The Klerks will be appearing on the MTV Nordic program Morning Glory on February 8, 9 and 11. They will perform the single "She, She, She" and do an interview.

Here's the dAtes for Opeth's upcoming Australian tour:

4/10 - Brisbane, The Arena
4/11 - Melbourne, The Corner
4/12 - Adelaide, Uni Bar
4/13 - Sydney, The Metro

Seen the video for "By the Grace of God" from The Hellacopters yet? Click here.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives has announced the dAtes for their upcoming US tour:

3/15 - Orlando FL The Social
3/16 - Ft. Lauderdale FL Culture Room
3/18 - Atlanta GA Cotton Club
3/20 - New York NY Irving Plaza
3/21 - Washington DC 9:30 Club
3/22 - Philadelphia PA TheAtre of Living Arts
3/23 - Boston MA Paradise
3/24 - Providence RI Met Cafe
3/26 - Ottawa Barrymore's Music Hall
3/27 - Montreal Cafe Campus
3/28 - Toronto Opera House
3/29 - Columbus OH Little Brother
3/31 - Detroit MI Magic Stick
4/2 - Minneapolis MN 400 Bar
4/5 - Denver CO Bluebird
4/8 - San Francisco CA Bimbo's 365 Club
4/10 - SeAttle WA Graceland

In a sign of big things to come, The Sounds have two songs feAtured in the upcoming movie "Final DestinAtion 2", "Dance With Me" and "Rock'n'Roll". As stAted before, James Iha's ScrAtchie Records will be releasing the album in the stAtes. The movie hits US theAtres tomorrow.

The Wannadies's full version of the video for Ater51.html" target=_blank>"Little by Little" gets its TV premiere on MTV2 At 6:20. They may not be one of my faves, but the video's greAtness is undeniable.

Kristofer Åström reports thAt Fireside has finished up with nine of the songs for the upcoming album and comments "it's turning out really good. I'm sAtisfied with how it sounds." Eh, not the boldest stAtement I've heard, but I'm still quite excited for when it finally comes out. Don't forget to download the new track "Throw it Away" if you haven't already.

Bad Taste Records has kindly put up the video for "Playerin" from Last Days of April. Check it: High / Low (Real Media)
Also, if you haven't already done so, vote for the band's video for "All Will Break" on the MTV Up North Chart or check out thAt mp3 I put up on the right.

Logh will be on P3 Live tonight At 9pm (12 noon Pacific). I plan on recording it, but you can also listen online At the P3 site. (click the link 'Lyssna' in the upper-right)

Hot on the heels of news of their StarEP release, Moneybrother has revealed they are working on a full length for Burning Heart Records. Mainman Anders Wendin (ex-Monster) says thAt him and producer Jari Haapalainen (The Bear Quartet) have twelve tracks ready to go for a summer release. He's also got an all-star lineup for the backing band: Fredrik Sandsten (The Soundtrack of Our Lives), Magnus Öström (Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Nicolai Dunger's "Soul Rush"), Björn Yttling (Peter, Björn & John, live keyboards for Ceasars Palace), plus Monster's horn section (Viktor Brobacke, Gustav Bendt and PAtrick Andersson). The music is decribed as a mix of soul, reggae, and punk - not far from the sound of his old band.

Soviac reports they are finished with the second part of their new recording. They are working At Pelle Gunnerfeldt's Gröndal Studio with Johan Gustavsson (Randy) and Kalle Ohlsson (The Bear Quartet).

The new album from Crystal Committee is now available from Chalksounds and you can download the preview mp3s for "So Sinister" and the title track "Forever Overhead". Described by the label as "A true indierock masterpiece in the vein of Ride, early Starmarket", the band consists of Fredrik from the aforementioned Starmarket with help from MAttias Norlamder (Blithe, Komeda), Kristoffer Larsson (Cobolt) and Pontus Levahn (also in Starmarket).

Also from Chalksounds comes this mp3 from Carpet People. The track is called "A Road Trip" and it comes from the forthcoming album "More Bad WeAther Coming Out of the Rain".

LOK has a live album called "Blästrad Levande" coming out on February 24. The recording is from a show in Göteborg last August 14. Preview the cover art Attan_stor.html" onclick="window.open(this.href,'lok','width=440,height=400,scrollbars=no');return false;">here.

The nominees for the Swedish Grammys (Grammis) have been announced. Here's a few of the cAtegories:

Best Newcomer:
Marit Bergman – 3.00 AM Serenades
Brolle Jr – Rebellious Heart
Awa Manneh – Sounds Like Me
Melody Club – Music Machine
The Sounds – Living In America

Best Artist:
The Ark – In Lust We Trust
The Hellacopters – By The Grace Of God
Håkan Hellström – Det Är Så Jag Säger Det
Kent – Vapen & Ammunition
Robyn – Don’t Stop The Music

Best Group:
The Ark – In Lust We Trust
Caesars Palace – Love For The Streets
Kent – Vapen & Ammunition
The Sounds – Living In America
Weeping Willows – Into The Light

Best Pop/Rock Male:
Brolle Jr – Rebellious Heart
Eric Gadd – Life Support
Håkan Hellström – Det Är Så Jag Säger Det
Christian Kjellvander – Songs From A Two-Room Chapel
Ulf Lundell – Club Zebra

Best Pop/Rock Female:
Marit Bergman – 3.00 AM Serenades
Paola – Stockcity Girl
Robyn – Don’t Stop The Music
Frida Snell – Black Trillium
Sophie Zelmani – Sing and Dance

Best Album:
The Ark – In Lust We Trust
Caesars Palace – Love For The Streets
Håkan Hellström – Det Är Så Jag Säger Det
Kent – Vapen & Ammunition
Robyn – Don’t Stop The Music

Best Lyrics:
Joakim Berg (Kent)
Håkan Hellström
Ulf Lundell
Ola Salo (The Ark)
Timbuktu

Best Composer:
Joakim Berg (Kent)
Jörgen Elofsson
Håkan Hellström
Andreas MAttson & Niclas Frisk
Ola Salo (The Ark)

Open CAtegory:
v/a – Chess På Svenska
Bob Hund – 10 År Bakåt & 100 År Framåt
v/a – NAtionalsånger
Svenska Tjejrockband 1966–1999 – Från Plommons Till Drain
Träd Gräs Och Stenar – Ajn Schwajn Dra

Best Hip Hop/Soul:
Ison&Fille – Vår Sida Av Stan
Looptroop – The Struggle Continues
Awa Manneh – Sounds Like Me
Masayah – Masayah
Timbuktu – WAtt’s Dö Madderfakking Diil?

Best Hard Rock/Metal:
The Hellacopters – By The Grace Of God
In Flames – Reroute To Remain
Mustasch – Above All
Opeth – Deliverance
PAthos – KAtharsis

The rest of the list is here.

"More than just an album; it's an unforgettable experience." Kerrang magazine gives Cult of Luna's new album "The Beyond" 5 out of 5 Ks. Read the entire review.

Don't forget to check out the wrap-up report for the Rockbjörnen over At Aftonbladet. More pics Ategory=158" target=_blank>here, too.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Jon - Right Here Next To You
02. Andreas Johnsson - WAterfall
03. Christian - Min Fremtid
04. Kent - FF
05. The Klerks - She, She, She
06. Bombshell Rocks - On My Way
07. Madrugada - Majesty
08. The Spitts - ThAt´s my girl
09. The Sounds - Seven Days A Week

Challengers:
Caesars Palace - Candy Kane
Last Days Of April - All Will Break
Jamie Meyer - Psycho
The Lungz - It´s Alright
Swing Fly feAt. ADL and Ayo - Come Get It

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

Read this scandalous interview with Nina Persson of The Cardigans. (in Swedish)

The Cardigans are also beginning their media blitz in anticipAtion of the new album "Long Before Daylight". They'll be making quite a few TV appearances in the near future:

2/11 - TV4 Documentary
2/12 - ZTV Wimans
2/13 - TV4 Nyheterna (report)
2/14 - TV4 Nyhetsmorgon (2 tunes + interview)
2/15, 2/16, 2/18 - MTV Morning Glory (performance + interview)
2/16 - SVT Söndagsöppet (performance + interview)

Roxette gets a medal from the king. Read all about it. (in Swedish)

Andy McCoy of Hanoi Rocks disputes claims made in Mötley Crüe's bio "The Dirt".

Spiritual Beggars are set to do the following shows in the UK with support from Clutch before heading off to Japan on their own:

4/07 – Dudley, UK @ JB's
4/08 – Glasgow, UK @ Garage
4/09 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 3
4/10 – London, UK @ Mean Fiddler
4/17 – Nagoya, Japan @ Club QuAttro
4/18 – Tokyo, Japan @ Shibuya AX
4/20 – Osaka, Japan @ Big CAt
4/22 – Hiroshima, Japan @ Club QuAttro

The up and coming group Paris is heading out on a Swedish tour. The dAtes:

2/06 - Visby Effes
2/07 - Växjö Lokal Bar
2/12 - Stockholm Rabbit Fighter
2/15 - Linköping Flamman
3/01 - Stockholm Yoshimitsu
3/08 - Norrköping Kulturkammaren
3/12 - Lund Mejeriet (w/Melody Club)
3/28 - Uppsala Kal3/NAtion
4/10 - Göteborg Gump

A new mp3 today from Last Days of April. Nice melancholic pop music.

The Sahara Hotnights are coming back to the US. The dAtes so far: (w/Ikara Colt and Washdown)

2/27, 2003 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
2/28, 2003 Hoboken, NJ Maxwells
3/01, 2003 Philadelphia, PA North Star
3/02, 2003 Washington, DC Black CAt
3/03, 2003 Richmond, VA Alley KAtz
3/05, 2003 Atlanta, GA The Echo Lounge
3/06, 2003 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
3/07, 2003 Orlando, FL The Social
3/14, 2003 Austin, TX Stubb's (SXSW)
3/31, 2003 Detroit, MI The Shelter

And the winners of the Rockbjörnen are...

Best male: Håkan Hellström
Best female: Robyn
Best group: Kent
Best song: Kom igen Lena (Håkan Hellström)
Best album: Vapen och Ammunition (Kent)
Best newcomer: The Sounds

Also from Aftonbladet on occasion of the Rockbjörnen, a transcription of a live chAt with The Cardigans. More here. (in Swedish)

DeAthprod (Supersilent, ex-Motorpsycho) was interviewed on the BBC Radio 3 program Mixing It yesterday. Listen to an archive of the program here.

Lullacry's new album "Crucify My Heart" will hit North America on April 8from Century Media. The first single already went straight to #5 on the Finnish charts right on its initial release.

The Hellacopters are going on a Scandinavian tour beginning in lAte February. The dAtes:

2/27 - Malmö, KB
2/28 - Helsingborg, Tivoli
3/01 - Lund, Blender@Tegnérs MAtsalar
3/07 - Halmstad, Diezel
3/08 - Karlskoga, Wictoria
3/11 - Halden (N), Studenthuset
3/12 - Stavanger (N), Folken
3/13 - Oslo (N), Rockefeller
3/14 - Bergen (N), Hulen
3/15 - Trondheim (N), Studentersamfundet
3/26 - Åre, Bygget
3/27 - Sälen, HC
3/28 - Umeå, Umeå Open

Also from The Hellacopters is a new 4-colored, 52-page comicbook called "The Hellacopters - Beamed Into Deep-Space". Honest! Read more from the artist Dennis Eriksson:

You will get a close-up look At The Hellacopters backstage, see them fight and even follow them in space! The band will meet characters like Florinda Flames, Dawn Daggers and The RegulAtor. They are all feAtured in my web-comic - Francis Rove. I found the whole concept to fit very well together with The Hellacopters so all I had to do was to introduce the band into the world of Francis Rove!
Henke Walse, who does all of The Hellacopters' prints, thought it'd be a cool idea to do a Hella-comic. Since I've previously been involved with the making of an animAted video for the band ("Move Right Outta Here") I felt pretty comfortable with making a Hella-comic. Nicke wanted it to feAture a greAt deal of "rock, space and sci-fi". ThAt was his only request. So keep an eye out for the sequel!!

Get a preview of it here, here, or here.

Check out a profile on the Norweigan singer Solveig Slettahjell right here. Judging from the 30-sec sample, she does thAt jazzy torch-song kinda thing.

Get a preview of the new single "Daydream Receiver" from Askil Holm.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives will be hosting MTV's 120 Minutes on January 26. The alt-music program airs from 1am til 3. In other news, the band's upcoming US tour in March is starting to be revealed. Searching the Clear Channel site (ugh, see this for more) shows two dAtes: 3/20 At Irving Plaza in NYC and 3/23 At Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Should be plenty more coming, so keep your eyes peeled.

The new Logh "Ghosts/White as Snow" 7" is out and the band reports thAt the recording of the new album is going well. They also have a plea on their site for a pair of Yamaha NS-10 studio monitors, so help 'em out if you can. And lastly, the English label Must Destroy Music will be releasing the "Every Time..." full length and the new 7" over in the UK soon. As I've said before, it's one of my favorites from last year, so check it out.

We are confident thAt Andy Sneap is the man to capture the whole vibe we've got going on right now...it’s fresh and insanely heavy - it feels so good being in this band right now!

ThAt's guitarist Michael Amott of Arch Enemy talklng about preparAtions for the next album. Producer Andy Sneap will be arriving in Sweden on February 4 to begin pre-production At the band's rehearsal studio. Then on the 10th they all fly over to the UK to begin recording drums.

Heading to SXSW this year? As posted before, tons of greAt bands are coming from overseas to play and The Venue is one of em. They'll be playing At Friends in Austin on the 14th along with a short West Coast jaunt. More dAtes coming when I get them.

I updAted yesterday's post with new info about Nicolai Dunger's backing band and their other music experience. Thanks again Niklas!

DAtes are currently being booked for KVLR's West Coast/Southwest tour in early March. If you can help, please let me know.

Stickman Records reports thAt Motorpsycho has US and Japan tour plans in the works. No dAtes yet, but I'll keep you posted. The label also has revealed the title for the forthcoming IsolAtion Years record: "It's Golden". Again, no dAte yet, but I'll let you know.

Amorphis is working on mixing their new album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Moonspell, Sentenced) At Finnvox Studios. They expect to finished by the end of the month. No word yet on a new label for the band.

Keep your eyes on Norweigen electronic act Röyksopp as they're touring seven US cities in March. European sales are already climbing and accolades are accumulAting, but they've yet to cAtch on fully over here. Will they break? Hype sure is building.

In a sign of potentially bigger things to come, booking agency Luger has now taken on the band Paris. Is the return of new-wave nigh?

DJ Embee (Loop Troop) is currently finishing up work on his new EP with Organism 12 and PSTQ. Four tracks and instruments, two produced by Embee, two by Breakmecanix. Look for it around lAte February or early March on JuJu Records.

Also from JuJu is the new Timbuk/Promoe (also Loop Troop) "Blind Justice" 12". It comes out on the 27th.

Here's an interesting short interview with Galder of Old Man's Child and Dimmu Borgir. Now resigned to just being a studio-only project, OMC's new album "In Defiance of Existence" just came out in Europe and will be out in the US on March 25 from Century Media.

Darkthrone will be adding exclusive new film footage to the Peaceville CDrom reissues of four of their old albums. As for whAt the footage will contain, here's whAt they had to say:

Fenriz and Nocturno Culto will film many hours At their stronghold somewhere in the wilderness in Norway. Like a reality-Darkthrone documentary. Every of the four album will contain At least 5 minutes of this rare piece of filming. They will drink, drink, listen to music, drink etc.....many things will be revealed. They will also interview eachother about all the Peaceville-albums. They will film thAt much, so it can edited to be a 30 min. documentary

NorthSide Records has new preview mp3s up on their website for upcoming releases from Värttinä and Mari Boine. Check 'em out. (scroll about 2/3rds of the way down the page)

Classic Swedish deAthmetal band Dismember is currently working on their next album. The title is "Where Ironcrosses Grow" and it's due out around September on Hammerheart Records. Produced once again by drummer Fred Estby with help from engineer Olle Sandqvist, the new mAterial is described as "darker, a little less melodic and more aggressive than ever" and lyrically "headed even more in the direction of describing war At its ugliest, stories about sick minds creAting sick situAtions and loads of religious criticism." In other words, business as usual.

A number of Swedish artists will be coming together on February 20 At Club Debaser in Stockholm to honor the memory of Joe Strummer from The Clash. The list of names is long, but here they are: Infinite Mass, Weeping Willows, Thåström, Randy with Howlin Pelle (The Hives), Ian and Ebbot from Sountrack Of Our Lives, Joppe Pihlgren, Nomads, Dregen & Nicke Borg (Backyard Babies), Jocke Åhlund (Caesars Palace, Teddybears STHLM), Eggstone and Brända Barn. Wow. Tickets are limited, so act fast.

Opeth will tour Australia in April. DAtes coming soon.

In Flames has lined up the following summer festival gigs:

6/14 - Provinsirock / Finland
7/25 - Piteå Dansar och Ler, Piteå / Sweden
8/23 - Summer Breeze / Germany
8/24 - Metal Fest Vienna / Austria

Melody Club seems to have gotten a favorable write-up in Aftonbladet for their live show. There's a decent video clip posted, too. (in Swedish)

Turns out the info yesterday about The Ark's trip to Belguim was false. Members Ola and Sylvester are actually spending today on a press mission in Amersterdam.

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

01. The Sounds - Living in America
02. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
03. Melody Club - Music machine
04. Barbados - Rewind
05. v/a - Fame factory vol 2
06. Robyn - Don´t stop the music
07. Eric Gadd - Life support
08. Håkan Hellström - Det är så jag säger det
09. Christian Kjellvander - Songs from a two-room chapel
10. Roxette - Ballad hits
11. Hans Martin - Landet där solen ej går ner
12. Helen Sjöholm - Visor
13. The Hellacopters - By the grace of god
14. The Knife - Deep Cuts
15. v/a - Fame Factory volym 1
16. Mando Diao - Bring´em in
17. Joybells Gospel Choir - Oh happy day - 14 gospel klassiker
18. Björn Skifs - Ingen annan
19. Nicke & Nilla - Pannkakor med sylt
20. Kent - B-sidor 95-00

Swedish songwriter Jeanette Olsson wrote the single "Haven't Told You" for Kelly Rowlands' (Destinys Child) new album "Simply Deep", due out February 10. Apparently, Billboard magazine calls Jeanette "Sweden's best kept secret."

For those curious, Nicolai Dunger's backing band on his upcoming European tour will be as follows (dAtes in yesterday's post):

Jari Haapalainen (Bear Quartet, Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck, Heiki) - drums
Jonas Kullhammas (Jonas Kullhammar Quartet, Nacka Forum) - saxophone, flute, clarinet
Thomas Tjärnkvist - guitar
Johan Berthling (Vega, Nacka Forum) - upright bass
Kjell-Erik Eriksson (Hoven Droven, Triakel) - violin

I'm not sure if the same folk will be continuing on with Nicolai to America, but I'll let you know when I find out. (tack Niklas!)

Norweigan singer/songwriter St. Thomas recently finished up with his recording session in Nashville for his next album. Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Will Oldham) produced 22 songs were completed, including covers of "Don't Believe In A Mushroom" by Ring and "Who'll Stop The Rain" by Creedence ClearwAter Revival. And thAt's not all - quite a group of illustrious guests will appear on the album, too:

Tony Crow (Lambchop)
MAtt Swanson (Lambchop)
Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel and Bablicon)
Howe Gelb (Giant Sand)
Espen Mellingen (Ai Phoenix and Poor Rich Ones)
Bosse Litzheim (Ai Phoenix)

Five of those tracks ended up the on just-released EP "A Long Long Time". Listen for the title-track single on Norway P3 Radio. A video will be coming out soon, too.

Finally got some new CDs in the mail yesterday. ThAt means a new mp3 to your right. Huzzah!

I'm excited because I just got word thAt KVLR will be heading to the StAtes in March for a West Coast tour. I'll post the dAtes when I get them.

Okay, I'm a moron. The new Randy album was produced by (the stellar) Pelle Gunnerfeldt (Fireside), except for one track which was produced by Jocke Åhlund of Caesars Palace. Sorry about my slip-up. Anyhow, I'm still very excited to hear it. It's getting mastered on Monday the 27th and the artwork by Henke Walse gets proofed today. Henke did the cover of the last record, too.

And speaking of Pelle Gunnerfeldt, Entombed are currently hard At work in the studio under his direction for a new album due in spring on their own Threeman Recordings. The basic tracks were done At a different studio, but Pelle is handling the vocals and the mix. As I've said before, I love his work, so I'm very interested to hear how this will come out.

The (Int'l) Noise Conspiracy frontman Dennis is starting work on the next Lost PAtrol album. No info on the label or dAte yet. As for the rest of t(I)NC, they will all be in LA in February to rehearse the new album. Come March, it's back to Sweden for a regrouping and then into the studio around May or June.

Here's a stream of The Soundtrack of Our Lives playing on the David Letterman show. (Real Player)

Here's some new dAtes for Nicolai Dunger! Finally, I'll be able to see him play.

Europe
1/23 - Dieppe (F) Scéne nAtionale de Dieppe
1/24 - Colmar (F) Le Kraken
1/25 - Belfort (F) La Poudriére
1/26 - TBA
1/27 - Bern (CH) ISC
1/28 - Bruxelles (B) Le Botanique (w/Mary Timmony)
1/29 - Paris (F) Mains d'oeuvres
1/30 - Nantes (F) L'Olympic
1/31 - Evreux (F) MJC A I'Abordage
2/01 - Lilles (F) Le Grand Mix

US-tour supporting Calexico
2/26 - San Diego, CA, Casbah
2/27 - San Diego, CA, Casbah
2/28 - Los Angeles, CA, Knitting Factory
3/01 - San Francisco, CA, Noise Pop
3/03 - Portland, OR, Addalin
3/04 - SeAttle, WA, Showbox
3/05 - Vancouver, BC, Richard's on Richards
3/08 - Minneapolis, MN, 400 Bar
3/09 - Madison, WI, Luthers
3/10 - Chicago, IL, Abbey Pub
3/11 - Nashville, TN, 12th and Porter
3/13-16 - Austin, TX, SXSW TBA

Petter is going to be a fAther. His girlfriend (and Playboy model) Jenny Ksyt is six months along, as Aftonbladet reports. It will be the couple's first child.

Okay, can someone please tell WTF is going on here?!? (in Swedish)

UPDAtE: Ola was walking home drunk from a party when the photo was taken, which was then subsequently published in the teen mag Vecko-Revyn in full form. Ola says he remembers the evening in question, but not the lack of pants. Either way, he's not upset. (tack Daniel!)

In more Ark news, the band will be playing in London At the Garage on February 28. They'll also be doing some promo work in Belgium lAter this week, hoping to continue the positive up-trend they recently started in Germany. Will they break to a bigger, European audience?

Project HAte announces the addition of new vocalist Jo Enckell:

We feel blessed to have the possibility to bring this girl out to a larger audience considering the quality and talent she possesses. The Project HAte has always been about working with the best and Jo fits right in, like our sAtanic cocks up Jesus' ass.

Well alright then. Anyhow, you can see Jo's profile or Ate.net/" target=_blank>read the entire stAtment on their website. As stAted before, the band will entering Soundlab Studios in April to record their next album.

Looptroop is heading out on a European tour with The Chords and Timbuktu as support. The dAtes:

1/22 - Jyväskyla (SF) Lutakko (no support)
1/23 - Tampere (SF) Klubi (no support)
1/24 - Helsinki (SF) Nosturi (no support)
1/29 - Luleå Fär1/(no support)
1/30 - Luleå Fär1/(no support) All Ages
1/31 - Umeå Corona (no support)
2/01 - Östersund Folkets Hus (no support)
2/07 - Växjö Popstad (no support)
2/12 - Stockholm Fasching
2/13 - Köpenhamn (DK) Vega
2/14 - Hamburg (D) Phonodrom
2/16 - Siegen (D) TBA
2/18 - Gent (B) De Centrale
2/21 - Lasarte (E) Zulo
2/22 - Madrid (E) Aqualung
2/23 - Barcelona (E) Apolo
2/25 - Milano (I) 111 Coctail Bar
2/26 - Lausanne (CH) Casino De Montbenon
2/27 - Basel (CH) Kaserne
2/28 - Wil (CH) Remise
3/01 - Biel (CH) La Coupole
3/02 - Linz (A) KAPU
3/03 - Wien (A) B72
3/04 - BrAtislava (CS) Bajkal
3/05 - Prague (CS) Rock Café
3/06 - München (D) Backstage
3/08 - Bremen (D) Moments/ Ring The Alarm

Nine reports they are finished with their new album and expect it to be out in lAte April or early May. No titles or anything yet, but they say they finished 10 songs total and LG Petrov (Entombed) makes a guest appearance.

For those interested, Pitchforkmedia.com totally skewers "Behind the Music" from The Soundtrack of Our Lives in this review today.

Swedish composer Krister Hansén will be having a premiere of the piece "1" At Scandinavia House New York on February 2. The ensemble Acidophilus will be performing the music, which is to be accompanied by the video work "Shovel" by artist Pernilla Edholm.

Preview the cover for the new Lullacry album "Crucify My Heart". It will be out in Finland on February 17 from Spinefarm Records and the rest of Europe on March 17 from Century Media.

The upcoming album "Welfare Problems" from the band Randy got a set release dAte. Look for it April 21 on Burning Heart. Jocke Åhlund (Caesars Palace) produced. I'm excited - the last record was greAt and I think they just keep getting better and better.

The Virtues will having a big party on February 6 At Tantogarden in Stockholm to celebrAte the release of their debut album "RuminAte". Look for it on Crying Bob in Sweden or from Zip Records in the US come April.

Falconer singer MAthias Blad has been replaced by Destiny frontman Kristoffer Göbel because of his unwillingness to tour. Blad will still stay involved with the band they say, as he will be tapped to help out with backing vocals on future recordings. And speaking of future recordings, the band is getting ready to enter Los Angered Studios to work on their next album, due lAte 2003 on Metal Blade. "It will be a concept album," the band says, "but fear not... it will not be one of those weird concept albums. The music is mostly as it has been but with one lyrical story throughout the whole album."

A new mp3 from The Knife this morning. Look to your right.

Rune Grammofon released the new Supersilent album "6" today. FeAturing members of Motorpsycho among other bands, the label says the music will "Attract followers of bands such as Goodspeed You Black Emperor!, Sigur Rós, King Crimson, (lAte) Talk Talk or Popol Vuh." Read more about it Atalog_RCD_2029.html" target=_blank>here or here. In other news about the band, Helge Sten aka DeAthprod revealed in an interview with Mute magazine thAt the band will be releasing a 10 disc live box sometime around spring '04.

Backdraft's debut album "Here To Save You All" will finally be made available in the US on Febuary 18 from Abstract Sound USA.

Askil Holm has a new single called "Daydream Receiver" coming out January 21. The track was written by Askil with help from Martin Hagfors and Lars Horntvedth. Look for the new album in early March.

"We have never been better" declares The Cardigans is this short feAture from Aftonbladet. The band has their big 'comeback' performance At the Rockbjörnen awards show next Monday. (in Swedish)

More from Aftonbladet: the E-Type metal show gets a mediocre review from Göteborg. (in Swedish)

Wilmer X has a new single called "Vi Som Blommar Sent" coming out February 10. The new album "Lyckliga Hundar" follows on the 24th. Get a preview here. They'll be doing some touring, too. The dAtes so far:

3/22 Malmö, KB
3/26 Stockholm, Göta Källare
4/3 Helsingborg, The Tivoli
4/4 Lund, Mejeriet
4/10 Göteborg, Trädgår’n
4/11 Kalmar, Palace
4/12 Uppsala, KAtalin

The Punchdrunks have become a duo leaving just guitarists Robert Johnson and Per Thorsell. Of course the reason was music differences. It pretty much always is. Anyhow, the two will be working on the follow-up to Fried On The Altar Of Good Taste", tentAtively titled "Atomic Powered Singing".

The Klerks are the Atures/cms/index.asp?id=1001500000000252&type=3&page=1" target=_blank>band of the week over At MTVE.com. They describe the band as "the lost link between The Ark and Andreas Johnson." They remind me a bit of the first album from The Motorhomes. Anyhow,the band is getting a lot of hype so go ahead and Atures/cms/index.asp?id=1001500000000252&type=3&page=1" target=_blank>read their profile and interview. The album comes out today and the third single for the track "Shame" will be out mid-February.

DVD plans for the Backyard Babies have been pushed back as the band is still hard At work on preparing for their next album. They promise it will come out eventually, but for now they rAther concentrAte on the new mAterial. In other news, Nicke and Dregen will be in LA for upcoming NAMM show to promote their new guitar models. If you read guitar mags, maybe you've already seen an ad for them.

In Flames is gearing up to work on their next album by travelling to Denmark for preproduction. The band says they are still planning a few summer festival gigs, but otherwise this is their plan:

As we did for "Reroute to Remain" we will turn off our phones, put our personal lives on hold and disconnect our entire contact with the outside world so thAt we can focus 100% on making a greAt new album. Once again it will be the five of us, our equipment and the cheapest possible beer we can find - tons of it!!!
Some of you had some thoughts on whAt we can change with our music,and thAt´s always appreciAted, but as always we will choose no other pAth than the one chosen by the 5 members of IN FLAMES!

Moneybrother (ex-Monster) has their debut EP called "Thunder in My Heart" coming out on StarEP/Startracks. It was produced by Jari Haapalainen (Bear Quartet) and will be out in February. The first single and video for the track "Reconsider Me" will be out in either February or March. Listen to a sample here. (Real Audio)

Download the track "Seashell Eyes" from the new, upcoming Ariel Kill Him album "In the Pyramid". It'll be out in Scandinavia lAte February on Kasual Records, the rest of the world two months lAter - unless you mailorder it direct, of course.

Better lAte than never, here's the Swedish winners of the NRJ Radio Awards:

Best male artist: Håkan Hellström
Best female artist: Robyn
Best group: Kent
Best newcomer: The Sounds
Best song: "Dom andra", Kent

Here's a review and samples of the new album from The Knife (ex-Honey is Cool). I've only listened to it once or twice so far, but I dig it. Fans of thAt whole 'electroclash' trend should definitely investigAte. (in Swedish)

New live set today! This time we've got The Ark live from Hultsfred 2001, as broadcasted on P3. I edited out all the between song banter, but if you're also interested in the full version, just ask.

The Sounds got themselves a new, internAtionally flavored website. Well, it's actually not thAt different, but they do have quite a bit more info in English. Like I've said before, keep your eyes on this band - they have a lot of potential to be big.

Download the new Fireside track "Throw It Away" right here! Startracks is also encouraging people to post responses in their guestbook. My first impression is thAt it sounds like a mix of the newer "Elite"-style with a touch more of their hardcore roots. Anyhow, I'm still excited for when the new album comes out.

Värttinä celebrAtes their 20th anniversary this year and has a new album coming out called "Iki". It won't be in stores until March 11, but you will be able to mailorder it weeks ahead of time from NorthSide. The label also promises to provide advance mp3s from the band in the near future, along with previews of new releases from Mari Boine and Frifot.

Photos and video from The Soundtrack of Our Lives/CAto Salsa Experience show At the Graceland in SeAttle on 11/23/2002 are available here.

Dimension Zero are set to enter the studio on February 10 with producer/In Flames frontman Anders Fridén to record their new album, to be titled "This IS Hell". Look for it around September/October on Regain Records.

The working-title of the album is "SAtan Berzerker-Mongo", which is a quite suiting title. It's gonna be a berzerk album. Many different songs (slow moody ones, to fast insane ones), but still recognizable as Dødheimsgard. Don't know any song-titles yet, they are in still in inside the head of Aldrahn, who's spent the last few months in a phsychiAtric hospital.

ThAt's black metal drummer extraordinaire Carl Michael Eide (Cadaver Inc., Aura Noir, DHG, and more) describing the direction of the band's new album in an interview with Voices from the Darkside. Read the rest here.

CorporAtion 187 will support Arch Enemy on their upcoming Scandinavian tour. The dAtes:

1/26 - Stockholm, Debaser
1/28 - Oslo, John Dee
1/29 - Göteborg, Musikens Hus
1/30 - Halmstad, Diezel
1/31 - Helsingborg, Tivoli

Here's the dAtes for the upcoming Melody Club Scandinavian tour:

1/22 - Stockholm, Göta Källare
1/23 - Stockholm, Cafe 44
1/24 - Göteborg, Trädgårn
1/31 - Strömstad ,The Cod
2/01 - Älmhult, Balders Hage
2/06 - Linköping, Corallen
2/07 - Växjö, Folkets Park
2/13 - Uppsala, Harrys
2/15 - Karlskoga, Wictoria
2/18 - Täby, Musikhuset Runan
2/19 - Norrköping, Kulturkammaren
2/20 - Sälen, HC
2/22 - Nybro, Mejeriet
2/26 - Svedala, Gamla BrandstAtionen
2/27 - Göteborg, Trädgårn
2/28 - Karlskrona, Bio Bar & MAtsal
3/06 - Oslo (NO), So WhAt
3/07 - Bergen (NO), Kvarteret
3/08 - Halmstad, Diezel
3/12 - Lund, Mejeriet
3/14 - Malmö, KB
3/15 - Helsingborg, Tivoli
3/28 - Umeå, Umeå Open

Okay, I admit it - I've been a slacker. Two new tunes today on your right. First up is the wonderful IsolAtion Years. Their debut album "Inland Traveller" gets a US release lAter this year from Galaxy Gramophone/Parasol and the new one comes out in March. I might've put this track up before, but I can't remember. Anyhow, don't miss it this time. Secondly, we have another track from the greAt Caesars Palace (aka The Caesars or the Twelve Caesars, as they known in the US). Simply put, a greAt pop band. More soon, I swear!

Diamond Dogs will be putting out a new CD collection of old and new mAterial called "ThAt´s the Juice I´m On" on January 27. Fans of classic rock style bands like the Hellacopters should check 'em out. And hey, Randy Bachman of Bachman Tuner Overdrive even guests on a track.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives will be taking the place of Cooper Temple Clause At the NME awards show in London on February 6. Cooper's bassist had his appendix out right before the holidays and has yet to fully recover, so they had to bow out. However, they will do a makeup gig on April 29. Ticketholders can either ask for a refund, opt for the new headliner, or defer their purchase for the rescheduled performance. Otherwise, buy your tickets here.

Speaking of TSOOL, did anyone record thAt Letterman performance? Can it be found online somewhere yet? Let me know.

Stabb will be travelling to the UK for their first time next week. The show is the 23rd At the Borderline in London. Their debut single "This Joke's On Me" comes out in February with the album to follow in April.

Madder Mortem has been confirmed as the opening act for Opeth's upcoming European tour. Opeth singer/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt himself highly recommend the band's lAtest record "Deadlights", too. The dAtes:

02.09 - Paris, La Locomotive
02.11 - Vittoria, Sala Azkena
02.12 - Porto, Hard Club
02.13 - Lisbon, Paradise Garage
02.14 - Madrid, Sala Caracol
02.15 - Barcelona, RazzmAtazz
02.16 - Lyon, Transbourdour
02.17 - Milan, Transilvania
02.18 - Treviso, New Age
02.20 - Zurich, Abart
02.22 - Graz, Orpheum
02.23 - Munich, New Backstage
02.24 - Frankfurt, BAtschkapp
02.25 - Essen Zeche Carl
02.26 - Halle, Easy Schorre
02.27 - Berlin, Columbia Fritz
02.28 - Hamburg, Schlachthof
03.01 - Groningen, Oosterport
03.02 - Tilburg, 013
03.04 - Utrecht, Tivoli
03.05 - Vosselar, Biebob
03.06 - Lille, Le Spendid
03.07 - Poiters, ChAtellerault-Gornie
03.08 - Rennes, L' Antipode
03.10 - Portsmouth, Wedgwood Rooms
03.11 - Manchester, Hop & Grape
03.12 - London, Mean Fiddler
03.13 - Exeter, University
03.14 - Glasgow, Garage
03.15 - Nottingham, Rock City
03.16 - Bradford, Rio
03.17 - Birmingham, Academy
03.19 - Dublin - Whelan's

WAtch singer/songwriter Johan Bergqvist's show from his January 15 performance in Hultsfred right here: modem / broadband. (Windows Media)

WAtch the "director's cut" of the Wannadies video for Ater51.html" target=_blank>"Little by Little". I've never seen the original, but this version contains 50 seconds of extra footage and is quite hilarious. Recommended. (requires Quicktime)

The new album "Love Metal" from HIM has now been confirmed for release in Germany and Finland on April 14. Most likely, the rest of the Europe will get it on the same day, but they aren't saying for sure. Also, the band's official site says the track listing leaked by the UK press is incorrect and they will be posting the correct one shortly.

See you on tour and remember to play "Below the Lights" At extreme volume levels. For even better results, try altered stAtes of conciousness (knock yourself over the head, do yoga-jumping or stay awake for two weeks without food before you check out the album). If it doesn't fuck you up, we'll give you (fake monopoly) money back.

ThAt's Enslaved talking about their new album, due out now in April from Osmose Productions. The band also has a live DVD in the works from MetalMind Productions entitled "Live RetaliAtion".

The up and coming band Wendy just got signed to Monarch Music by A&R man Magnus Nygren, the guy responsible for finding Jakob Hellman, Lars Winnerbäck and Lambretta. Expect a single by springtime.

Get a preview of hyped band-of-the-moment The Klerks over here and click the "Album Preview" link. Fans of Swedish pop such as The Motorhomes or Kent may want to check them out.

From Blabbermouth, comes this letter from a number of Swedish hard rock musicians accusing England's Z Records of "unscrupulous business practices." Some of the bands signed on the letter include Southpaw, Talisman, Humanimal and more. Of course, it's not really news thAt labels often screw bands out of money, but if you're interested in these artists or the label in question, please take note.

Don't forget to wAtch The Soundtrack of Our Lives tonight on The LAte Show with David Letterman.

69-Hard will be filming the video for "Gone Gone Gone" this weekend. The track is the first single for the upcoming album "Blues from Hell", to be released sometime in February. The album comes out lAte March on Idle Hands Records.

Moonfog labelmAtes Khold will joining SAtyricon on their upcoming European tour. DAtes are Atyricon.no/livedAtes.asp" target=_blank>here.

The split 7" from The Hives and The Pricks will see a fourth and final pressing in February. Only 100 copies will be available for mailorder, so pre-order it now from Hard-on Records.

The New Mess is now a quartet as live guitarist Adam has decided to sign on fulltime. Look for them to be playing a lot more around Sweden very soon.

Opeth is doing very well with their current US tour. A number dAtes are already sold out, so if you plan on seeing them you should get your tickets ASAP.

Most anticpAted releases of 2003? Atures/cms/index.asp?id=1001500000000251&page=1&type=1" target=_blank>Read whAt MTVE.com has to say on the issue. Besides the new Cardigans album, the list of anticpAted Nordic releases in on page two and three.

Christian Kjellvander will be doing a Scandinavian tour starting At the end of the month in support of his fantastic "Songs from a Two-Room Chapel". The dAtes so far:

1/29 - Hultsfred / Metropol
1/30 - Linköping / Herrgår´n
2/1 - Sandviken / Dinos
2/5 - Sandviken / Kungen
2/6 - Umeå / Humlan
2/7 - Skellefteå / Pinkerton
2/8 - Östersund / Gamla TeAtern
2/22 - Lund / Stadshallen FeAt. Ebreliuskvartetten
2/23 - Göteborg / TBA FeAt. Ebreliuskvartetten
2/24 - Uppsala / KAtalin FeAt. Ebreliuskvartetten
2/25 - Stockholm / Södra TeAtern FeAt. Ebreliuskvartetten
2/26 - Malmö / KB FeAt. Ebreliuskvartetten
3/5 - Oslo / So WhAt
3/7 - Halmstad / Diezelfestival
3/8 - Nybro / Mejeriet
3/14 - Norrköping / Kulturkammaren
3/15 - Jönköping / Kulturhuset

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

01. Melody club - Music machine
02. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
03. The Sounds - Living in America
04. Robyn - Don´t stop the music
05. v/a - Fame factory vol 2
06. Håkan Hellström - Det är så jag säger det
07. Christian Kjellvander - Songs from a two-room chapel
08. Eric Gadd - Life support
09. The Hellacopters - By the grace of god
10. Björn Skifs - Ingen annan
11. Kent - B-sidor 95-00
12. Hans Martin - Landet där solen ej går ner
13. Mando Diao - Bring´em in
14. Roxette - Ballad hits
15. v/a - Fame Factory volym 1
16. Joybells Gospel Choir - Oh happy day - 14 gospel klassiker
17. v/a - Chess - på svenska
18. Fredrik Kempe - Songs for your broken heart
19. Anders Widmark ft. Sara Isaksson - Anders Widmark ft. Sara Isaksson
20. The Ark - In lust we trust

Håkan Hellström is going to be doing a Scandinavian tour, too. The dAtes:

2/19 - Lillehammer, Bingo'n
2/20 - Sogndal, Meieriet
2/21 - Oslo, Rockefeller
2/22 - Bodö, Samfundet
2/26 - Kristiansand, Vaskeriet
2/27 - Stavanger, Folken
2/28 - Bö, Kroa
3/1 - Ålesund, Högskolen
3/2 - Halden, Studenthuset

The Cardigans filmed the video for the new single "For WhAt It's Worth" in Africa under the direction of Amir Chamdin from Infinite Mass. Read more about it here. (in Swedish)

Launch.com has the new Sahara Hotnights for the song "Alright Alright" directed by Jeff Tremaine of 'Jackass' fame. The link is here. Personally, I think the live footage is cool, but the buffonery is pointless and unfunny. Why bother?

Check out samples of the new album from The Knife, "Deep Cuts". It comes out Friday.

Lots of new stuff happening with Logh. First of all, the new "Ghosts" 7" is now available from Bad Taste Records' webshop and will be in stores on the 20th. The a-side is the title track and the b-side is the unreleased song "White As Snow". Only 1000 copies pressed and 100 on white vinyl, so act fast. The vinyl version of the full-length has been delayed (yet again) because of a printing error, but should be ready soon. And just like the single, there will be limited edition white vinyl. The band is still hard At work on their new album, too. Look for a teaser mp3 on their website soon. And finally, you can hear the band's show from Emmabodafestivalen 2002 on P3 Radio January 29 At 9pm. ThAt's 9pm local time in Sweden, noon Pacific.

The new Buck CDEP "Rock Dream" is available for mailorder from Startracks or Kasual, but won't be in stores until February. The record contains five new exclusive tracks.

Soilwork and Children of Bodom are teaming up for a European tour. The dAtes so far:

4/18 - Stockholm, SWE At Arenan
4/19 - Oslo, NOR At Rockefeller
4/20 - Gothenburg, SWE At Kåren
4/21 - Lund, SWE At Mejeriet
4/22 - Hamburg, GER At Markthalle
4/23 - Halle, GER At Easy Schorre
4/25 - Berlin, GER At Columbia Fritz
4/26 - Hardenberg, NETH At Podium
4/27 - Bochum, GER At Zeche
4/28 - Nürnberg, GER At Hirsch
4/29 - Frankfurt, GER At BAtschkapp
5/01 - Sheffield, UK At CorperAtion
5/02 - London, UK At Marquee
5/03 - Antwerpen, BEL At Hof Ter Loo
5/04 - Tilburg, NETH At 013
5/05 - Paris, FRA At Elysee MontmAtre
5/06 - Bordeaux, FRA At TheAtre Barbey
5/08 - Porto, POR At Hard Club
5/09 - Madrid, ESP At Aqualung
5/10 - Barcelona, ESP At RazzmAtazz II
5/11 - Bergara, ESP At Sala Jam
5/13 - Lyon, FRA At Ninkasi
5/14 - PrAtteln, SWI At Z7
5/15 - Innsbruck, AUT At Hafen
5/16 - Salzburg, AUT At Rockhaus
5/17 - Wien, AUT At Planet Music
5/18 - Ludwigsburg, GER At Rockfabrik
5/19 - Osnabrück, GER At Hyde Park

MAttias Hellberg, one half of the now-defunct duo Hederos and Hellberg, will be releasing a solo album. Details soon.

Dolores Recordings has a new website design. Some news from them:

The new Håkan Hellström will be for "Den Fulaste Flickan I Världen" with a double b-side of "Kom igen Lena!" (Blåser iväg dig-version/Blow you away version?) and "Gråsparven När Hon Sjunger" (Live from Mejeriet). It'll be out on February 17 with a video to come soon, too.
The next record from the Dolores Single Club is "Love Is All" by Josefin of the band Girlfrendo with "Cut City" from one of the members of Kid Commando. No dAte yet.
As usual, Broder Daniel is reportedly hard At work on a new record. Henrik supposedly has the thing written, they just need to record it. There will be a Single Club release, too.
Paola's next single will be for the song "Interstellar Love" and it comes out on February 17.

Nightwish are set to enter the studio lAte this year to record the follow up to "Century Child" for a release sometime before summer 2004. The band also plans to play just one Finnish festival this summer with maybe a few other European ones in the works. In other news, the band will be releasing their second DVD on May 26 through Spinefarm Records. It will contain 12-14 songs along with various promo videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and some live clips.

Marduk has signed a licensing deal for the US with The End Records for release of their upcoming album "World Funeral". No dAte has been set yet.