SAtyricon has released a clear vinyl version of their lAtest album "Volcano" which includes two extra, unreleased tracks: "Live Through Me" and "Existential Fear-Questions". The lAtter feAtures a guest appearance by Euroboy of Turbonegro. Go to the Moonfog site for ordering info.

Hammerfall's updAted summer tour itinerary:

08/12 - Metal Mania, Villarrobledo Albacete (SPA)
08/25 - Karlskoga Stranddagar, Karlskoga (SWE)
09/02 - Llucmayor - Antigo Velodromo, Palma de Mallorca (SPA)
09/11 - Göteborgskalaset, Göteborg (SWE)
09/21 - Malmöfestivalen, Malmö (SWE)
09/30 - Bloodstock Metalfest, Derby (UK)

Finalnd's SweAtmaster is heading over to the UK for a one-off gig on July 18 At the Dirty WAter Club At The Boston Arms in Tuffnel Park. Must Destroy Music is releasing the band's new single "Well Connected" on July 14. The track comes from the full length "Sharp Cuts" and feAtures the unreleased b-side of "Lose a Day". Download an mp3 sample Atmaster_wellconnected.mp3" target=_blank>right here.

People in the US who are curious about more straight-ahead Scandinavian folk music should check out this calendar for events happening near them. Some highlights:

08/31 - Scandinavian Fest, WAterloo, NJ w/music tba

09/05-07 - Scandinavian Folk Festival, Jamestown, NY w/Hoven Droven, Kari Sjöstrand Trio, Boston Scandinavian Ensemble, more

10/08-11 - Norsk Høstfest, Minot, ND w/Smothers Brothers, Paul Anka (???) and and some actual Scandi artists such as Bjøro Haaland, Myron Floren, Tina & Lena, Rasmus Lyberth and more

And don't forget the Nordic Roots festival on September 18-21 in Minneapolis, MN. The lineup so far includes Filarfolket (reunion), Maria Kalaniemi Trio, Ellika Frisell and Solo Cissohko, Harv, and Gjallarhorn. Check www.noside.com for more up-to-dAte info.

And again, from DJ Martian comes a review of Radio Dept. - "Lesser MAtters" from the webzine Splendid.

Sentenced has taken over Opeth's slot At the Tuska festival in Finland which occurs July 11-13. As reported here earlier, Opeth had to cancel a couple Finnish dAtes to rehearse for their upcoming "DamnAtion" tour in the US with Porcupine Tree. UPDAtE: Here's guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt stAtement on the subject:

Dear friends,
We are extremely sorry thAt we had to cancel the two festivals in Finland. Reason is thAt we have to rehearse for the upcoming U.S. tour. Might seem to be a lame reason, I know, but we have been so busy touring this year thAt we only have say 4-5 days off in between tours. As you know, the U.S. tour is not more important because it's in the U.S., it is because it will be a whole new live gig for us. We'll have acoustic guitars, a keyboard player (a new member, in a way) and all the songs we're gonna play we've never played live before. It is very hard for us to keep up with the demand for gigs especially since we did two albums in a row.
However, a Scandinavian tour is in the making and Finland is our number one priority for obvious reasons. Look At it this way, instead of a 4-song, 50-minute festival set you'll get a full hour and a half and also you'll get some of those songs thAt we've never played live before.
We all sincerely hope thAt you'll still come and see us once we finally get over to Finland. Please don't hold this against us, even though we understand you're pissed off and you paid a lot of money for those tickets. Somehow we'll try and repay you for this fuck up, hell, we'd even take requests to please you.
And last but not least, please refrain from all the 'we're gonna kill you' comments. I think thAt's uncalled for. Again, we're fucking really sorry for this, but hope to see you in the fall.
Cheers, Mike on behalf of Opeth

The all-star metal band Lockup, which feAtures members of Napalm DeAth along with ex-At the GAtes vocalist Tomas Lindberg, have announced their plans to release a live album lAter this year through ND's own Feto Records. The mAterial in question was recorded in Japan on a June 2002 tour. The band is also considering going into the studio soon to record a special, limited edition EP of classic metal cover tunes by bands such as Possessed and Dark Angel.

Blabbermouth has confirmed thAt the rumored King Diamond/Entombed (see Atrap.com/index.php?story_id=221" target=_blank>07/02) is indeed a go. No dAtes have been announced yet, but the Metal Maniacs-sponsored tour is tentAtively set to start October 20 on the west coast.

Today is American Independence Day, so I'm just doing a quick updAte before sending out the weekly newsletter. And then it's off to BBQ and drink beers.

Via Blabbermouth, comes this reposting of a studio updAte from Dan Swanö regarding progress on the Edge of Sanity "comeback" album "Crimson II".

At the conclusion of whAt's being described as "a fierce label bidding war", Century Media has secured the rights to release Finnish acts Children of Bodom and Nightwish in the US. The lAtter's most recent album "Century Child" comes out September 23 and CoB's "HAte Crew DeAthroll" has yet to get assigned a release dAte, but will tour the US in November with Dimmu Borgir, Nevermore and Hypocrisy. More details when I get 'em.

Following in his fAther Benny Andersson's (Abba) footsteps, Ludwig Andersson just released his first single "One Touch" and is already receiving radio airplay. Is superstardom to follow? His album comes out this fall and he's already started to line up prime time TV appearances. Wait and see? Read more. (in Swedish)

Swedish rock/folk act Hoven Droven is coming over to the US for a few select dAtes:

08/30 - Harbourfront, Toronto
09/02 - Kennedy Center, Washington DC
09/03 - Joe's Pub, New York, NY
09/04 - Gild Hall, Arlington, Delaware
09/05-07 - Scandinavian Folk Fest, New York StAte
09/09 - Michael Martyn Presenter, Peterborough, Ontario
09/10 - Hamilton Art Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario
09/12 - Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis, MN

Fellow NorthSide Records folk act Väsen Trio is coming overseas, too:

10/17 - tba, Santa Cruz, CA (details forthcoming)
10/19 - Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley, CA
10/24 - Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
10/25 - Fiztgerald TheAter ("A Prairie Home Companion" NPR radio program), St. Paul, MN
10/26 - Old Town School of Music, Chicago, IL

Niklas from www.nicolaidunger.tk reports thAt Nicolai Dunger made a surprise appearance during the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (Will Oldham) set At the AccelerAtor show in Stockholm the other day. They sang a slow version of the song "Hey Mama" together and it was said to be awesome. He apparently did the same thing the night before in Göteborg, too. Anyone record it? ThAt track comes from the album thAt Nicolai did together with Mr. Oldham over At his home studio in Kentucky called "Tranquil IsolAtion".