hot topic

Modern Baseball's debut album, Sports, turns 10 this Nov. 27. Here's how they changed the face of emo with self-reflection and genuineness.

Hot Topic has announced it will be partnering with Veeps to put on a virtual benefit for Mental Health America. The event will raise money in honor of World Mental Health Day. The concert, hosted by My Chemical Romance’s Mikey Way, will kick off Oct. 10 a...

We’re back with the latest AltPress Weekly. Every week, we highlight new things we want you to check out. We call attention to new songs and old hits, classic listens and fresh finds. We’ll also keep you up to date with the latest happenings at Alternative Press, along with the stories we keep coming back to. June is...

For a while now, what used to once fall under the term "alternative" has been pushing its way into the mainstream. Once fringe areas of creativity and artistry now sit comfortably alongside their more traditionally popular forms.  And this holds particularly true when it comes to music and fashion, each feeding off the other in a feedback loop that gets louder and louder, more and more c

After announcing their new album Scaled And Icy to kick start their next era earlier this month, twenty one pilots are back with new track “Choker,” available via Fueled by Ramen. The duo also released a mystical video for the song that features miniature figurines, magic and robbery. Shot in th...

Early in April 2021, Calvin Klein—American fashion house, universal byword for understated cool and, also, underwear with the name of a bisexual icon printed onto the waistband—announced the appointment of Heron Preston as the brand’s new creative consultant. One of those amo...

In revealing their latest capsule collection—a collaboration with Rammstein, Germany’s favorite industrial pyromaniac sons—Paris-based fashion house Balenciaga reminded us this week of something that, had we looked a little closer and paid a little more attention, we should have already known. That revelati...

Last week, Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph sent twenty one pilots fans into a frenzy when they announced their new album Scaled And Icy and unleashed first single “Shy Away.” The album’s artwork features “Trash The Dragon,” a blue creature breathing yellow fire out of its mouth, which Joseph introduced on the “Shy Away” release day. Designer Brandon Rike has teamed back...

You don't have to look back at the Hot Topic crowd's fixation with Hello Kitty to see the influence of Japanese culture on the alternative scene. The music speaks for itself. We've already taken you around the Western world—from Canada to the U.K. and even out to Australia—in our examinati...

If you've followed My Chemical Romance closely over the years, then you've probably tried your hand at cracking a few cryptic clues. From all of those subtle hints about their 2019 reunion to that Frank Iero broken clock analogy that will haunt us forever, My Chemical Romance are the kings of keeping things cryptic...

Modern edgy teens just don't know how good they have it. Between the advancement of beauty items and the meteoric rise of online shopping, a whole new world of alternative aesthetic items is at their fingertips. Those of us who had our scene phases in the 2000s weren't quite as fortunate. If ...

We are just a few months away from seeing Emma Stone bring Cruella De Vil back to life on the silver screen. This May, Disney is officially releasing Cruella, an origin story about the iconic villain from 101 Dalmatians. Now, fans are finally getting a look at the film's official poster and it's catching punk fans' attention for a very good reason...

We are all a little emo in high school. Really, how could you not be? Being a teenager is a turbulent time at best, marked by a slew of new experiences and emotional challenges. And if you hit that point during the 2000s, the alternative music trends of the time likely didn't help...

It’s 2021, and we don’t really understand why people are making such a big deal out of it. After all, each new year just brings everyone closer to death, right? Well, at least this one greeted us with a significant surprise. Raven, The Acid Bath Princess Of The Darkness finally emerged from her long-lasting shroud of anonymity last week to deliver an important message: We’ve all been trolled.  Rav

Singer, songwriter and fashion entrepreneur Maggie Lindemann has been making waves in the alt scene in 2020, and she's just getting started. Having come from a pop background, Lindemann started blending genres and experimenting with rock and metal sounds...

2011, like the years that preceded it, gave us a number of great alternative albums. But can you believe that 2021 is going to bring their 10-year anniversaries? Just like the 2000s came to pass in the blink of an eye, so did the last decade. And...

There are certain opinions that all former emo kids hold. Like how listening to sad, confessional songs is the best way to feel alive or... OK, maybe that's it. Truth be told, there's no one commonality between every emo phase. Don't believe us...

All of you My Chemical Romance fans out there have another Funko Pop! to add to your collection. This week, photos of a new MCR Funko Pop! figure emerged and it looks like the latest collectible is a true nod to one of their classic album covers...

Vocalist and former Secrets member Aaron Melzer has tragically passed away. Melzer was a part of the band between 2013 and 2015 and recorded vocals for their 2013 record Fragile Figures. Read more: Mikey Way honors MCR's 'Danger Days' anniversary with this throwback The band shared a statement late Tuesday honoring Melzer and speaking to what he meant to the band: Today we lost our brother, our fr

We all have that person in our life who lives for showing off their favorite TV shows, movies and pop culture passions by displaying treasures and trinkets proudly. From classic cartoons and anime to video game favorites, it can be intimidating to select a collectible gift that stands out...