Also from Musique Machine comes this review of Icelandic artist Jóhann Jóhannsson.
Here's a bunch of pictures from the Koneisto festival: j.halso.net/images/koneisto2003/
Madrugada has posted some live video footage recorded from a show at Wrighte Gaarden in Langesund, Norway about three weeks ago. The two tracks available so far are "Blood Shot Adult Commitment" and "Seven Seconds". Enjoy!
Some of the acts set to play Okej-Dagen on August 13 at Gröna Lund in Stockholm: Anders Johansson, A-Teens, D-Side, Her Majesty, Jamie Meyer, Jay-Kid, Laze, Miio, Remedeeh, Shebang, September and User. More info: www.okej.se/okejdagar.shtml
Randy has posted some pics from Augustibuller.
Here's a bunch of pictures from the filming of First Floor Power's video for "Happy Endings". Silence has also posted the cover art for the new album "Nerves". No release date yet, but I'll let you know.
The Monstera booking agency is presenting a free festival called Summersmithy songs at Radermachersmedjorna in Eskilstuna, Sweden on August 22-23. Bands set to play include The Concretes, Cdoass, José Gonzáles, Le Mans, Tiger Lou, Jettie, The Legends, The Search, Kristina Carlsson, and Ellis the Vacuumchild. More info: etrea.tripod.com/intro.html
Tiger Lou is the band of the week over at MTVE.com. Head on over for a short interview and profile. The new EP "Trouble and Desire" comes out August 20 from Startracks.
This week's edition of the Brainwashed Brain includes reviews and samples of Arbete & Fritid, Martin Horntveth and more.
Ray Adams, the Norweigan singer who had the big hit "Violetta" in the 60s, has died at age 72 from Leukemia.
Finland's HIM has reportedly fulfilled their contractual obligations to BMG Finland and are currently seeking a new deal. Widely regarded as one of the country's biggest expost success stories, they are no doubt in consideration for a larger deal. In other news, the band will release their first live album "Live Metal" (a play on the previously released album "Love Metal") in November. The material was recorded and filmed at a number of consecutive shows the band played at the Semifinal club in their hometown of Helsinki. Yes, that means a bonus DVD of video footage will be included as well. And as often happens when a band decides to change labels, BMG will also be cashing in with a 'Greatest Hits' package sometime early next year. Lastly, the band has confirmed a number of fall tour dates:
08/08 - Taubertal Festival (GER)
08/15 - Viva Comet Awars, Cologne (GER) + Open Air Gampel (SWI)
08/16 - Highfield Festival, Erfurt (GER)
08/29 - Terremoto Festival, Weeze (GER)
11/08 - Coliseum, Lisbon (POR)
11/09 - Coliseum, Oporto (POR)
11/11 - La Riviera, Madrid (SPA)
11/13 - Sports Hall, Granada (SPA)
11/14 - Sala Gamma, Murcia (SPA)
11/15 - Razzmatazz, Barcelone (SPA)
11/16 - Polideportivo, San Sevastian (SPA)
11/19 - Alcatraxx, Milan (ITY)
Amorphis will be doing a couple Scandinavian tour dates along with UK doomsters Paradise Lost. The confirmed schedule so far:
10/22 - Arena, Stockholm (SWE)
10/23 - KB, Malmo (SWE)
10/24 - Rockafeller, Oslo (NOR)
10/25 - Karen, Gothenburg (SWE)
10/26 - Vega, Copenhagen (DEN)
The Crown will release a special limited-edition double-CD digipack of their latest album "Possessed 13" on October 20 through Metal Blade Records. The bonus CD is set to include both the "Forever Heaven Gone" and "Forget The Light" demos plus a cover of Bathory's "Burnin' Leather" and the demo version of the track "Rebel Angel" from the album "Deathrace King". View the promo poster here.
Here's an e-card for the Finnish techno pop duo Firevision and their debut album "The Game You Play".
Added some new live mp3s from Christian Kjellvander today. Be sure to check em out on the right.
Swedish power-metallers Falconer have finished recording their new album "The Sceptre Of Deception", due out October 6 on Metal Blade Records. Mainman Stefan Weinerhall says the record is "a concept album about greed, falseness and megalomania in the 1300s in Sweden" and "based upon a true story." Sounds like a winning formula to me. The full tracklist:
01. The Coronation
02. Trail Of Flames
03. Under The Sword
04. Night Of Infamy
05. Hooves Over Northland
06. Pledge For Freedom
07. Ravenhair
08. The Sceptre Of Deception
09. Hear Me Pray
10. Child Of Innocence
Hultsfred.tv just updated with a whole bunch of new videos.
Motorpsycho has reportedly been recording for the "In the Fishtank" live series from Konkurrent Records along with the Jaga Jazzist horn section. They apparently recorded about 50 minutes of music together such as a 22-minute version of "Tristano", "Theme de Yo-Yo" (Art Ensemble of Chicago) and a Lars Horntvedt-penned track called "India". Look for it around September, avalable from Touch & Go in the US. In the rumor mill: live Japan dates in December? I'll keep you posted if I get any details.
Last Days of April are currently back in the studio with producer/engineer Pelle Gunnerfeldt working on a new album. The plan is to do the tracking at Mission Hall Studio outside of Lund and then mix it at Pelle's own Studio Gröndal in Stockholm.
Chalksounds has confirmed that the new Moonbabies album "The Orange Billboard" is finally done and ready to press. Here's an interview from Sydsvenskan where they talk about the recording and their future plans. Can you say pop album of the year? If you thought the rough mix stuff was good, you're gonna be blown away by the real thing.