Aggie, the singer of Norwegian electronic act Frost, appears in the short film "Øyeblikk" which recently won the voter call-in competition on NRK's 'Kortklipt' program. The film was made by Thomas Christensen and stars Kristoffer Joner. You can catch Frost playing live as Roskilde fest this coming Sunday.
Click here to listen to Lorraine doing a radio interview and playing two songs semi-acoustically on NRK. (in Norweigan)
The Peepshows, Ariel Kill Him, Sunride, and The Crystal Committee are just a few of the bands appearing on the new Green Hell promo comp. It comes free with any Greenhell.de order or you can download it all at that link.
Bands confirmed for the darkwave/gothic Electric Gathering fest at Fryshuset in Stockholm, Sweden on August 30: Arcana, Blutengel, Project-X, Of the Wand and the Moon. More info: www.egf.nu
The latest from Startracks Records:
Christian Kjellvander will be recording the new track "Portugal" next week for a video/single release sometime around October. He debuted the song live at Hultsfred fest and you can view footage of it here.
Fireside's latest album "Get Shot" finally gets a US/Canada release now on August 19 and the label says that tour plans are definitely in the works.
The label's latest signing Tiger Lou has set August 20 as the release date for their new EP. The tracklist:
01. Sam, as in Samantha
02. Nova Lee
03. When I was a kid
04. Trouble & Desire
You probably didn't notice as there hasn't been much publicity about it, but Simba Records recently released the Kristofer Åström "Plastered Confessions" EP in the US. Simba also put out a similar Marit Bergman EP over here that's worth checking out as well. And while we're on a tangent here, let me add that Simba is also working on a Joni Mitchell tribute CD that will feature contributions from Kristofer and Dennis Lyxzén (International Noise Conspiracy, Lost Patrol) among others. FYI, the label's website appears to still be a work-in-progress as I think it just came online.
And lastly, Startracks has finalized the tracklist for their first label-showcase compilation. It also comes out August 20 and will be dirt cheap:
01. Fireside - Throw it away
02. Christian Kjellvander -Broken Wheels
03. Kristofer Åström & Hidden truck - One good moment
04. Tiger Lou - Nova Lee
05. Loosegoats - Days of black (nights are light)
06. Kristofer Åström - 8 long years (previously unreleased)
07. Songs of Soil - Page
08. The Lost Patrol - Stating the obvious
09. Revolvo - Moscow mule
10. Jaffa de Luxe - Don't forget about Raquel
11. Candysuck - Popcorn
12. Leiah - Cover Discover
13. Starmarket - Mexican summer
14. Moneybrother - Thunder in my heart
15. Buck - Rock dream
16. Monster - Don't answer the phone
17. Refused - Pump the brakes
Watch the video footage of the DumDum Boys playing live at the Norweigan Wood fest.
Some of the bands set to play the Slottsfjell Festival in Tønsberg, Norway on August 1-2: Madrugada, Bjørn Rosenstrøm, Nils Petter Molvær, Saybia, Equicez, Surferosa, Mohammed, Don Juan Dracula, Baby Woodrose, Ricochets, Amulet, Johndoe, JR Ewing. More info: www.slottsfjellfestival.no
Digfi.com's 1000th Demobank band Captain Murphy has just signed a recording contract with Bonnier Amigo Music. Read more. (in Swedish)
The first full-length album "Chain Gang of Love" from The Ravonettes has been set for an August 6 release date. (Or is it August 12? I'm seeing that date thrown around, too) The lead single will be for the track "The Great Sound Of Love". "It's all killer no filler, 13 great songs in booming Bb Major." says Sharin Foo. Read the full interview from Kevchino where the news was revealed. Go here for an interview where they discuss more about the new single and video which was shot by Sophie Muller (Coldplay, Radiohead, PJ Harvey).
DigitalMetal.com has posted one of the first reviews for Arch Enemy's new album "Anthems Of Rebellion". They also cover the new Marduk album "World Funeral".
Dagensskiva reports that Fattaru will be releasing a new album called "Jordnära" this coming fall on September 8. Masse, Salla, Chepe and Oskar Skarp lent their production skills to the record and Fjärde världen, Masayah and Dungen are said to be among the guests making appearances. Look for a single in August.
It's been quite some time since they put anything out, but semi-legendary grindcore band General Surgery has announced plans to release a bunch of new material in the coming year. If I remember right, the band was lacking a drummer for awhile and was put on hold because of it. Anyhow, they've got a split 7" with Spain's Machetazo and a split 12" with Japan's Butcher ABC coming out on Escorbuto Recordings soon. They are also planning a split CD with US gore-grinders The County Medical Examiners that will also eventually see a release on vinyl, too. Keep your eyes peeled.
Check out this site to watch the new European version of "In the Shadows" from Finland's The Rasmus. And after twenty record-setting weeks on the MTV Nordic's UpNorth chart, they have decided the retire the single from further competition so as to give other acts more chance for exposure. In other news, the band was supposed to be supporting Evanescence on their upcoming German tourdates, but those shows have unfortunately been cancelled by the headliner. They still plan on going out and doing promotion in Hamburg and Berlin regardless.
Randy has posted a bunch of new pics from their recent European tour.
From thearkworld.com comes yet another live video. This is one is "Tell Me this Night is Over", live from Stockholm.
Ebbot hurt his back after drinking too much and failing to navigate some stairs so, under doctor's orders, he's had to cancel the scheduled Soundtrack of Our Lives show at Roskilde.
C.Aarmé just put up a couple videos on their homepage. They also report that they will be entering the studio on July 7 to record 'at least' 15 new songs.
Bear Quartet has put up an old mp3 of "Guilt Jazz/High Noon" from a live Luleå radio broadcast in 1995.
One more band has been added to the Uppsala Hardcore Fest: Parade. They'll play Tuesday at 18:00. See previous days news for more details.
Denmark's Ravonettes will appear on 'Late Night with David Letterman' this coming September 10. Obviously, the previously announced date in July will not be happening as planned. The band also will be supporting Beck at the Brixton Academy in London on August 21.
The band Dechas won the Emergenza demoband fest and they now get to play at the Taubertal festival in Germany this coming August. More on Dechas here. More on Taubertal here. Other bands playing the fest include The Cardigans and HIM.
The latest edition of the Brainwashed Brain reviews Ulver's "1993-2003: 1st Decade in the Machines", among other fine releases.
Kiss frontman Paul Stanley is working on a new solo album with Swedish songwriter Andreas Carlsson due out sometime early next year. Andreas' previous credits include working with artists such as Celine Dion, Def Leppard, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Bon Jovi and Britney Spears.
Here's an update from Borknagar drummer Asgeir Mickelson concerning the recording of their forthcoming album and other current activities, as posted on their message board:
"I've recorded all the acoustic drums. I still have to do some V-drums stuff on one of the two Lars-instrumentals (don't know what to do yet...), and I'll spend a couple of hours going through all the drum tracks fixing small errors (like when I hit the snare or a tom a little bit wrong I can replace it with a better take, or move the bassdrums if they're not dead on the snare). Lars has recorded all keyboards (very happy with the sounds!) and Hammond (different one than last time - even more organic sound), but still have to record the grand piano in Fagerborg studio. Andreas is doing all his vocals next week (starting tomorrow). Øystein recorded most of the rhythm tracks in April and will continue recording his endless amounts of guitars the same week as Andreas is doing the vocals. Tyr was supposed to record bass this week but had to postpone it to the second week in July due to not getting his new fretless bass in time."
"Other news is that we've chosen to release the album early next year. We have way too much material so we'll probably save some songs for a Japanese release or something else. We still haven't found a title for it, but it's decided that I will - as usual - do the cover design + this time shoot the band pictures (the problem with being in front and behind the camera at the same time is solved with a remote control and then some hours with Photoshop...). Other reasons for releasing the album next year is that we need more time to find and record "the snacks". We want it to be better produced - more sound effects, more intros/outros, whatever... We have found a possible session guitarist to replace Jens, but still need to learn him the songs before playing live. Looks like we will have to cancel the (only) two scheduled shows and come back stronger next year. Who knows, maybe it's worth the wait..."
Some of the bands confirmed for the upcoming 4th annual Norbergfestival for modern electronica which takes place in Norberg, Sweden on July 24-26: Pan Sonic (FIN), Philip Jeck (UK) & Jacob Kirkegaard (DK), Gert-Jan Prins (NL), Mikael Stavöstrand (S), Björn Svin (DK), Håkan Libdo (S), Karsten Pflum (DK), Bauri (S), and Wäldchengarten (DK). More info: www.norbergfestival.com
Via pHinnWeb, comes these pictures from a recent Pan Sonic show in Russia.
In what is being billed as a 'knight to remember', Sweden's power-metal superstars Dream Evil will be playing the Camden Underworld in London on September 27. Dream Evil features Studio Fredman owner/engineer Fredrik Nordström and ex-Mercyful Fate drummer/Notre Dame frontman Snowy Shaw and have two albums out. Fellow Swedes Falconer open, and as the press release says, "Prepare to do battle against false metaaaal with thy sword held on high!!!"
Magnet's new album "On Your Side" comes out June 30 in Norway and July 7 in UK. They'll be heading over to the latter to support Bebel Gilberto on the following dates:
07/19 - Manchester Bridgewater Hall
07/22 - London Shepherds Bush Empire
07/30 - Bristol Academy
The band also has a feature in the June issue of The Fly magazine along with a four-star review of the new album. They also received quite a nice write-up in Q who describe them as "blissed out electronic pop that sounds like Simon & Garfunkel restructuring Radiohead's most fragile moments." Head over to their website for more details.
Madrugada has added two new festivals to their summer tour plans:
06/29 - Nel Nome Del Rock, Palestrina ,Italy
08/30 - Bizarre Festival, Flughafen Niederrhein, Germany
Check this link out to view and listen to performances and interviews from Spain's Sonar Festival including Bjorn Torske, Jaga Jazzist and much much more.
Here's the schedule for the Uppsala Summer Hardcore Fest. Doors open at 17:00 both days.
06/23
22:30 - Tear it Up (New Jersey, US)
21:45 - Between Us (Stockholm)
21:00 - Regulations (Umeå)
20:15 - Last Hope (Linköping)
19:30 - The 21st Impact (Uppsala)
18:45 - Labour (Cästerås)
18:00 - Rabid Grannies (meå)
06/24
22:30 - What Happens Next? ("Canada", acutally from the SF Bay Area, CA)
21:45 - Second Thought (Stockholm)
21:00 - Victims (Nyköping)
20:15 - The Jam Session (Mjölby)
19:30 - Bruce Banner (Stockholm)
18:45 - One Step Ahead (Nyköping)
Sleeping arrangements at the fest can be booked for 20sek along with your ticket purchase. For more info go here: https://uahc.diskonto.org/festival
Glad midsommar!
Paola's updated summer tour schedule:
06/21 - Järva, Folkets Park
07/05 - Borlänge, Peace and Love
07/10 - Arvikafestivalen
07/11 - Varberg, Nöjesparken
07/17 - Skellefteå, Trästocksfestivalen
07/26 - Helsingborg, Dunkers Kulturhus
08/15 - Göteborgskalaset
Finnish death-metal supergroup Chaos Breed report that their "Unleashed Carnage" demo is being picked up for release by an as-of-yet unnamed label. They'll probably throw some other material on the disc, too. Assuming all goes well, they hope to have it out in time for the Tuska festival on July 11.
Robert Palmer has apparently covered Nicolai Dunger's "Dr. Zhivago's Train" on his new album "Drive". Weird.
Mom Pop Records, the label that will be releasing Your Halo is a Radar and Soviac in the US, is offering a free six-song sampler for those who might be interested. Simply head on over to their website and leave your address in the guestbook.
Eye Will Drown Records and Räka Produktion have set up a new festival at DIXI in Falköping, Sweden this coming November 11 called the Betong Festivalen. Bands set to play include Rentokiller, Set My Path, Liquid Phase, Troublemakers, Frost and The Mischief. For more info, go to the Räka site or email eyewilldrown@hotmail.com.
Those of you lucky folks with Roskilde tickets can view the full schedule here: https://www.roskilde-festival.dk/object.php?obj=32f000c&code=45
Laakso has finished recording sixteen new songs, some of which some will end up on the forthcoming debut full length album. Band member David Nygard says, "We are very satisfied so far. Feels like it's more alive and boiling than the EP. Jari [Haapalainen, Bear Quartet], the producer, made us scream and destroy instruments. Of course we left a few tender, acoustic numbers too, for the girls..."
MIC Norway put up a profile on Emmerhoff & The Melancholy Babies today.
Via DJ Martian comes this profile on Mew in The Guardian. Is Denmark the new Sweden?
Here's an e-card for the song "Let´s go dancing" from the new Danish band The Fashion.