drive me to enraged hysterics; Phredley uses some clever (or nearly clever) turns of phrase. No, Phred’s not Leonard Cohen by any means, but in a sometimes poppy, sometimes rocky funk quartet, it works. Their track “The Truth About Capricorns” also has some pretty, Beatelesque, tonally complex passages. If you’re a big fan of Ben Harper/Jack Johnson/Maroon 5, or your ’70s R&B records don’t have much dust on them, do yourself a favor and look into Phredley.

Okay, kudos to Sneak Attack Media on the email pitch I received the other day. I have NO idea what it’s for, and if it sucks that PR company will be the recipient of a manila envelope with headshot and glitter stars, ala Tobias Funke. But here goes:

“On April 15th there’s going to be a pretty huge announcement in LA, that seriously affects the rock world. Please check out the link below.

http://newmedia.10thst.com/teaser/teaser_rockvine.mov

On April 15, there will be a huge announcement in rock. It will take place in LA and you can win a chance to hear the news first-hand. Check out this video for clues and if you think you know what’s up, enter your guesses at THEROCKVINE.COM for a chance to win.”

Okay, I’ll bite. I’m guessing it’s the announcement of some supposed badass supergroup, or maybe a rock reunion of some sort. I’m hoping dyed long hair and piles cocaine will be involved, though. Sneak Attack Media, your move…