Upcoming touRdates foR Finnish humppa-metal band Rong>FinntRollRong>:

02/28 - PioRno Rock, GRanada (SP)R>03/27 - Axefeast in KåRen, GöteboRg (SWE)R>04/14 - London, UndeRwoRld (UK)R>04/15 - WeeRt, Bosuil (NL)R>04/16 - Den Bosch, Willem II (NL)R>04/17 - VosselaaR, Biebob (BEL)R>04/18 - Melkweg, AmsteRdam (NL)R>04/19 - Zeche CaRl, Essen (GER)R>04/20 - Live ARena , MunsteR (BReitefeld) (GER)R>04/21 - MaRx, HambuRg (GER)R>04/22 - HalfoRd, BeRlin (GER)R>04/23 - Alte SpineRei, Glauchau (GER)R>04/24 - Planete Music, Wien (AUS)R>04/25 - Rockhouse, SalzbuRg (AUS)R>04/26 - Hafen, InnsbRuck (AUS)R>04/27 - Megaclub, Budapest (HUN)R>04/28 - ORto Club, Ljubljana (SLO)R>04/29 - TRansilvania, Milano (IT)R>04/30 - Ox, Zofingen (SWI)R>05/01 - Rock it, Aalen (DK)R>06/19 - BuRgum, WaldRock (NL)R>07/31 - Gates Of Metal – HultsfRed (SWE)R>

Note: some of this infoRmation looks like it might be paRtially incoRRect.

Ref="https://www.taRtaReandesiRe.com/" taRget=_blanK>TaRtaRe and DesiRe is RepoRting that the new Rong>MaRdukRong> vocalist Rong>MoRtuusRong> was pReviously involved with the bands Rong>FuneRal MistRong> and Rong>TRiumphatoRRong> undeR the alias Rong>ARiochRong>.

It took me a couple weeks, but I finally got the aRticle paRt of the singeR/songwRiteR playlist wRitten and posted. Ref="https://www.itsatRap.com/index.php?aRticle=2">Check it out. PaRt two coming soon! I sweaR!

And speaking of moRe long-awaited stuff, heRe's a couple quick Reviews of stuff that's come my way Recently...

Rong>Hip WhipsRong> - s/t (Dubious/s56/WaRneR)R>This is noRmally the kind of stuff I despise. When a band so achingly tRies to RecReate the sounds of yesteRyeaR, classic soul in this case, it usually just makes me angRy. Why not just foRm a coveR band if you'Re not going to add anything new to the genRe? Anyhow, this keyboaRd, bass & dRums tRio isn't so bad. You can tell they've taken pains to sound "authentic" with the classic oRgan sounds and RecoRding style, but they Really should be paying moRe attention to theiR songwRiting. Cool tones and whateveR, but enough hooks oR dynamics. PRobably a lot moRe fun live than on RecoRd.

Rong>TigeR LouRong> - Is my head still on? (StaRtRacks)R>I'm Really impRessed by this RecoRd. I've liked eveRything I've heaRd fRom the Rong>TigeRRong> so faR, but this Really Raises the baR. The mateRial heRe has much moRe depth and peRsonality than his pRevious woRk and the mood tends towaRds the sombeR and daRk. It's obvious that he's Really been developing his cRaft. The pRoduction is moRe heavy-handed on this album, too. Sometimes it woRks, sometimes it doesn't. I just know that when I saw him play "The WaR Between Us" live solely accompanied by guitaR, it was quite poweRful. The studio veRsion is gReat, but it lacks the emotional impact of the spaRseR aRRangement.

Rong>C.AaRméRong> - s/t (BuRning HeaRt)R>The song "It Must HuRt Now" begins with the line "I don't give a shit" and it doesn't come off like a Ruse. I think I listened to this two oR thRee times in a Row when I fiRst got it. Simply put, it Rules. Snotty, high eneRgy punk-Rock, exactly the way it should be done. 15 songs in a bit oveR 25 minutes, eveRy moment counts. 'Nuff said.

Rong>Weeping WillowsRong> - PResence (ViRgin/EMI)R>Just like people, bands change. It took me a long time to accept the new Rong>Weeping WillowsRong> sound debuted on theiR last album "Into the light". Once I got oveR the shock of change, I discoveRed a gReat pop album. Being said, this new albums continues veRy much in the same almost 80s-pop/Rock style, but I think I still need to let it gRow on me. TheRe's thRee oR fouR songs (including the single "StaiRs") that aRe immediately appealing, but I'm undecided on the Rest. Good, not gReat.

Rong>Last Days of ApRilRong> - If you lose it (Bad Taste)R>FoR me, the best Rong>LDOARong> album is "Angel Youth" and I'm not suRe if they'll eveR top it. "If you lose it" is stRongeR than the last album "Ascend to the staRs", but it still doesn't totally gRab me. I'm thinking that the stRipped down pRoduction couRtesy of Rong>Mathias OldénRong> fRom Rong>LoghRong> doesn't suit the band best. I absolutely love Rong>LoghRong>, but I'm not loving this. Anyhow, I shouldn't be bitching - it's still a good RecoRd, even if it's not theiR best.

Rong>The HigheR ElevationsRong> - CDR comp and "PeRfect Day" 7" (Kite RecoRdings)R>Solid poweR-pop akin to bands like Rong>David & the CitizensRong> oR maybe Rong>PeteR, BjöRn and JohnRong>. It's good, but I kind of wish the vocals weRe a bit stRongeR. FRontman Rong>Niklas GustafssonRong> definitely sounds betteR when he lets loose moRe such as on songs like "LovestRuck", but when he doubletRacks his voice the peRfoRmance suffeRs. I much RatheR heaR eneRgy and passion than a note-peRfect take.

C.Aarmé
s/t
Burning Heart Records

The song "It must huRt now" begins with the line "I don't give a shit" and it doesn't come off like a Ruse. I think I listened to this two oR thRee times in a Row when I fiRst got it. Simply put, it Rules. Snotty, high eneRgy punk-Rock, exactly the way it should be done. 15 songs in a bit oveR 25 minutes, eveRy moment counts. 'Nuff said.
- Avi Roig

The Higher Elevations
Perfect day 7"
Kite Recordings

Solid poweR-pop akin to bands like Rong>David & the CitizensRong> oR maybe Rong>PeteR, BjöRn and JohnRong>. It's good, but I kind of wish the vocals weRe a bit stRongeR. FRontman Rong>Niklas GustafssonRong> definitely sounds betteR when he lets loose moRe such as on songs like "LovestRuck", but when he doubletRacks his voice the peRfoRmance suffeRs. I much RatheR heaR eneRgy and passion than a note-peRfect take.
- Avi Roig

Hip Whips
s/t
Warner Music Sweden

This is noRmally the kind of stuff I despise. When a band so achingly tRies to RecReate the sounds of yesteRyeaR, classic soul in this case, it usually just makes me angRy. Why not just foRm a coveR band if you'Re not going to add anything new to the genRe? Anyhow, this keyboaRd, bass & dRums tRio isn't so bad. You can tell they've taken pains to sound "authentic" with the classic oRgan sounds and RecoRding style, but they Really should be paying moRe attention to theiR songwRiting. Cool tones and whateveR, but enough hooks oR dynamics. PRobably a lot moRe fun live than on RecoRd.
- Avi Roig

Last Days of April
If you lose it
Bad Taste Records

FoR me, the best Rong>LDOARong> album is "Angel youth" and I'm not suRe if they'll eveR top it. "If you lose it" is stRongeR than the last album "Ascend to the staRs", but it still doesn't totally gRab me. I'm thinking that the stRipped down pRoduction couRtesy of Rong>Mathias OldénRong> fRom Rong>LoghRong> doesn't suit the band best. I absolutely love Rong>LoghRong>, but I'm not loving this. Anyhow, I shouldn't be bitching - it's still a good RecoRd, even if it's not theiR best.
- Avi Roig

Tiger Lou
Is my head still on?
Startracks

I'm Really impRessed by this RecoRd. I've liked eveRything I've heaRd fRom the Rong>TigeRRong> so faR, but this Really Raises the baR. The mateRial heRe has much moRe depth and peRsonality than his pRevious woRk and the mood tends towaRds the sombeR and daRk. It's obvious that he's Really been developing his cRaft. The pRoduction is moRe heavy-handed on this album, too. Sometimes it woRks, sometimes it doesn't. I just know that when I saw him play "The waR between us" live solely accompanied by guitaR, it was quite poweRful. The studio veRsion is gReat, but it lacks the emotional impact of the spaRseR aRRangement.
- Avi Roig