Download a free album from Danish indie act Melvis and the Papercuts, a band that features members from I Am Bones, Beta Satan and others: http://www.iambones.dk/mp3/melvis_and_the_paper_cuts.zip

Danish indierockers Beta Satan have posted the track "Math and chemistry" from the 7" split with countrymates Lack on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/betasatan
Good stuff!

MP3: Lack - Achilles and the tortoise

Lack, one of my favorite modern hardcore acts, has a new split 7" with Beta Satan (preview clip here) plus a new album on the way early next year. They've progressed an immense over the years, so I figure it's a good time to check in again with where they came from. Their 2001 debut "Blues Moderene: Danois Explosifs" is considered by many to be the finest post-Refused album emulating the Swedes' angular, polyrhythmic style. Personally, I'm a much, much bigger fan of the 2005 follow-up "Be there pulse", a far more melodic and progressive album. The huge gap between records gave them ample time to regroup and reemerge as a band with their own distinctive sound. However, there's certainly something to be said for that first album. I think it actually holds up much better than Refused's "The shape of punk to come" as it's far more streamlined and fierce. The jazzy bits and electronica dabblings that seemed so amazing and groundbreaking at the time of its release, come off as tired now. What Lack manages to do, is refine all the other bits that made Refused so good. Sure, there's tons of other 'core bands that can out-tech them, but that's not the point. That whole riff-salad approach doesn't appeal to me anyhow, especially if you don't have anything to say. For Lack (and Refused too, for that matter), that's not a problem. As to where their career takes them next, guess we'll have to wait and see.

Lack - Achilles and the tortoise

Crunchy Frog posts more info about the signing of Beta Satan: http://www.crunchy.dk/asp/default.asp?News_Id=223

Download the Morten Riis (Beta Satan) remix of "Let's leave the city" by I Am Bones: http://www.iambones.dk/mp3/LetsLeaveTheCityMortenRiisRemix.mp3

Up-and-coming Danish act Beta Satan has signed with Crunchy Frog who will release their debut album next fall. Look for the band's new split 7" with fellow Danes Lack any day now via the also-excellent label Play/Rec and hear more at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/betasatan

Play/Rec will be putting out a split 7" featuring Danish acts Lack and Beta Satan. More details soon.

Danish hardcore act Lack began recording their third album this week with engineer Per Knold, the gentleman responsible for recording most every Play/Rec artist nowadays and also the drummer in Menfolk. Kenneth Andersen, the live sound engineer for fellow Danes Figurines and I Am Bones and guitarist for Beta Satan, will mix.

Danish act The Late Parade has been picked up by Good Tape Records. The band will record their debut EP with producer Frederik Thaae (Murder, I Am Bones, Beta Satan) for a September release. Listen to a demo track here: http://www.myspace.com/thelateparade

Beta Satan is a new electro-pop-grindcore sideproject offspring of Danish act Tiger Tunes. Check out two songs on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/betasatan