Green CarnAtion's new album "A Blessing in Disguise" is gAthering all sorts of accolades including Album of the Month in the magazines Terrorizer, Metal Hammer, and BW&BK. They play the Quart Festival on July 5.

The Peepshows just posted a couple photos from their recent tour with The Hellacopters. Check them out here.

Voice of a GenerAtion just posted a bunch of new pics, too. Theirs are from the band's recent shows in Marburg and Berlin.

The Cardigans have revealed thAt their upcoming performance At the Rock am Ring fest on June 6 will be webcasted by WDR Rockpalast. Go to their homepage on thAt dAte to view the stream. The band will also be doing a At/" target="_blank">live chAt the same day At 8:30pm mid-european summer time.

As hinted At before, Norway's St. Thomas is starting to make headways in the UK. "Hey Harmony" is the Album of the Week for the Sunday Times and the magazine Bang gave it a 5 out of 5. Here's the full review from the former:

Looking back on the success of "Harvest", Neil Young famously commented thAt he had found himself in the middle of the road and, not much liking it there, "headed for the ditch". While many of us have enjoyed the errAtic, ditch-bound career thAt followed, those who own "Harvest" and no other Young albums should consider getting better acquainted with St. Thomas — aka Norwegian Thomas Hansen — whose quavering falsetto, simple mixture of folk and alt-country and tendency to leave a chorus just sort of hanging there all recall Young At his kindest and gentlest. Hansen had his own middle-of-the-road moment when his previous album, "I'm Coming Home", made him a star in Norway. He reacted in the traditional way — drinking too much, behaving badly At gigs and ending up in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons. But you wouldn't know it by listening to "Hey Harmony". Light, fluffy, upbeAt and irrepressibly cAtchy, the songs suggest a sunny view of the world. The musicians — including Howe Gelb and various Lambchop members — play with tasteful simplicity. And when Hansen sings "we're having a Sunday party, come on over and be our friends" it sounds like an invitAtion you should accept.

Nasum has posted an extensive tour diary on their site with photos and video footage from their recent trip to Finland. Definitely entertaining. Also, for those thAt missed it, Shane Embury of Napalm DeAth and original Nasum member Rickard Alriksson recently joined the band onstage At their record release show this past weekend. See pictures here.

In Flames reports they have completed pre-production on six new songs At their house/studio in Denmark. They plan to spend about another week there writing and recording before heading back to Sweden where they will record the actual album this coming fall. Check out some pics from the so-called "Tuborg Sessions" right here.

The first dAtes of the rumored HIM tour supporting Ozzy Osbourne have been announced:

09/05 - London, Wembley Arena
09/07 - Birmingham, NEC
09/08 - Rotterdam, Ahoy
09/10 - Oberhausen, Arena
09/13 - Helsinki, Arena
09/15 - Stockholm, Globen
09/16 - Oslo, Spektrum
09/19 - Zurich, Hallenstadion
09/20 - Salzburg, Stadion
09/22 - Stuttgart, Schleyerhalle
09/24 - Vienna, Stadthalle
09/25 - Munich, Olympiahalle

Godsmack opens the shows and HIM plays right before Ozzy for about 45-50 minutes. After this tour HIM also plans to head out on their own around Europe on their own tour. More info when I get it.

Export Music Sweden is planning an outing in Tokyo, Japan for October 16-19. The event has been dubbed 'Swedish Style' and details are currently being worked out in conjunction with the embassy. No bands have been announced yet, but I'll be sure to keep you posted. Read this for more.

Digfi.com has published the schedule for Stockholm's Popaganda fest which takes place this coming weekend. Be sure to check it out so you don't miss the bands you intend to see.

Bands now added to the Avrikafest tour with Kamera now include Quit Your Dayjob, Alice In Videoland, Kristian Anttila, Don Juan Dracula, Nina NAtri and Kitty.

And speaking of Avrika, here's some more bands added to the regular fest bill: Fireside, Mikael Wiehe, Paola, Moneybrother, Dub Sweden, USCB Allstars, De Stijl, Seven, the Monotypes, Love Olzon, Franke, Kristian Anttila, Nine, Dozer and TPIKSA.

Fireside, Burek V, David & The Citizens, Cult of Luna, and Heikki have now all been confirmed for the lineup of the free Trästock festival which takes place At Nordanå in Skellefteå on July 17-19.

We are now almost finnished with the recordings. We have until sunday this week and then we take a break for 3 weeks before we enter again for the final mix in mid June. It sounds very fuckin' greAt and we can't wait to release this fury upon your souls. It has gone very smooth in the studio, no problems At all and everybody is working their asses off. When we're not beAting our instruments we are kickin' eachothers asses in Tekken 4 and the undisputed champion is for the moment Janne. We have now tuned down the guitars even more to get a more deadly sound to the songs and it fuckin' working, and the fast songs have become even more faster than the pre-production we did. As I'm writing this I have only one more song to do vocals on and thAt's "Dawn of Emptiness" , a mid tempo song thAt's gonna end the album along with the instrumental piece "The Endless GAte". Marcus has also some solos left to do and the shit he's done so far has fuckin' blown me away.

ThAt's The Crown's vocalist Johan Lindstrand discussing the band's progress on the new album "Possessed 13" from their message board. The tentAtive release dAte is set for September.

It's the Memorial Day holiday over here in America today, so there's just gonna be a quick updAte for now. More tomorrow.

Read more about next week's Swedish radio week on P3. (in Swedish)

The new Timbuktu single for "The Botten Is Nådd" will be hitting stores early next month in both CDS and 12" vinyl along with the exclusive b-side track "För Länge Sen" (Remix), which feAtures guest appearances by Chords and Supreme from Looptroop.

It seems thAt Taake gave a particularly 'revealing' performance At this year's Inferno Fest. See for yourself.

ProgPower USA IV is already sold out, three months in advance! As mentioned before, the fest marks the N. American debut of Nightwish and will also feAture performances by Evergrey, Pagan's Mind and many more. The event takes place September 5-6 At Earthlink Live in Atlanta.

Gåte's new single "StAtt opp (Maggedulia)" has been postponed one week due to 'transport complicAtions.' It now will come out on June 16.

Elin Sigvardsson will contributing her version of "You're A Big Girl Now" to the upcoming "May Your Songs Always Be Sung" Bob Dylan tribute. Other artists on the comp include Chris Whitley and Elliot Murphy. She also posted a quick note on her website with regards to whAt she's up to now. (in Swedish)

Jettie has announced thAt Stefan Juhlin has left the band. They say there's no hard feelings and they're all still friends, they just grew apart. His positioned won't be immediAtely replaced, rAther they will continue on as a three-piece for now. In other news, the band's CDEP "Some Stories We Trust" recently came out on Kasual Records and they're already hard At work on new mAterial.

Better lAte than never, the SeAttle Weekly Attleweekly.com/feAtures/0321/music-twoears.php" target=_blank>has published a feAture on Righteous Boy, the side project of Cardigans bassist Magnus Sveningsson. Apparently Future Farmer Records just put out the record in the US this week.

Also by way of Cardigans Country, comes this Q&A session with Nina Persson from Exclaim!, a Canadian webzine.

Some of the bands scheduled to play Metalfest Vienna which takes place in Austria from August 23-24: In Flames, Lacuna Coil, Amon Amarth, KAtAtonia, Finntroll, Borknagar, and Vintersong. More info Ation.At/metalfest03/start.html" target=_blank>here.

Supersilent is now confirmed for the InternAtionales Jazzfestival in Saalfelden, Austria on 08/30. They are also playing ParkteAtret in Oslo on 05/31.

Thearkworld.com has put up a video of the band playing "Angelheads" live from Stockholm on April 30. The website also has posted Ola, Jepson and Lasse's favorite records, so head on over to check it out.

Interested in the upcoming Soundtrack of Our Lives shows in Slussens? Well, tsool.tk has got a bilingual guide just for you.

Mando Diao has reportedly already sold 16k copies of their album on import in Japan before the official release dAte of June 18. They'll also be heading over there to play the Summer Sonic festivals in Tokyo and Osaka in support of the release before returning for a headlining tour this fall. As for the rest of the world, Mute will be releasing it in the US on August 26, France on June 24.

Bobby is having a record release show At Club Mondo in Stockholm on May 26 where they will play two five-song sets. Get tickets by emailing galesbury@hotmail.com.

CNN will be broadcasting a Swedish music special on the program 'The Music Room Show' which is set to air six times between June 27-29. More details when I get them.

GreAt news for the US! V2 just announced they will release Fireside's lAtest album "Get Shot" over here on July 22! Will they tour in support? We can only hope.

Dub Sweden's new single next week is for the song "Ice In My Fire" and you can listen to it here. The b-side will be the song "Things ThAt I'm Scared Of".

Man, can Division of Laura Lee ever complete an entire tour? Seems thAt DoLL had to recently pull out of the current Turbonegro jaunt due to serious illness. The stAtement from the band:

Dear audience,
This tour has been amazing in all ways, fantastic audience, met some incredible people, everything was amazing until May 20.th in Zürich when Jonas was too sick to go onstage, due to fever and influenza. Hakan & I went onstage to fulfill our duties , but left the stage after 10 minutes of making noise.
David got seriously ill and it got even worse when he tried to go onstage. His illness became acute and he had to be taken to the hospital's emergency room where the doctor had to drug him for his pain and put him on an intravenous drip. David is ordered to be in the hospital for observAtion for the next 3-4 days and will not be able to fulfill his duties on the rest of the dAtes on this tour. Yesterday evening we were not even able to establish contact with David as he was on such heavy medicAtion. Our tourmanager Erik Welén is sitting by David & will keep us updAted. We are right now heading back to Gothenburg.
We'll keep you updAted & again we are so sorry to cancel the upcoming dAtes in München, Köln, Bielefeld & Berlin. We'll be back.
Take care
Per Stalberg 22/5

The list of bands booked for Rookiescenen At Hultsfred fest has been announced: Alice in Videoland, Ayesha, Backroom MAtches, Bad Monkey, Chastisement, Flickering Habit, Goto 80, Hank,I Love You Baby!, Illstar, Inglorious Bastards, Kitty & The K, Sparzanza, Subdive, The Ackermans, The Bones Band and The Family Truckster. More info here.

Here's something totally unexpected: Pitchforkmedia.com reviews the new album from Värttinä and likes it! I had no idea they'd actually cover world music, but I guess they're branching out. And the reviewer is even knowledgable on the subject, too. I'm shocked. And not to be outdone, PopMAtters Atters.com/music/reviews/v/varttina-iki.shtml" target=_blank>covers the album today, too.

Nicolai Dunger has been added to the Popaganda Fest on May 31 in Stockholm.

Kent's upcoming concert At Stockholm Stadium on June 6 is in jeopardy. In case you weren't already aware, there are some serious labor strikes going on right now in Sweden and the venue's gAteworkers are involved. The concert organizers are trying to get an exemption request in to make sure it still goes on, but many are skeptical. If the Swedish Speedway Grand Prix is cancelled, than why would a Kent concert be different? Wait and see.

The documentary film "The Future Is Not WhAt It Used To Be" on Finnish electronic music pioneer Erkki Kurenniemi is scheduled to be shown At the upcoming 50th Venice Biennale in June. After the screening, a special tribute concert will take place feAturing Pan Sonic, Carl Michael von Hauswolff and man-of-the-hour Erkki Kurenniemi himself. For those unable to Attend, there's a DVD out called "The Dawn of DIMI" thAt feAtures said documentary along with various short films and animAtions, plus concert footage from the early 70s. More info here and here.

Trapdoor Fucking Exit has put up the video for the song "Short Term Investment", recorded live At Umeå Punkfest in 2001. Check it out.

Amulet recently filmed a video for the single "Breaking News". They say it "involves a low key gig At an abandoned house and a deAthdefying girl in a van who brings terror to the city of Oslo." I'll let you know if they post in online.

Turbonegro's complete festival schedule for the summer:

06/02 - Flippaut festival, Bologna, Italy
06/05 - Ruisrock, Turku, Finland
06/12 - Hultsfred Festival Hultsfred, Sweden
06/20 - Kick off Festival, Wiesen, Austria
06/21 - Southside Festival, Neuhausen, Germany
06/22 - Hurricane Festival, Schlessel, Germany
06/27 - Roskilde Festival, Denmark
06/28 - Open Air, St Gallen, Switzerland
07/05 - London, Meanfiddler (clubshow) UK
07/12 - T in the Park, Kinross, Scotland, UK
08/07 - Nordland Musikkfestukke, Bodö, Norway
08/08 - Öya festivalen, Oslo Norway
08/09 - Wrightegaarden, Langesund, Norway
08/23 - Reading Festival, Reading UK
08/24 - Leeds Festival, Leeds, UK

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. Outlandish - Guantanamo
03. A-Teens - Perfect MAtch
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Jennifer Brown - Weak
06. HIM - Funeral of hearts
07. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
08. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
09. Melody Club - Cover Girl
10. Darude - Music
11. Mew - Comforting Sounds
12. Kwan - Shine
13. Equicez - Live From Pass It
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start
16. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
17. Paragon - Försök Förstå
18. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz
19. Surferosa - Neon Commando
20. Homy - Bus Stop

Challengers:
01. Jon - This Side Up
02. Antique - Moro Mou
03. Fireside - All You Had
04. The Concretes - You Can´t Hurry Love
05. Kamera - At Work
06. C21 - She Cries

Go to the MTVE.com site to wAtch and vote for your favorite.

Labrador Records is now distributed by Mortes Nois in Estonia. For more info email mrnois@hot.ee.

Dolores Records has announced they will be releasing a limited edition CD single for the new supergroup Vanessa and the O's on June 10. The band feAtures ex-members of Popsicle along with James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins and is described as electronic pop in French. Crazy, eh? More info soon.

Bad Taste Records is the label of the month over At the Danish radio program New Rocking Sounds which airs Tuesdays At 8pm on 93.7 in Århus. They'll be interviewing Last Days of April, Logh and various others from the roster along with playng tunes from said bands. Be sure to check it out or wait for the clips to hit the online archives.

Listen to Atti.mp3">"MAttias Alkbergs Begravning" from Planekonomi, another band feAturing MAttias from Bear Quartet. More info here. Look for 2 EPs this fall and a full-length sometime next year.

One of my pals over At indieworkshop.com reviews the new Flaming Sideburns album today.

"No one has sAtisfactorily explained why a country of 4.5 million generAtes so much music: is it the dark winters? Subsidised music lessons? Rubbish TV?" - John Bungey, The Times (UK)

Norweigan music appears to be making quite a few headways beyond their borders as evidenced in this article from MIC Norway. Turbonegro and Jaga Jazzist might be the first names to come to mind for most folk, but now there's also Beady Belle, Tord Gustavsen, Per Arne Glorvigen, and St. Thomas to pay Attention to.

Johnny Bråttom Records will be holding a record release show on May 30 At Kulturkammaren in Norrköping for their forthcoming "Svensk Populärmusik Volym Två" compilAtion. The bands scheduled to appear are Slagsmålsklubben, recent Dolores-signees Cdoass, Bremen Brotröster GmbH, Björn Kleinhenz, and The Flu. As for the tracklisting of said comp, it is as follows:

01. Cdoass - The Box
02. Niccokick - Run, Run, Run
03. Björn Kleinhenz - How Long Is The Night?
04. Slagsmålsklubben - Filter Fabric Facts (DJ Upperkurt Instrumental Remix)
05. Idiot Savants - Daily Routine
06. Music 77 - Kameror
07. Pete Thompson - Folk Song
08. Lola Barbershop - Ticket To Happiness
09. The Kid - BAton Rouge
10. Junip - Turn To The Assassin
11. The Topeka Twins - Hunting Song
12. Menteroja - Call Me
13. Bremen Brotröster GmbH - GreAter/Better
14. The Flu - Golden Hair
15. Celestine - Sunflower
16. José González - HeartbeAts
17. Café Polymorf - A Good Time
18. Quit Your Dayjob - Pissing On A Panda
19. Joni - Frank Xerox
20. Ane Brun - Are They Saying Goodbye?
21. Sandy Mouche - A Year

Aftonbladet reports thAt famed Swedish videomaker Jonas Åkerlund is working with Blondie on the single "Good Boys" in LA. The new album ""The Curse of Blondie" comes out around September or October. Åkerlund's previous credits include artists such as SAtyricon, Madonna, Metallica and The Prodigy.

This new album will be 'harder' than the previous one and more guitars. To sum it up: a groovier album!

ThAt's Peter Tägtgren of Pain describing work on the new album. He says he's already finished all of the backing music along with five of the thirteen vocal tracks and should be able to have it out sometime this fall on Stockholm Records.

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. Alcazar - Alcazarized
03. Eddie Meduza - Live(s)!
04. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
05. Moneybrother - Blood panic
06. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
07. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
08. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
09. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
10. Jill Johnson - Discography
11. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
12. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
13. Antique - Blue love
14. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
15. Monia - Söderns hjärtas ros
16. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
17. Elin Sigvardsson - SAturday light naive
18. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
19. Fame - Give me your love
20. The Sounds - Living in America

Tomas Ledin is going on tour in support of his new live album "I SommarnAttens Ljus" which comes out on June 2. The dAtes so far:

07/08 - Öja Slott, Öja
07/19 - Bergs Slussar, Linköping
08/03 - Stadsparken, Örebro

The lineup for Sommarrock, which takes place July 10-12 in Svedala, Sweden: Mikael Wiehe, Bubbles, Joddla w/Siv, Advance PAtrol, The Ark, Danne Stråhed, Häjkån Bäjkån Band, The Mo and Di Leva.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

01. (01) Badly Drawn Boy "All Possibilities" 02. (NY) Grandaddy "Now It's On" 03. (NY) Timbuktu "The Bottom Is Nådd!" 04. (04) The Postal Service "Such GreAt Heights" 05. (NY) The Cardigans "You're the Storm" 06. (03) Dave Gahan "Dirty Sticky Floors" 07. (05) The White Stripes "7 NAtion Army" 08. (NY) Placebo "This Picture" 09. (NY) Mando Diao "Sheepdog" 10. (02) Bad Cash Quartet "Dirty Days"

11. (17) The Donnas "Who Invited You" 12. (14) The Black Keys "Hard Row" 13. (09) The Raveonettes "BeAt City" 14. (06) Christian Kjellvander "Homeward Rolling Soldier" 15. (15) Moloko "Forever More" 16. (NY) Tricky "AntimAtter" 17. (NY) The Thrills "Big Sur" 18. (ÅT) Miss Universum "Fertilize" 19. (07) Dada Flair Ft. Christian Dohber "Freedom" 20. (08) Gusto "Guns in the Ghetto"

Leaving the chart:
(10) Randy "A Man in Uniform"
(11) Solomon Burke "Soul Searching"
(12) Fireside "All You Had"
(13) Magnus Carlson "Jag ber dig"
(16) Queens Of The Stone Age "Go With The Flow"
(18) The Go-Betweens "Caroline and I"
(19) David & The Citizens "New Direction"
(20) Hot Hot HeAt "Bandages"

The full details for Finland's Koneisto Festival has been released. Some of the artists scheduled to appear include Björn Torske, Ralph Myerz & Jack Herren Band, Erlend Oye (acoustic set + "magnificent singing DJ set"), DAtarock, Jori Hulkkonen, Rinneradio (feAt. Dj Slow, Siiri Nordin and MC Paleface) among many others. The acclaimed electronic music festival was the first of its type for all of Scandinavia and the selection of performers "seeks to establish an interesting balance between commercial and experimental music" over the event's 9 stages. It all goes down in Helsinki from July 25-27 and more info can be found from the fest's official website.

Blabbermouth reports thAt HIM will be touring Europe in support of Ozzy Osbourne and Godsmack this September. I'll keep you posted.

DigitalMetal.com declares thAt Solefald's new album "In Harmonia Universali" positions them as "as leaders of the avant-harde, depth metal movement." Sure, thAt works for me I guess. Read the full review.

The first slew of bands confirmed for Trästocksfestivalen which takes place in Skellefteå from July 17-19: Christian Kjellvander, The Concretes, Monastir, The Bear Quartet, Totalt Jävla Mörker, Peter Bjorn And John, KVLR and Darcy.

Here's the bands confirmed to play Mit Nästa Liv which takes place July 18-19 At Ljungnäs, just north of Kalmar in Sweden: Rocky Dennis, The Kid, Ed Greene, Dialog Cet, Handsome Train, Myredpocketbook, Dorotea, Eisenhower, Hormones in Abundance, Rough Bunnies, CAt and Dog Dialogue, and Javelins. More info: www.mittnastaliv.tk

The Sounds will be on WXRK 92.3 in New York this Sunday At 11 pm. The band's official site says "KROQ", but they're just confused because the stAtion goes by the name "K-Rock." Visit the stAtion's website here.

Villa Records, in conjunction Johnny Bråttom Records, just put out an anti-war comp entitled "Support". The tracklisting:

01. José González - HeartbeAts
02. Alarma man - Fuck you, you fucking fuck
03. Boy Omega - Come to my house
04. Sin närmiljö - Rudad
05. Björn Kleinhenz - A day and a night
06. Niccokick - I drink to get thrilled
07. Bremen Brotröster GmbH - Main theme from Mr Kaputt's birthday party
08. Songs from the empire - You are my sunshine
09. The book of Daniel - Soultraffic through friday
10. Kubot - Regnvals
11. I am Ferguson - Right hand pain
12. Music 77 - Snow white
13. Chelsea's corner
14. DJPJGJ - Gutt trumset
15. Quit your dayjob - Look! A dollar!
16. Dorotea - Let's give it a shot
17. Johan Norefalk - Never ends

View the cover art here.

In other Villa news, the label has said thAt the Boy Omega/The Book Of Daniel split 7" has been delayed, but they hope to have it by June. They will also be releasing a new CDr called "Blues for Papa Nyll" from The Appalachian Foothill Brothers, a new band feAturing Gustafsson-brothers: Daniel from The Book Of Daniel and Martin from Boy Omega.

This week's roundup of new records from Musikindustrin.nu feAtures releases from Carola, Colony 5, Crystal Blue and many more. They also have a focus piece on the new Lost PAtrol record. (in Swedish)

Aftonbladet reports thAt Per Gessle (one half of Roxette) is planning on touring in support of his new solo album. Read more. (in Swedish)

Fireside, Brolle JR, The Mo, Florence Valentine, De Stijl and Elin Sigvardsson are now on the bill for Piteå Dansar Och Ler fest.

Even more bands added to Hultsfred: Timbuktu w/Damn!, Discharge, Junior Senior, Florence Valentin, Phunky Drakes, Soundclash: Topaz vs. Axxion Pack, Elin Sigvardsson and Johan Borgert.

And for the We & Yous fest we now have The Radio Dept., Dr. Higgins, José Gonzales, Sandy Mouche, Speedmarket Avenue, Ant, Gisel, Hospital, The Winston Solution, Adria, The Dannys Says and Homeland.

By way of Unioncarbideproductions.com comes word thAt the coming UCP box-set will be entitled "Career Opportunities 1986 - 1993". The webmaster over there also says he's gotten some new videos and photos recently and will be posting them online in the near future. I'll keep you informed.

Now streaming in mp4 formAt over At Black Box Recorder is Niko Skorpio's "Delta Amoeba" and "the SKORPIOns" EPs. The music is described as "the sonic experimentAtion and aesthetic of an underground noise album but somehow channels recent "electronica" without compromise. Imagine if trip-hop star Tricky gave up the reefer, moved to Finland, and got depressed and lost his mind... and you'll be on the right pAth." Sound intriguing, does it not?

Backyard Babies have confirmed thAt Joe Barresi will be the producer on their forthcoming album. Some of his previous credits include artists such as Sheryl Crow, Limp Bizkit, Monster Magnet, Kyuss, QOTSA, Hole and L7. Recording starts in Sweden in June with mixing to follow in LA.

Christian Kjellvander's new video for "Homeward Rolling Soldier" is now available for viewing: low / med / high

The Cardigans Country has posted the preliminary tracklisting for the upcoming "You're the Storm" single thAt comes out on June 2:

CD Single
01. You're The Storm
02. If There Is A Chance

CD Maxi
01. You're The Storm
02. Hold Me
03. You're The Storm (Sandkvie Session)
04. You're The Storm (El Cortijo Session)

Outbreak will be having a record release show At Etrea in Eskilstuna, Sweden on May 22. The new album "InformAtion Overload" comes out May 26 on Rockstar Records and you can download a couple preview tracks Ath.nu/doggy006.html" target=_blank>here. Crystal Committee and The Sound OE will also play.

The complete program for Norway's Norwegian Wood festival has been released. Check it:

07/12 - Number Seven Deli, Dandy Warhols, Counting Crows
07/13 - The Rasmus, The Sounds, Linkin Park
07/14 - Dadafon, Jim Stärk, Tom McRae, Ricochets, Dum Dum Boys
07/15 - Fireside, Skin, Gåte, Hellacopters, Audioslave

Read this for more informAtion, band links, the Underwood schedule and tickets.

Göteborg rock band The Mugshots recently put up a new website along with a bunch of mp3s for you to download.

In honor of the French holiday Fete de la Musique comes the Stockholm Musikfest this weekend. Scheduled to appear are Charlie's Magazine, Kajsa Grytt, David Lindh & Hail Marys, Evolver, Jamie Meyer, Paragon, Ison & Fille, Parker, The Sonnets and much more. Admission is free.

Some of the new bands added to the Augustibuller lineup: Fireside, Gusto, Surferosa, Paris, Stabb, Sweet Addiction, Kingston Airforce and Outbreak.

There's going to be a new, small rock fest on July 5 in Kalmar, Sweden called the Slammerfestival feAturing 69-Hard headlining along with The Nifters, The Stuckups, The Ghoulies and more.

Wolf has booked time At Abyss Studios with producer/engineer Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy) beginning on June 18 to record their third album. They expect to have it out around October on No Fashion Records.

Okay, I know it's totally goofy, but I posted an mp3 excerpt of the new Weird Al track thAt parodies The Hives. Download it on the right.

ScandinavianleAther.com has put up a Ather.com/competitions.html" target=_blank>Turbonegro trivia contest to compete for special limited edition copies of the new album.

JR Ewing has two new interviews online, one from sandiegopunk.com and another from punk/porn site burningangel.com. And as said before, there's also been another dAte added on the upcoming Turbonegro/Surferosa Norweigan stadium tour on May 30 in Fredrikstad. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to get yours if you want to Attend.

The Cardigans have posted an interview thAt Magnus did with Amir, Henrik and MAttias, the three gentlemen behind the recent videos. In other news, the band has added a woman named Eva on as their temporary sixth member to play keyboard, guitar and sing back ups on the upcoming summer tour dAtes. "She is very nice, 163 tall, brunette, a little older than us, very experienced in the Swedish music scene. And she is good looking," they say.

Bergland Productions has announced thAt Cucumber Slumber (feAt. Ståle Storløkken of Supersilent) has started work on a new record and should have it out sometime this coming fall. The band's last album "New Cumber" came out in 2001.

The Sounds will be on David Letterman tonight. Check local listings for airtime.

StillHoldingOn.net recently did an interview with Swedish hardcore act Misconduct. The band also confirmed a bunch of shows on their upcoming European tour with 25 Ta Life. Go here for the lAtest.

KVLR has posted a whole bunch of new pictures from their recent time in the studio. They recorded a total of four new songs for their next album and plan to do the rest after they return from tour At the end of the summer. And yeah, like I said before, they've been getting assistance from Marcus and Lena of Komeda. If the rough mix stuff I've heard is any indicAtion, the record is gonna be greAt. Can't wait.

The buzz-band Radio Dept. will be heading over to the US for a few select west coast dAtes:

07/10-13 - San Francisco, CA - Pop Holiday Fest At Bottom Of The Hill w/Even As We Speak, Aerospace, Pipas, Evening Lights, more
07/15 - Portland, OR At The Blackbird w/Aerospace, Pipas, Evening Lights, The Frenchmen
07/16 - SeAttle, WA At Chop Suey

Håkan Hellström will be releasing a new single for the song "Mitt Gullbergs Kaj Paradis" on June 20 thAt'll include two new songs for b-sides. Just in time for the Kalas tour, eh?

Neovoid has posted a review of ex-black metal band Manes new album "Vilosophe". The label Code666 describes them as a mix of KAtAtonia, Radiohead and Aphex Twin, but I'm not sure I'd completely agree with thAt assesment myself. KAtAtonia yes, but thAt's a no-brainer for this sort of pop-infused avant metal. Anyhow, I agree thAt it's a good album and well worth investigAting for people who are into different kinds of heavy music.

Read Atters.com/music/reviews/f/flamingsideburns-sky.shtml" target=_blank>PopMAtter's review of "Sky Pilots", the lAtest album from Finland's Flaming Sideburns.

The full schedule and set times for Pop Dakar have been published. Check it out. Bands scheduled to appear include Paris, Bear Quartet, First Floor Power, Radio Dept. and more.

Here's a short tour diary with photos and video from the recent Narcissists tour in Germany.

Swedish webzine Samson & Rourke has put up a feAtured review and contest for Logh.

Big news from Nasum! Bassplayer Jesper has decided to leave as to focus on his other band Burst, which he has been involved with for over 10 years with some of his childhood friends. There's no animosity on anyone's part, the time just came to make a decision between the two projects. Read the full stAtement from the band on the subject. In other smaller news, Nasum has added Urban Skytt from RegurgitAte on 2nd guitar and put up a newly redesigned website. As mentioned before, the band will play a record release show for the new album "Helvete" At Hotel Continental in Örebro on May 24.

I first talked about it way back in March, but here's a new MIC Norway feAture on the upcoming 'Midnight Sun' tour feAturing Supersilent, DJ Strangefruit, Arve Henriksen and Sidsel Endresen thAt's coming to the UK lAter this month. Those dAtes again:

05/22 - Exeter, Phoenix
05/23 - BAth, BAth InternAtional Music Festival Pavillion
05/24 - Belfast, Crescent Arts Centre
05/25 - Salisbury, Salisbury Festival
05/26 - Birmingham, Medicine Bar
05/27 - Liverpool, Unity TheAtre
05/28 - London, 93 Feet East

Unioncarbideproductions.com sends word thAt there will indeed be a promo CD from the band available At Hultsfred this year feAturing newly remixed versions of the songs "Be Myself Again" and "San Fransisco Boogie". There's also word of a potential commerical release for the single, but nothing's been decided yet. Also by way of UCP.com, comes this article paying tribute to the band. Check it out.

Expressen reports thAt Timbuktu will be contributing music to the film "Hip Hop Hora". It was directed by Teresa Fabik and premieres on February 6. Björn Kjellman stars. Read more. (in Swedish)

The new album from The Perishers will come out in September with the first single "Sway" to drop in June.

Jakob Hellman, Helena Bergström, Kjell Höglund & Johan Johansson and Tomas Di Leva have all been added to the roster of the Visfestivalen which takes place in Västervik on July 10-12.

DAtes scheduled so far for the upcoming Avrikafest tour, feAturing the band Kamera along with various DJs and more:

05/30 - Oslo, So WhAt
05/31 - Fredrikstad, Dis Café
06/01 - Göteborg, Sticky Fingers
06/03 - Malmö
06/04 - Örebro
06/05 - Linköping, PlAtens Bar
06/06 - Stockholm, Debaser/Ultrachrome
06/07 - Karlstad, Arena

Norway's Moonfog records, the label run by SAtyr of SAtyricon, has signed the new band Disiplin to their roster. The band was started by Savant M of Myrkskog back in 2000 and will be entering the studio in August to record their debut album. "It´s very rare thAt a new band on the scene succeeds in cAtching my interest on the strength of a demo alone," says SAtyr, "apart from the obvious fact thAt I enjoy their music and thAt I have a greAt belief in their potential, I think they have thAt undistinguishable Moonfog sound." And the sound he's talking about? Well, Savant describes the band as "based on old school black metal with inspirAtion from thrash and deAth metal." Read a recent interview with the band here. (in Norweigan)

Check out the lAtest edition of reviews and samples from Brainwashed, including writeups on Scandinavian artists such as Supersilent, Erkki Kurenniemi, the "Arctic Hysteria - Early Finnish Avant-Gardeners" comp, and more.

Here's some new dAtes from Sunride:

06/12 - Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland w/Endstand
08/16 - Nosturi, Helsinki, Finland w/SweAtmaster, Minus SF
08/30 - FUZZFEST 2, Musikens Hus, Göteborg, Sweden w/Mushroom River Band, Terra Firma, Awesome Machine, more

The new album "Through The Red" comes out today and the band will be playing around Europe lAter this month.

The Hommos have rescheduled their gig At the Barfly Camden in London from May 26 to the 27th.

Johan Bergqvist has finished up work on the video for the song "Lovelace" and posted it online. Check it: low / high
The track comes from a mini-album thAt was released last September and is being reissued lAter this summer as a precursor to the forthcoming full length.

More US press for David & the Citizens: The album "For All Happy Endings" is now reviewed on indiepages.com.

Rumor has it thAt Thirdimension is planning a US tour in the near future.

Another sign things are probably not okay for The (InternAtional) Noise Conspiracy? Keyboardist Sara Almgren has been recruited by Marit Bergman to play guitar in her touring band. If you weren't already aware, Sara used to play guitar for the all-girl hardcore/metal act Doughnuts. They released a couple reconds on Victory in the mid-90s. Anyhow, Marit has decided to ditch the guitar on stage so she can, I assume, focus more on her singing. Look for her on the Kalas tour this summer, among other festival dAtes. In other news, my sources tell me she plans on doing five different cover tunes for her new EP "From Now On" which comes out on June 12. More details when I get 'em.

Laakso will be heading into the studio soon to lay down the tracks for their debut full length. They say to expect a good live sound as evidenced already on their debut EP "Long Beach".

The terminally underappreciAted Notre Dame, led by the multitalented Snowy Shaw (Dream Evil, ex-Mercyful FAte, Illwill, etc.), reports thAt they have completed work on the new album "Creepshow Freakshow Peepshow". Originally titled "Vaudeville le Devil", the album will be the first lacking guitarist Jean-Pierre De Sade and should be out lAter this year from Osmose Productions.

Swedish prog-metallers Opeth will be teaming up with cult UK proggers Porcupine Tree for a North American tour starting in July. PT-frontman/mastermind Steven Wilson produced the last few Opeth albums, so this news doesn't come as huge surprise, but is still very exciting nonetheless. The confirmed dAtes so far:

07/15 - Toronto, ONT @ TBA
07/16 - Montreal, Spectrum
07/17 - NYC, Irving Plaza
07/19 - Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center
07/20 - Philadelphia, PA @ TBA
07/21 - Washington DC @ TBA
07/22 - Detroit, MI @ TBA
07/24 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora
07/25 - Chicago, IL @ Vic TheAter
07/26 - Minneapolis, MN @ TBA
07/28 - Boulder, CO @ Fox TheAter
07/30 - West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
07/31 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore
08/03 - Portland, OR @ TBA
08/04 - SeAttle, WA @ TBA

Webzine Aversionline has a feAture on Finnish hardcore thrash fanzine Downsided. Check it. And, as usual, they have tons and tons of new reviews for your perusal, focusing mostly on the hardcore, metal and noise scene. Some of the bands covered: Acursed, Counterblast, Dead in the WAter, KAtAtonia, Marduk, Nasum, Rentokiller, and Sayyadina. I may not always agree with the writer's taste, but he does a greAt job of covering everything in an extremely fair and honest way. One of the few reviewers who's unafraid to tell it like it is.

Aquarius Records has published their At/newest.html" target=_blank>bi-weekly new arrivals list, feAturing reviews and samples of new releases from Scandinvavian artists such as Enslaved, Brainbombs, Cult of Luna, Eturivi, Finntroll, Noxagt, Turbonegro and much, much more. Recommended reading.

The Leppäkoski Rhythm Festival takes place in Leppäkoski, Finland on July 4-5 and will feAture BrothomstAtes (Warp Records, FIN/UK), Vesna (St. Petersburg, Russia), Ninja Ensemble, Rauhanorkesteri, Grayframe DJs and many more. More info here.

In other Finnish festival news, Luomo and Moloko are rumored to be making an appearance At this year's Koneisto fest. No confirmAtion on the news, but the full list of performers is due to be published this coming Friday. I'll keep you informed.

Labrador Records artist Aerospace is heading over to the US in July for a couple select dAtes:

07/05 - New York, tba
07/06 - Washington DC, tba
07/07 - Santa Barabara, tba
07/08 - Los Angeles, The Garage
07/11 - San Francisco, Bottom Of The Hill
07/14 - Sacramento, tba
07/15 - Portland, The Blackbird

AtAtonia/" target=_blank>Here's some picture from the KAtAtonia show in Stockholm the other night.

Sources tell me thAt The Soundtrack of Our Lives have nixed plans for further US touring this year and have instead opted to focus on the writing and recording of the new album. I'll keep you posted.

Rumor has it thAt Niklas and Thomas from Him Kerosene have a new band and they're entering the studio this weekend to do their first recordings. Needless to say, thAt's exciting news and I for one am looking forward to hearing it.

From June 1-6 about 80 different Nordic artists will be gAthering At the "d!sturbances" festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. NordScen (performing arts) and NOMUS (music) are the main organizers of the event which will feAture workshops, classes, lectures, concerts, panel discussions and more. For more info, go here.

I fixed a typo in one of the Madrugada mp3 links. Sorry about thAt. They should all work okay now.

Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg will be holding a club three times a week all summer long called, ahem, Sommarklubben. Besides the usual DJs spinning there will also be live music. Scheduled so far:

06/06 - Royal BeAt Conspiracy, Sparks of Seven
06/28 - Shout Out Louds, Homy
07/12 - David & the Citizens

More info when I get it.

The (InternAtional) Noise Conspiracy report thAt they are feAtured on a DJ Spooky mix thAt comes with the lAtest edition of Adbusters Magazine. Other artists including on the comp include Fugazi, Bad Brains, Sun Ra, and Public Enemy so check it out.

More entries on the ongoing media blitzkrieg from The Sounds - here's a number of upcoming American TV appearances they have scheduled:

05/22 - Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC, recorded in Las Vegas last week
05/26 - The View on ABC
TBA - Subterranean on MTV, more info to come

The Hellacopters have published their complete summer tour schedule:

05/31 - Donigton (GB) Download
06/07 - Nurburgring (D) Rock Am Ring
06/08 - Nurnberg (D) Rock Im Park
06/13 - Hultsfred (S) Hultsfredsfestivalen
06/14 - Berlin (D) Berlinova
06/15 - Oslo (N) Norwegian Wood
06/21 - Scheessel (D) Hurricane
06/22 - Neuhausen OE (D) Southside
06/27 - Kiruna (S) Kirunafestivalen
06/28 - Bonn (D) Rheinkultur
06/29 - Roskilde (DK) Roskildefestival
07/04 - Oulo (SF) Oluoln Yöt
07/05 - Turku (SF) Ruisrock
07/16 - Helsinki (SF) Olympiastadion w/The Rolling Stones
07/22 - Stockholm (S) Cirkus w/The Rolling Stones
08/02 - Korso (SF) Ankarock
08/30 - Jerez / Cadiz (ESP) Serie Z
09/12 - Stockholm (S) Gröna Lund
09/13 - Vitoria Gasteiz (ESP) Azkena

Burning Heart's lAtest signees Sparks of Seven have finally updAted their website.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. A-Teens - Perfect MAtch
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. HIM - Funeral of hearts
05. Darude - Music
06. Jennifer Brown - Weak
07. Kwan - Shine
08. Mew - Comforting Sounds
09. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
10. Equicez - Live From Pass It
11. Melody Club - Cover Girl
12. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - One Good Moment
13. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. The Jessica Fletchers - Let´s Go
16. Paragon - Försök Förstå
17. Surferosa - Neon Commando
18. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
19. Homy - Bus Stop
20. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz

Challengers:
01. D-Coy feAt. Acorn - I´ll Be There
02. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
03. Charlie´s Magazine - Something ThAt I Missed
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start

Go to the MTVE.com site to wAtch and vote for your favorite.

Project-X will be having a record release show on May 31 for their new album "Modus Operandi" At Ground Zero in Växjö.

Here's the lineup for the 5th Fucking North Pole Festival which takes place over the next three days in Tromsø, Norway.

5/15 @ Driv: Amulet (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø), Dominic (Bodø)
5/16 @ Driv: Misvær Ska Forening (Bodø), Lame Ducks (Oslo), Square (SWE)
5/16 @ Tvibit: GAtas Parlament (Oslo), Amulet (Oslo), Drunk (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø)
5/17 @ Driv: DK (US), Os Replicantes (Brasil), Drunk (Oslo)
5/18 @ Driv: Mohammed(Horten), Los Fastidios (Italia), Nikkeby Lufthavn (Tromsø)

FNPF is the biggest independent rock festival in northern Norway and takes place twice a year. The next occurance is scheduled for sometime around September/October. More info here.

The German Phono Academy recently awarded Norway's Midnight Choir with a best album award in the rock/pop cAtegory for the album "Waiting for the Bricks to Fall". The award is given every quarter by "key industry representAtives and respected music journalists" and qualifies the band for the album of the year competition.

This year's Nordic Council Music Award will be granted to an ethnic music artist. The nominees who will be competing for the 47k EUR prize:

Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra (DK)
Outlandish (DK)
Kimmo Pohjonen (FIN)
Gjallarhorn (FIN)
Kári Sverrisson (Faroe Islands)
Sigurður Flosason and Pétur Grétarsson (Iceland)
Steindór Andersen, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Sigur Rós (Iceland)
Mari Boine (NOR)
Solo Cissokho (NOR)
Ellika Frisell (SWE)
Ziya Aytekin (SWE)
Anna Thastum Kuitse (Greenland)

Read more. Previous winners of the prestigious award have been Sunleif Rasmussen (2002), Palle Mikkelborg (2001), and Kaija Saariaho (2000).

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
03. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
04. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
05. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
06. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
07. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
08. Jill Johnson - Discography
09. Antique - Blue love
10. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
11. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
12. Moneybrother - Blood panic
13. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
14. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
15. Elin Sigvardsson - SAturday light naive
16. Gloria - People like you and me
17. The Refreshments - On the rocks
18. Roxette - The pop hits
19. The Sounds - Living in America
20. Mauro Scocco - BeAt hotel

Aftonbladet has also published a short article discussing Magnus Carlson's (of the Weeping Willows) forthcoming solo album thAt he collaborAted with Eggstone and film director Lukas Moodysson on. The record is called "Ett Kungarike För En Kram" and it hits stores on June 30. (in Swedish)

The Ark, Dom Galna Hundarna, The Narcissists, Shout Out Louds, Lola Barbershop and P-Danielsa are among the groups now confirmed for the Storsjöyran fest happening in Östersund this summer.

The guys from Looptroop are all hard At work on new projects. Promoe is in the process of doing a new solo album with a single to come in June. The other two guys, Cosmic and Embee aka Casual Brothers, have a new EP thAt also comes out in June thAt feAtures a guest appearance by Christian Kjellvander of all people.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

01. (01) Badly Drawn Boy "All Possibilities" 02. (02) Bad Cash Quartet "Dirty Days" 03. (03) Dave Gahan "Dirty Sticky Floors" 04. (NY) The Postal Service "Such GreAt Heights" 05. (04) The White Stripes "7 NAtion Army" 06. (06) Christian Kjellvander "Homeward Rolling Soldier" 07. (NY) Dada Flair Ft. Christian Dohbler "Freedom" 08. (NY) Gusto "Guns in the Ghetto" 09. (11) The Raveonettes "BeAt City" 10. (08) Randy "A Man in a Uniform"

11. (NY) Solomon Burke "Soul Searching" 12. (05) Fireside "All You Had" 13. (10) Magnus Carlson "Jag ber dig" 14. (NY) The Black Keys "Hard Row" 15. (NY) Moloko "Forever More" 16. (16) Queens of the Stone Age "Go with the Flow" 17. (NY) The Donnas "Who Invited You" 18. (NY) The Go-Betweens "Caroline And I" 19. (20) David & The Citizens "New Direction" 20. (ÅT) Hot Hot HeAt "Bandages"

Leaving the chart:
(07) N.E.R.D. "Things Are Getting Better"
(09) Miss Universum "Fertilize"
(12) Millenia Nova Ft. Iggy Pop "Rockicide"
(13) The Knife "You Take My BreAth Away"
(14) Radiohead "There There"
(15) Florence Valentin "Allt dom bygger upp ska vi meja ner"
(17) Ed Harcourt "WAtching the Sun Come Up"
(18) Audio Bullys "The Things"
(19) Zwan "Lyric"

The Dandelions have added one more dAte to their upcoming London tour. The full itinerary is now as follows:

05/22 - Gaz's Rockin' Blues
05/23 - Dragon Bar
05/24 - Cobden Club
05/26 - The Beachclub At Notting Hill Arts Club (new)
05/27 - Eyelash At Pop

Lullacry and Naglfar have both announced thAt they will be making their US debuts At this year's Milwaukee Metalfest which takes place July 25-26. The new Lullacry single "Alright Tonight" comes out May 23 on Spikefarm Records and Naglfar's lAtest album "Sheol" came out last month.

I just switched the site over to a php-based content management system. Please let me know if you see anything amiss or feel free to sound off in the forum. Otherwise, be sure to updAte your bookmarks and links accordingly. Thanks.

I've also added the first half of a live set from Norway's Madrugada for you to download. I'm not exactly sure when or where it's from, but it's good stuff.

Some of the acts confirmed for Finland's upcoming Tuska festival: Children Of Bodom, StrAtovarius, Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus, The 69 Eyes, Opeth, Amorphis, Tarot, The Haunted, Arch Enemy, Finntroll, Lost Horizon, Moonsorrow, Thunderstone, Norther, Lullacry, and Rotten Sound. The event takes place on July 11-13 in Helsinki At Kaisaniemi Park. More info can be found here.

Hardcore Superstar has tentAtively set August 25 as the new release dAte for their upcoming album.

The Rasmus has announced their complete summer tour dAtes:

05/23 - Art Rock Café, Ilmajoki (FI)
05/30 - Hot. Vaakuna, Kouvola (FI)
05/31 - Nosturi, Helsinki (FI)
06/02 - Gröna Lund, Power Summer Party, Stockholm (SWE)
06/06 - Rock im Park, Nürnberg (DE)
06/08 - Rock am Ring,Nürburgring (DE)
06/14 - Provinssirock, Seinajoki (FI)
06/19 - Midsummer festival, Raumanmeri (FI)
06/20 - Midsummer festival, Jämsä Himos (FI)
06/21 - Midnight Party Planet festival, Kouvola (FI)
07/03 - Festival, Midtfyn (DK)
07/05 - Tivolirock, Kristianstad (SWE)
07/06 - Ruisrock, Turku (FI)
07/09 - Harju-festival, Kangasala (FI)
07/11 - Hotelli Vantaa, Vantaa (FI)
07/12 - KirkastusjuhlAt, Aitoo (FI)
07/13 - SAtamarock, Lappeenranta (FI)
07/18 - Tavastia, Helsinki (FI)
07/19 - Tammerfest, Tampere (FI)
07/23 - Mariehamn, Åland (FI)
07/24 - NRJ Summer, Gotland (SWE)
08/01 - Storsjöyran, Östersund (SWE)
08/02 - Kukkaisrock, Tampere (FI)
08/03 - Ankkarock, Vantaa (FI)
08/07 - Rally-happening, Jyväskylä (FI)
07/08 - Välipuistorock, Lapua (FI)
08/09 - Harjavalta (FI)
08/10 - Skanderborg Festival (DK)

In other news, the band will be filming a new video for the song "In the Shadows" with Baranga Film in Stockholm on May 21. The single hits Germany on June 30.

Finland's Lullacry will play the Rock im Ring festival in Italy on July 5.

Arve from Supersilent will be performing solo At the Copenhagen Jazz festival on July 11.

IsolAtion Years have announced thAt their next single and video will be for the title track from the album "It's Golden". It will be released tomorrow on May 15.

The only song thAt made me cry this year was a cover of the Stooges’ "No Fun". There's something cruel about stripping the classic rock song of its menace and symbolism — this was, remember, the last tune the Sex Pistols mangled together onstage before imploding in '78 — and killing it softly, only to resurrect it anew as a small and beautiful ballad.

LA Weekly has published a profile on the sadly defunct group Hederos & Hellberg. They talk about how the project started, why they had to stop making music, and various other topics.

Swedish power-metallers Hammerfall will be recording a live album sometime during their upcoming tour. They expect to have it out this fall on Nuclear Blast. The dAtes they have scheduled:

05/15 - Santiago, CHL @ Estadio de Chile
05/16 - Buenos Aires, ARG @ Hangar
05/17 - São Paolo, BRA @ Olympia
05/18 - Curitiba, BRA @ Palacio de Cristal
05/20 - Rio de Janeiro, BRA @ AtL Hall
05/23 - Guadalajara, MEX @ Hard Rock Live
05/24 - Mexico City, MEX @ Cine Americas
06/27 - Balingen, GER @ Bang Your Head Festival
06/28 - Vizovice, CZR @ Masters Of Rock
06/29 - Jihlava, CZR @ Centre of town
06/30 - Plzen, CZR @ Hall Lokomotiva
07/04 - Sundsvall, SWE @ Sundsvalls gAtufest
07/05 - Töreboda, SWE @ Töreboda Festival
07/25 - Karlskoga, SWE @ Karlskoga Stranddagar
08/30 - Derby, UK @ Bloodstock Metalfest

Blabbermouth reports thAt Dimmu Borgir (NOR), Hypocrisy (SWE), Children of Bodom (FIN) and Nevermore (US) are teaming up for a US tour sometime between November 8 and December 16. More info soon. Otherwise, Dimmu is hitting the road around Europe beginning in September to support the new album "DeAth Cult Armageddon", due out September 8 on Nuclear Blast:

09/10 – Tromsø, NOR @ Driv
09/11 - Bodø, NOR @ Sinus
09/13 - Trondheim, NOR @ Samfundet
09/14 - Hamar, NOR @ Hydranten
09/16 - Kristiansand, NOR @ Bingen
09/17 - Stavanger, NOR @ Folken
09/18 - Bergen, NOR @ USF
09/20 – Athens, GRE @ Rodon Club
09/21 - Athens, GRE @ Rodon Club
09/30 – Hamburg, GER @ Markthalle
10/01 - Halle, GER @ Schorre
10/02 – Amsterdam, NETH @ Paradiso
10/03 - Tilburg, NETH @ 013
10/04 - Antwerpen, NETH @ Hof Ter Loo
10/05 – London, UK @ LA 1
10/06 – Paris, FRA @ Elysee MonmAtre
10/08 – Lisboa, POR @ Paradiso
10/09 – Porto, POR @ Hard Club
10/10 – Bergara, SPA @ Sala Jam
10/11 – Valencia, SPA @ Republicca
10/12 – Barcelona, SPA @ RazzmAtazz II
10/14 – Milan, ITA @ AlcAtraz
10/15 – PrAtteln, SWI @ Z7
10/17 – Budapest, HUN @ Petöfi Hall
10/18 – Wien, AUT @ Planet Music
10/19 - Stuttgart, GER @ LKA Longhorn
10/20 - Nürnberg, GER @ Löwensaal
10/21 - Köln, GER @ Live Music Hall
10/24 – Tampere, FIN @ Pukkahuone
10/25 - Helsinki, FIN @ Nosturi
10/27 – Stockholm, SWE @ Klubben
10/28 – Malmö, SWE @ KB
10/29 – Oslo, NOR @ Rockefeller
11/01 – Moscow, RUS @ Gorbunova Culture Club

Finland's Sähkö Records, the label of Pan Sonic member Mika Vainio, has two new releases: "Blake's Love" from Blake and "Future" from SkAtebård, who is also associAted with Tellektro Records.

Check out Atus=yes,scrollbars=yes,width=600,height=450');return false;">this Dagensskiva feAtured interview with the grindcore band Nasum.

Sweden's Streetzone records has signed a licensing deal with Europe's Pias Recordings to release The Narcissists abroad. Look for the first single taken from the album "Planet Euthanasia" on June 2 in both vinyl and CD formAts.

Norway's "renowned and unique contemporary trio" POING will be heading to Japan from May 15-28 to collaborAte with a group of 4 Japanese composers. They will be performing At various venues including music/concert halls, museums, clubs and At the Asahi Breweries, who just happen to be a sponser of the tour. Read more here and here.

Grand Tone Music's new album is called "Go To Hell" and it marks the debut of new members PAtrick Andersson on bass and Andreas Söderström on lap-steel, synth and trumpet. They say it's a bit more sparse and expressive in sound than the last one as they tried to improvise more in the studio.

Norweigan singer/songwriter Ane Brun will finally have her first album "Spending Time With Morgan" coming out this week. She's no stranger to the Scandinavian scene, as she's toured before and shares backing musicians with Jesse Malin and Yukon AK. Musikindustrin.nu compares her to Ani DiFranco, but I have yet to hear her myself.

Read more about the week's new releases from MI here. (in Swedish)

The Rasmus, Robyn, Mendez, Antique, Da Buzz, NG3 and Bounce are among the artists now confirmed for the Power Summer Party on June 2 At Gröna Lund.

The webzine And the Sound has just published an interview with up-and-coming garage rockers De Stijl. Or I guess they call themselves "minimalist punk-rock". Apples and oranges.

More bands added to Hultsfred: Turbonegro, Hell on Wheels, Da Nada (Inkfish vs. Antiloop), Samuel L. Session, The Concretes, Homy and Kristian Anttila.

Trapdoor Fucking Exit's updAted tour itinerary:

06/04 - 1000 Fryd, Aalborg (DK)
06/05 - Volxbad, Flensburg (DE)
06/06 - Störtebeker, Hamburg (DE)
06/07 - tba, Cologne (DE)
06/08 - Le Marignan, Athus/Aubagne (BE)
06/09 - tba - Netherlands
06/10 - Alhambra, Oldenburg (DE)
06/11 - Occii, Amsterdam (NL)
06/12 - tba, Caen (F)
06/13 - tba, Rouen (F)
06/14 - P-Werk, Blieskastel (DE)
06/15 - tba - Germany
06/16 - Juz Degerloch, Stuttgart (DE)
06/17 - tba, Germany
06/18 - tba, Austria
06/19 - The Red Hole, Budapest (HU)
06/20 - K4, Nürnberg (DE)
06/21 - Kafé Kult, München (DE)
06/22 - tba, Germany
06/23 - tba, Germany
06/24 - Az Conni, Dresden (DE)
06/25 - Chekov, Cottbus (DE)
06/26 - tba - Berlin (DE)
06/27 - tba
06/28 - tba
06/29 - Baracke, Münster (DE)
06/30 - Frontline, Gent (DE)
07/01 - tba
07/02 - tba
07/03 - tba

They also posted a bunch of new pictures over At their website for those thAt may be interested.

Pitchforkmedia.com reviews JR Ewing's lAtest today and actually like it. Will wonders ever cease?

MTV Germany will air a one-hour special on Turbonegro this coming Monday, May 19 At midnight. It will feAture interviews, clips, and live footage from the Hamburg performance.

Dub Sweden will release a new single for the track "Ice My Fire" on May 26 feAturing a previously unreleased track as the b-side.

The Venue have finished posting their tour diary from their recent trip to the US. Sorry I missed the Oakland show guys, but I was dead tired thAt night.

Ariel Kill Him has posted three mp3s from their lAtest album "In the Pyramid" over At mp3.com.

Thearkworld.com has posted a live video of The Ark performing "Echo Chamber" in Stockholm from April 30.

Another episode in the ongoing US media of The Sounds: here's a feAture on the band from Teen Vogue Magazine. Really now, how many times do we need to hear a Swedish band compared to Abba or gummi fish?

NME reports thAt Røyksopp are set to play two shows At Somerset House in London on July 10-11, just one in a series of special summer shows At the venue. The group's new single "Sparks" drops on June 16.

P6's Sounds Nordic (SONO) has announced thAt the next program will feAture "hits from the Swedish singles chart, tap into your spiritual side At a spooky art exhibition , and meet our guest Dilba." Go here to listen after it airs.

Stockholm Records artists Kwan and The Klerks have been confirmed for OKEJ-dagen in Göteborg on May 23.

Miss Universum is going on tour in support of the new album "Selfelected":

05/15 - Linköping, Herrgårn
05/29 - Stockholm, Popaganda
06/6-7 - Skärholmen, SAtelit
06/12-14 - Hultsfred, Festivalen
07/18 - Norberg
07/31 - Östersund, Storsjöyran

Swedish deAth-metal acts Merciless and Dismember will play a special gig on May 27 At Klubben in Fryshuset, Stockholm thAt will be recorded for a DVD to come out in the future.

Surferosa, Madrugada, El Caco, Thulsa Doom, Ricochets, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band and DumDum Boys have been confirmed to play the Ekstremsportveko (extreme sport week) in Voss, Norway from June 22-29. Read more.

The Norweigan Wood 'Underwood' fest winners have been announced. Check out the list of acts thAt will be playing. (in Norweigan)

P3 Musikjournalen reports thAt User is getting ready to release their debut album in September. The new single "Do You" comes out in June and they expect to tour this summer.

Moneybrother is the Atures/cms/index.asp?id=1003000000000222&type=3&page=1" target=_blank>band of the week over At MTVE.com. Head on over for an interview and video. He also has a couple dAtes coming up in the near future:

05/14 - Göteborg, Bengans
05/15 - Örebro, Najz Prajz
05/16 - Stockholm, Mega

Though not really of much note, Backyard Babies have checked in via their maillist to say thAt they are still hard At work writing songs for the new record. They hope to put pictures up from the session on their website and will be making an announcement concerning a producer very soon.
UPDAtE: They have reportedly selected Joe Barresi for the job. His previous credits include bands such as Pennywise, Buckcherry, QOTSA and Kyuss.

Bad Taste Records has put up the video for "The Contractor and the Assassin" from Logh. Check it: high / mid / low (Real Player)
The label also has a bunch of new stuff in their webshop like new Logh and Last Days of April shirts for those thAt may be interested.

C.Aarmé report thAt they will begin recording their full length debut for Car Crash Records in July. In the meantime, check 'em out on the road:

05/17 - Viva dLTD, Restaurang Minus, GBG w/The New Mess, Cut City
05/21 - Café MIC, Vänersborg w/Alarma man
05/23 - Ungdomens kulturhus, Gislaved w/Alarma man
05/24 - Le Club Suburbia, STHLM w/Alarma man
05/25 - Distro GBG, Meeths unga salonger, GBG

Melody Club has annouced their full list of summer tour dAtes. Here's the schedule as of now:

05/14 - Hamburg (D) Molotow
05/15 - Düsseldorf (D) Unique
05/16 - Weinheim (D) Cafe Central
05/17 - Berlin (D) Bastard
05/18 - Kassel (D) K19
05/19 - Frankfurt (D) Cookys
05/20 - Dresden (D) Downtown
05/21 - München (D) Atomic Cafe
05/23 - Göteborg Liseberg / Okej Dagen
05/30 - Eskilstuna Blå
05/31 - Härnösand Högslättens Isstadion
06/06 - Drammen (NO) Working Class Hero
06/06 - Hultsfred Hultsfred Festival
06/06 - Visby Gutekällaren
07/01 - Östhammar Musikveckan
07/04 - Sundsvall Sundsvalls GAtufest
07/05 - Kristianstad Tivolirock
07/11 - Arvika Arvikafestivalen
07/19 - Mariehamn, Åland Rock Off Festival
07/23 - Hedemora Hedmora Parken
07/26 - Karlskoga Stranddagar
07/30 - Visby Gutekällaren
08/01 - Östersund Storsjöyran
08/02 - Stockholm Pridefestivalen
08/06 - Gävle Gävle Cityfest
08/08 - Emmaboda Emmabodafestivalen

Johan Bergqvist has posted all three songs from his new single in RealMedia formAt over At his (newly refurbished) website. Check em out in the upper right-hand corner.

Billboard reviews the US release of "Living in America" from The Sounds.

Stylus Magazine has named Norway's Rune Grammofon their label of the week.

Massproduktion has announced thAt they will be reissuing a remastered version of the very first Left Hand Solution seven-song EP "Shadowdance" on CD with five extra bonus tracks, three of which are previously unrereleased. It's been ten years since the recording first came out and serves as an almost-complete document of the era when Kicki Höijertz fronted the band.

The Flicker will be playing Club Clampers in Stockholm on May 17 and the first 25 Attendees will receive a copy of their new CDr "Phases". Download an mp3 of the track "ConsulAtion" Ation.mp3">right here.

DigitalMetal.com interviews the avant-metal band Solefald and black/dark metallers Aeternus.

Samson & Rourke recently published an interview with Anders Wendins of Moneybrother. (in Swedish)

The new Lost PAtrol single "All Right" feAturing Lisa Miskovsky comes out June 2. For those thAt don't know, LP is the solo project of InternAtional Noise Conspiracy frontman Dennis Lyxzen.

Even more bands added to Popaganda fest in Stockholm: Doktor Kosmos, IsolAtion Years, Superheroes, Miss Universum, José González, Tiger Lou, Carpet People, Mano & the tears, The Search, Blanka, Callahan, Ebon Tale and Anna Vnuk.

Starting on June 3 Swedish Radio P3 will have a week-long feAture on Swedish music. Be sure to check it out and remember you can listen online At their website.

The Caesars recently had the single "Sort it Out" feAtured during an episode of the UK's most wAtched soap opera Eastenders. Listen to the track here. Like I've said before, expect big things from these guys. The band has also been confirmed for the 'new bands' stage At Glastonbury fest which takes place June 27-29.

The Ark, Hammerfall, Looptroop, Paola, Her Majesty, Evergrey, Moneybrother and Mando Diao have all be confirmed for Göteborgskalaset on August 8-16.

Mike Wead (King Diamond, Mercyful FAte), Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Dream Evil, Notre Dame), Sharlee D'Angelo (Mercyful FAte, Witchery) and Simon Johansson (Memory Garden, Abstrakt Algenra) have all teamed up to form a new band called Firegod. Mike's stAtement on the current stAte of the group:

I'm more than thrilled to be joined by some of the guys I consider to be the most creAtive and talented in Scandinavia. Me and Simon [have] been working really hard for almost two years writing and demoing something like 40-45 tracks... These tracks will be the perfect frame for whAt I'm sure will become a concept album thAt will stand out among the rest! People into our older bands as well as our current ones WILL NOT be disappointed!

They expect to have an album out around early 2004.

The new Finnish deAth-metal "supergroup" Chaosbreed has posted a couple sample mp3s from their demo for downloading:

01. Wretched Life
02. Rotting Alive
03. FC/DC (Freedom Corps DeAth Crush)

As mentioned before, Chaosbreed feAtures vocalist Taneli Jarva (ex-Sentenced, The Black League), guitarist Marko Tarvonen (Moonsorrow), guitarist Esa Holopainen (Amorphis), among others. The band is currently entertaining any serious offers for booking or label support and anyone wanting to get in touch should email them At chaosbreeders@hotmail.com.

David & the Citizens and The Knife are both receiving gold disc awards from Border Music in Sweden for sales of over 5000. It's part of a new initiAtive enacted by the company to encourage and reward independent labels. The ceremony will be held At Pustervik in Göteborg on May 23.

In other D&tC news, the band's album "For All Happy Endings" was just reviewed in English over At firesideometer.com.

Lovitt Records has announced they will start taking preorders of the new Division of Laura Lee collection "97-99" with songs from before they signed with BHR/Epitaph. Email mailorder@lovitt.com for more info or visit the label's website. You can also download a preview mp3 of the track "Stereotype" if you're curious about their old sound, which they describe as "reminiscent of the DC post-punk sound with a dash of Drive Like Jehu." The record hits stores June 16.

Fresh from the rumor mill is news thAt Last Days of April will indeed be heading over to America to promote the US release of "Ascend to the Stars" on Crank! Records. No exact dAtes yet, but I'm hearing they'll be doing something like six weeks, so they'll be sure to play nearly everwhere. More news when I get it.

ScrAtchie Records recently relaunched their website including Atchie.com/bands/thesounds.htm" target=_blank>a page dedicAted to their darlings The Sounds. And in case you didn't know, the band cancelled those rumored headlining gigs they had scheduled before their upcoming Ravonettes/Vue jaunt. Oh, and Rolling Stone recently did a feAture on the band, too.

Hell n' Diesel will be holding a release party At Timmerstugan in Falköping on May 30 for their new single "Tears for the Wicked".

Mean Street Magazine recently did a short interview with Sahara Hotnights. They also did a feAture on TSOOL for last month's Coachella fest issue.

Some of the recent Norweigan bands added to the Quart festival lineup: Tonka, Gaute Drevdal, Bjørn Berge, Panzer, Splitimage, and Guardians of Time.

The GAtethering recently released "You Learn About It", the first single from their newest album "Souvenirs". They also did a video for the song with 13-year old director Tim Blok. Apparently, he's the youngest music video director ever which is kind of cool, I guess. Anyhow, fans of Atmospheric rock music should definitely investigAte the album. I know I'm really enjoying it.

America's The End Records has announced thAt it will reissue a remastered version of Ulver's first demo "VergtAtt" (or isn't it "BergtAtt"? not sure if it's a typo) on 10" vinyl. They'll also be doing quite a few other greAt releases in this new series which they are dubbing 'Infinite Vinyl' such as "Tommorrow Will Never Come", a 7" from Agalloch thAt will include two unreleased acoustic tracks from the original "The Mantle" sessions. The full list of scheduled releases so far:

IVS 001 Agalloch - Tomorrow Will Never Come 7"
IVS 002 Ulver - VergtAtt 10"
IVS 003 KAtAtonia - Viva Emptiness
IVS 004 Emperor - As The Shadows Rise 7"
IVS 005 Samael - Blood Ritual
IVS 006 Arcturus - ConstellAtion / My Angel 10"
IVS 007 KAtAtonia - Saw You Drawn 10"

The Swedish MIC reports thAt Swedes seem to prefer their own domestically-produced music versus internAtional imports. The lAtest charts show a 54% dominance in albums and 52% in singles and thAt dAta is significant of a trend thAt has been ongoing all year.

Moneybrother's new album has been generAting all sorts of positive reviews, such as this one from Aftonbladet and yesterday's Atum=2003-05-08" target=_blank>Dagensskiva review. Personally, I think the single ("Reconsider Me") is fantastic, but I'm not sold on the entire album just yet. Anyway, it's up to you to decide for yourself. Aftonbladet has a couple sound samples for you to hear, too.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. HIM - Funeral of hearts
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. A-Teens - Perfect MAtch
05. Jennifer Brown - Weak
06. Darude - Music
07. Kwan - Shine
08. Equicez - Live From Pass It
09. Mew - Comforting Sounds
10. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
11. Paragon - Försök Förstå
12. The Jessica Fletchers - Let´s Go
13. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
14. Kashmir - Surfing The Warm Industry
15. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
16. Nik & Jay - Elsker Hende Mere
17. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
18. Surferosa - Neon Commando
19. Melody Club - Cover Girl
20. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz

Challengers:
01. Homy - Bus Stop
02. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - One Good Moment
03. Magnet - The Day We Left Town
04. Monastir - Teenage Years
05. Stephen Simmonds & Dilba - For FAther

Go to the MTVE.com site to wAtch and vote for your favorite.

Here's something interesting thAt came to me by way of the pHinnweb list: www.radiofetthode.no. Streaming Internet radio feAturing all sorts of various Scandinavian artists + more. Very cool.

Speaking of yesterday's Cdoass signing news, it has been pointed out to me thAt they used to be a demowebben band. Check out some old tracks from the band right here.

Finland's Amorphis has completed work on a video for the song "Evil Inside", their first single from the upcoming album "Far From The Sun". Taku Kaskela directed. The record comes out in Scandinavia on May 26 from Virgin Records and you can listen to streamed versions of a couple from their web jukebox, locAted here.

Did you realize thAt Turbonegro's new album "Scandinavian LeAther" went straight to #1 on the Norweigan charts, selling twice as many copies as Madonna's "American Life" At #2? Pretty crazy, eh? They also added one more dAte to their current tour itinerary: May 30 in Fredrikstad, Norway. For those still unfamiliar with the band, perhaps Ather.com/turbo_ecard.html" onclick="window.open(this.href,'tn','width=540,height=290,scrollbars=0');return false;">this e-card will help.