finnish "elekctrofutubooogie monster" act Itäväylä will release their second album on March 18. Listen to some samples:

01. Hyperborea
02. Children of tomorrow
03. Good men goin' down

finnish rockers The Flaming Sideburns have resigned to Bad Afro after taking a five year hiatus and will release a new 12-song compilation entitled "Back to the grave" on May 8. The disc features six unreleased songs recorded around the time of the albums "Hallelujah Rock'n'Rollah" and "Sky Pilots", two vinyl-only b-sides from the "Hallelujah Rock'n'Rollah" sessions, two rare compilation tracks and a "storming tribute" to Kike Turmix on the song "Bamalama" featuring Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks). The comp also features one brand new track called "Black Moon" to help build up anticipation for the upcoming brand-new full-length, due out later this year.

Aversionline goes over three new records from finnish label Firebox Recordings, including new stuff from Swallow the Sun and Fall of the Leafe: https://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2006/02/three-quick-shots-from-firebox.html

Check out a brand new track from finnish hardcore act Endstand: https://www.fireinsidemusic.com/mp3/endstand_emptypromises.mp3
The band has added Tapio (On A Solid Rock) on guitar, replacing Juho who left to concentrate on his other band Presley Bastards. The band's new album "The Time Is Now" comes out soon.

Full North American tour schedule for finnish singer/songwriter Astrid Swan:

03/03 - Drake Underground, CMW, Toronto (CAN)
03/13 - Sin E, New York, NYC
03/16 - The Drink, Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/20 - Hotel Cafe, Hollywood, CA w/José González
03/21 - Jensen RecCenter , Los Angeles, CA w/José González
03/23 - Living Room, New York, NY

finnish folk vocal group Värttinä on tour in Europe and Canada:

03/17 - Lutakko, Jyväskylä (FIN)
03/26 - Kola Note, Montreal (CAN)
03/27 - Mod Club, Toronto (CAN)
04/11 - Savoy Theatre, Helsinki (FIN)
04/19 - JuuriJuhla, Sellosali, Espoo (FIN)
04/21 - Kammgarn, Schaffhausen (SWI)
04/22 - Kulturbraueri, Berlin (GER)
04/23 - Fleda, Brno (CZ)
04/24 - Akropolis, Prague (CZ)
04/25 - Bahnhof Langendreer, Bochum (GER)
04/26 - Ancienne Belgique, Brussels (BEL)
04/28 - Chollerhalle, Baar (SWI)
04/29 - Worldmusic festiva, Kassel (GER)

Kai Hahto has left finnish grind act Rotten Sound so that he can spend more time with his family and concentrate on his other band Wintersun. He has been replaced by Sami Latva of Deathbound. Read the band's full statement: https://www.spinefarm.fi/news.php

finnish alt-country act The Latebirds are coming to the US:

03/10 - The Middle East, Cambridge, MA w/Kieran Ridge Band, Cassavettes
03/13 - Sin-é, New York, NY
03/16 - Nordic Night, The Drink, Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/18 - Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR w/Wilco

More to come.

finnish mallpunks Disco Ensemble are featured at UK music biz site Record of the Day today: https://www.recordoftheday.com/cgi-bin/featuredClips.cgi

finnish music blog Lupatarkastaja has posted a new 5-track mix with excellent selections from Denmark's Neon Machine, Finland's Boys of Scandinavia, Norway's The White Birch and more: https://lupatarkastaja.samizdat.info/2006/02/18/luuvitonen-indie-week-7/

WNYC on the finnish "psych-folk" of Lau Nau, Kuupuu, Islaja, and Pekko Käppi: https://www.wnyc.org/shows/spinning/episodes/02192006

Via Lupatarkastaja, here's a free downloadable album from finnish act Plan E: https://www.plan-e-tarium.com/html/download.html
Follow the first link for a hesitant assessment of the music.

Download the track "Nothing new" from finnish hardcore act Lighthouse Project: https://www.fireinsidemusic.com/mp3/nothingnew.mp3
The track comes from the band's new album "Navigate by heart", due out March 1 on Combat Rock Industry.

finnish music blog Lupatarkastaja on Swedish doom act Circle Six: https://lupatarkastaja.samizdat.info/2006/02/12/circle-six-demo-2005/
I posted on these guys a couple weeks ago and have been listening to the 4-song demo A LOT. If you like your metal slow and heavy (with an emphasis on slooooow), do yourself a favor and check this band out. Seriously ruling.

Something that most bands never considered pre-2000 was name googlability. My old bandmates used to think I was crazy to book tours via email back in '97-98 and look where we are now. Being said, Nine totally blew it when they decided on their moniker. I guess in some ways it works well for the Internet age because it makes finding tracks on p2p a bit more difficult, but I seriously doubt that that's something a small hardcore band from Sweden worries about. Today's Friday oldie comes from Nine's 2000 album "Kissed by the misanthrope". The band's sound is a powerful mix of bluesy Entombed-style death'n'roll and pounding hardcore. I haven't been as stoked on their more recent material, but this stuff kicks ass. Catchy melodies and brutal breakdowns, what more could you ask for? Who knows though, maybe their new alliance with finnish label Combat Rock Industry will give them renewed vigor. Look for the new MCD "Death is glorious" to be released soon.