Vicious metal-edged hardcore band First Blood have officially joined Pure Noise Records and released a new album, Rules, on February 10th. It marks a new chapter for the band as they join the label’s eclectic roster, which includes fellow hardcore acts like Terror, Knocked Loose, and Senses Fail.

On their first album in 7 years, First Blood has come out swinging with Rules. Produced by recording mastermind Will Putney at Graphic Nature Studios in Belleville, NJ, Rules features 12 tracks of the band's hardest, yet most inward-looking material to date. Elaborating on the album title, Schwartz adds, "Rules are everywhere. Explicit rules. Unwritten rules. Unspoken rules. The rule of law. Some rules we accept. Others we hate or choose to ignore. Frequently, those who set the rules are found guilty of breaking those rules. Many have become victims of the rules they live by, either by conquest or consent. I hope that, after listening to this album and reading the lyrics, we can revisit and remind ourselves of the very essence of the underground music scene: Living our own lives by our own rules."

That rebellious sentiment can be felt throughout the band’s torrential new song ‘Rules of Life’, which pushes back against society’s norms and puts a fist in the air for individuality and freedom of thought. “We are often the product of the rules we are taught to live by,” Schwartz adds. “Growing up, someone I looked-up to once told me, "You wake up everyday. You go to a job you hate. You come home miserable. Then you go to bed. And then you do it again. And again. And again. And then you die. That's life." For a while, I believed this was true. Now that I am older and have a son of my own, I wish for him to see things differently--to live differently. To him, I say "Have courage to stand on your own. Follow what you believe even when you're alone. Be strong. Be proud. Be brave. Be a fucking rebel instead of a slave. See the world and follow your dreams. Wolfgang, this is for you. That's life."

First Blood - Rules Tracklist:

1. Fuck The Rules

2. These Are The Rules

3. Rules Meant To Be Broken

4. Rules Of Life

5. Rules Of Conviction

6. Rules Of Engagement

7. Rules Of Justice

8. Rules Of Survival

9. Rules Of Freedom

10. Rules Of Sacrifice

11. Rules Of Government

12. Rules Of Crisis

First Blood will tour Europe & UK with Deez Nuts and Comeback Kid in February - UK dates are below;

13 February Mama Roux's Birmingham

14 February Sound Control Manchester

15 February O2 Academy London 

Since making their OWSLA debut with ‘Back To Back’ as the lead single on OWSLA's Worldwide Broadcast compilation, Barely Alive has been hard at work on their first project since signing to the label.

Following a debut album, a string of singles and remixes for big names like DJ Snake and Yellow Claw, the duo makes their return with their new Domain EP. The four-track EP continues to establish them as staples of no-frills dance music, keeping with their trademark bombastic and energetic sound.

Stream the EP here

Domain Tracklisting:

1. CA$H

2. Elastic Nightmare

3. Kickin In (feat. Chloe Stamp) 

4. Gumby