The Almost have finished recording their new album! The follow up to Monster Monster will be called The Fear Inside Our Bones and will be out in the first half of 2013.

New record is done, and we're leaving for our first US tour in a long while. Stoked for that! East coast - get your shoes on.

— The Almost (@TheAlmost) December 8, 2012

Not quite a music video, but it's the closest we'll get for a bit. The new song from RED's new album Release The Panic has just hit the web - what do you think??

Lifehouse are pretty much set to go to release Almeria on December 7. Just this weekend they posted the full tracklist (including deluxe edition and bonus track lineup) on their facebook.

So you know that One Republic song, "Feel Again"?? Aside from being an awesome tune (and on their new album which is meant to be out soon!), there's a great cause behind the song.

Have a look at this video where Ryan Tedder chats about using real heartbeats from kids in Malawi & Guatemala to make the drum loop for the song.

Ex-American Idol contestant Colton Dixon will release his debut album A Messenger in January 2013. His singles "Never Gone" and "You Are" should be on the album as well.

With O God Save Us All releasing pretty much now (though it isn't on kiwi iTunes yet... grrrrr), Disciple have posted the full album online for you to stream for free.

There's your weekend listening sorted.

RED are releasing regular teaser videos to build anticipation for their new album out February 5 next year. The only major info we know now is that the album will be called Release The Panic. More to come...

Remember Fiction Family? The project featuring Jon Foreman from Switchfoot and Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek is back with a new album coming out the end of January 2013.

For more info, hit up their website, and to remind of the goodness to come, here's "When She's Near" from their debut release a couple of years ago.

**UPDATE** There's a sneak peek of the new single "Relight The Fire" from New Empire on the interwebs now! Tracks out on iTunes this Saturday

Pete Gillies from New Empire has left the band. You can read his message on facebook here, but here's the main bit you need:

During my time of self reflection this year, I've come to terms with the fact that I have dreams, goals and desires that are existent outside of the band, and the only way I can now be true to myself, is to pursue them with everything I have.

The band are still gonna go strong, they have a new single coming out December 1, a new album not long after that, and of course will be headlining Parachute 2013 in January!!!

Young Lyre are releasing their debut EP Night Swimming this Friday - there's an EP release show at 1885 in Auckland which is free to get along to - and make sure you order your copy of the EP for $10 from the Young Lyre bandcamp page.

Check out this video of recording footage and general shenanigans!