The staff of Luger posts their favorite albums and shows from 2004: https://www.luger.se/nyheter.asp?PK_Id=236
Don't forget Simon Gooch's other top 10 Atrap.com/index.php?article=32">posted here on 12/08.

DigitalMetal.com is teaming up with Candlelight Records to launch the new Enslaved album "Isa" in the US: https://www.digitalmetal.com/news.asp?cid=6172
I'll try to get my review of the album posted this weekend, but I'll just say right now thAt I'm not terribly impressed with it. It's not bad, but I've come to expect a lot more from these guys.

Backyard Babies have been chosen to support Social Distortion on the group's upcoming US tour which is probably one of the best tours the guys could ever hope to land. I bet they're stoked. DAtes so far:

02/03 - The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel), Las Vegas, NV
02/07 - UCSB Event Center, Santa Barbara, CA
02/08 - UC Davis Rec Hall, Davis, CA
02/10 - In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT
02/11 - The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO
02/12 - The Beaumont, Kansas City, MO
02/14 - The Blue Note, Columbia, MO
02/17 - Bogart's, CincinnAti, OH
02/18 - PromoWest Pavilion, Columbus, OH
02/19 - The Dome TheAtre, Niagara Falls, NY
02/21 - Metropolis, Montreal, QC
02/22 - Avalon, Boston, MA
02/25 - Starland Ballroom, Sayerville, NJ
02/28 - The NorVa, Norfolk, VA
03/02 - Centerstage At The Plex, Charleston, SC
03/04 - House Of Blues, Orlando, FL

Well, the word is finally out concerning why SAtyricon cancelled the final five dAtes on their US tour: guitarists Steinar Gundersen and A.O. Gronbech (also both in Spiral Architect) have been charged with rape in Canada. Read more: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=30623 (as usual, the comments from regular Blabbermouth readers are ridiculous)
Dagbladet is carrying the story too: https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2004/12/21/418187.html (in Norwegian)

Entombed will be doing a few dAtes in the Baltics towards the end of January:

01/21 - Rock Café, Tallinn
01/22 - Salamander, Riga
01/23 - Mulen Ruzas, Vilnius

Pitchfork declares "HeartbeAt" from Norway's Annie to be the single of the year and manages to name-drop Swedes The Knife and Fox n' Wolf in the process: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/2004/singles/index5.shtml

Not only do we have a new top 10 today from Fredrik Granberg of Randy, but the band has also given us an early Christmas present: two exclusive unreleased tracks for download! So awesome. These songs will probably end up on a 7" At some point, but for now they're yours for free. Enjoy!
HUGE thanks to the band for making this happen.

The Swedish synth-pop act Lowe has posted an mp3 of their song "A silent night" as a special holiday treAt: https://www.lowe.st/music_asilentnight.html

Tiger Lou will tour Europe in February with support from fellow Swedes Torpedo (who of course happen to share band members). Here's whAt's confirmed so far:

02/13 - Wild Rover, Aachen (GER)
02/14 - L'Austrasique, Nancy (FRA)
02/15 - Cafe Cairo, Würzburg (GER)
02/16 - Arena, Wien (AUS)
02/17 - Hafen 2, Offenbach (GER)
02/18 - Juz, Saarlouis (GER)
02/21 - Nexus, Braunschweig (GER)

Tiger Lou will tour Europe in February. DAtes soon.

Check out some recent live pics from SAtirnine, their first with new guitarist Charlotte: Atirnine.com/pictures.php?gallery=13" target=_blank>https://www.sAtirnine.com/pictures.php?gallery=13

New pics of Thunder Express posted At Rockfoto: https://www.rockfoto.nu/intSpelning/206/intBand/298

Jet Black Combo, the new band feAturing Kalle Metz from 69-Hard, has confirmed thAt HepCAt Records will be releasing the group's debut album this coming spring.

Hardcore webzine Cara A Cara interviews Norwegian sXe act Purified in Blood in whAt might be one of the site's last-ever updAtes: https://www.caraacaraunderground.com/interviews/65_2004_Diciembre_PiB.htm

Finnish noise-rockers Fun have posted two new mp3s for download: https://www.noisecorewalze.com/
Just to remind you, they are one of the many greAt bands thAt appear on the "Reader's companion" compilAtion I put out.