MP3: Interlace - Pandora

The closer we get to October 31, the more inclined I am to listen to all of my creepiest industrial/noise records. Not that I don't listen to the stuff year-round and not that I haven't been listening to A LOT of industrial/EBM lately (the new Pain Machinery record is fantastic btw, review forthcoming), but I'm all for seasonable-appropriateness and Interlace remain one of the absolute best post-millennium acts in the genre. 'Tis a huge shame they never followed through with a new album after the "Nemesis" single, but maybe the members are working on something new? Please enlighten me! And enjoy this track from their stellar 2004 record "Imago".

Interlace - Pandora

Sirius playlist week #49

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Interlace - Nemesis
02. TALK 1
03. Kråkesølv - Skredder
04. Mata de Leon - He's alright
05. Agent Side Grinder - 210-392
06. TALK 2
07. Lapko - I shot the sheriff
08. Obliteration - Exterminate
09. Frivolvol - Blades of steel
10. Adam McCormack - Dead sailor
11. TALK 3
12. Marvins Revolt - Organize your arms
13. The Bear Quartet - Least loved (of the unloved)
14. Håkan Lidbo - Let's rock
15. TALK 4
16. Eskatol - Hevn
17. Elias & the Wizzkids - Oh these nights
18. Grande Roses - Factory
19. C.Aarmé - Assuan
20. TALK 5
21. Le Sport - Love in stereo

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #44

Here's the playlist for this week's "Blog Radio" show on Sirius XMU:

01. Obliteration - Exterminate
02. TALK 1
03. Dmitry Fyodorov - Coconut office
04. Cut City - Replacement
05. High Hats - The end
06. TALK 2
07. The Skull Defekts - Millions
08. Marvins Revolt - Organize your arms
09. Interlace - Nemesis (Infect My Black Dub by Void)
10. Hearts No Static - Motif
11. TALK 3
12. We Live in Trenches - White knuckles
13. Makthaverskan - Vi var människor från början
14. Cilihili and DaBook - Orinoco flow
15. TALK 4
16. Frivolvol - It smells like something died in here
17. Björn Kleinhenz - I hate it when you go
18. Oriel Joans - Knuckles whiten
19. TALK 5
20. Bruket - Stockholm kaller

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Sirius playlist week #37

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. [ingenting] - Halleluja!
02. TALK 1
03. Lama - Beginning
04. Hearts of Black Science - Gold and dust
05. Fare You Well - Come closer now
06. TALK 2
07. Hearts No Static - Part 3
08. No Balls - No
09. Brothers of End - Why
10. TALK 3
11. Loud Pipes - Clean your head
12. Astrid Swan - 2000-2010 (I'm not even 30)
13. David Åhlén - Spirit fall
14. Kornstad - Noir
15. TALK 4
16. C.Aarmé - Abyss song
17. Interlace - Nemesis
18. Toture Division - Traumatic inhuman severance
19. Strip Music - 24 hrs
20. TALK 5
21. Culkin - Twin lakes annual

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers. Also: he doesn't know it yet, but Mathias from Culkin will be my guesthost on next week's show. I'll be letting/forcing him to pick the playlist...

MP3: Interlace - Nemesis

Let's face it, a lot of synth/goth/industrial music is unbearably cheesy and/or off-putting. As much as I honestly love that stuff (when done well), there's legions of mesh-shirted idiots out there diluting the waters and ruining it for everyone else. On the other hand, thank goodness for groups like Interlace, probably the only contemporary synth-heavy industrial act I've heard that could be reasonably compared to Skinny Puppy, (early) Frontline Assembly and the like. No stupid guitars (almost always a bad idea outside of Ministry and even that's pushing it sometimes), minimal cornball vocals (unavoidable, but tolerable) and plenty of jackhammer beats and dark atmosphere. The single "Nemesis" is the group's first new material since 2004's "Imago" (also a fine release, as I have discovered) and its high quality bodes well for their forthcoming third album, still yet to be officially confirmed. Listen folks, if there's more stuff of this caliber out there, I want suggestions because I am woe to wade through the unsorted masses on my own. One new album this good is almost enough to keep me satisfied though; otherwise I may just have to stick with old-school minded industrial acts like Agent Side Grinder for my genre fix.

Interlace - Nemesis

Memento Materia presents new releases from Interlace, Backlash

The new Interlace single "Nemesis" will be officially released as a digital download on May 12 via Memento Materia to coincide with the band's appearance at the Kinetik Festival in Montreal, Canada on May 14. Preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/interlace

Also on the way from Memento Materia is a series of four new EPs from EBM act Backlash, the first being a tribute to Ultravox entitled "Quiet men". Said EP will contain their cover of the title track as well as an extended remix version, a cover of the additional Ultravox track "Slow motion", plus the exclusive b-side "Lipstick". Look for it on May 25.

Memento Materia has announced that their first release of 2007 will be a new EBM comp entitled "Dynamo Vol. 2". Artists confirmed include Run Level Zero, Militant Cheerleaders on the Move and Interlace. Read more: http://www.mementomateria.se/

Check out some samples from the new Interlace album "Imago": http://www.mementomateria.se/interlace.html

Memento Materia has updated their release schedule for the rest of the year:

August 23 - Michigan "Red Dawn" CDM
August 23 - Interlace "Master" CDM
September 20 - Interlace "Imago" CD
October 11 - Michigan "Ultimate Sky" CD
October 11 - V/A "Electropop Heroes Vol 2" CD
October 18 - Run Level Zero CDM
November 1 - Colony 5 CDM
November 22 - Backlash "Lodestar LP" CD

The lineup for the SAMA (Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards) is now complete with the addition of Interlace (SWE), Mesh (UK), Severe Illusion (SWE) and the live premiere of Bodies Without Organs (SWE). The show takes place April 2 at Trädgår in Göteborg, Sweden. Details: http://www.sama.mu/

Read a short, gushing review of the new album "Souvenirs" from the Netherland's The Gathering. As mentioned in therein, the album features guest appearances from Mathias Elk of Jaga Jazzist and Trickster G (Kris Rygg) of Ulver, and yes, I agree that it really is great.

Reviews and samples of new releases from Ulver, Katatonia, JR Ewing and more from Aquarius Records. Mailorder, too.

As already reported, Arve and Jarle from Supersilent will be appearing solo and as part of the Tord Gustavsen Trio on May 10 at the Maijazz festival in Stavanger, Norway. It's not confirmed that Supersilent themselves will also be playing the fest on the day before. In other news, Arve makes a guest appearance on the new Jørn Simen Øverli album "Pengenes Oppmuntrende Virkning" along with Stian Carstensen from Farmers Market.

Mustasch is entering the studio on April 22 to record a new album under the tutelage of producer Jacob Hellner (credits include Rammstein, Clawfinger, and Fläskkvartetten). They expect to have it out around fall.

Here's an interview with Ebbot from TSOOL talking about touring the US among other things. (in Swedish)

25 years ago the first Swedish punk single "Vårdad klädsel" from Kriminella Gitarrer came out. There's gonna be a show celebrating this event at Vågen in Göteborg on October 4 featuring Brända Barn, Asta Kask, Attentat, Stry Terrarie and Freddie Wadling plus more to be announced. Tickets go on sale April 11.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Mew - Comforting Sounds
03. Kwan - Shine
04. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
05. A-ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
06. C21 - You Are The One
07. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
08. Roxette - Opportunity Nox
09. Winta - Emotions
10. The Cardigans - For What It´s Worth

Challengers:
01. Left Lane - Walk after you
02. HIM - Funeral of harts
03. Ralph Meyrz & The Jack Herren Band - Think Twice
04. Whyte Seeds - Slow motions
05. Don Diego - Min lat

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Lotta will be playing Tavastia in Helsinki on April 15 with Buddaboys. Even better, Yle Radio X3M will be broadcasting the show live.

Orange Crunch has a new EP coming out on Dead Frog in May. They play Alcazar in Stockholm tomorrow night, too.

The Svensk Rockarkiv will be making a roadshow appearance at Hultsfred fest this year. The archive was started in 1993 as a place to keep documentaries, photos, records and so on from all sorts Swedish artists through the ages.

The winners of the 2002 SAMA awards have been announced:

Best newcomer: Melody Club
Best song: Melody Club – Electric
Best album: Covenant – Northern Light
Best artist: Apoptygma Berzerk

Read more about the SAMAs here.

Download an mp3 of Randy's new single "A Man in Uniform". The new album "Welfare Problems" comes out April 14 on Burning Heart.

Hedningarna, Radio Dept., Tyskarna från Lund, Colony 5, Kamera, Interlace, Stairland, Magenta, Necton and The Celophane Flowers are few of the new Nordic bands confirmed for the upcoming Arvika Festival. Other new bands confirmed include Ministry, Mono and DAF.

The final list of nominees for the Swedish hip-hop awards has been announced. Go here for the full list. The ceremony will April 25 at Nalen in Stockholm. Performing live will be Spotrunnaz, Prominent, Don Diego, Peshi, DJ Confuse, Narcissists, Ison & Fille & Hemmalaget, Ken & BB Entertainment, Sam-E, and Timbuktu.

Speaking of Timbuktu, he'll be hitting the road in May along with Chords, DJ Amato and the live-band Damn!. The dates:

5/6 - Stockholm, Göta källare
5/7 - Göteborg, Nefertiti
5/8 - Göteborg, Nefertiti
5/9 - Malmö, KB

Here's a short interview with Jocke Ahlunds from The Caesars talking about the filming of the video for "Jerk it Out" in Havana, Cuba. You can also view the video from that page, too. (in English)

Check this article on up-and-coming Swedish pop groups Franke, Laakso, José Gonzales, The Embassy, Radio Dept., and Her Majesty from Dagens Nyeter. (in Swedish)

Ulf Lundell is hitting the road this summer:

7/4 - Varberg, Fästningen
7/5 - Sundsvall, Gatufesten
7/6 - Leksand, Sammilsdal
7/8 - Visby, Kneippbyn
7/11 - Christinehofs Slott
7/17 - Stockholm, Skansen
7/19 - Karlstad, Mariebergsskogen
7/22 - Borgholm, Slottsruinen
7/24 - Karlskrona, Bastion Aurora
7/25 - Västervik, Gränsö Slott
7/26 - Halmstad, Brottet
7/29 - Fjällbacka, Hamnen
8/1 - Uppsala, Fyrishovsparken
8/2 - Mariestad, Folkets Park
8/8 - Norge, Wrightegaarden
8/9 - Norge, Fredrikstens Festning
8/10 - Norge, Oslo, Rockefeller
8/15 - Linköping, Slottsparken
8/16 - Göteborg, TrSdgsrdsföreningen

Finnish electronic act Mr. Velcro Fastener will be playing at The Egg in London on May 9.

Finland's Amorphis has signed a deal with Virgin Records to release their new self-produced album "Far From The Sun". It will come out May 20 with the first single "Day Of Your Beliefs" coming later this month. Guitarist Esa Holopainen comments:

Having had to go through all the contractual differences in the past, the future does really look bright at the moment. The process of making the album was easy and the schedule for the summer and autumn live dates is developing steadily. We aim to play European festivals over the summer and hit the road on our own in the fall.

Despite the recent death of guitarist Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta, Finntroll has decided to soldier on with their upcoming European tour with Katatonia. The official statement:

We do this with heavy hearts, as the sudden loss of Teemu 'Somnium' Raimoranta, a close friend and one of the leading forces behind this band, gave us a blow from which the recovery will take a long time. We feel that dropping everything now, canceling the tour and all the plans we together agreed for this band, would be an insult on Teemu's memory. Going back on the road was also the particular wish of his family and close ones. We feel that this is the best way to honor our friends' memory, taking the music out to the fans. On the following gigs the second guitar will be played by a long-time friend for all of us, Mikael Karlbom (The Seventh Planet), who has played as a stand-in guitarist for us several times in the past.
During the tour, we wish some courtesy on the part of fans, members of the press and others concerning questions about Teemu's departing, future of the band and such. We will share information in due time.
Thanks to all those who have contacted us, expressed their condolences and honored our brother's memory.

Christian Kjellvander will be playing the opening of the Handikappåret 2003 at the Kulturhuset in Stockholm on April 11.

The Caesars are heading back to the UK in May with the French Kicks. The dates:

5/11 - Oxford, Zodiac
5/14 Manchester, Roadhouse

The Swedish pop group Natural scored a number 2 position on the Japanese radio charts last week with the tune "Put Your Arms Around Me".

Charlie's Magazine will release their new album "Traffic" on April 22. The female-fronted band previously enjoyed a taste of success with the single "Sweet Alibi" back in 2001.