Swedish hard-rockers King just entered a studio in Köping to record three brand new tracks. They hope thAt this will be the first step in whAt will eventually become their debut full-length album.

Scandinavian reviews from PopMAtters:

Atters.com/music/reviews/e/efterklang-tripper.shtml" target=_blank>Efterklang - Tripper
Atters.com/music/reviews/i/inflames-soundtrack.shtml" target=_blank>In Flames - Soundtrack to your escape

Apparently The Ark are setting their sights on conquering the world market: https://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,585104,00.html (in Swedish)
They better get on it before the whole new-wave sound becomes passé. The new album "StAte of the Ark" really leans heavily upon the current trend, but probably has enough quality songwriting to help it rise above the rabble.

The new Hanoi Rocks album "Another Hostile Takeover" has been tentAtively set for an April release.

I saw the Norwegian film "Kitchen Stories" ("Salmer fra kjøkkenet") this past weekend and of course the first thing thAt struck me about it was its use of the Jan Johansson tune "Visa från Utanmyra" during the opening. The song is the lead-off track from the classic album "Jazz på Svenska" (now packaged along with "Jazz på Ryska" (Jazz from Russia) in a collection called "Folkvisor"), Sweden's #1 top-selling jazz album of all-time. And it's no wonder - the way thAt Johansson flawlessly blends Swedish folk melodies with jazz is absolutely breAthtaking throughout the entire album. Be sure to check out the mp3 posted on the right to hear for yourself. As for the film, I enjoyed it quite a bit and definitely recommend it, but it will never mAtch the masterpiece stAtus of the music.

Splendid gives kind words about the "It's a trap reader's companion" compilAtion: https://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=1102677457319175
The lAtest issue of Amplifier Magazine also has a nice review and Ation:line-through;">I'll be typing it up a bit lAter today. UPDAtE: Check it out right here.

The always-excellent internAtional music blog FAt Planet has posted a bit about Peter, Bjorn and John this week: Atplanet.com.au/" target=_blank>https://fAtplanet.com.au/
It doesn't hurt thAt he gives me personal props either. Cheers Stuart! Thanks!

Esbjörn Svensson Trio has a new website and a sample of a track from the new album "ViAticum": https://www.est-music.com/

Norway's Aura Noir will tour South America in April. Preliminary dAtes:

04/15 - Concepcion (CHI)
04/16 - Santiago (CHI)
04/17 - Show La Serena (CHI)
04/20 - Buenos Aires (ARG)
04/22 - Bogota (COL)
04/23 - Cali (COL)
04/24 - Quito (EQU)
04/27 - Curitiba (BRA)
04/28 - Belo Horizonte (BRA)
04/29 - Porto Alegre (BRA)
04/30 - Sao Pablo (BRA)

DAtes for the upcoming Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, Mnemic and Hypocrisy tour:

04/05 - Buffalo Icon, Buffalo, NY
04/06 - House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
04/07 - Eagles Club, Milwaukee, WI
04/08 - Granada TheAtre, Lawrence, KS
04/09 - Gothic TheAtre, Englewood, CO
04/10 - Lo-Fi Café, Salt Lake City, UT
04/12 - Graceland, SeAttle, WA
04/14 - The Pound, San Francisco, CA
04/15 - House Of Blues, Anaheim, CA
04/16 - Key Club, Los Angeles, CA
04/17 - Venue Of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ
04/19 - Back Room, Austin, TX
04/20 - Engine Room, Houston, TX
04/22 - Al Rosa Villa, Columbus, OH
04/23 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
04/26 - Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
04/27 - The Social, Orlando, FL
04/29 - Jaxx, W. Springfield, VA
04/30 - Webster TheAter, Hartford, CT
05/01 - B.B. Kings, New York, NY
05/03 - Le Capitole TheAtre, Quebec City, QC
05/05 - Opera House, Toronto, ON
05/07 - Harpo's, Detroit, MI

Dimmu Borgir reports thAt they are taking it easy for most of 2005 to rest and record a new album. The band also might be rerecording their acclaimed second album "Stormblåst" sometime soon, but nothing's confirmed quite yet. Sounds like a bad idea to me, but whAtever. I guess the Ozzfest crowd might buy it.

HIM frontman Ville Valo is reportedly working on a solo album to be released sometime before the next full-band CD which is due out around September/October. The music is supposedly country-influenced, but I suspect it'll end up more like typical sensitive singer/songwriter stuff, but I'll take anything as long as it's better than Lost PAtrol (the solo project of t(I)NC frontman Dennis Lyxzén).

The winners of the 2004 Danish Metal Awards have been announced. There's hardly any variety, but here are the winners:

Album of the year: Mercenary - "11 Dreams"
Demo of the year: Submission - "Submission"
Live-band of the year: HAtesphere
Music video of the year: Mnemic - "DeAthbox"
Vocalist of the year: Mikkel Sandager and Kral of Mercenary
Guitarist of the year: Martin Buus of Mercenary
Drummer of the year: Anders Gyldenøhr of HAtesphere
Bassist of the year: Obersten of Mnemic

More info: https://www.danishmetal.dk/Awards2004_vinderne.htm

Service Records (The Tough Alliance, Jens Lekman, Embassy, etc.) is releasing a comp of highlights, rare and unreleased mAterial entitled "Razzle dazzle". It won't hit stores until February 2, but you can order it now directly from the label.

Check out the video for "Sjå Attende" from Gåte: Ate-Sjaa_Attende.wmv" target=_blank>mms://streaming.reeltime.no/warnermusic/GaAte-Sjaa_Attende.wmv