The Shape of Punk To Come in 2013

• by Melissa Bobbitt
• Jan 27, 2013

Photo by Myriam Santos

Alas, the title of this article does not hint that the Refused are extending their reunion tour in 2013 nor are recording a new classic. BUT all signs do point to a huge resurgence of punk rock for the coming year. Here are some tasty tidbits we're stoked about:
Bad Religion (above) just released their 16th studio album, True North, and show no signs of slowing down in their fifth (!) decade. They're on an epic globe-trotting tour in support of the rash, raucous record. Check here to see if they're coming to your town. Against Me! will support.

Speaking of Against Me!, we've been hearing about their Transgender Dysphoria Blues since fall 2012, but the band's publicity team still isn't ready to reveal official release dates, tracklists, etc. Significantly, it'll be the Florida outfit's first offering since singer Laura Jane Grace (nee Tom Gabel) fully embraced her womanhood. Those looking for a fun peek into Grace's everyday can enjoy this "House of Style" eppy that visited her and wife Heather's home.

One of this writer's favorite punk bands, Alkaline Trio, should be gracing us with a new album soon. PunkNews.org reported in October that the threesome had completed recording with Descendents' Bill Stevenson at the helm. As to whether they're learning toward the expansive evolution of 2005's Crimson or the scaled-back classic aesthetic of 2010's This Addiction is anyone's guess, but with Stevenson's guidance, we're thinking it's going to be a sharp, crisp take on the latter.

And in this continued episode of "Six Degrees of Bad Religion," Bay Area stalwarts Rancid will enter the studio with Brett Gurewitz next month to hash out their eighth studio album. At the tail end of 2012, they gave fans a free download of the unreleased rioter Fuck You, as part of the compilation Oi! This Is Street Punk Vol. 2 (Pirates Press). His Rancid royal highness Tim Armstrong also kept busy last year by putting out a string of more than 75 cover songs under the Tim Timebomb alias.

Finally, the big kahuna of the punk rock community: Warped Tour. This summer necessity has already announced dates and bands, including ska veterans Reel Big Fish, tongue-in-cheek hip-hopper MC Lars and melodic favorites the Early November.