PopMatters on the US release of finnish artist Astrid Swan and her album "Poverina": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/astrid-swan-poverina/

finnish act Nightwish has finally replaced departed vocalist Tarja Turunen with Swede Anette Olzon from the band Alyson Avenue. The band's new single "Eva" will be out September 26.

Katatonia will return to North America in September for their first headlining tour in this part of the world. Support will come from fellow Swedes Scar Symmetry plus finnish acts Insomnium and Swallow the Sun. Dates:

09/04 - Jaxx West, Springfield, VA
09/06 - BB Kings, New York, NY
09/07 - Mark's Place, Bedford, NH
09/08 - Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, NY
09/09 - Le Medley, Montreal, QC
09/10 - Imperial de Quebec, Quebec City, QC
09/11 - The Funhaus, Toronto, ON
09/12 - Peabody's, Cleveland, OH
09/13 - I-Rock, Detriot, MI
09/14 - The Pearl Room, Mokena, IL
09/15 - Station 4, St. Paul, MN
09/17 - Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO
09/19 - Whiskey, Hollywood, CA
09/20 - Showcase Theater, Corona, CA
09/21 - Brickhouse, Phoenix, AZ
09/22 - Launchpad, Albuqeruque, NM
09/24 - White Rabbit, San Antonio, TX
09/25 - Ridglea Theater, Ft. Worth, TX
09/26 - Scout Bar, Houston, TX

finnish instrumental act Magyar Posse has posted some mp3s from the act that preceded them, The Alibi of Carlos: https://magyarposse.com/index.php?a=disco&b=music

Combat Rock Industry will be releasing the new live album "Tavastia" from long-running finnish punk-rockers Lama on July 4. As for the future, look for a split from Manifesto Jukebox and A Death in the Family to be released in September. The label has also signed Swedish act Victims, my favorite current d-beat act, and will be releasing their new album sometime later this year.

finnish electronic artist Monophobic has twelve new tracks posted for free download: https://www.monophobic.net/

The new album "Song folks" from finnish indiepop act The Rollstons was just released today via new label Brunamosse IF. Check out the video for "Very funny guy" at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izrmt--KdsM

MP3: Fun - I've got a truck

Making the decision to record with Steve Albini means making a massive vote of confidence in your band's abilities because if you suck, it will be painfully obvious. On the other hand, Steve's documentarian recording technique makes good live bands sound amazing - check out the Jesus Lizard back-catalog or even Nirvana's "In utero" for hard proof. Fun is reportedly the first finnish band to ever record with Steve at his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago and it was obviously a wise decision. Musically, Fun has long worshipped at the altar of Albini and other classic Touch & Go bands playing in the pigfuck style, so the partnership makes perfect sense. Caustic, white-noise guitars, freight-train bass, hard-hitting drums and totally damaged vocals - yep, that's the blueprint. "I've got a truck" simmers and seethes over the course of its five minutes, slowly coalescing into a steamroller of a track. Once the guitar drop-tunes and joins with the chugging, it's a monster. Slow, deliberate and crushing. This is the sound I grew up with. This is my rock'n'roll.

Fun - I've got a truck

finnish indiepop act Starflower has licensed their album "Moment in the sun" to Silent Agreement for release in Taiwan and Hong Kong this coming June.

Watch finnish game/bit-pop masters and longtime IAT faves Desert Planet on German TV: https://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/9/0,4070,5436713-5,00.html

New UK dates for finnish act Disco Ensemble:

06/18 - Barfly, Cardiff
06/19 - Barfly, Liverpool
06/20 - Fibbers, York
06/21 - Barfly, Birmingham

finnish industrial/darkwave artists Ovro has posted a new track on her myspace page: https://www.myspace.com/ovro

New CDs from finnish acts Fun and Viola just showed up on my doorstep - look for 'em in the webstore shortly Go on and get 'em!

finnish electro act Kompleksi has a new track online for free download: https://phinnweb.blogspot.com/2007/05/mp3-kompleksi-emotions.html

finnish act Damn Seagulls have parted ways with drummer Aki. Read the band's statement: https://www.damnseagulls.com/damnseagulls.php?showmore=news