Henrik Steiner is leaving s56 Recordings (User, Milo, Her Majesty), the label he founded along with Sanji Tandan. Read more. (in Swedish)
Beyond Dawn has finally come through and updated their website with a new design and news. The new album "Frysh" just came out on Peaceville and I think it's great. I hesitate to label them as such, but "dark electronic-influenced pop" really is the only thing I can think of to describe them. "Post metal" perhaps? That's what they call Jester Records. Download some mp3s from here and listen for yourself. Anyhow, in related news, side-project Wrongside has finished work on their full length album and hope to get it out shortly. Oslo Athletico is working on new material, too. More news when I get it.
Sound the Sirens has posted a review of The Flicker's 3-song CDr "Phases". I think I like it quite a bit better than the reviewer here, but I would say that the vocals could be stronger. Good to hear that people are still making quality hard rock though.
The latest edition of The Brainwashed Brain includes reviews and samples of the compilation "Masters of the Scene: the definitive Abba tribute" and more.
Singer/songwriter Lars Winnerbäck has announced two final concerts on his tour at Linköpings Konserthus on September 13 and 14. Afterwards he says he plans on spending the next while writing and working on material for his next album.
If you remember from way back when (06/19 to be exact), I posted about black metaller Illvastar and his alleged corpse desecration charges. Well, dude was handed a one-year sentence starting today. Apparently he had spent that evening drinking 192 proof moonshine, smoking hashish so he doesn't remember too much of what happened. His other three companions on the night in question received sentences of community service. Read more from here and here.
Check out the video for the new Arch Enemy single "We Will Rise": low / high
The track comes from the band's new album "Anthems Of Rebellion", due out August 26 on Century Media. The video was filmed by the Entity production company which is run by George Bravo (Roachpowder/ex-Skintrade guitarist) and Alex Hellid (Entombed). Previous videos from Entity include work for The Hellacopters, Spiritual Beggars and Deathstars.
Nasum has posted the entire video footage from their October 9, 2001 show in Osaka, Japan at this location. It's broken into five separate pieces and is about 405 total mb.
Children of Bodom have brought on Sinergy guitarist Roope Latvala as a temporary replacement for departing guitarist Alexander "Aku" Kuoppala. His debut was this last saturday at the band's show in Moscow and he will be continuing on with the group throughout their upcoming scheduled tour engagements.
Konkhra has announced what's being billed as "first full-fledged extreme metal Euro tour with (this far) only Danish acts!!!" by taking countrymen Illnath, Corpus Mortale out on the road with them around Europe. There's still one more act to be added to the bill, but here's the dates so far:
10/30 – Kiel (GER)
10/31 - Rostock (GER)
11/01 – Berlin (GER)
11/02 – Stettin (POL)
11/03 – Wroclaw (POL)
11/04 – Katowice (POL)
11/05 - Uherske Hradiste (CZR)
11/06 – Wien (AUT)
11/07 – Graz (AUT)
11/08 – Zagreb (CRO)
11/09 – Ljubljana (SLO)
11/11 – Mailand (ITA)
11/12 – Turin (ITA)
11/13 – Lyon (FRA)
11/14 – Genf (SWI)
11/15 – Zürich (SWI)
11/16 – Metz (FRA)
11/18 – Zottegem (BEL)
11/19 – Rotterdam (NETH)
11/20 – Eindhoven (NETH)
11/21 – Hengelo (NETH)
11/22 – Wermelskirchen (GER)
12/05 – Copenhagen (DEN)
Konkhra's last album "Reality Check" was released on Code666 Records in May. Check out the video for the song "Warmonger" from here.
Norweigan industrial metal act Red Harvest is putting out a special release package including the "Sick Transit Gloria Mundi" video, several remixes and a cover of the song "Addicted", originally by fellow Nord cult band Munch. Go to www.redharvestplanet.com for more info.
The Hives have hinted to NME that their new album may be out around February. They apparently played two new songs (???) during this past weekend's V Festival in the UK which NME describes as "sounding exactly the same" as the old stuff, which they note, is not necessarily a bad thing. UPDATE: I'm seeing reports from elsewhere saying there was one new song and it's called "State Control". More details if I can confirm them.
As previously announced, Dark Funeral is heading on a tour of South America. Unfortunately, they will not be able to play in every country they had originally intended, but they plan to and reschedule those locations on a second tour sometime in the future. The confirmed dates:
09/04 – Piramide Shows, Brasilia (BRA)
09/05 - Ginasio CMBH, Belo Horizonte (BRA)
09/06 - Setembro Negro Festival, São Paulo (BRA)
09/07 – Moinho Sao Roque , Curitiba (BRA)
09/08 – Teatro Providencia, Santiago (CHL)
09/09 – Pub Moe's, Coquimbo (CHL)
09/10 – La Cascada, Antofagasta (CHL)
09/11 – Klandestino "under club", Valparaiso (CHL)
09/12 – Hell Attacks, Cali (COL)
09/13 – Teatro Patria, Bogota (COL)
09/14 – Bar El Tunel, Pasto (COL)
Madder Mortem has confirmed the departure of both bassist bassist Paul (Pål Mozart Bjørke) and guitarist Eirik Ulvo Langnes. "Paul wanted to quit in order to be able to concentrate on his son 100% and also live a more 'normal' life compared to the rather 'abnormal' Madder lifestyle," reads a post from the band's website, while "with Eirik, we felt that it didn't work out like it should musically anymore, and it seemed like he didn't feel as comfortable playing in this band as much as the rest of us." The band already has new members in place, but has yet to announce their names. "We just want to get some photos taken, so that you can see their incredibly handsome faces," they say.
In case you don't pay attention to such things, I added a ton of new sites to the links page yesterday.