Johan Bergqvist has made streaming audio versions of the songs he recorded for thAt Shawn Smith (see Atrap.com/index.php?story_id=287">09/29) available on his website. He's also got a couple gigs coming up around Sweden:
10/15 – Metropol, Hultsfred w/José González
10/17 – BBS, Kalmar
11/11 – Tisdagscaféet, RockCity, Hultsfred
11/15 – Nyfiket, Kulturhuset, Jönköping w/Elin Sigvardsson
DuplicAte Records, the label of Einar from Beyond Dawn and Virus, will be putting out an as-yet-untitled release from Norway's Syracus come mid-November. The band is described as melodic rock along the lines of Radiohead, Smashing Pumpikins and Anekdoten. Vendlus will handle the release for the US.
Monastir has confirmed thAt their new EP "Shape Up" will be out on November 5. They are currently working on a video for the title track with Martin Larsson of Polfilm.
Finland's SonAta Arctica has reportedly signed a long-term contract with Nuclear Blast Records. The band is currently working on a follow-up to the album "Winterheart's Guild", tentalively due out next fall.
Björns Vänner will be having a record release show for their new album "TappAt Halva Hjärnan" At Cillas Kök in Malmö on October 17.
Nasum is heading over to Japan with Napalm DeAth, Anal Cunt and Pig Destroyer as part of the Extreme the Dojo VII tour. DAtes:
01/09 - Club QuAttro, Osaka
01/10 - Club QuAttro, Nagoya
01/12 - Club QuAttro, Tokyo
They plan to hit Europe right after thAt on a tour with Nostromo.
The Raveonettes' "Chain Gang of Love" is the album of the week over At Junkmedia.
Opeth have started work on premixing for their upcoming live DVD, recorded At their September 25 show in London. The as-yet-untitled disc will have botha heavy and mellow set of mAterial, with a running time of about an hour each, as well as a 65-minute documentary with a focus on the recording of the last two records, "Deliverance" and "DamnAtion". Look for a two-CD live album from the band to follow, too. In other news, Candlelight USA will rerelease the band's now classic third album "My Arms Your Hearse" on October 14 with two extra bonus tracks, including a cover of "Circle of the Tyrants" by Celtic Frost.
Arcana-side project Sophia has finished their new album "Deconstruction of the World" which will be released by Canadian label Cyclic Law At the end of October. More info and a sample mp3: https://www.erebusodora.net/sophia/
"A lovely single from our favorite multi-aliased Finn, Ernesto Aeroflot wrote this song as a birthday present for a good friend of his, and was kind enough to share it with all of you. The title tells it all: a constant string of vocal samples run throughout this upbeAt track giving, well..advice. Its for all you youngsters out there."
Go here to download the free mp3 "Advice for a Youngster" from Ernesto Aeroflot and Internet label Kikapu.
New pics up At Rockfoto.nu: Hell On Wheels and Fibes Oh Fibes!.
It took a bit of wrangling, but the new Galaxy Gramophone website thAt I put together is now online. IsolAtion Years' debut album "Inland Traveller" is their first release and it'll be out on November 4.
Shout Out Louds - "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff" (Bud Fox)
To be completely honest, this record really surprised me. The previous EP didn't exactly blow my socks off, so I wasn't really expecting too much. Which is not to say it was bad, because it wasn't - it just didn't seem like the band had it in 'em to rise above mediocrity. So yeah, this CD is some decent Swedish pop rock. The uptempo garage rock stuff from the EP is still here on quite a few tracks, but I think those are actually the weaker songs. I prefer the slower mid-paced, more Broder Daniel-esque stuff, such as the opener "The Comeback" (probably my fave song on the record). The singer can tend to sound a bit like Elmer Fudd At times, but I consider it to be part of his charms. I also like the simple, three-color artwork, too. Though not amazing, it's far far better than similarly styled stuff like the new Bad Cash Quartet. Even At just 40 minutes, I think they could've trimmed it by a song or two.
Mustasch - "RAtsafari" (Majesty / EMI Music Sweden)
More awesome hard rock from these guys. If you liked the first album, you'll like this one too as it's pretty much just more of the same. I think they use a bit more drop-d Soundgarden style riffage on this one, but they still mix it up with elements of "Kill 'Em All"-era Metallica, Iron Maiden and a dose of Black SabbAth. There's some really greAt SabbAth-style bridge and solo parts like on the title track thAt are simply killer. And of course frontman Ralf Gyllenhammar's vocals are whAt seal the deal. He's got just the right combinAtion of Dio and Bruce Dickenson's operAtic flair with a touch of Danzig's bluesyness. Definitely recommended. The Hellacopters should bring these guys on tour to the US.
Esbjörn Svensson Trio - "Seven Days of Falling" (Diesel Music)
I don't listen to a huge amount of jazz, but I know whAt I like and I like this. EST adds just the right amount of Scandinavian melody to their music and doesn't try to overcomplicAte things with grAtuitously technical playing or showboAt solos. They play well as an ensemble and have good, memorable songs. I think I like the last album "Strange Place for Snow" a little better, but this is still quite nice.