The brand new The End Will Be Kicks EP "Ass of a friend" is done and will soon be available for order from Premonition Records: http://www.premonitionrecords.se/

The End Will Be Kicks will release a 4-song EP via Premonition Records in the near future.

MP3: The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy

One of the big things that got me deeper into Swedish/Scandinavian rock way back when was explosive, guitar-heavy indierock. Fireside, Starmarket, Him Kerosene, KVLR - these are the bands that caught my interest and had me pouring through liner notes looking for more names to track down. Sadly, that scene is nowhere near as strong these days though there are a few who keep the fire burning: The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four, Aerial Convoj plus young upstarts like Traktor and today's post subjects The Sound O.E. The band has been lurking in the shadows for a couple years now, but it wasn't until very recently that they seemed to rise above and the new three-song EP "Me and Laureline" proves it. The screechy sprechstimme delivery of the verses might be a bit much for some, but remember that what they're doing is essentially sloganeering - the words are meant to be heard loud and clear. It's call & response; a call to action. When the harmonies of the chorus come in, the intentions are indisputable. The Sound O.E know exactly what they're doing. I think the arrangement could still be tightened up a bit, but I like what they're doing and definitely look forward to hearing more.

The Sound O.E - New bankruptcy

The End Will Be Kicks are working on new material and hope to an album done by the end of the year. Samples soon they promise.

MP3: Voices Break the Silence - The way

This week's hot tip: Voices Break the Silence. If you're at all into Convoj, The End Will Be Kicks, Seven Feet Four or any other "angular" rock acts, these guys will be right up your alley. In fact, it was Ola from Seven Feet Four who first told me about them - a day before Magnus from Chalksounds/Nomethod (the former being the label of both Convoj and TEWBK) sent me an excited IM with the same recommendation. The band remains unsigned for now, but I doubt it will take long for someone to pick them up. I know this sort of rock doesn't usually get people fired up like whatever flavor-of-the-week twee act is going 'round, but I live for this kind of stuff. It's got just the right balance of heaviness and melodicism: huge churning bass and slicing guitars. Also: I tried to interview them for this week's profile piece, but they never replied to my email. What gives? Get back to me!

Voices Break the Silence - The way

The End Will Be Kicks have a new website: http://www.theendwillbekicks.com/

Aversionline on The End Will Be Kicks and Aerial, two of my favorite bands: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2006/06/sweden-never-stops-being-awesome.html

Nomethod is offering a special deal to people interested in buying the new Aerial CD: http://nomethod.se/
It's one of the better CDs I've heard in 2006, so you can't go wrong when there's a free CD from The End Will Be Kicks added to the mix.

I'm not posting a new mp3 today because I have something even better for you, the tracklist for "It's a trap! reader's companion volume two". Behold:

01. HELLO SAFERIDE - If I don't write this song, someone I love will die (SWE)
from the album "Introducing: Hello Saferide" (Razzia)
02. RICOCHETS - Cold outside (NOR)
from the album "Isolation" (KongTiki)
03. VIOLA - Invisible revolution (FIN)
from the album "Anyone can stop us" (If Society)
04. BJÖRN KLEINHENZ - Pocket of gold (SWE)
previously unreleased
05. PLAIN FADE - Itä-Aure (FIN)
previously unreleased
06. THE BEAR QUARTET - Birds are singing deep within the greenery (SWE)
from the album "Saturday night" (A West Side Fabrication)
07. MOONBABIES - Take me to the ballroom (SWE)
from the as-yet-untitled forthcoming third full-length album (Moonbabies Music)
08. MUNCK//JOHNSON - Slavesong (DK)
from the album "Count your blessings" (PonyRec)
09. PHONOPHANI - I.F.A. (NOR)
from the self-titled album (Biophan [1998]/Rune Grammofon [2006])
10. MONEY.PAPER.THEPOLICE - Jim Morrison (SWE)
previously unreleased
11. DET GAMLA LANDET - När vi vaknar (SWE)
previously unreleased
12. THE FIRST MILES - The best one around (DK)
from the album "Aim for the heart, go!" (Little Bad Bear)
13. PARIS - Captain Morgan (SWE)
from the album "Secrets on tape" (Parismusic/V2)
14. THE END WILL BE KICKS - Medicine and airbags (SWE)
previously unreleased
15. DON JUAN DRACULA - Run away with you (NOR)
from the album "Young debutantes II" (Switch Off)
16. TIGER LOU - Nixon (SWE)
from the album "The loyal" (Startracks)
17. THE GRAND OPENING - Slow motion (SWE)
previously unreleased

Artwork is still being finalized, but if you head over to my myspace page you can see the cover art and listen to Björn Kleinhenz's track. Exact release date is still tbc, but I expect CDs in-hand by early April.

Hey old-timers! CDs now in stock for The End Will Be Kicks, Aerial, QMGR and The Skull Defekts. You want your music on a slab of plastic, I got it.

Today's ton ten is from my good friend Magnus, head of soon-to-be-gone label Chalksounds and also the newly founded (It's the method of) Nomethod. He just released the amazing self-titled debut album from The End Will Be Kicks and has a ton of great stuff planned for 2006, so stay tuned!

Top 10s for 2005: Magnus Öberg (Chalksounds/Nomethod)

Chalksounds reports the the new The End Will Be Kicks CDs have finally arrived: http://www.chalksounds.com/shownews.php?show=80

Top 10s for 2005: It's a trap!

A new month also means a new album of the month. This time it was easy - how could I not pick The End Will Be Kicks? Brilliant Norrland discordant indierock - available exclusively through IAT as a cheap high-quality download. So very worth it.