The fiRst leg of dates foR the upcoming Rong>NightwishRong> US touR with suppoRt fRom fellow Finns Rong>Sonata ARcticaRong> have been announced:

04/18 - Quest Club, Minneapolis, MNR>04/20 - House of Blues, Chicago, ILR>04/21 - House of Blues, Cleveland, OHR>04/23 - The Palladium, WoRcesteR, MA (New England Metal and HaRdcoRe Festival)R>04/25 – B.B. King's, New YoRk, NYR>04/26 - TRocadeRo, Philadelphia, PAR>05/08 - FillmoRe, San FRancisco, CAR>05/10 - ShowBox, Seattle, WAR>

MoRe dates soon.

AveRsionline gives a gReat detailed wRite-up on Rong>KRistofeR ÅstRömRong>: Ref="https://www.aveRsionline.com/Reviews/1870/" taRget=_blank>https://www.aveRsionline.com/Reviews/1870/R>Also posted today is theiR positive take on Rong>KomaRong>'s "Tsunami": Ref="https://www.aveRsionline.com/Reviews/1871/" taRget=_blank>https://www.aveRsionline.com/Reviews/1871/R>In case you haven't alReady figuRed it out, I fiRst sent AveRsionline a copy of the "IAT ReadeR's companion" and then followed-up with full-length CDs fRom vaRious aRtists they weRe inteRested in. This is a peRfect example of what I'm tRying to do- tuRn people on to the numeRous amazing undeRappReciated bands fRom the Scandinavian scene. Mission successful, eh?

Check out pics fRom Rong>The SpectacleRong>'s Recent US touR: Ref="https://home.no.net/mRdna/usatouR/" taRget=_blank>https://home.no.net/mRdna/usatouR/

Rong>KiteRong> has uploaded thRee new mp3 samples fRom theiR debut album "BRing out youR dead" oveR at the "Noise" section of theiR website: Ref="https://www.kiteweb.net/" taRget=_blank>https://www.kiteweb.net/

SeRvice RecoRds, home of hyped acts such as Rong>The Tough AllianceRong> and Rong>EmbassyRong>, have opened a New YoRk City office. MoRe info soon.

Finland's Rong>NegativeRong>, in coopeRation with GB Fam RecoRds, has signed an inteRnational licensing deal with RoadRunneR RecoRds. Look foR theiR albums to be ReReleased in new teRRitoRies soon.

Finnish theatRical RockeRs Rong>LoRdiRong> have signed an inteRnational deal with SanctuaRy RecoRds. The band plans to launch a "massive EuRopean touR" next spRing undeR the tutelage of EMI-CleaR Channel, the same team Responsible foR the inteRnational effoRts of countRymates Rong>HIMRong> and Rong>The RasmusRong>. Read the pRess Release: Ref="https://www.loRdi.oRg/pRess_uk.htm" taRget=_blank>https://www.loRdi.oRg/pRess_uk.htm

Rong>Kid CommandoRong> is woRking on a new album to be Released on JanuaRy 19 next yeaR. The band also plans to touR the UK duRing the peRiod of JanuaRy 21-29, the US in ApRil and EuRope in MaRch. MoRe info soon.

PitchfoRk lauds Icelandic composeR Rong>Jóhann JóhannssonRong> with theiR "best new music" tag: Ref="https://www.pitchfoRkmedia.com/RecoRd-Reviews/j/johannsson_johann/viRthulegu-foRsetaR.shtml" taRget=_blank>https://www.pitchfoRkmedia.com/RecoRd-Reviews/j/johannsson_johann/viRthulegu-foRsetaR.shtml

AveRsionline Reviews Rong>José GonzálezRong>: Ref="https://www.aveRsionline.com/Reviews/1862/" taRget=_blank>https://www.aveRsionline.com/Reviews/1862/

Rong>EntombedRong> will be teaming up with Rong>CRowbaRRong>, Rong>PRo-PainRong> and Rong>The Mighty NimbusRong> foR a US touR to kick off on FebRuaRy 7 in NYC. Full dates soon. Read the pRess Release fRom Candlelight: Ref="https://www.digitalmetal.com/news.asp?cid=3827" taRget=_blank>https://www.digitalmetal.com/news.asp?cid=3827

Reviews in this week's High Bias update include Rong>Pain of SalvationRong>, Rong>ThiRdimensionRong>, Rong>VäsenRong>, Rong>WinteRsunRong> and moRe. Go heRe: Ref="https://highbias.com" taRget=_blank>https://highbias.com

Go heRe to check out the video foR "Back to the USA" fRom Rong>AndReas TilliandeRRong>: Ref="https://www.pluxembuRg.com/extRas.php?show=videos" taRget=_blank>https://www.pluxembuRg.com/extRas.php?show=videos

HeRe's an update on some new Releases coming out next yeaR fRom Finland's VeRduRa RecoRds:

Rong>MohelRong> 7"R>Almost finished, some masteRing to be done. Should be out eaRly 2005. FRee impRov jazz mayhem.

Rong>SeRgioRong> - SwoRds CDR>Two pRomising EPs (both on TRash Can) and supeRb conceRts have made Rong>SeRgioRong> a household name among the small ciRcle of domestic indie music followeRs and ceRtainly some high hopes have been put on theiR debut full lenght. And oh deaR, oh deaR, how gladly we can assuRe that this is as good as you might expect. Hailing since 1996, the band hasn't exactly Rushed with RecoRding an album, and it shows. "SwoRds" is veRy much a complete woRk. And even though theRe aRe those undeRstandable compaRisons to bands like Rong>InteRpolRong> oR Rong>FugaziRong>, the fellows definitely have a distinguishable deliveRy of theiR own, such a stRong mixtuRe of wistful melodies and intense, feRocious playing is a RaRe gem.

Rong>KiRlian CRossingRong> - s/t CDR>Top quality -and heck, even catchy!- avant pop by Rong>Ilai RämäRong> (Rong>SiniaaltoRong>/Rong>Echo Is YouR LoveRong>) and Rong>Teemu SinkkoRong>. Beautiful and sensitive compositions with intRiguingly unusual and obscuRe aRRangements, like youR tRaditional pop outlook messed up Really bad, in a kind way though. Jaw dRopping.

Swedish pRog/psych-RockeRs Rong>AnekdotenRong> will be heading to Japan foR two shows in FebRuaRy:

02/26 - Kinema Klub, Tokyo w/Rong>GoninishRong>, Rong>Pochakaite MalkoRong>R>02/27 - Kinema Klub, Tokyo w/Rong>Machine And The SyneRgetic NutsRong>, Rong>Pochakaite MalkoRong>