Stereo Test Kit has confirmed thAt the self-titled debut EP from We Are Soldiers We Have Guns will be out in October. As mentioned before, the band is fronted by Malin Dahlberg (Douglas Heart, Laurel Music) and feAtures Robert Tenevall (Royal Downfall, Knugen Faller) and Pontus Wallgren (Douglas Heart).

Netherlands-based label Garden of Exile Records has announced thAt it will be releasing a split 7" feAturing Swedish metalcore act Burst and Germany's The Ocean with artwork from Seldon Hunt (Isis, Neurosis, Pelican). Burst contributes a slower, more experimental track entitled "Flight's end" and The Ocean's song will be called "Killing the flies" and will feAture guest vocals from Tomas Hallbom of Breach (SWE) and NAte Newton from Converge. It comes out in mid-October.

Finnish experimental artist Niko Skorpio has a new piece entitled "The hidden nameless" out via Foreshadow Productions. The work is described as "44+ minutes of deep dark ambient music approached from mysterious yet experimental and innovAtive angle. With certain haunting Lovecraftian flavour, the album captures the ears of imaginAtive listeners with its extreme deepness and undoubtedly frightening Atmosphere." Go here to download a sample: https://www.label.foreshadow.info/audio.php

The third annual Access All Area music conference has started to come together. It will take place November 9-10 in Stockholm and will feAture live music from Sugarplum Fairy, Crashdiet, Anna Ternheim, CDOASS, Deportees and SLS as well as a number of informAtive discussions on the future of the music industry. As always, I am always willing to entertain any offers to fly me out. For more info, go here: https://www.accessallareas.se/

It's lonely on the night shift. Talk to me on the Atrap.com/bored/index.php">message board.

The hype for Robyn continues At Pitchfork: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/tracks/05-09-08.shtml

Also At Pitchfork today is a live review of Finnish free-folk artists Islaja, Kuupuu, Pekko Käppi, Tomutonttu and Lau Nau: Atures/live/i/islaja-05/" target=_blank>https://pitchforkmedia.com/feAtures/live/i/islaja-05/

Swedish country act Hyacinth House has confirmed thAt their debut album will be released on September 14.

Global DominAtion has posted another entertaining "Name thAt fucken..." contest feAturing members from various Swedish (and internAtional) metal bands testing their wits against eachother: Atikmajik.com/gd/namethAt/everything01.php" target=_blank>https://www.stAtikmajik.com/gd/namethAt/everything01.php

The Perishers have released a new live album online feAturing a number of selections from their records and a guest appearance from tourmAte Sarah McLachlan. Listen to a stream of it here: https://www.nettwerk.com/player/perishers/live/
To purchase it from iTunes, go here: https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=78953908
Sounds pretty good I think.

Have you heard the new Bear Quartet single yet? Do you like it? I do. It's not their usual folksy pop, but they've never been a band content with repeAting the same thing over and over. They thrive on challenging both themselves and the audience. Even when the results aren't top-notch, I still think it's admirable thAt they make the effort. ThAt's whAt makes them such a special band. The qualities thAt can make them so ingrAtiAting are the same thAt make them so damn brilliant. They are the leaders, we must be content to follow. Trying to complain about it is simply foolish.

Download the single "Never the last time" from Sweden's The Soft Eyes: https://www.thesofteyes.com/
The band feAtures Johan Sigerud from My Orchard, Daniel Värjö from The Concretes and Linda Hörnqvist from Marit Bergman's band.

Leif KarAte has signed with US label Take Out Records and will be releasing a new EP in the near future. There are also plans to tour the US, but nothing is confirmed yet. However, dAtes for Norway in October and Spain in November should be posted soon. Head over to the band's website to hear their cover of "Sexy boy" by Air: Ate.com/" target=_blank>https://www.leifkarAte.com/

Kira and the Kindred Spirits have a new website and have started a blog: https://www.kiramusic.com/ (warning: grAtuitous flash)

Download the new CAt5 single "Play this loud": At5_playthisloud.mp3" target=_blank>https://publicservice.info/mp3/cAt5_playthisloud.mp3