Goth/industrial site I Die You Die has a good evaluation of the new Agent Side Grinder album "Hardware", one of my own favorite new releases of 2012: http://www.idieyoudie.com/2012/02/agent-side-grinder-hardware/
Check out Finnish/Ethiopian artist Mirel Wagner performing a couple tunes live for Le Blogotheque's renown Take Away Show. More info: http://www.blogotheque.net/2012/02/20/mirel-wagner/
Volume 5 of Mikael Sörling's Swedish punk comp series "Turist i tillvaron" has been confirmed: http://sirling.blogspot.com/2012/02/turist-i-tillvaron-vol-5.html
Not a lot of names I know offhand, but hey, that's kind of the point.
Ane Brun will be touring North America in May:
05/02 - Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
05/04 - Soundstage, Baltimore, MD
05/05 - The Hamilton, Washington, DC
05/07 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
05/09 - Brighton Hall, Boston, MA
05/10 - tbc, Toronto
05/12 - Petit Campus, Montreal
05/15 - Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA
05/17 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
05/19 - State Room, Salt Lake City, UT
05/20 - Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO
05/22 - Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
New music from Bring Me The Fucking Riot...Man off their upcoming record "Solidarity died and so did we", due out April 16 via . As mentioned before, the first official single "There is something wrong in your head. Your brain is dead." comes out March 19.
Swedish label (Austinterna, Lasse Lindh, etc.) have officially closed their doors: http://www.grooverrecordings.com/?p=234
I wasn't too impressed by the last Donkeyboy single, but this new one is totally great pop music.
"Hälsning från 737" is the first taste of Kristofer's latest solo album "Mina jag och du" which was produced by Lasse Lindh and Peter LeMarc. Kristofer is also a member of the new Americana trio Easy October alongside Kristofer Åström and Nikke Ström (Nationalteatern, etc.) who will be releasing an album this summer.
are now streaming a tune from the new Parasight 7" "Moral recession" at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/screamingrecords
If you dig metallic d-beat/hardcore ala late-era Disfear or Black Breath, you'll dig this.
Ex-The Ark members Martin Axén, Jepson, Leari Ljungberg and Jens Andersson have revived their long-dormant old band Stereo Explosion and have started working on new material together for the first time since 2000. Look for them to start playing live this summer.
"Landing in rotation" is the latest single from Norwegian indie act Hypertext.
"Love songs" is the first official single from GBG-based pop/disco/house act Rebel Rebel, a new act featuring a member from Katakomb.
Remember that Håkon Kornstad clip I showed you from the "Oslo Jazzed Out" documentary? Here's more: http://www.youtube.com/user/uvisninew#p/c/6702D3C8469F61F9/0/quw-xdXjHL4
I haven't had the time to watch much of it yet, but if it's anything like the earlier clip, it's essential viewing.
Can't say that I agree with the "post rock" genre designation, but let's not be too picky -- this is a decent example of expansive, melancholic rock from Finland that should appeal to fans of Mew and the like. Look for All Will Be Quiet to release their debut album "On the first day" this coming May via .
The new Francis video for "Traktor" plus a full stream of their excellent new EP "This must be blood". Well worth checking out!