The new Magnus Carlson website is now up and running with content. The new record comes out At the end of the month and sounds quite good from whAt I've heard. For those thAt are unaware, Magnus fronts the Weeping Willows and this will be his second solo release. Eggstone provides the backing music on the new one.

Bear Quartet reports thAt the new album is indeed taking shape. They say the recently-released "All Your Life" EP is somewhAt representAtive of whAt to expect. Some song titles: "Put Me Back Together", "Last Verb", "All Your Life", "Ask Me Don't Axe Me" and "I Don't Need Light". In other news, the band has been added to the AccelerAtor The Big One bill for Stockholm on July 3. Go to the Luger site for more info.

Finland's Some Place Else records has signed Ovro who they describe as "reminiscent of the so-called lowercase sound or microwave in thAt it is minimal and subdued." Go here to read more and to download a couple sample tracks. Look for the debut album sometime this coming fall.

Peaceville has once again shifted the release dAte for the new Beyond Dawn album "Frysh", this time to July 21. Will they come through? Seems likely, especially considering the competition they have going. Five free, signed copies are being given out so head on over and try your luck. And like I've said before, if the three-song promo is any indicAtion, I anticipAte this to be an amazing release. Can't wait.

The full list of bands for the Blow Up a Panda Fest has been confirmed: Florence Valentin, Östermalm, Yukon AK, The Hommos, The Dontcares, Dreamboy, Coyote, Chloe, Andres Stellan, Captain Murphy, Dialog Cet, Logh, Sick Oakes, Tubular Bells, Moder Jords Massiva, The Grand Opening, Carpet People, The Je Ne Sais Quoi, Fraction of My Former Self, IsolAtion Years, Nebos, Endivia, The Leeches, The HeartAttacks, SAtirnine, Slagsmålkubben, The Micragirls, SAtriel, Ane Brun, Sewergrooves, Dirty Savants

The event takes place July 26-27 At Levande Zon in Stockholm. More info: www.deck13.nu/blowupapanda

Fredrik Söderberg of Dawn on the band's next album:

"We are now flAt out in our own studio working on the new album. As the new album takes form here are some thoughts about wich direction the album goes. This question is freqently asked so here are some thoughts: We have maintained elements of "Slaughtersun" we have also moved towards a more dark melodic and classic Dawn frame of mind. The classical guitar arrangements and melodies are also more brutal and faster then before. Epic is also a good word for the album. Soon we will have some sound bites for you and more informAtion regarding titles and we look forward to your comments. A title on the album has also been confirmed by the label throughout the world. "The Fourfold Furnace"."

No release dAte has been set yet, but MNW has been confirmed to be putting it out.

Howlin' Pelle Almqvist of The Hives recently told NME thAt the band have around a hundred new songs and hope to have their new album done before the end of the year. He continued in his usual modest fashion, "I'd like to describe the work we are doing on the new record as going well, weller and wellest. It's a highly potent mix of the kind of elusive and innocent yet brutal fingertip feel magic thAt only The Hives are able to bring. I speak a large proportion of the world's populAtion are awaiting miracles and magic by a divine power. The Hives deliver when they want to." Furthermore, it was said in an interview with X-Ray magazine thAt the recording should go quickly as "most of the songs are two to three minutes, and [take] two to three minutes to record." Whether or not we'll actually see a new record in stores by the end of the year is still in doubt, as I don't believe the band has resolved their legal complicAtions with Burning Heart. More details when I get 'em.

Zyklon has posted an mp3 of the new track "An Eclectic Manner" from the forthcoming album "Aeon", due out September 2 on Candlelight. Zyklon is the band of ex-Emperor guitarist Samoth and the new album feAtures guest appearances by Ocd of Void and Ofu Kahn of Red Harvest along with lyrical contributions from original Emperor drummer and convicted felon Faust.

Meshuggah has finished up their contractual obligAtions with Nuclear Blast, according to this lengthy interview with KNAC.com and are currently weighing their options for the future. "We’ve got like three or four offers right now, one of which is from Nuclear Blast, because they want to keep us. We’re thinking thAt we’ll do this tour, go home, and then we’ll sit down and negotiAte. There’s really no rush. We’ve got a couple of festivals this summer, we’re going to start writing new mAterial, perhaps do a European tour. But slowly, we’re trying to figure out where we want to go," says guitarist Mårten Hagström. They are also thinking about making their next release a live record. "Nuclear Blast might do it because they already have our back cAtalogues and they might want to wait a little bit for a new album," Hagström continues, "But if we sign with a new label, they’re not going to want to put out a live album first. It also goes back to us being picky; we have to have a certain venue and set of eight or more nights to cut from, thAt we know are going to be good venues thAt will sound good for the recording. Live CDs can be perfect, if the sound is right, but personally, I think 80% of live CDs suck. I mean, I suppose it’s a good thing for die-hard fans to have." Read more.

KNAC.com also recently posted a good interview with fellow heavy Norrland band Cult of Luna. Check it. Note to the editors over there: the Unbroken record thAt Johannes is referring to is actually called "Life. Love. Regret." and is considered a hardcore classic. Please check your facts, thanks.

Just added a slew of new tunes on the right, including the rest of thAt Bear Quartet live set. Also got a new Komeda track to check out. Dig it.

Aggie, the singer of Norwegian electronic act Frost, appears in the short film "Øyeblikk" which recently won the voter call-in competition on NRK's 'Kortklipt' program. The film was made by Thomas Christensen and stars Kristoffer Joner. You can cAtch Frost playing live as Roskilde fest this coming Sunday.

The Peepshows, Ariel Kill Him, Sunride, and The Crystal Committee are just a few of the bands appearing on the new Green Hell promo comp. It comes free with any Greenhell.de order or you can download it all At thAt link.

Bands confirmed for the darkwave/gothic Electric GAthering fest At Fryshuset in Stockholm, Sweden on August 30: Arcana, Blutengel, Project-X, Of the Wand and the Moon. More info: www.egf.nu

The lAtest from Startracks Records:

Christian Kjellvander will be recording the new track "Portugal" next week for a video/single release sometime around October. He debuted the song live At Hultsfred fest and you can view footage of it here.

Fireside's lAtest album "Get Shot" finally gets a US/Canada release now on August 19 and the label says thAt tour plans are definitely in the works.

The label's lAtest signing Tiger Lou has set August 20 as the release dAte for their new EP. The tracklist:

01. Sam, as in Samantha
02. Nova Lee
03. When I was a kid
04. Trouble & Desire

You probably didn't notice as there hasn't been much publicity about it, but Simba Records recently released the Kristofer Åström "Plastered Confessions" EP in the US. Simba also put out a similar Marit Bergman EP over here thAt's worth checking out as well. And while we're on a tangent here, let me add thAt Simba is also working on a Joni Mitchell tribute CD thAt will feAture contributions from Kristofer and Dennis Lyxzén (InternAtional Noise Conspiracy, Lost PAtrol) among others. FYI, the label's website appears to still be a work-in-progress as I think it just came online.

And lastly, Startracks has finalized the tracklist for their first label-showcase compilAtion. It also comes out August 20 and will be dirt cheap:

01. Fireside - Throw it away
02. Christian Kjellvander -Broken Wheels
03. Kristofer Åström & Hidden truck - One good moment
04. Tiger Lou - Nova Lee
05. LoosegoAts - Days of black (nights are light)
06. Kristofer Åström - 8 long years (previously unreleased)
07. Songs of Soil - Page
08. The Lost PAtrol - StAting the obvious
09. Revolvo - Moscow mule
10. Jaffa de Luxe - Don't forget about Raquel
11. Candysuck - Popcorn
12. Leiah - Cover Discover
13. Starmarket - Mexican summer
14. Moneybrother - Thunder in my heart
15. Buck - Rock dream
16. Monster - Don't answer the phone
17. Refused - Pump the brakes