Johan Bergqvist reports he has finished up shooting the video for his new single "This Could Be Our Time". And if you look to your right you'll see that you can download an exclusive mp3 of the track right now. But yeah, the video's done and the CD is being sent off to get mastered, so it's on track for its May release. Johan's also got plans for yet another video - on April 26 he's off to shoot one for the song "Lovelace" as he says he "found a nice location with a grand piano." I'll keep you posted.

People in the US - don't forget about Sahara Hotnights on Conan O'Brien tonight along with guest Adam Sandler.

Here's a bunch of pics from the 2001 Avrika fest, including acts such as The Hellacopters, TSOOL, Mustasch, Nasum, and The Haunted.

Problems arose when the grizzly bear appearing in the video went berserk...

Apparently there were some problems onsite at Turbonegro's video shoot for the song "Sell Your Body (To The Night)" which was being filmed in LA with help from the Jackass dudes. Read more at the the band's website.

"Their mesmerising guitar excursions are worthy of early Pink Floyd; the tunes are beyond brilliant; this is, without question, among the most supremely desirable stoner albums you are likely to hear all year" - James Delingpole, Sunday Telegraph, on "Every Time A Bell Rings An Angel Gets Its Wings"

Folks in London get the lucky opportunity to see Logh for free at 93ft East in London on April 14. The show starts at 7:30 and if I was you, I wouldn't miss it.

Been awhile since I heard from these guys, but the Diamond Dogs are going on tour:

4/21 - Monroes, Workingston (UK)
4/22 - Roadmenders, Norhhampton (UK)
4/23 - Markoni Club, Chelmsford (UK)
4/24 - Penningtons Live, Bradford (UK)
4/25 - Baths Hall, Scunthorpe (UK)
4/26 - Cheese and Grain, Frome (UK)
4/27 - Patti Pavilion, Swansea (UK)
4/28 - Camden Underworld, London (UK)
5/02 - Culturen, Västerås
5/08 - El Sol, Madrid (ESP)
5/09 - Stereo, Alicante (ESP)
5/10 - La Casa del Loco, Zaragoza (ESP)
5/13 - University, Granada (ESP)
5/15 - La Nasa, Santiago (ESP)
5/16 - Auditorium Intersecciones, Oviedo (ESP)
5/17 - Azkena, Bilbao (ESP)

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 4
03. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
04. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
05. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel
06. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
07. Jill Johnson - Discography
08. The Refreshments - On the rocks
09. Dilba - Revolution
10. Emil Sigfridsson - Tillbaka till igår
11. Fernandoz - Vem får din kärlek i natt
12. Roxette - The pop hits
13. Gloria - People like you and me
14. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
15. The Knife - Deep Cuts
16. The Sounds - Living in America
17. Wilmer X - Lyckliga hundar
18. Rikard Wolff - Du får mig (om jag får dig)
19. Anders Widmark featuring Sara Isaksson - s/t
20. Kikki Bettan Lotta - Live från Rondo

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(12) The Donnas "Take It Off"
(13) Melody Club "Covergirl"
(16) Kamera "At Work"
(18) Ron Sexsmith Ft. Chris Martin "Gold In Them Hills"
(20) Lil' Kim Ft. Mr Cheeks "The Jump Off"

ZTV will begin broadcasting a TV version of Hitlisten, Sweden's official sales chart, compiled by IPFI affiliate GLF and published every Thursday.

Magnus Carlson from the Weeping Willows has his new Eggstone-produced solo album coming out July 9. Turns out he's getting even more outside help, this time from film director Lukas Moodysson (Fucking Åmal/Show Me Love, Tillsammans/Together)and Radio Dept. Lukas has reportedly helped out with some lyric writing while Radio Dept. and Magnus played together at their home in Malmö. The first single will be for the song "Jag ber dig", a cover of the Northern Soul-hit "Beggin'" with Swedish lyrics.

Moneybrother is heading on tour in support of his new, forthcoming album "Blood Panic". The dates:

5/21 - Stockholm, Södra Teatern
5/22 - Karlstad, Glada Ankan
5/23 - Oslo, So What
5/30 - Göteborg, Playground @ Pustervik
5/31 - Linköping, Rocksensation
5/27 - Malmö, Trenchtown @ KB

Mobbade Barn Med Automatvapen (MBMA) have a new 12" coming out in May called "Nu Ännu Drygare" with four songs. Breakmecanix and Embee (Loop Troop) handled the production and Timbuktu and Chords make guest appearances.

Here's an interview with Sami Liuski of Rovaniemi, Finland aka 8-Bit Rockers and Bangkok Impact among others. He talks about his upcoming touring activities and the Finnish electronic music scene, among other interesting topics. Those dates:

4/23 - Pianos, NYC, NY
4/24 - Rhode Island
4/25 - Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
4/26 - Touch Supper Club, Cleveland, OH
4/27 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, MI
4/30 - Noise Lab, Seattle
5/01 - Blackbird, Portland, OR
5/02 - Obscura Digital, San Fransisco
5/05 - Knitting Factory, Los Angeles
5/06 - Los Angeles
5/08 - Sin 13, San Antonio
5/09 - The Elysium, Austin, TX
5/10 - Mermaid Lounge, New Orleans
5/11 - Miami
5/13 - Highlight, Chappel Hill, North Carolina
5/14 - Heaven and Hell, Washinton DC
5/16 - Ivy South, NYC, NY, USA

Danish dance duo Junior Senior are heating things up over in Britain. Not only are they in the singles chart at #5 with "Move Your Feet", but they're also planning to do either dates over there in May, starting with Glasgow Barfly on the first and ending with Liverpool Barfly on the 11th.

Division of Laura Lee has lined up a few extra dates around their appearance at the upcoming Coachella fest near LA:

4/21 - Houston, Engine Room
4/22 - Austin, Emos
4/23 - Dallas, Gypsy Tea Room
4/25 - Phoenix, Mason Jar
4/26 - Indio, Coachella

UPDATED: David & the Citizens will be on P3 Pop on April 14 from 10pm till midnight. They'll be playing live and chatting with Hanna in studio. They'll be sure to play the song "Glued to the Light" from the new EP "New Direction" they say, but they'll also be premiering two brand new tracks. As this news implicates, the band is already making plans for their next record - they'll be hitting the studio in May with plans to get it out around September.

In Flames have revealed the details for their forthcoming EP entitled "Trigger". The track listing is as follows:

01. Trigger (single edition)
02. Watch Them Feed (new song)
03. Land Of Confusion (Genesis cover)
04. Cloud Connected (Club Connected Remix)
05. Moonshield (C64 Karoke Version)

Look for it soon on Nuclear Blast. In other news, the band recently returned home from their most recent trek across the US and had this to say on their website:

Hello all, thanx a million for the GREAT support from both old and new fans on In Flames/Mudvayne tour in the US. We had a great time, and as usual we met some really cool people on the road( talking about you, our wonderful fans) and we made some good friends in the other bands- Mudvayne, Grade 8, and Depswa - we really hope to meet up again soon!!!!
On the way home we were forced to make an emergency landing in New Foundland, due to some strange objects on the aircraft that needed closer attention. This of course scared the hell out of us, but luckily it was false alarm, so as we speak we are in Sweden, jet-lagged as hell, but really glad to be on safe ground at home again.
In the end of June we will go back on the road again on a headline spin across the US, bringing some great acts along with us (see soon for official update on this). The tour will take us to places we didn´t hit on the last tour and some that we did play... Hope to see ALL of you out there. Also, watch out for our video/EP for "Trigger" that will be out very soon

Swedish power-metallers Hammerfall have booked themselves a short Czech Republic tour along with the following festival dates:

6/27 - Bang Your Head - Balingen, GER
6/28 - Masters Of Rock, Vizovice, CZ
6/29 - Centre of Town, Jihlava, CZ
6/30 - Hall Lokomotiva, Plzen, CZ
7/04 - Sundsvalls Gatufest - Sundsvall, SWE
7/05 - Töreboda Festival - Töreboda, SWE
7/25 - Karlskoga Stranddagar - Karlskoga, SWE
8/30 - Bloodstock Metalfest - Derby, UK

Transport League has announced that Crash Music Inc. will license their most recent EP "Grand Amputation" for release in the US. It was originally released last year on their own label Hoffa Communications through MNW distribution. In other news, the band reportedly just did some time in the studio with producer J. Reivén (ex-LOK) working on a new demo.

So that Nicolai Dunger show was, uh, 'interesting'. I know the guys doesn't like playing live, but he really showed a large amount of disrepect to the audience. It's hard to explain exactly, but I felt kinda cheated. He just seemed to be messing around a lot like he didn't care. There probably weren't too many people there just to see him like I was, but I felt let down anyways. I'd say 'maybe next time', but I'm not sure I want to chance it. Oh and for what it's worth, Nicolai was accompanied by a woman on violin and a guy on lead electric guitar and 12-string.

A new song on the right for you this week - this one from David & the Citizens. I don't know too much about these guys, but their album "For All Happy Endings" is just a great pop record. Check 'em out.

www.thearkworld.com just posted some video footage of The Ark's performance on the MTV program 'The Fridge'. Check it: "Calleth You, Cometh I" / "Disease" (requires RealPlayer)

Continuing proof that they're poised to become the "next big thing": Dave Grohl will sport a t-shirt from The Sounds in the new Foo Fighters video "Times Like These". The Sounds also lined themselves up with another show in NYC on their first sweep of America: March 12 at Mercury Lounge.

Watch the video for "Slow Motions" from the Whyte Seeds right here. (requires RealPlayer)

Peter LeMarc got himself a new record deal and will be heading into the studio in April to work on a new album. It will be his first since "Nio Broars Väg" from 1997.

The performance of Sahara Hotnigts doing their new single "Keep Up The Speed" on the Carson Daly Show will air March 7.

Snowy Shaw reports he's back from the recent Dream Evil tour and ready to work on a new Notre Dame record. He promises to have something ready by summer.

The final word on the new Fireside album is out! It's finally finished and it's gonna be called "Get Shot". Look for it on April 7 from Startracks. Frontman Kristofer Åström will also be doing a video for the track "One Good Moment" from his forthcoming solo EP "Dead End". He reports it will be animated and should be ready in about a month.

Askil Holm will be traveling all the way to LA from Norway to attend the "Cody Banks Secret Agent" movie premiere on March 8. He's got a song in the film, in case you were wondering. In other news, his album has been moved up to a March 17 release with a concert to follow the next day in Oslo.

Rune Grammofon has gotten themselves a new subsidiary label called Rune Arkiv to rerelease material from Fra Lippo Lippi, Rune's founder's old pop duo. First up is "The Early Years", a CD that will include the albums "In Silence" (1981) and "Small Mercies" (1983) plus a couple instrumental b-sides. Then there's "The Best Of Fra Lippo Lippi", a compilation of material from 1985-95 including their biggest hit "Shouldn't Have To Be Like That" and more. Read more here.

Timbuktu's new album "The Botten Is Nådd" comes out April 28. The first single will be for the track "Ett Brev", a song about the current world situation directed towards State Minister Göran Persson.

Just in case you weren't paying attention, GSL Records recently released the new JR Ewing album "Ride Paranoia" worldwide. Distro is being done through Mordam for most of the world, so it shouldn't be too hard to track down. As you should already know, the band recently lost the Norweigan Grammies, but says they "got to drink with all the lame Norwegian celebrities, and got a good laugh out of it." Hard for me to even imagine a band like that at the US Grammies, but whatever. Oh, and they also got a bunch of new shows lined up besides that Turbonegro tour (see 2/26). The dates:

3/07 - Bodø @ Samfundet w/Amulet
3/08 - Bodø @ Kulturhus w/Amulet
3/09 - Tromsø @ Blå Rock w/Amulet
3/28 - Namsos, Norway @ Namsos Rock Festival
4/12 - Andøya @ Rock Mot Rus w/Amulet
4/15 - Hannover, Germany @ Korn w/Seven Feet Four
4/16 - Tilburg, Netherlands @ 013 Club w/Seven Feet Four
4/17 - Stuttgart, Germany @ Smith Wigglesworth Festival w/Seven Feet Four
4/18 - Vienna, Austria @ Tuwi w/Seven Feet Four
4/19 - Nurnberg, Germany @ ... (TBC) w/Seven Feet Four
4/20 - TBA w/Seven Feet Four
4/21 - Koln, Germany @ Underground w/Seven Feet Four
4/22 - Berlin, Germany @ SO31 w/Poison The Well, Seven Feet Four
4/23 - Braunschweig, Germany @ Drachenflug w/Seven Feet Four
4/24 - Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Waterfront w/The Hanson Brothers w/Seven Feet Four
4/25 - Leiden, Netherlands @ LVC w/Seven Feet Four
8/03 - Augustibullar Festival, Sweden

The Moonbabies are currently working on their new album "The Orange Billboard". They say they're going for a bit more or an organic, subtle sound comparable to "Sgt. Pepper[-era] Beatles, Wilco and Kate Bush." Look for a single in May, the album to follow in September from Chalksounds.

Dark Funeral has revealed they have found a replacement guitarist for the recently departed Dominion. "It looks like we finally have found the 'right' guy for the job," says Lord Ahriman, "But there's really no hurry to reveal his name as of yet, but we will give you all a full presentation on him shortly." The band is currently rehearsing, booking shows for late spring and autumn, and starting to think about their next album. When the dates are confirmed, I'll post 'em.

Drummer Hellhammer has left black-turned-goth metalband Kovenant. The new album "S.E.T.I." (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) comes out March 31 on Nuclear Blast. A limited edition version will include two bonus tracks: "The Memory Remains" (Metallica cover) and "Subtopia".

Øyvind Hægeland (Sprial Architect) has joined Arcturus as a replacement for singer Kristoffer Rygg (aka Garm, from Ulver). In somewhat related news, Spiral Architect/Borknagar drummer Asgeir Mickelson will be filling in for Jon Allen of Testament on the band's upcoming European tour. Jon has family issues which prevent him from joining the band on the road.

Entombed has annouced the following shows for the near future:

3/22 - Esbjerg, DEN @ TBA
3/28 - Björkliden, SWE @ Fjällanläggningen
4/17 - Oslo, NOR @ Inferno Festival
4/20 – Groningen, NETH @ Noordshock
4/21 – Nijmegen, NETH @ Doornroosje
5/02 - Durban, RSA @ TBA
5/03 - Johannesburg, RSA @ TBA
5/07 - Cape Town, RSA @ TBA
5/24 – Alingsås, SWE @ Westgothafestivalen
5/31 - Kranj, SLO @ TBA
6/01 - Milano, ITA @ TBA
6/05 - Leipzig, GER @ With Full Force Festival

The band's upcoming album is currently being mixed by engineer producer Pelle Gunnerfeldt for a May 12 release on their own label Threeman Recordings.

Read my reviews of the new albums from Ulver and Björn Olsson over at indieworkshop.com. Look for the links on the right, under 'Featured Reviews'.

TV4 Gothenburg has put up an acoustic set from The Soundtrack of Our Lives back on their website. Check it. (thanks to tsool.tk)

The movie Jungle Book 2 comes out in February featuring a track called "Jag vill va som du" from Dungen. A double A-side single with that song plus "Har du vart i Stockholm" comes out February 10.

Energy Rekords has signed EBM/Electro act 8kHz Mono. You can sample them on the "Virtual Energy vol.4" comp.

Even more award nominees! This time, the Manifest awards, Sweden's alternative to the (Swedish) Grammy:

Pop/Rock
The Bear Quartet - Ny våg (A West Side Fabrication/MNW)
David & The Citizens - For All Happy Endings (Adrian Recordings/Border)
Doktor Kosmos - Reportage! (NONS/MNW)
Marit Bergman - 3.00 A.M. Serenades (Sugartoy/Border)
Embassy - Futile Crimes (Service/Border)

Hardcore/Punk
In Flames - Reroute to remain (Nuclear Blast/MNW)
Thåström - Mannen som blev en gris (Mistlur/MNW)
Spiritual Beggars - On fire (Music For Nations/Zomba)
Totalt Jävla Mörker - Det ofrivilliga lidandets maskineri (Distortion/Border)
Vomitory - Blood rapture (Metal Blade/Border)

Hip Hop/R&B/Soul
Loop Troop - The Struggle Continues (David Vs Goliath/Burning Heart)
Timbuktu - Wåtts Dö Madderfakking Diil? (Juju/Playground)
Heli - Öronknark (Streetzone/Border)
Masayah - Masayah (Swing-A-Ling/MNW)
Ison & Fille - Vår sida av stan (Hemmalaget/V2)

Postrock/Electronica
Hans Appelqvist - Tonefilm (Komplott)
Mokira - Plee (Mille Plateaux/Border)
Nova Express - One (Rocket Number Nine)
Pallin - Far From Yokohama (URU)
Testbild! - The Double Life Of Testbild! (Radio Khartoum)

Dance
Adam Beyer - Ignition Key (Truesoul)
The Mighty Quark - Silverdale (Play)
Eerik & Arvid - Shimmer (Raw Fusion)
Koop - Waltz for Koop (Superstudio/Diesel/Sony)
Sunday Brunch - No resistance (SVEK/Goldhead/Next Stop)

Folk/Worldmusic
Ellika Frisell & Solo Cissokho - Tretakt Takissaba (Xource/MNW)
Golbang - Saali nó (Stran)
Harv - Töst (Drone/CDA)
Olle Lindvall (Drone/CDA)
Sumer - Iraq (Sw/Eden/Border)

Lyrics
Mattias Alkberg (Bear Quartet)
Timbuktu
Uje Brandelius (Doktor Kosmos)
Ison & Fille
Petter Herbertsson (Testbild!)

Live Artist
Doktor Kosmos
Jmyhaze Beatbox
Spotrunnaz
In Flames
Ellika Frisell and Solo Cissokho

Best Newcomer
Totalt Jävla Mörker
Hans Appelqvist
Marit Bergman
Sunday Brunch
Embassy

Winners will be announced at the ceremony on January 31 at the Kulturhuset in Stockholm. The Teenage Idols, Ison & Fille, Totalt Jävla Mörker, and Jmy Haze Beatbox will perform.

The good people over at Chalksounds have finally gotten their online store up and running. The featured album for sale is "On Planted Streets" from KVLR, one of my faves. Highly recommended. Besides their own label's goodies, you can also order records from bands such as Fireside and Isolation Years. Again, both highly recommended.

Grave will be playing this year's coming March Metal Meltdown V to take place in Irvington, New Jersey on March 7-8. The new album "Back From The Grave" comes out January 28th on Century Media.

Apparently that hilarious Yngwie Malmsteen mp3 I posted about a couple days ago is actually kinda old, probably dating back around 10 years or so. For more info, read this from Blabbermouth.

Logh is gearing up to go back into the studio in January. They expect it to be done and ready for a release this coming spring. On January 27 the band will be releasing both the "Every Time" 12" and "Ghosts" 7". Actually, the 7" is already available directly from the band, but won't be shipped until that date. For ordering info contact logh@badtasterecords.se.

Look for the video for "Sister Surround" from The Soundtrack of Our Lives on MTV's 120 Minutes.

What are your favorite Swedish artist's listening to? Chili.se has got the scoop. Some of the people featured are Maria Andersson (Sahara Hotnights), Magnus Carlsson, Marit Bergman, and Robert Dahlqvist (Hellacopters) among others.

This week's Swedish college radio chart:

Leaving the chart:
(11) Jay Z Ft. Beyoncé "Bonnie And Clyde"
(14) Kent "VinterNoll2"
(18) Wilson Hospital "Call Me A.s.a.p."
(20) Jogi Med ADL"Din Hund"

The LA Times has recognized The Hives as one of the ten most promising bands in the world by including them on their "Freshman" list. Critic Robert Hilburn says the band "attack the idea that rock music has to be humourless in order to be real."

Opeth has finalized the track listing for the upcoming album "Damnation". Billed as the 'mellow' counterpart to the recently released "Deliverence", the songs on it are as follows:

1. Windowpane
2. In My Time Of Need
3. Death Whispered A Lullaby
4. Closure
5. Hope Leaves
6. To Rid The Disease
7. Ending Credits
8. Weakness

The band is also planning to do extensive touring in the future, with dates for America already announced. Europe is rumored for February, but here's what we've got so far (w/Lacuna Coil, Paradise Lost, and Tapping the Vein):

Jan. 17 - Montreal, QUE @ Foufounes Electriques
Jan. 18 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Jan. 19 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Jan. 21 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Jan. 22 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Jan. 24 - Toronto, ONT @ Opera House
Jan. 25 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora
Jan. 27 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Jan. 29 - Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
Jan. 31 - San Francisco, CA @ Slims
Feb. 01 - San Diego, CA @ The Scene
Feb. 02 - Phoenix, AZ @ Mason Jar
Feb. 03 - Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club

Whaddya know? Found time to update today anyway. Fixed some bad links, too. People should tell me about these things.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy have cancelled their upcoming UK tour with Danko Jones and Caesars Palace citing a back injury suffered by lead singer Dennis Lyxzen. The statement from the band:

Unfortunately The (International) Noise Conspiracy have been forced to cancel their upcoming UK tour due to serious back problems for the singer Dennis Lyxzén.

The problems arose during last weekend, but didn´t seem very serious in the beginning. However, as it only got worse and to a point where Dennis had problems walking he went to a doctor yesterday morning who said that there´s no way he can perform on stage for at least the next two weeks.

Dennis has a serious muscle inflammation, and will be having tests done later this week.

The band wants to apologise to everyone involved in this tour and to their fans, but hopes for everyone´s understanding of the situation.

As it is unclear if and when the dates will be re-scheduled, check back for further information or tickets can be refunded at point of purchase

Of course, that's all fine and dandy, but the skeptic in me sees more trouble a-brewing on the horizon. Thing is, the rumor mill has been going on about possible complications in the long term relationship between Dennis and keyboardist Sara. Is the "back injury" simply a red herring? Is this really just the beginning of the end? Time will tell I suppose, but I don't think the future's all that bright.

Kent and ZTV seem to be having a little bit of a public feud. What gives?

Sweden student radio top 20:

Leaving the chart:
(14) The Klerks "She She She"
(15) Noir Désir "Le Vent Nous Portera"
(16) Swizz Beats "Bigger Business"
(17) Spotrunnaz ft. Timbuktu "Mr Mista"
(18) The Venue "What's In His Head?"
(19) The Streets "Don't Mug Yourself"

The latest issue of Denim Zine will be out November 29. It includes interviews with bands such as Hanoi Rocks, Backyard Babies, The Maggots, 69 Hard and more. Instructions on how to get yourself a copy are on their site.

Entombed got themselves into a bit of a pickle with a Finnish promoter and had to cancel their Rock at Sea show. Read all about it. In other Entombed news, the band has entered the studio yet again and you read their daily reports right here. 3 days in, there's not too much of substance to report, but things do seem to be going quite well.

I didn't see it myself, but apparently TSOOL did a great job playing on Conan the other night. Keyboardist Martin was flown in special for the event, as he was being filled in for by Olle of the Whyte Seeds during the just-ended US tour. Martin opted out so he could spend time with his new baby and family, but he should be back around with the band next time. Anyway, the song they played was "Sister Surround" and I'll try and find a video of it if I can.