Meshuggah has parted ways with bassist Gustaf Hielm and have replaced him with Dick Löwgren (ex-In Flames, Arch Enemy). Gustaf's statement:
"I'm saddened that they don't want me in there anymore but this is the second time I'm asked to leave so I can handle it by now. And most important, I'm still playing! That will never go away.
As for Meshuggah, I'm glad I got to be in what I consider THE metal band and I wish them and their new bass player the best of luck."
Confirmed upcoming shows in 2004 for In Flames:
02/13 - Popstad, Jönköping (SWE)
04/16 - Lisebergshallen, Göteborg (SWE)
04/18 - Arenan, Stockholm (SWE)
06/10-12 - Sweden Rock, Sölvesborg (SWE)
07/09-10 - Forestglade West (AUS)
The Great Deceiver recently completed work on a video for the song "Lake of Sulphur" from the band's second album "Terra Incognito", due out in March through Peaceville Records. The clip was filmed at The Revolver Ranch in the Arizona desert with director Patric Ullaeus (Dimmu Borgir, In Flames, Lacuna Coil). As mentioned here before, TGD features vocalist Tomas Lindberg (Disfear, ex-At the Gates) along with Kristian Wahlin and Hans Nilsson from Diabolique.
In Flames has resigned with Nuclear Blast and has set April 6 as the release date for their new album "Soundtrack To Your Escape". Europeans get the album one week earlier on March 26.
In Flames have set "Soundtrack To Your Escape" as the title of their new album, due out March 29, 2004. The album was recorded in Denmark with producers Daniel Bergstrand and Örjan Örnkloo and is currently being mixed at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium. Nuclear Blast will release the record in Europe, but the group is still negotiating for a North American label (I suspect they'll go major). Tentative tracklist, in no particular order:
01. F(r)iend
02. The Quiet Place
03. Borders And Shading
04. Discover Me Like Emptiness
05. Touch Of Red
06. Bottled
07. Dead Alone
08. Superhero Of The Computer Rage
09. Like You Better Dead
10. Dial 595-Escape
11. Evil In A Closet
12. In Search For I
13. My Sweet Shadow
The Great Deceiver will release their second album "Terra Incognito" next March throughthe UK's Peaceville Records. The band features vocalist Tomas Lindberg (ex-The Crown, At the Gates, currently with Lock Up, Disfear, etc.) and guitarist Kristian Wahlin (ex-Diabolique, Grotesque) recorded the new CD at Dug-Out studio in Uppsala, Sweden with producer Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames, etc.) and are currently working on a video for the track "Lake Of Sulphur" with director Patric Ulleaus (Dimmu Borgir, Ace of Base, Transport League). And lastly, as mentioned here before, the band will be heading out on the road with wannabe Swedish metallers Darkest Hour. Dates:
11/03 - Skylten, Linköping (SWE)
11/04 - Kafe 44, Stockholm (SWE)
11/05 - Meeths Unga Salonger, Gothenburg (SWE)
11/06 - Wehrschloss, Bremen (GER)
11/07 - Thannignton Community Centre, Canterbury (UK)
11/08 - Doctor Drakes, Aberdeen (UK)
11/09 - Basement, Leeds (UK)
11/10 - The Star And Garter, Manchester (UK)
11/11 - Flapper and Firkin, Birmingham (UK)
11/12 - TJ's, Newport (UK)
11/13 - Underworld, London (UK)
Passenger, the side project of Anders Fridén from In Flames and Gardenian guitarist Niklas Engelin, will be touring Europe with Lacuna Coil, Moonspell, and Poisonblack beginning Christmas day in Hamburg:
12/25 - Markthalle, Hamburg (GER)
12/26 - Hof Ter Loo, Antwerpen (BEL)
12/27 - Astoria, London (UK)
12/28 - Tivoli, Utrecht (NL)
12/29 - 013, Tilburg (NL)
12/30 - Live Music Hall, Köln (GER)
12/31 - Z7, Pratteln (CH)
01/02 - Petöfi Hall, Budapest (HUN)
01/03 - Planet Music, Wien (AUS)
01/04 - Löwensaal, Nürnberg (GER)
01/05 - Transylvania, Milano (IT)
01/06 - Elysée Montmartre, Paris (FR)
01/07 - LKA, Stuttgart (GER)
01/08 - Easy Schorre, Halle (GER)
In Flames reports that they've laid down the drum tracks for their next album and will be finalizing the rest during the next couple of weeks. No details about titles or production credits, but they say it should be out next spring.
Roadrunner Records is putting together the "Freddy vs. Jason" movie soundtrack and has included the song "Trigger" from In Flames.
Go here to check out the video for "Flipstick" from Elektrofant.
Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:
01. Per Gessle - Mazarin
02. Carola - Guld platina & passion - det bästa
03. Tomas Ledin - I sommarnattens ljus
04. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
05. Anna-Lotta Larson - Tidlöst
06. Pugh Rogefeldt - Pughs bästa
07. Anders Johansson - If it's all I ever do
08. Tommy Körberg - Gränslös - det bästa med
09. Per Myrberg - Sommarnatt Per Myrberg sjunger Taube
10. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
11. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
12. Magnus Carlson - Ett kungarike för en kram
13. Robyn - Don't stop the music
14. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
15. Da Buzz - More than alive
16. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
17. Moneybrother - Blood panic
18. Alcazar - Alcazarized
19. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
20. Uno & Freda - Samling
The full program for the Yran fest in Östersund, Sweden on July 31-August 2 has been confirmed. Head on over to their website for the full scoop. Some of acts playing include Shout Out Louds, Håkan Hellström , Melody Club, Looptroop, In Flames, Kajsa Grytt, Lars Winnerbäck, Carola, The Sounds, Randy, Mando Diao and many more.
I suspect we're in for another relatively slow news day as it's a big festival weekend with Norweigan Wood and Hultsfred going on. If you're like me and not lucky enough to be attending those events yourself, maybe take some time to chat in the forum or sign up for the mailing list.
Found via DJ Martian: BBC Collective interviews Norweigan electronic music artists Ralph Myerz And The Jack Herren Band.
Look for an interview with Julie from the band Bobby in the upcoming issue of Solo, out July 20.
Wired for Mono will be heading into the Supersaturators' studio this weekend with engineer Fredrik Loreby and producer Henrik "Honk" Widén (Diamond Dogs). They say their aim to make a new demo of three or four songs, but seeing as how they always record live to tape, it might just end up getting a proper release anyhow.
Trewetha Records has made the new self-titled EP from The State of Floral Beings (TSOFB) available for full download with a printable cover for $3. Check it out. If you'd rather wait to get a hold of the real deal, the CD doesn't come out until August.
Dead Frog Records has announced they've signed the Göteborg-based band Leopold to their label. The band's debut album "Dreaming Is For Anyone" comes out August 21.
In other Dead Frog-related news, they've updated the demo reviews on their site, so head on over to see what bands are up-and-coming.
In Flames will support Metallica at Madrid Regional Government Sports Centre "La Peineta" in Madrid, Spain on June 22.
Been awhile since I heard anything about these guys: The Motorhomes have now been brought under the wing of Talent Trust Management. And they're in good company, as Olle Ljungström, Parker, Weeping Willows, Kent Norberg, and The Cardigans are just a few of the other artists managed by the company. Now howabout a new album?
Captain Murphy has signed with Bonnier Music. The band did a vinyl EP with producer Pontus Frisk in May and should be available this weekend at Hultsfred. The first single comes out in August with the full-length to follow soon after.
Pitchforkmedia.com reviews the Tumult US release of "Pelican Songs" from Finland's Worms.
Here's some information on the new "Autovision" CD single from CDOASS by way of Dolores Recordings. There will also be a 7" version with a remix of the title track on the b-side as part of the Dolores Singles Club.
Check out the video for "B.L.O.S.S.O.M.", the new track from Komeda right here.
The Barbarella garage/rock'n'roll festival is now set for August 27-28. Bands confirmed so far include Dixie Buzzards, Sons of Cyrus, and Finland's Flaming Sideburns.
Word on the street is that Parasol is currently in negotiations to release the upcoming Moonbabies album "The Orange Billboard" in the US. Details when they're confirmed.
The Haunted have their new website up and running.
Moneybrother has been added to the Roskilde lineup.
Speaking of Roskilde, any of you Swedes thinking of going might consider taking the train where they'll have even more bands playing on the way to the fest. Seriously. So far Como and Little Miss Swede are booked for the occasion. Read more: http://www.tuborg.se/roskilde/taget.html
Isolation Years have been confirmed for the Västrahamnsfesten/Woody West in Malmö on June 13 along with Woodrock in Bern, Switzerland on August 8.
Via Unioncarbideproductions.com comes word that the upcoming Hultsfred-fest single will indeed be released commercially in Sweden, but no dates have been revealed as of yet. View the cover art here. In related news, Björn Olsson made a few contradictory comments to P3 Musikjounalen about his participation in the upcoming reunion gig. Will he or won't see? No one's saying for sure. Go to the UCP site to read the translated transcript.
The first group of bands have been announced for the upcoming Uppsala Summer Hardcore Festival: Between Us, Regulations, Victims, The Jam Session, Bruce Banner, The 21st Impact, Labour, Second Thought, Rabid Grannies, and One Step Ahead. The event takes place June 23-24 at Ungdomens Hus. More info here: http://uahc.diskonto.org/festival/
Webzine Samson & Rourke has posted another slew of demo reviews, this time featuring the likes of Hospital, The Clarks Royale, and Autumn Swing. (in Swedish)
Abba has gone gold yet again in America, this time with the "20th Century Masters - The Best Of ABBA" collection.
Service Records reports that Franke will have a new single "Drunknandets Färg" from their album "Optimismens Hån" out sometime by the end of summer. They also say that The Embassy is currently working on a video as weather permits and Studio is uh, in the studio working on a new album. They also hint that they have signed some new acts, but no details have been revealed yet. I'll let you know.
DigitalMetal.com reviews "Trigger", the new EP from In Flames.
It's kinda silly, but here's a contest for the best photoshopped picture featuring someone from Immortal, found via Musique Machine.
Download the mp3 for the song "Dominate" from Project Hate's forthcoming album "Hate, Dominate, Congregate, Eliminate", due out in August from Threeman Recordings.
Via Blabbermouth, comes this amazing commercial for Coop Prix, a Norweigan food store. Why is it relevant? Well, that's Masterplan and ex-Yngwie frontman Jorn Lande.
Internet-only label Monotonik's latest release is "Oll Tolk'n' no Ding atcheev'd" from Ernesto Aeroflot aka Teemu Kiiskilä of Raahe, Finland. Their description:
Mr. Aeroflot is a mysterious fellow who's released on net.label Commie and a host of smaller labels under names/groups such as TranceYlvania, Sky Wide Jazz, Oodi & Elegia, High Grade Multi Purpose Intelligent Terminal (!), and more. This 10-track album showcases his unpredictable but riveting style excellently, as '80s bleep sounds and stuttering electro mix up with distorted unrest, sweeping electronica, and a wholly surprising bonus cut to create something truly different.
Read more and download from here: http://www.mono211.com/content/releases/mtkmp111.html
Thy Primordial has parted ways with vocalist Isidor due to "lack of interest and inspiration" and has already been replaced by Nicke Holstensson of Nominon. The band says "his voice are of course a bit different compared with Isidor's but fits the new material really well!" They are scheduled to go into Abyss Studios later this month to commence work on their sixth album "Pestilence Upon Mankind". Look for it late 2003 from Blackend Records.
Happy Swedish National Day.
Turbonegro are doing an online benefit for the St. Pauli Football Club ("the one with skull & crossbones logo" as they say) in the form of three ebay auctions:
"Scandinavian Leather" deluxe box set #666, autographed by the complete band
"Scandinavian Leather" deluxe box set #1910, autographed by the complete band
St. Pauli player jersey with Hank van Helvete lettering on the back and his autograph
Check 'em out, but keep in mind they also promise "more interesting things to follow."
Here's some pictures from Komeda's video shoot for the track "Cul de Sac".
Nicolai Dunger will be providing guest vocals on an upcoming EP from Calexico for the song "Alone again or", originally done by Love. It comes out June 16.
Labrador Records has announced they will now be distributed in Germany by AL!VE with promotion to be handled by C&D Promotion. Their first release over there will be "Kate 97" from Tribeca. For more info contact Stephan.Meyer@alive-ag.de or chris.donn@cdpromotion.de.
Paris has signed a publishing contract with Songs & Stories Publishing.
The latest edition of Doomsday Magazine just came out and it includes interviews with Uncurbed, Totalt Jävla Mörker, Burst and more. More info and some back-issue text: www.doomsdaymag.tk (in Swedish)
NRK has posted Amulet's new video for "Breaking News". Check it.
Hedningarna has posted a couple videos on their new website. The band's new retrospective CD is out now in Finland, Spain and the US and should hit Sweden in September. It contains various tracks from 1989-2003 along with two brand new songs. Read more.
The Confusions, Satirnine, Dynamo Chapel, Paola and The Crystal Committee are now confirmed for the Trästock festival in Skellefteå, Sweden on July 17-19.
Kent's big concert at Stockholm Stadium tonight will be recorded for a future album/DVD release. There's also rumors of various special guests showing up, such as Titiyo and Lisa Miskovsky.
Clawfinger has posted the video clip for their new single "Recipe for Hate": Windows / Real
You can also check out some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot right here.
The Hives, In Flames, and Flint have been added to Hultsfred fest.