Hello, is this thing on? I'm still retired from running this website, but I never stopped caring about Scandinavian music and apparently some people still care about what I have to say on the subject, so check out this interview I did this past summer with the nice folks at the Blue Monday Podcast: https://www.xn--blmndag-fxab.se/43-kalabalik-2019/ I probably should've posted this back when it first went up, but better late than never, right? And who knows, perhaps I will see you at Kalabalik på Tyrolen next year! Otherwise, feel free to keep up with me and my own solo musical endeavor Harsh R.
It's been a long time coming, but I've finally got something new up and running at my new blog site Harsh R: The State of Swedish Industrial
Check it out, let me know what you think, spread the word! Look for more entries in the series soon along with more posts on the miscellaneous dark-themed music I've been listening to, Swedish/Scandinavian and otherwise.
Stick a fork in me, I'm done. After 10 years of near-daily blogging I have decided to walk away from It's a Trap!, a decision that I have weighed for quite some time and one that did not come easily. This site has been a major part of my life the past decade and while I treasure that time greatly, both via the music and all of the absolutely lovely people I've met along the way, I've become increasingly tired, burnt-out and simply far too busy to give it the attention it truly deserves. So, rather than let you bear witness to my slow descent into a crispy shell of bitter cynicism, I'm getting out while the getting's still good. Thanks to all of the amazing bands and labels who I have worked with and whose art has inspired me, thanks to everyone who ever contributed an article, review or even an email recommendation, thanks to Jonas for handling the clubnights so admirably and most of all, thanks to YOU for reading! I doubt I'll ever stop caring about music, Scandinavian or otherwise, so I'm sure I will eventually resurface somewhere else before long. Until then, keep in touch!
Should have posted this days ago, but it got lost in the shuffle. Raw metal/punk from Sweden released on cassette, just as it should be. Look for a split 7" with fellow crust-metallers Bombs of Hades in the near future.
New music from Dinner aka Danish artist/producer Anders Rhedin, probably best known for his work behind the scenes with Choir of Young Believers and also as an ex-member of Jong Pang. "You are like LA" is the title track of the first of two EPs to be released via .
Swedish music distributor is finally up on SoundCloud and the first thing they have posted in the excellent new track from Swedish goth/postpunk/shoegazers Then Comes Silence.
New epic dark and heavy rock from a band called Vibracula featuring members of other acts I've talked up over the years but whose identities I'll leave up to you to discover on your own.
has announced that they'll be doing a number of digital re-releases from the old archive via the new imprint . First up on October 15 will be Soviac's albums "GMC out in the fields" and "Trilogy sexlife rodeo friscotti" plus The Price of Ink's self-titled EP.
The Swedish Institute has launched a new video interview series and guests so far include Tiger Bell and Azure Blue. More at FB: https://www.facebook.com/SwedishMusic