The new DJ Rooftop "The yellow and blue print 3" featuring Swedish hip-hop stars rapping over Jay-Z beats is out now as a free download: https://djrooftop.blogspot.com/2009/09/blue-and-yellow-print-3.html
A few of the featured artists include Pato Pooh, Adam Tensta, Paragon and Promoe.
Another month, another new Eric Ramsey track for free download: https://www.ericramsey.se/sonicblastmachine.html
This one's called "Cut set".
Swedish boogie-rockers Hellsingland Underground are working on a new album called "Madness & grace" to be released in February 2010.
The (International) Noise Conspiracy's planned trip to China was cancelled by the Chinese government. Feel free to make up your own punchline.
The Raveonettes will be touring North America later this month:
10/14 - Webster Hall, New York, NY
10/15 - Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
10/16 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
10/17 - TLA, Philadelphia, PA
10/18 - Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
10/20 - Paradise, Boston, MA
10/21 - Club Soda, Montreal, QC
10/22 - Phoenix, Toronto, ONT
10/23 - Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
10/24 - The Southgate House, Newport, KY
10/25 - Metro, Chicago, IL
10/26 - First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
11/05 - Venue, Vancouver, BC
11/06 - Neumo's, Seattle, WA
11/07 - Doug Fir, Portland, OR
11/09 - Bimbo's, San Francisco, CA
11/10 - Detroit Bar, Costa Mesa, CA
11/12 - Belly Up, Solana Beach, CA
11/13 - Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
11/14 - Glasshouse, Pomona, CA
Indie/hardcore dudes attempting to play metal is a dicey proposition, hence me approaching Danish act Rising with extreme caution, especially considering the "true fucking metal" banner they fly on myspace. However, in their favor I will concede they have a legit metal brother in guitarist Jacob Krogholt (ex-Withering Surface), but is he enough to offset the potential poseurtude of drummer Martin Niemann (Marvins Revolt) and bassist/vocalist Henrik Hald (Trust)? Or maybe those dudes are just slumming it with their other bands, finally able to let loose their inner-hessian with Rising? It's not an unreasonable question because I must concede that yes, they do successfully bring the heavy. Rising leans a bit towards the angular sludge of Unsane or Årabrot more than, say, the true metal glory of Manowar, but that's not such an awful digression IMO. If you're still in doubt, just wait for the solo section on this track and your opinion might be swayed. And really, I'd much rather hear a band like this than any 4th-rate thrash revival, even if it isn't exactly denim-vest and bullet-belt material or the truest of true. It's heavy and I like it, that's enough.
Rising - Dead kings
The new Amanda Jenssen single "Happyland" is streaming at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/amandajenssen
Gbg-based indie act Outmen have a new song at myspace called "You might be in a band": https://www.myspace.com/outmen
Johannes Gammelby of I Am Bones has fired his band and will continue on as a solo artist: https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=30882408&blogId=512411961
Swedish goth-pop act Hearts of Black Science have a new video for the song "Giving in to anger": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq1XB1FG32A
Is it October in Finland already? Viola's latest free download single is called "Beautiful lost things" and it's ready for the taking: https://www.violamusicclub.com/
In other news, the band recently penned a tune for fellow Finnish artist Bääbs (from Tv-resistori) called "You don't know tomorrow" for entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and apparently it's made it to the semifinals and can be heard here: https://euroviisut.yle.fi/
That is assuming of course that you can navigate the Finnish website (I can't).
Swedish rockers Robert Johnson and Punchdrunks have announced their retirement from the live scene: https://www.headstomp.com/nyheter/rjap-slutar-spela-live
"Bourgeois Shangri-La" by Miss Li is featured in a new iPod commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKwmlUApZ-s
Finnish noiserock act Downstairs has confirmed that their sophomore album "DWNSTRS" will be released on November 4 via Fullsteam Records. Hear the first track "Sea life" at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/downstairsnoise
Cloudberry Records will be releasing 7"s from Swedish indiepop acts Bonne Idée and Sad Day for Puppets in the near future. I'm not crazy about everything the label does, but they've definitely been on quite a tear lately with their last few records and I expect both of these to be just as good.