Finnish artists Huoratron and Mirel Wagner plus Swedish expat Theresa Andersson all have new albums profiled in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/arts/music/new-releases-from-huoratron-mirel-wagner-theresa-andersson.html?_r=3
Brand new music from Norwegian artist Morten Myklebust by way of . Check out the studio/album version here.
New live music at PSL from Swedish duo Sea Lion: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/04/23/musik-med-sea-lion/
Ja Ja Ja's upcoming showcase for May 31 will featuring Reptile Youth, Maribel and Sansa. Full details + sample tunes from each artist: http://www.jajajamusic.com/index.php/2012/04/new-show-ja-ja-ja-w-sansa-maribel-reptile-youth/
Listen to Norway runs down a few of this spring's most prominent releases, including new albums from Espen Eriksen Trio, Death By Unga Bunga and Susanna: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2012022310153957986266
Refused cover Sick of It All with help from Lou Koller live in NYC.
Kleerup will be releasing his new soundtrack album "Aniara" -- a collaboration with musician Carl Bagge and vocalist Helen Sjöholm for the Stockholm City Theater production of the stage epic -- on May 9. Full press release here: http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/emi-music-sweden/pressrelease/view/kleerup-aniara-752936
From the new album of the same name, due out April 24 via . Leave it to the Finns to make techno this harsh; I'm into it.
New Swedish synthpop from The Blind. "A million miles" is the 2nd single from the band's forthcoming debut album "Rivers".
Peter Bjorn and John team up with fellow Stockholm locals Hell on Wheels for a split 7" to commemorate the 3031st anniversary of famed NZ label : http://peterbjornandjohn.com/blog/2012/04/gimme-some-chills-kiwis-part-2/
Each band contributes their own original song "The chills" with members providing cover artwork for their compatriots.
The excellent Norwegian experimental label is doing a very limited vinyl run of guitarist Stein Urheim's new LP "Kosmolodi" for Record Store Day, his third solo release overall I believe. White label, 150 copies, digital version coming in May.
Turboweekend have confirmed that their new single "On my side" will be officially released on April 30. The band will also be offering an early premiere of the track and two other new ones when they stream a live concert from their rehearsal space on the 25th.
Here's yet another thing I meant to post about ages ago and was only just reminded of: Tonight I am going to see In Solitude/The Devil's Blood/Watain in Seattle. Guitarist Henrik Palm currently plays with In Solitude and also (used to?) front Sonic Ritual. Sonic Ritual also features guitarist Linnéa Olsson whose new band is Crucifix in a Death Hand, together with Janne Jarvis (ex-Warrior Soul, Hate Gallery). "Do androids play electric guitars?" is the band's debut 3-song EP and it's a great example of heavy, hook-laden rock'n'roll. It's also now available for free download via Bandcamp, so hook it up! And to add an extra layer of spooky coincidence, I also just happened to sell my last distro copy of Sonic Ritual's debut 7" via Discogs as I was doing this writeup. Perhaps I need to talk up my dead stock more often?
Great powerpop bogged down by dreadful lyrical content. So close to actually being good!