Therion will tour South America this fall. See Snowy Shaw's website for details: https://www.snowyshaw.com/news.htm
Risky Bizniz has a remix of one of the more annoying tracks from the new Tough Alliance record: https://riskybizniz.blogspot.com/2007/05/neo-week.html
As a whole, I find myself enjoying "A new chance" quite a bit more than I thought I would. I still prefer "Escaping our ambitions", but they are getting much better at what they do.
Luxury has posted a track from the new My Darling You! album "I will exclude you with my body language" for free download: https://www.luxxury.se/mp3/My%20Darling%20YOU!%20-%20Bad%20times%20are%20on.mp3
Watch Finnish game/bit-pop masters and longtime IAT faves Desert Planet on German TV: https://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/9/0,4070,5436713-5,00.html
New UK dates for Finnish act Disco Ensemble:
06/18 - Barfly, Cardiff
06/19 - Barfly, Liverpool
06/20 - Fibbers, York
06/21 - Barfly, Birmingham
Decibel on Dimmu Borgir: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/jun2007/dimmuborgir.aspx
The article brings up some interesting points about Dimmu's place in modern black metal. This quote from Blake Judd of Nachtmystium is a good summation: "I think both Dimmu and Cradle [of Filth] are great metal bands, but I don't even really consider them black metal anymore because there’s nothing really intimidating or provocative about their music to anyone over the age of 16 to 18 years old."
Dusted rounds up all the latest releases from Ektro Records founder/Circle member/all-around prolific artist Jussi Lehtisalo: https://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/620
Pitchfork reviews the new Dungen record "Tio bitar": https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/42916-tio-bitar
MP3: Heroes & Zeros - The foolproof
The music of Norwegian act Heroes & Zeros comes across as a mish-mash of popular modern rock styles. A dash of Interpol's maudlin navel-gazing, a touch of Muse's histrionics, maybe even a bit of The Killers' pop bombast. The specter of U2's influence looms large as well. It's not terribly original (and neither are many of the acts I cited), yet somehow it works. Quite well, too. Heroes & Zeros do epic, brooding dark rock right. They're pop enough to secure a major label deal (at home in Norway anyway), but retain enough of an edge to make them stand out. I love this particular song that I've posted today for it's patient pacing and subdued chorus. It's one of the album's slower, more sombre moments and full of all sorts of subtle moments that make the hairs on my neck stand up. The swell of the keyboards, the surprising vocal harmonies, the little pause before the word "bruised" - an absurd attention to detail. I'm impressed.
Heroes & Zeros - The foolproof
MP3: Hero Dishonest - Saw it
The newest Hero Dishonest record "When the shit hits the man" has been out for awhile now and I keep meaning to talk about it, but it keeps getting pushed back. Enough! 21 songs, 25 minutes. No frills, no bullshit hardcore. Loud, fast and pissed-off. They've now paired down to a single vocalist and the recording is crisp, clean and clear. The much-improved sound quality is a welcome change - it's great to hear just how ridiculously tight the band is. That was something that really impressed me when I saw them live awhile back, but always felt was lacking in their previous releases. Well, it's a problem no more! The band sounds so much more powerful minus the dirt of a lackluster recording.
Hero Dishonest - Saw it
A few copies of the brand new Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words CD "Fall, fall, falling" just arrived. Buy it now!
The new Detektivbyrån/Hemstad split 7" on Italian label Black*Kitten Records has been confirmed for release on June 21.
Norwegian act Simon Says No is calling it quits and will play one final show at the Kinski Collective in Bergen on May 25.
Promoe is the latest Burning Heart artist to jump ship - his new CD/DVD collection "The Standard Bearer" has been licensed to Bad Taste for release on June 7. As mentioned before, the DVD portion contains a live show recorded in Copenhagen last December as well as studio footage, all of Promoe's solo videos and more. The CD that comes with it will contain 13 tracks including new stuff, b-sides and rarities.
The Hives will play a special show in celebration of frontman Howlin' Pelle's birthday on May 26 at Proud Larry’s in Oxford, Mississippi. More info: https://www.hivesmusic.com/popup/party.aspx