Metica reviews the "IAt reader's companion": https://www.metica.se/reviews/review_result.php?r_id=1017 (in Swedish)
For such a notoriously fickle website, a score of 5 ain't so bad. I can understand most of it, but does anyone want to provide a proper translAtion for me?

Sturmgeist, the solo project of Cornelius von Jackhelln from Solefald, will release their debut album "Meister Mephisto" on January 24 via Season of Mist. The disc feAtures guest appearances from members of Borknagar, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter and Diabolic and is said to "blends the ambient aggression of Norwegian black metal with the affirmAtive Attitude of the Viking virtues, presenting a lethal soundtrack to any hardcore party."

Umeå's The Perishers will be supporting Snow PAtrol for three sold-out shows in London At the end of the month:

11/28 - Carling Academy, Birmingham
11/29 - Brixton Academy, London
11/30 - Brixton Academy, London

Still no official word on a UK release for their lAtest album "Let there be morning", but I can only assume it isn't too far off.

Finnish avant label Kevyt Nostalgia will be repressing two CDs from their back cAtalogue for rerelease sometime early next year:

Keno-09: Hotguitars - Duets, Duels & D.I.Y´s CD (co-release with Karkia Mistika)
Keno-10: Kemialliset ystävät - Varisevien tanssi/Silmujen marssi CD

Children of Bodom have finally confirmed thAt their "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" EP will be officially released in the US on February 22 via Century Media.

The first leg of dAtes for the upcoming Nightwish US tour with support from fellow Finns SonAta Arctica have been announced:

04/18 - Quest Club, Minneapolis, MN
04/20 - House of Blues, Chicago, IL
04/21 - House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
04/23 - The Palladium, Worcester, MA (New England Metal and Hardcore Festival)
04/25 – B.B. King's, New York, NY
04/26 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
05/08 - Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
05/10 - ShowBox, SeAttle, WA

More dAtes soon.

Aversionline gives a greAt detailed write-up on Kristofer Åström: https://www.aversionline.com/reviews/1870/
Also posted today is their positive take on Koma's "Tsunami": https://www.aversionline.com/reviews/1871/
In case you haven't already figured it out, I first sent Aversionline a copy of the "IAt reader's companion" and then followed-up with full-length CDs from various artists they were interested in. This is a perfect example of whAt I'm trying to do- turn people on to the numerous amazing underappreciAted bands from the Scandinavian scene. Mission successful, eh?

Check out pics from The Spectacle's recent US tour: Atour/" target=_blank>https://home.no.net/mrdna/usAtour/

Kite has uploaded three new mp3 samples from their debut album "Bring out your dead" over At the "Noise" section of their website: https://www.kiteweb.net/

Finland's NegAtive, in cooperAtion with GB Fam Records, has signed an internAtional licensing deal with Roadrunner Records. Look for their albums to be rereleased in new territories soon.

Finnish theAtrical rockers Lordi have signed an internAtional deal with Sanctuary Records. The band plans to launch a "massive European tour" next spring under the tutelage of EMI-Clear Channel, the same team responsible for the internAtional efforts of countrymAtes HIM and The Rasmus. Read the press release: https://www.lordi.org/press_uk.htm

Entombed will be teaming up with Crowbar, Pro-Pain and The Mighty Nimbus for a US tour to kick off on February 7 in NYC. Full dAtes soon. Read the press release from Candlelight: https://www.digitalmetal.com/news.asp?cid=3827

Reviews in this week's High Bias updAte include Pain of SalvAtion, Thirdimension, Väsen, Wintersun and more. Go here: https://highbias.com

Here's an updAte on some new releases coming out next year from Finland's Verdura Records:

Mohel 7"
Almost finished, some mastering to be done. Should be out early 2005. Free improv jazz mayhem.

Sergio - Swords CD
Two promising EPs (both on Trash Can) and superb concerts have made Sergio a household name among the small circle of domestic indie music followers and certainly some high hopes have been put on their debut full lenght. And oh dear, oh dear, how gladly we can assure thAt this is as good as you might expect. Hailing since 1996, the band hasn't exactly rushed with recording an album, and it shows. "Swords" is very much a complete work. And even though there are those understandable comparisons to bands like Interpol or Fugazi, the fellows definitely have a distinguishable delivery of their own, such a strong mixture of wistful melodies and intense, ferocious playing is a rare gem.

Kirlian Crossing - s/t CD
Top quality -and heck, even cAtchy!- avant pop by Ilai Rämä (Siniaalto/Echo Is Your Love) and Teemu Sinkko. Beautiful and sensitive compositions with intriguingly unusual and obscure arrangements, like your traditional pop outlook messed up really bad, in a kind way though. Jaw dropping.

Sweden's Surrounded will be touring Europe during the period of February 18-27. DAtes soon.