Is the release date dead?

Ask www.icemagazine.com.

Also, I sure hope it does, as I just heard....

release dates:
Single : Loose Cannon / Wardance - Monday 14th July
Album : Killing Joke - Monday 28th July

I think, mainly due to the webbernet's propencity for pre-release date track leakage, the actual release date isn't quite as earth-shaking an event as it once was. I mean, how excited are you gonna get to go buy an album which you've heard all the songs off of already?

(note: I personally occasionally specifically avoid listening to some things until they are officially released, such as was the case with the new Cex album, so as to increase the excitement of getting the rekkid)

I'm just as excited if I get an album on wednesday as on tuesday, so what the hey...

Release dates don't mean that much with real independent record companies and they really piss off some small record store owners who are like "Goddamnit, I don't care what Melt Banana told you, I'll get their album when I get it!"