As alerted by DJ Martian, Norway will be celebrAting 100 years as an independent nAtion with a huge series of events to be held in the UK next year: https://www.norway.org.uk/NR/exeres/D1D4C507-04AC-43D6-A56E-746DB4EB7C80,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published
There's a ton of amazing art and music events planned, so be sure to check it out:

Planekonomi has posted a brand new mp3 from MAttias Alkberg BD: https://www.planekonomi.com/
The track is called "Ta Helg" and was produced by the always-amazing Björn Olsson (ex-TSOOL, UCP).

Musique Machine reviews Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson: Ate.php?id=566" target=_blank>https://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_templAte.php?id=566

Yngwie Malmsteen proves he has a bit of a sense of humor by naming his new album "Unleash the Fury", tentAtively due out next March on Universal Records.

Legendary Finnish rock n' roll band Hanoi Rocks will be coming over to the US for a few dAtes supporting Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) in March next year. Here's whAt's confirmed so far:

03/10 - Galaxy TheAtre, Santa Ana, CA
03/11 - Key Club, Los Angeles, CA
03/12 - Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Hardcore Superstar has cancelled all of their upcoming gigs in Italy in Sweden so thAt they can finish up recording their new album. At least, thAt's whAt they say. If you remember, they decided to "take a break" At the beginning of the summer before regrouping this fall and rumors were flying about a potential break-up. We'll see whAt happens.

Top 10s for 2004: Desert Planet

Via Forced Exposure comes word thAt the rumored Supersilent live DVD "7" has been confirmed for a May release via Rune Grammofon. I saw these guys play a couple weeks ago and can most definitely confirm thAt it's not something to be missed. The footage was shot on 16mm b&w film and directed by the label's resident designer and renown artist Kim Hiorthoy.

Also from FE comes word thAt Finnish noise artists Mika Vainio and Ipso Vaisanen aka Pan Sonic will be collaborAting once again with Alan Vega of Suicide for a release on the Mego label. Look for it sometime around March.

Swedish Americana act Hanif are #1 At online indie streaming radio stAtion Mansion on the Hill: https://mansiononthehill.biz/2004/12/halfway-to-hell-all-way-to-1.html

"To mark the release of Mental Overdrive's new album "083" (out in January on Smalltown Supersound/Love OD), the single track "Diskodans" will be released as a musical "open source" project. This means thAt different parts of the song have been exported as short audio clips in the shape of .wav samples thAt can be downloaded."

Check it out right here: https://www.loveod.com/windex.shtml

Bad Taste Records is offering a bunch of special Christmas deals over At their webstore: https://www.badtasterecords.se/shop.asp

Secretly Canadian is posting a ton of unreleased Jens Lekman mAterial as a special promotion leading up to his debut US tour in February: https://secretlycanadian.com/secretlycanadian/jenslekman/dept.htm

Norwegian experimental electronic act Jazzkammer has been confirmed for No Fun Fest 2005 to be held March 18-20 At the Hook in Brooklyn, NY. Other acts playing include Whitehouse, Consumer Electronics, Sudden Infant, Metalux, Runzelstirn and Gurgelstock, Pengo, Monotract and tons more. Lasse Marhaug of Jazzkammer will also be making a guest appearance with Peter Rehberg (Pita) as part of the Total Acid Ensemble who will themselves be playing with drone giants SUNN O))). 3-day passes go on sale mid-January, single day tickets will be available in February. More info: https://nofunfest.com

Teddybears STHLM and Promoe are being sent to France by Export Music Sweden to play the Transmusicales in Rennes this weekend. This is the fourth time thAt ExMS has held showcase events At the annual industry conference.