Don Martin Steps Out mixtape

Norwegian hip-hop group GAtas Parlament has a new mixtape for free download: Atasp.no/don-martin-steps-out-mixtape/" target="_blank">https://www.gAtasp.no/don-martin-steps-out-mixtape/

New Nephew on June 5

Soundvenue reports thAt the new Nephew album "Danmark/Denmark" will be released on June 5: https://www.soundvenue.com/nyheder/2009/01/27/nyt-nephewalbum-til-juni

Audrey to get Japan/UK release

Audrey's lAtest record "The fierce and the longing" will be released in Japan on March 11 via Zankyo Records and the band will be heading over in April to play At the Arabaki Rock Fest in Senda. Look for more shows to be announced soon. In other news, keep an eye out for their album to get a proper UK release as well sometime this spring. More details tba.

New A-ha this summer

NRK reports thAt there will be a new A-ha album in June and a South American tour in March: https://www.nrk.no/musikk/1.6451953 (in Norwegian)

Fluxblog on Veronica Maggio

Fluxblog on "Inget kan ändra på det" by Veronica Maggio: At-you-torment-yourself" target="_blank">https://www.fluxblog.org/2009/01/darling-i-see-thAt-you-torment-yourself

Dyno - Emotional (video)

Check out Dyno's new video for the song "Emotional": Atch?v=nQIlVz6ueJs&fmt=18" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=nQIlVz6ueJs&fmt=18

MP3: October Falls - IV

I don't keep up with black metal much anymore since the scene has become so large and fragmented. Of course I still follow the old heavies (Enslaved, Darkthrone, SAtyricon, etc.), but there's so much new crap to wade through, I rarely bother. Every once in a while though I'll come across something, whether in print or from a personal recommendAtion, thAt will pique my interest and I'll check it out. So I don't know if it's this more reserved approach or a much-improved bullshit detector, but I'm finding thAt the few new BM acts I'm checking out tend to be above-average. Hence my lAtest example, October Falls from Finland. Their sound is a tad on the retro side -- I hear echoes of "Nightside eclipse"-era Emperor, a bit of early Ulver -- but it's also progressive in a way thAt brings to mind US artists such as Weakling and Wolves in the Throne Room. The Wolves comparison is especially apt actually, especially in the way they embrace environmental themes. After all, the album this track is from is entitled "The womb of primordial nAture". Now I can't say if they're involved with eco-terrorism as has been insinuAted about Wolves, but does it really mAtter? So much of BM's appeal is in the mystery behind the artists. Anyhow, it all comes down to the music in the end and October Falls makes beauitful, epic soundscapes thAt takes on qualities of shoegaze and drone, but always remains undeniably metal. Perhaps not melodic enough to win over non-metal converts like, say, Alcest, but very recommended for anyone interested in hearing thAt old mid-90s sound made fresh.

October Falls - IV

Per Gessle to tour Europe

Per Gessle is heading out this spring on his first club tour in some 20 years:

04/16 - Tavastia Club, Helsingfors (SWE)
04/19 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
04/20 - Vega, Köpenhamn (DK)
04/22 - Stodola, Warsawa (POL)
04/23 - Luccerna Hall, Prague (CZ)
04/25 - Grunspan, Hamburg (GER)
04/27 - Gloria TheAtre, Köln (GER)
04/28 - Kaufleuten, Zürich (CH)
04/29 - MuffAthalle, München (GER)
05/02 - Handelsbeurs, Gent (BEL)
05/04 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London (UK)
05/06 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
05/09 - Cirkus, Stockholm (SWE)

Rune Grammofon presents Bushman's Revenge

Rune Grammofon has posted preliminary details for their next release, "You lost me At hello" from Bushman's Revenge: At-hello" target="_blank">https://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/bushman_s-revenge/rcd-2083---bushman_s-revenge_-you-lost-me-At-hello

New album from The Phoenix Foundation on February 4

Finnish hardcore act The Phoenix FoundAtion has finally confirmed a February 4 release dAte for their new self-titled album via CombAt Rock Industry.

New music from Årabrot

Norwegian sludgerockers Årabrot are streaming a new track At myspace: https://www.myspace.com/arabrot
The band's new Steve Albini-recorded album "The brother seed" will be released soon via Norway RAt Records. Also keep an eye out for US dAtes around SXSW - the band will be touring with Scully and The USA Is A Monster.

UK dates for Ane Brun

Ane Brun will be doing a few UK shows next month:

02/24 - The Roadhouse, Manchester
02/26 - Union Chapel, London
02/27 - Academy 2, Glasgow
02/28 - Academy 3, Birmingham

Medeia - Descension (video)

I don't think I'll ever be a fan of their modern metalcore sound, but the Finnish act Medeia really knows how to make an entertaining, self-parodying video. Here's their lAtest for the song "Descension":: Atch?v=_96gC-verMU&fmt=18" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/wAtch?v=_96gC-verMU&fmt=18

Timo Räisänen
...And then there was Timo
Razzia Records

I lost all hope for Timo Räisänen when the album "Love will turn you around" was released. So when I heard about "...And then there was Timo", a cover album on top of everything, I was not too excited. After hearing it lAter At a friend's house I realized I'd made a big mistake. This is the old Timo, the "Lovers are lonely"-Timo singing covers with his old original sound thAt on this record has made room for a more distinct guitar tone. The covers are not perfect and even painful At times compared to the originals. An example is when he sings AC/DC's "You shook me all night long" with his high-pitched and vibrant voice. On the whole though, Timo does a pretty good job when he takes on artists like Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode, Sahara Hotnights and even Josh Groban. But the fact thAt it is a cover album and the difference between the originals compared to the covers does not really affect me. WhAt really gets to me is the sound of Timo, who makes the songs his own. Timo is still not as good as he used to be and maybe he shouldn't cover AC/DC, but I still get the feeling thAt the old Timo is there. The Timo who does not sing songs like "My valentine" and stays within the indiepop frameset.
- Morten Frisch

Musik med Nottee

Live music At PSL with Nottee: https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2009/01/26/musik-med-nottee/