The dates for that Tiamat, Theatre of Tragedy, Pain and Sirenia tour have been confirmed:

12/26 - Hof Ter Loo, Antwerpen (BEL)
12/27 - Haus Auensee, Leipzig (GER)
12/28 - JZ, Andernach (GER) (no Tiamat)
12/29 - Kallewerk, Bad Salzungen (GER) (no Tiamat)
12/30 - Ohrakel, Ingolstadt (GER)
12/31 - Planet Music, Wien (AUS)
01/02 - Rockhaus, Salzburg (AUS)
01/03 - Z7, Pratteln (SWI)
01/04 - Rainbow, Milano (ITA)
01/05 - Substage, Karlsruhe (GER)
01/06 - O13, Tilburg (NL)
01/07 - Live Arena, Münster / Breitfeld (GER)
01/08 - Columbia Fritz, Berlin (GER)
01/09 - Faust, Hannover (GER)

Tiamat, Theatre of Tragedy, Pain and Sirenia will reportedly be teaming up for an European tour around December/January. Dates soon?

Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Bloodbath) reports that he is done with a new album for his solo project Pain. The first single will be for the track "Same Old Song" and should be out in mid-November. A video was done with director Mikeadelica as well. As for the full-length, it's not due out until January.

Has it really been two years already? Hard to bellieve I've been doing this for so long already, the time just flies by. So cheers everyone! Here's to another year! Well-wishers are encouraged to send money in lieu of gifts.

Since it's such a special day, I've posted two new mp3s today. First up in Novak with their single "It all works out in the end" from the new album "Perpetual motion". I'm still undecided about the record as a whole, but this song is undeniably catchy. Tons of energy, great hooks and solid guitar work. Next up in "Draped in disease" from Swedish all-star old-school death metal act Bloodbath. Vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) may no longer be in the band, but he's been more than capably replaced by Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain). Factor in that the rest of the band is fleshed out by Dan Swanö along with members of Katatonia and Witchery and you've got an instant classic.

The "It's a trap! reader's companion" microsite is now open: http://www.itsatrap.com/vol1/
As mentioned earlier this week, CDs are done and should arrive in stock on Tuesday.

Going to see Finland's Hero Dishonest tonight in San Francisco at The Hemlock. Should be fun!

The latest news from Grave:

After three weeks in Abyss studio, the new album, entitled "Fiendish Regression", is finally finished. 11 tracks were recorded including 9 brand new songs + a cover version of Saint Vitus classic "Burial At Sea" and a re-recording of a old song named "Autopsied" which was originally written and recorded for promotion in 1989.

The recording was produced by both Tommy and Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) and is set for an August release via Century Media.

Dan Swanö reports that Swedish all-star death-metal band Bloodbath will be entering his own Studio Kuling on May 4 to record their new album. The record will be called "Nightmares Made Flesh" and will be released by Century Media this fall. As mentioned before, the band was recently joined by Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) on lead vocals following the departure of Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth).

Peter Tägtgren from Hypocrisy/Pain reports that the latter group is close to signing a new record deal for his solo project. He already has an album recorded and ready to go. Tentative tracklist:

01. Nothing
02. Bye/Die
03. Not Afraid
04. Dancing With The Dead
05. Misery
06. Third Wave (working title)
07. Tear It Up
08. Stay Away
09. Don't Count Me Out
10. The Table Has Turned
11. A Good Day To Die...

Hypocrisy frontman and acclaimed metal producer Peter Tägtgren reports that the new album from his solo act Pain has been delayed as he is still putting the finishing touches on the music and seeking a new record deal. He is "fuckin' tired of not getting it out everywhere" and hopes to get wider distribution beyond just Sweden so he can also tour further.

Hypocrisy, the band of acclaimed metal producer Peter Tägtgren (also in PAIN), will supporting Cannibal Corpse on their US tour in February along with Exhumed and Vile. Dates:

02/12 - Engine Room, Houston, TX
02/13 - Trees, Dallas, TX
02/14 - The Back Room, Austin, TX
02/16 - Mason Jar, Phoenix, AZ
02/17 - The Key Club, Hollywood, CA
02/18 - Galaxy Concert, Santa Ana, CA
02/19 - Slim's, San Francisco, CA
02/20 - Roseland, Portland, OR
02/21 - Graceland, Seattle, WA
02/23 - Bricks, Salt Lake City, UT
02/24 - Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
02/25 - Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
02/26 - Pop's, Sauget, IL
02/27 - The Eagles Club, Milwaukee, WI
02/28 - Quest Club, Minneapolis, MN
02/29 - House of Blues, Chicago, IL
03/03 - Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
03/04 - Club Laga, Pittsburgh, PA
03/06 - L'Amour, Brooklyn, NY
03/07 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
03/11 - Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
03/12 - Masquerade, Tampa, FL
03/13 - Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Peter Tägtgren has delayed the release of the new Pain album to early 2004. Here's what he posted on his website regarding the change in plans:

"I guess you're wondering what's going on with the new album...
Well, as things turned out, I had to take a break from it or I'm sure I'd go insane.
Things were going too slow but I guess I'm getting pickier with what slips thru in my work and I can ensure you it kicks serious ass this time! The only problem is that I have a few songs left to put down vocals on - then I'm done.
This means I'll have to push back the release of the new album to early next year, but once you guys hear the shit I'm up to now, you'll figure it's been worth waiting for.
I'm madly sad to have to do this but with all record-company bullshit going on with release schedules, priorities and all that BS, I want to make sure everyone busts their asses off to get Pain out and about around the world and this is the best way."

Peter also reports that he is recording new material with his other band Hypocrisy that he says compares to "Roswell 47" from the album "Abducted".

Hypocrisy, the band of reknown producer/PAIN frontman Peter Tägtgren, will enter the studio on August 1 to begin recording their new album, tentatively titled "The Arrival". They expect to have it done for an early 2004 release on Nuclear Blast. Look for the band on tour playing some of the new material in the US in November with Dimmu Borgir, Children of Bodom, and Nevermore.

Pitchfork has posted a review of "Käärmelautakunta" from Alamaailman Vasarat today:

"Well, I guess there's nothing left to do but pick up and move to Finland. In the summer, it's almost unbearably hot where I live, my rent's too high, and no offense family, but you're just not cutting it. Furthermore, the Fins [sic] have the best music: in the last year I've been fortunate enough to jam to new records by Circle, Luomo, Värttinä, Gjallarhorn, Pharaoh Overlord, Uzva and now Alamaailman Vasarat. They say it's cold there. They say people drink profusely and go for weeks without talking. Never mind all that, I'll just stake out a Helsinki street corner somewhere, slip a Sibelius disc in the Walkman, and witness the magic. I'm going to do that right now."

Read the rest.

Mikael Gustafsson aka Mikeadelica is starting work on the first Swedish hip-hop film "Elementz", what many are saying is supposed to be the Swedish version of "8 Mile". The storyline will center around two Stockholm gangs, Elementz and Pitch Shift. No word on what artists will be appearing in said film yet, though. Mikael is no stranger to director-work either - previous credits of his include videos for Petter, Blues, Pain, Robyn and A-teens. Read more. (in Swedish)

Trapdoor Fucking Exit has put up the video for the song "Short Term Investment", recorded live at Umeå Punkfest in 2001. Check it out.

Amulet recently filmed a video for the single "Breaking News". They say it "involves a low key gig at an abandoned house and a deathdefying girl in a van who brings terror to the city of Oslo." I'll let you know if they post in online.

Turbonegro's complete festival schedule for the summer:

06/02 - Flippaut festival, Bologna, Italy
06/05 - Ruisrock, Turku, Finland
06/12 - Hultsfred Festival Hultsfred, Sweden
06/20 - Kick off Festival, Wiesen, Austria
06/21 - Southside Festival, Neuhausen, Germany
06/22 - Hurricane Festival, Schlessel, Germany
06/27 - Roskilde Festival, Denmark
06/28 - Open Air, St Gallen, Switzerland
07/05 - London, Meanfiddler (clubshow) UK
07/12 - T in the Park, Kinross, Scotland, UK
08/07 - Nordland Musikkfestukke, Bodö, Norway
08/08 - Öya festivalen, Oslo Norway
08/09 - Wrightegaarden, Langesund, Norway
08/23 - Reading Festival, Reading UK
08/24 - Leeds Festival, Leeds, UK

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Outlandish - Guantanamo
03. A-Teens - Perfect Match
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Jennifer Brown - Weak
06. HIM - Funeral of hearts
07. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
08. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
09. Melody Club - Cover Girl
10. Darude - Music
11. Mew - Comforting Sounds
12. Kwan - Shine
13. Equicez - Live From Pass It
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start
16. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
17. Paragon - Försök Förstå
18. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz
19. Surferosa - Neon Commando
20. Homy - Bus Stop

Challengers:
01. Jon - This Side Up
02. Antique - Moro Mou
03. Fireside - All You Had
04. The Concretes - You Can´t Hurry Love
05. Kamera - At Work
06. C21 - She Cries

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

Labrador Records is now distributed by Mortes Nois in Estonia. For more info email mrnois@hot.ee.

Dolores Records has announced they will be releasing a limited edition CD single for the new supergroup Vanessa and the O's on June 10. The band features ex-members of Popsicle along with James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins and is described as electronic pop in French. Crazy, eh? More info soon.

Bad Taste Records is the label of the month over at the Danish radio program New Rocking Sounds which airs Tuesdays at 8pm on 93.7 in Århus. They'll be interviewing Last Days of April, Logh and various others from the roster along with playng tunes from said bands. Be sure to check it out or wait for the clips to hit the online archives.

Listen to "Mattias Alkbergs Begravning" from Planekonomi, another band featuring Mattias from Bear Quartet. More info here. Look for 2 EPs this fall and a full-length sometime next year.

One of my pals over at indieworkshop.com reviews the new Flaming Sideburns album today.

"No one has satisfactorily explained why a country of 4.5 million generates so much music: is it the dark winters? Subsidised music lessons? Rubbish TV?" - John Bungey, The Times (UK)

Norweigan music appears to be making quite a few headways beyond their borders as evidenced in this article from MIC Norway. Turbonegro and Jaga Jazzist might be the first names to come to mind for most folk, but now there's also Beady Belle, Tord Gustavsen, Per Arne Glorvigen, and St. Thomas to pay attention to.

Johnny Bråttom Records will be holding a record release show on May 30 at Kulturkammaren in Norrköping for their forthcoming "Svensk Populärmusik Volym Två" compilation. The bands scheduled to appear are Slagsmålsklubben, recent Dolores-signees Cdoass, Bremen Brotröster GmbH, Björn Kleinhenz, and The Flu. As for the tracklisting of said comp, it is as follows:

01. Cdoass - The Box
02. Niccokick - Run, Run, Run
03. Björn Kleinhenz - How Long Is The Night?
04. Slagsmålsklubben - Filter Fabric Facts (DJ Upperkurt Instrumental Remix)
05. Idiot Savants - Daily Routine
06. Music 77 - Kameror
07. Pete Thompson - Folk Song
08. Lola Barbershop - Ticket To Happiness
09. The Kid - Baton Rouge
10. Junip - Turn To The Assassin
11. The Topeka Twins - Hunting Song
12. Menteroja - Call Me
13. Bremen Brotröster GmbH - Greater/Better
14. The Flu - Golden Hair
15. Celestine - Sunflower
16. José González - Heartbeats
17. Café Polymorf - A Good Time
18. Quit Your Dayjob - Pissing On A Panda
19. Joni - Frank Xerox
20. Ane Brun - Are They Saying Goodbye?
21. Sandy Mouche - A Year

Aftonbladet reports that famed Swedish videomaker Jonas Åkerlund is working with Blondie on the single "Good Boys" in LA. The new album ""The Curse of Blondie" comes out around September or October. Åkerlund's previous credits include artists such as Satyricon, Madonna, Metallica and The Prodigy.

This new album will be 'harder' than the previous one and more guitars. To sum it up: a groovier album!

That's Peter Tägtgren of Pain describing work on the new album. He says he's already finished all of the backing music along with five of the thirteen vocal tracks and should be able to have it out sometime this fall on Stockholm Records.

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

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. Alcazar - Alcazarized
03. Eddie Meduza - Live(s)!
04. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
05. Moneybrother - Blood panic
06. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
07. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
08. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
09. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
10. Jill Johnson - Discography
11. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
12. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
13. Antique - Blue love
14. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
15. Monia - Söderns hjärtas ros
16. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
17. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
18. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
19. Fame - Give me your love
20. The Sounds - Living in America

Tomas Ledin is going on tour in support of his new live album "I Sommarnattens Ljus" which comes out on June 2. The dates so far:

07/08 - Öja Slott, Öja
07/19 - Bergs Slussar, Linköping
08/03 - Stadsparken, Örebro

The lineup for Sommarrock, which takes place July 10-12 in Svedala, Sweden: Mikael Wiehe, Bubbles, Joddla w/Siv, Advance Patrol, The Ark, Danne Stråhed, Häjkån Bäjkån Band, The Mo and Di Leva.

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

Leaving the chart:
(10) Randy "A Man in Uniform"
(11) Solomon Burke "Soul Searching"
(12) Fireside "All You Had"
(13) Magnus Carlson "Jag ber dig"
(16) Queens Of The Stone Age "Go With The Flow"
(18) The Go-Betweens "Caroline and I"
(19) David & The Citizens "New Direction"
(20) Hot Hot Heat "Bandages"

The full details for Finland's Koneisto Festival has been released. Some of the artists scheduled to appear include Björn Torske, Ralph Myerz & Jack Herren Band, Erlend Oye (acoustic set + "magnificent singing DJ set"), Datarock, Jori Hulkkonen, Rinneradio (feat. Dj Slow, Siiri Nordin and MC Paleface) among many others. The acclaimed electronic music festival was the first of its type for all of Scandinavia and the selection of performers "seeks to establish an interesting balance between commercial and experimental music" over the event's 9 stages. It all goes down in Helsinki from July 25-27 and more info can be found from the fest's official website.

Blabbermouth reports that HIM will be touring Europe in support of Ozzy Osbourne and Godsmack this September. I'll keep you posted.

Nine are currently recording their new album at Dug Out Studio in Uppsala. Look for it April 28 on Burning Heart Records.

Looks like Division of Laura Lee managed to get their upcoming US tour schedule solidified. The dates:

01.15 Brooklyn, Southpaw
01.16 New York, Mercury Lounge
01.17 Washington DC, Black Cat
01.18 Boston, TT Bears
01.19 Philadelphia, The Kyber
01.20 Montreal, Cabaret 500
01.22 Toronto, Horseshoe Tavern
01.23 Detroit, Small's
01.24 Chicago, Double Door
01.25 Minneapolis, 400 Bar
01.26 Lawrence, Bottleneck
01.27 Boulder, Tulagi
01.28 Salt Lake City, Xscape (small room)
01.30 Vancouver, Richards on Richards
01.31 Portland, Satyricon
02.01 Seattle, Crocodile Café
02.03 San Francisco, Bottom Of The Hill
02.04 Pomona, Glass House small room
02.05 Los Angeles, Troubadour
02.06 San Diego, Brick By Brick

Put up another track from that "We Love You" comp tribute to the Rolling Stones. Today's selection is "Miss You" from The Concretes.

Pain mainman Peter Tägtgren has revealed his plans to do an all-cover album. Some of the potential selections are The Beatles - "I Am The Walrus", Ultravox - "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes", and Johnny Cash - "Ring Of Fire". Tägtgren also said he's done with about nine tracks for the next album and that the direction is even more "groovy" and nü-metal than before. "like Korn when they are at their absolutely heaviest" he says. Um well, good for him says me.

Kasual Records has got the new cds from Ariel Kill Him and The New Mess available for preorder. They're even offering a 15% discount and promise to get all orders from this week out and in mailboxes by Christmas. Check it.

After they release the new album, Cult of Luna will be doing a couple dates in Sweden with The Haunted and Merciless. If you're in Nottingham, UK you can check em out tonight at Rock City, but here's the other dates:

02.14.03 - Göteborg, Sticky Fingers
02.15.03 - Örebro, Contan
02.16.03 - Stockholm, Klubben

The Sounds' single for "Living in America" has gone gold in Sweden. The new one for "Seven Days A Week" will be out January 13.