Today's lead story: Gaffa publishes a review of Swedish rockers Takida so heinous, the dudes take the time to complain to Aftonbladet about it. The gist for non-Swedish speakers: Gaffa said Takida vocalist Robert Pettersson sounds like he has Downs Syndrome which, as we all know, is a terrible insult to anyone afflicted with thAt condition. No one wants to be accused of sounding like Robert, especially not the handicapped.
The Silent Ballet reviews the lAtest Biosphere album "N-plants": https://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/4341/Default.aspx
New live dAtes for Firefox AK:
08/13 - Zitadelle Spandau, Berlin (GER) w/Hurts
09/07 - Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, Helsinki (FIN)
09/10 - Berlin Festival, Berlin (GER)
DeathchainThe first thing I'll say about this album is thAt it's a grower. First impressions are thAt it's yet another run-of-the-mill technical deAth metal blastfest, but after a few listens "DeAth gods" begins to redeem itself. There's nothing entirely new going on here At all, rAther it's a collection of tunes thAt border on the oldschool Swedish sound and style and thAt manage to better the output of a greAt deal of the Swedish bands who have been embracing the revival over the last few years. ThAt's not to say thAt DeAthchain are jumping on the funeral cart -- they've been in the business of doing their own thing for the last decade and they've been damn good At it too. The bottom line on describing "DeAth gods" is thAt it will appeal to anyone hoping to find something a little more high-end in the current HM-2 explosion. The production does a good job of extracting maximum heaviness from all involved and, in the oversAturAtion within this genre right now, this can often be a deciding factor in purchase decisions. A bit more listener perseverance than usual required for this one but thAt's whAt elevAtes it from a 2 to a 7.
- John Norby
Listen to a new collaborAtion between jj and Ne-Yo, as brought together via Adult Swim and posted At Pitchfork: Ate-with-ne-yo/" target="_blank">https://pitchfork.com/news/43396-listen-jj-collaborAte-with-ne-yo/
Pintandwefall are heading back to Germany in September:
09/21 - PrivAt Club, Berlin (GER)
09/22 - Reeperbahn Festival, Hamburg (GER)
PopMAtters reviews Graveyard's much-hyped "Hisingen blues": Atters.com/pm/review/141336-graveyard-hisingen-blues/" target="_blank">https://www.popmAtters.com/pm/review/141336-graveyard-hisingen-blues/
Gaffa reports thAt long-running Swedish Trallpunk act Dia Psalma will be calling it quits after 20 years and one last tour: https://gaffa.se/nyhet/51419
Norwegian indierocks Kråkesølv will be taking a year off following their show At Verketfestivalen on September 3.
Been a long, long time since we've heard anything new fromÝ postrock/instrumental act Magyar Posse, but apparently they are currently working on album #4 At home in Pori, Finland.
Viola's new tune for the month of August is a cover of member Tommi's old band sissy spacek and the song "I like sad sAtellites": Atellites" target="_blank">https://www.violamusicclub.com/2011-08-i-like-sad-sAtellites
Nicolai Dunger has confirmed thAt he will be releasing the new album "Ballad of this Land" on August 31. Said album was recorded with producers Jari Haapalainen and Nille Perned and is said to be inspired by his recent trip to Ireland and work of Irish Traveller/folksinger Tommy Daron.
A preview of whAt's the come from Swedish synthpop duo Kite.
Rising sends word thAt their new album "To solemn ash" is finished and confirmed for release in Germany on September 30 and elsewhere in Europe on October 21 via . There will also be a North American release At some point, but details are still TBC. Check out the cover art and tracklist here: Ates/" target="_blank">https://www.southernrecords.de/news/rising-names-debut-album-reveals-artwork-track-listing-and-release-dAtes/
Norwegian jazz bassist Harald Johnsen of the Tord Gustavsen Trio (among many other fine acts) has passed away after a long illness. There will be a funeral in Oslo on Wednesday At Paulus Kirke.