Netherlands-based label Garden of Exile Records has announced that it will be releasing a split 7" featuring Swedish metalcore act Burst and Germany's The Ocean with artwork from Seldon Hunt (Isis, Neurosis, Pelican). Burst contributes a slower, more experimental track entitled "Flight's end" and The Ocean's song will be called "Killing the flies" and will feature guest vocals from Tomas Hallbom of Breach (SWE) and Nate Newton from Converge. It comes out in mid-October.

Today's oldie classic comes from Him Kerosene, one of my all-time favorites. Seriously, this is the kind of stuff I live for: huge walls of discordant guitars, dissonant melodies and a heavy rhythm section. What more do you need? This is the post-hardcore/indierock sound that got me hooked on the Norrland scene. From early Fireside, Starmarket and Brick to other bands like KVLR, Breach, Convoj and Seven Feet Four (not from the North, I know), Him Kerosene helped define and establish what I consider to be my favorite sound. And let's not forget HK frontman Niklas Quintana's newest band The End Will Be Kicks, also featuring ex-HK drummer Tomas Turunen. Today's selection comes from the sadly out-of-print magnum opus "Start.Stop", first released back in 1997 on Telegram/Warner, but it must be said that all of their releases are brilliant and worth tracking down even if they aren't quite so readily available. It's worth it, trust me. You want to start a band that I'm enthusiastically endorse, here's your blueprint.

Interview: Peter Ahlqvist (Burning Heart Records)

At the risk of total bandwidth overload, I've added a crapload of new mp3s added today including something from one of my longtime favorites, Swedish industrial act Sanctum. Four more Kristofer Åström live tracks as well. Also, as I was so nicely informed by ex-drummer Janne Westerberg, those live Breach tracks are actually from 1997, not 1998 as they were originally labelled.

The last two Breach tracks from that live set are now up. As said before, they've been one of my favorite bands for a long time so I encourage you to check 'em out. If anyone else has any other live stuff from them, please please pass it along. I'd love to hear it.

New live tracks today from one of my all-time favorite bands Breach. They started out as a relatively run-of-the-mill hardcore band, but eventually evolved and mutated into something totally unique, culminating with the brilliant final album "Kollapse" in 2001. This recording is from just after the release of "It's me god" which marked the turning point in the band's career as they expanded their sound and discovered their own niche. First three tracks are up today, the rest will soon follow.

Top ten: First half 2004

Streaming playlist: Instrumental

Interview: Niklas Quintana/The End Will Be Kicks

Chalksounds is starting to take pre-orders on the debut release from The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from Niklas Quintana (ex-Breach, Him Kerosene). I shouldn't have to tell you, but of course it's awesome. 4 tracks, 1000 copies. Act now: http://www.chalksounds.com/
Audio samples on the pop-up window.

The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from Niklas Quintana of Him Kerosene/Breach fame, will release their debut 4-song single on April 12 via Chalksounds. If the one song I already heard is any indication, it's gonna be a monster. Full length drops in the fall, samples and artwork coming soon.

I do believe that I can now confirm that Chalksounds has signed The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from guitarist/vocalist Niklas Quintana of Him Kerosene and Breach fame. The band also features drummer Tomas Turonen from both those acts and we can be sure to expect great things from them. The one demo track I've heard already of "Lucifer Over Luleå" is pretty great and definitely follows strongly in the classic Him Kerosene tradition of Norrland-flavored indierock that I love. More info soon.

And the Sound has let the cat out of the bag about the new Chalksounds signee KO, the new band from ex-Him Kerosene frontman and ex-Breach guitarist Niklas Quintana. Well, it turns out to not be completely true as the band doesn't have a name yet and they're still working out details for the contract. However, I did heard a rough mix of a track without vocals and I can confirm that the sound is more akin to earlier HK material in that it's faster and much more rockin' than their later stuff. That part is true and confirmed. Classic Norrland-style indie rock, so you know I'm diggin' it and can't wait to hear the album when it's done.

I encoded Kristofer Åström's performance from the Crossing Borders fest (see 12/03) into mp3s. They sound pretty darn good, too. Check it out on the right.

Cult of Luna's new album "The Beyond" will be released February 10 on Earache Records. Fans of bands such as Breach or Neurosis should take note.

Opeth has an audio feature on the New York Times website. It requires you register before listening, but it's free and a good listen. Check it.

Listen to some mp3s from Philemon Arthur & the Dung, er "and the Vic", that were done using a Commodore 64 right here.

Lars Winnerbäck is working on a new album. The tentative tile is "Söndermarken" and it should be out March 3. He's also confirmed to do some touring around Scandinavia beginning late March and I do believe that tickets will be on sale soon.

The Finnish black metal/folk band Finntroll is in the process of recording a new EP for release in the spring next year. The music is apparently more "acoustic/experimental" and they describe one of the already-completed tracks as "a bit like what happens if you crossbreed Midgårds Söner, Bal-Sagoth and Danny Elfman's various works." They go on further to say that there are "some surprises coming up, maybe some Oi!-influences and more evil and more 'disturbed' stuff." As for the search to replace their departed vocalist Katla, they added:

Whatever happens concerning the studio, one thing is for sure: Katla will take care of every single lyric and song title on the album. We are trying some new fellows, and may actually have already decided who it will be, but I can't give any proper information until we all have agreed about it. Most likely Katla won't sing in the album, and thus we have two alternatives left: Either we find a suitable, non-compromising (no second-rate trolls approved!) brutal, trollish and evil vocalist.....or then we do the screeching and roaring by all of the members left. How we do that on stage then, is another and a very good question indeed. However, most likely a new vocalist will step in."

Dan Swanö will be holding a listening party and online chat for his band Nightingale on December 8 from 6 to 8pm Eastern Time. They will be playing the entire new album "Alive Again" along with various selections from Swanö's vast ouvere. To listen go to http://www.seismicradio.com/ and click the 'listen' tab. To join the chat, either click the 'chat' button on the site or log onto IRC using server irc.forestnet.org, port 6667, room #seismic.