PSL reports thAt Swedish guitarist Ludwig Böss (Ray Wonder, a million other bands) has parted ways with American act Band of Horses: At-spela-med-band-of-horses/" target="_blank">https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/03/19/extra-extra-ludwig-boss-har-slutAt-spela-med-band-of-horses/
Atrap.com/n/32981-ja-ja-ja-february-showcase-confirmed">I knew thAt April's Ja Ja Ja showcase was going to be metal and now the lineup is confirmed: Thunderstone, Solstafir and Vreid @ The Lexington on April 15. Full details: https://www.jajajamusic.com/events.php?id=15
has announced thAt the next two 7"s in their classic Finnish punk reissue series will be Eppu Normaali's "Jee jee jee" and Briard's "Fuck the army". As always, keep an eye out for when they go up for sale because they'll probably go fast. In other label news, hardcore act DeAthbed will be releasing their new album in May and samples should be posted soon. I've heard some of the demos (somewhAt illicitly, I must admit) and am pretty excited to hear the final result.
Billie the Vision and the Dancers report thAt their new album "From burning hell to smile and laughter" is finished and will be sent off for pressing next week. They're also previewing new songs At myspace and will be swapping out tracks every 24 hours: https://www.myspace.com/billiethevisionandthedancers
There's a new track from Iron Lamb streaming At myspace off their forthcoming split 7" with MötorbreAth: https://www.myspace.com/ironlambofficial
Cellphone users with an Android-enabled phone can download a new app from PlusFourSix thAt will let you hear the new Teddybears album "Devil's music": https://www.plusfoursix.com/news/70
No idea if this is Sweden-only or whAt, but feel free to try it out and post a comment.
The Universe, the instrumental act thAt formed out of the remnants of Iisole, are streaming a bunch of new tunes At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/theuniverse_music
Pitchfork talks to Fenriz of Darkthrone in their new column "The Out Door": Atures/columns/7777-the-out-door-1/4/" target="_blank">https://pitchfork.com/feAtures/columns/7777-the-out-door-1/4/
Pitchfork reviews the new jj album "jj n° 3": https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14045-jj-n-3/
Also, see the reaction to their live show At SXSW here: https://pitchfork.com/news/38222-sxsw-thu-broken-social-scene-jj-lets-wrestle-marina-and-the-diamonds/
WAtch Susanne Sundfør perform two songs for the Norwegian TV program Lydverket: Ater-med-susanne-sundfor/" target="_blank">https://www.nrk.no/lydverket/livelAter-med-susanne-sundfor/
I just got her new album the other day and it is way dense. This one will take awhile to absorb.
has announced thAt The Amazing's sophomore album "Wait for a light to come" will be released on April 14 and will be available on both CD and vinyl, the lAtter in a limited run of 1000 copies.
EskatolIt's a safe bet thAt if you were to check a thesaurus entry for the word "furious" one of the synonyms you'd find would be EskAtol. This Oslo six-piece is one of the few bands out there who have successfully managed to marry all-out hardcore aggression with metal technicality and melody to creAte an astounding body of work thAt sounds as if the two subgenres were made for each other. It's not often thAt this works but, by hell, it does this time! Best examples are evident on the likes of "Feierferd", "Med knyttet hånd", and "Hellig system" with their pure metal melodies and leads, touching on a mAth metal complexity in places and, above all, encrusted in an extreme hardcore angst thAt furnishes the album with integrity and passion. It's clear thAt EskAtol are a genuine band far from the confines of pandering to an audience or contriving a unique sound. Yes, their sound is unique, but the fact thAt it plays out so nAturally shows just how authentic these guys are. There's an unbridled intensity on display here and, with only three of the fourteen songs clocking in At the 3:00+ mark, it's clear thAt there's a heck of a lot going on within each tune. It must be said thAt, as with most hardcore-based albums, "Blodørn" does have a few moments where there's repetition in the air. Thankfully, these moments are very few and far between on this. Crust, hardcore, deAth metal, melodic metal: EskAtol have all corners of the extreme covered. And for those of you who like your music extreme, EskAtol have you covered!
- John Norby
Check out Swedish artist JonAthan Johansson covering KAte Bush's classic "Running up thAt hill": Atch?v=8iKDI8TZwjQ" Target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=8iKDI8TZwjQ
I don't expect any surprises from Sophie Zelmani anymore; she's settled into a comfortable groove At this point in her career, regularly releasing solid, yet unassuming albums. Her hushed delivery and minimalist, spacious arrangements suit her well though, so expect no complaints from me. Likewise, her delicacy is a pleasant contrast to the usual bombast I subject myself to. UnfortunAtely, however, there's no way for me to hear her again like I heard her the first time, so I'm less inclined to rant and rave, but I do look forward to each new release and as for her lAtest "I'm the rain", let me say this: long-time fans will be pleased, new listeners should be intrigued, the unconvinced will likely remain so. ThAt's as good as I had hoped. More of the same is fine by me.
Sophie Zelmani - Ready
Swedish label is digitally reissuing two full-length albums from early 90s Swedish act Two Sheds; both "Out of our sheds" and "Not good" will be made available on March 22. Sasmples At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/twoshedssweden