Hello internet! With finals week currently killing off what sanity we have left - I figured the best distraction would be to talk about some music! Here are a bunch of my favorite releases from the month of April:

"Hard Times" by Paramore

This amazing comeback single combines Paramore's alternative rock flare with '70s disco inspiration, and the result is a highly enjoyable track I still can't take off repeat. The lyrical content of "Hard Times" is surprisingly dark for this cross-genre of music, painting a picture of what the band went through leading to the recording of the upcoming album "After Laughter" and how close Paramore really was to calling it quits.

Check out the creative "Hard Times" music video here:

"Puzzle Pieces" by Broadside

If you like pop punk this one is a gift for you! After building up a ton of momentum on last year's Vans Warped Tour, Broadside have announced their second studio album "Paradise" with the release of "Puzzle Pieces" as the lead single. The song is three and a half minutes of energetic and meaningful pop punk - a great summer song and pick me up after the stress and anxiety of finals!

Check it out:

"Don't Let Me Fade Away" by Wage War

Make fun of metalcore all you want - but the second single off Wage War's upcoming second album "Deadweight" is an absolute banger. This track is packed with tons of punch as Cody Quistad soars on the choruses and Briton Bond crushes each of his verses. If you love guitar riffs that make you want to move and lyrics that tug at your heartstrings - look no further.

Enjoy:

"Unbreakable" by Of Mice & Men

Of Mice & Men fans were left in shock in January when founding frontman Austin Carlile exited the heavy-hitter metalcore group. After his departure, the band decided to remain a four piece, and bassist/clean vocalist Aaron Pauley would step up to the plate and assume the frontman position as well. Pauley's vocal dominance on "Unbreakable" is captivating, and brings me back to the days when he fronted Jamie's Elsewhere. Overall, this track is a fantastic return to form for Of Mice & Men, the track giving fans a new confidence about the band's future.

The breakdown on this track is amazing:

"The Violence" by Rise Against

Long time punk-rock favorites Rise Against dropped the first single to their upcoming album "Wolves" completely out of the blue - and it was a very welcome sight for students like my that needed a distraction from final papers. "The Violence" is a fantastic and politically-charged track that will deeply satisfy and fans of Rise Against's last full-length effort "The Black Market."

Check out the audio stream:

"Cursed" by Gideon

If any of you are deeply aggravated or have an issue that's need to be worked out - boy have I got a tune for you. This hard-hitting track combines riff heavy guitars and bass with relentless unclean vocals. And if any of you saw the hardcore show at Hunt Union earlier this semester - vocalist Bryan Garris of headliner Knocked Loose features on the song. Sitting at almost exactly three minutes, "Cursed" is the perfect hardcore song to mosh your final troubles away to.

Come now, mosh with me:

"Fabuless" and "Song 3" by Stone Sour

For those of you that are more fans of hard/radio rock, there is no more classic choice than Stone Sour. The band comprised of Slipknot members delivered back-to-back singles with the announcement of their highly anticipated album "Hydrograd." "Fabuless" is a hard rock song that satirizes those obsessed with fame and fortune, and "Song 3" is very reminiscent of 2000s radio rock (but in a very good way). Both singles are great warm-weather rock songs that will hype you up for the oh so close summer!

It's perfectly okay for you to headbang:

"Lost in the Grey" by Miss May I

Last but most certainly not least - my favorite song of April! Miss May I have just recently signed to their new record label Sharptone Records, with "Lost in the Grey" being a fantastic comeback single.The track showcases the band's maturity and unwillingness to give up playing the music they wan to play. "Lost in the Grey" is an insanely energetic, metalcore single with a soaring chorus and great interplay between vocalists Levi Benton and Ryan Neff. Don't sleep on this song!

You definitely won't be disappointed: