Kristofer Åström reports thAt he's spent the last four days in the studio recording 13 songs his upcoming acoustic album to be called "Loupita". No word on a release dAte or whAt the tracklisting will be, but he does say thAt he still has a few more songs to lay down.

Also from MIC Norway comes more proof thAt world interest for Norwegian music is growing, as exemplified by the increased internAtional presence At this year's By:Larm Festival.

Bassist Jörgen Sandström has left Entombed and been replaced by Nico Elgstrand (ex-Terra Firma). No official reason has been given for the move yet, but I suspect he wants to concentrAte on his other band The Project HAte? Or maybe not - members from thAt band have other projects too, such as Dark Funeral and God Among Insects. As for Elgstrand, he works a lot as a producer and his credits include the Entombed albums "Uprising" and "Morning Star".

Speaking of departing metal band members, Nick Barker (ex-Cradle of Filth) has reportedly left Dimmu Borgir. ThAt'd explain the recent tour cancellAtions. Perhaps we'll get confirmAtion on thAt soon.

I do believe thAt I can now confirm thAt Chalksounds has signed The End Will Be Kicks, the new band from guitarist/vocalist Niklas Quintana of Him Kerosene and Breach fame. The band also feAtures drummer Tomas Turonen from both those acts and we can be sure to expect greAt things from them. The one demo track I've heard already of "Lucifer Over Luleå" is pretty greAt and definitely follows strongly in the classic Him Kerosene tradition of Norrland-flavored indierock thAt I love. More info soon.

Looks like things are not so rosy for Soundtrack of Our Lives right now. The supposed single "Karmageddon" has been shelved and the new album has been delayed until lAte this year. WhAt thAt all means is wide open for speculAtion, but I suspect label pressure to deliver a big record might be getting to them.

Despite the proliferAtion of their name on the label workers' top ten lists, I have confirmed thAt Sub Pop is not signing The Concretes as one might expect. Perhaps they really are holding out for a major?

Relevant winners of the NRJ Radio Awards:

Best Nordic artist: The Rasmus
Best Nordic song: The Rasmus - "In the shadows"
Best Swedish male artist: Per Gessle
Best Swedish female artist: Lisa Miskovsky
Best Swedish group: Kent
Best Swedish newcomer: User
Best Swedish song: Lisa Miskovsky - "Lady Stardust"

Go here for the rest: Atum=2004-01-26&Artikel=357934" target=_blank>https://www.sr.se/p3/musikjournalen/arkiv.asp?DagensDAtum=2004-01-26&Artikel=357934

ECM profiles the upcoming release from Danish rock/electronica trio Skyphone: https://www.ecmrecords.com/ecm/recordings/RCD2033.html
They compare them in sound to labelmAtes/Rune Grammofon acts Alog and Phonophani as well as Joy Division.

Swedish black-metal act Dark Funeral has been added to the lineup of the Zyklon Japanese tour now thAt Dimmu Borgir is off the bill. Zyklon will headline and DF will support. Those dAtes again:

02/03 - Shibuya Club QuAttro, Tokyo
02/04 - Nagoya Club QuAttro, Nagoya
02/05 - Shinsaibashi Club QuAttro, Osaka

Here's a lengthy stAtement from drummer Jörg Michael regarding his departure from StrAtovarius.

HIM has set "And Love Said No - The GreAtest Hits 1997-2004" as the title of their upcoming best-of collection, tentAtively due out in the US in March. Tracklist:

01. And Love Said No
02. Join Me
03. Buried Alive By Love
04. Heartache Every Moment
05. Solitary Man
06. Right Here In My Arms
07. Funeral Of Hearts
08. In Joy And Sorrow
09. Your Sweet 666
10. Gone With The Sin
11. Wicked Game
12. The Sacrament
13. Close To The Flame
14. Poison Girl
15. Pretending
16. When Love And DeAth Embrace

Dead Frog Records act Leopold is the staff pick of the week over At Parasol.

Third time's a charm? Norwegian hardcore act JR Ewing is once again making an Attempt to tour the UK after cancelling their last two scheduled appearances. DAtes:

02/20 - FerryboAt, Norwich
02/21 - tba
02/22 - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow, Scotland
02/23 - Social, Nottingham w/Seven Feet Four
02/24 - The Metro, London w/Seven Feet Four

Acts confirmed for the Ideal Festival At Nefertiti in Göteborg, Sweden on March 11-13: Pan Sonic, The Bug, Fennesz, DJ/Rupture, Hazard , Mikkel Metal, Kevin Blechdom, Old Time Relijun, C.P.U., Armbachi/Berthling and Hawnay Troof. More info: https://www.idealrecordings.com/