Hyped Norwegian pop artist Annie will be doing a special DJ recording billed as an alternative to a live act. She'll be working with finnish producer Timo Kaukolampi (And the Lefthanded, Op:l Bastards) to create a mix called "The Annie Mix - Decks, Beatbox and Vox" that will feature her own music interspersed with other artists along with sampler work, effects and her vocals. Their label says it will be "a severly tight and very dancy crossover set between 60 and 120mins of electro, rock and disco and will be available throughout the summer." More info soon?

finnish melodic doom metallers Swallow the Sun have revealed that their as-yet-untitled new album will be released in Europe on August 24 via Firebox Records.

finnish indierockers Universal Audio Attack Orchestra recently uploaded some new mp3s to their website: https://www.uaao.biz/

The Edensonic netlabel has a new release from finnish deep-techno artist Henri Puolitaival: https://www.edensonic.com/

I don't feel like copying and pasting the whole thing, so go here for details on the forthcoming "Love Metal Archives Vol. 1" DVD collection from finnish goth-rockers HIM: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=34627

Metal-Rules.com ran a special feature on finnish speed and thrash metal last year and has just recently updated with part two: https://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=120&Itemid=54
Part one is here: finnish-SpeedThrash-Special-Pt1a-Jan2004.htm" target=_blank>https://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/finnish-SpeedThrash-Special-Pt1a-Jan2004.htm

The excellent finnish music blog Lupatarkastaja has posted a link for the Mattias Friberg (Logh) and Switchblade collaboration from the latter's special-edition tour 7"/CDR for download: https://lupatarkastaja.blogspot.com/2005/03/switchblade-w-mattias-friberg-705-mp3.html
Of course the result is great - how could it not be with such amazing talents working together? I thought about posting this track awhile back, but decided against it as I figured the bands wouldn't be too pleased. Glad to see Deathwish is spreading the word as they will soon be releasing it in the US.

20 Questions: Kevin

finnish pop metal act Lullacry will enter the studio in May to record their next album, tentatively due next September via Spinefarm Records.

finnish doom metalers Swallow the Sun report that they have completed work on their new album. The first single "Forgive Her..." comes out April 13 and a video for the track "Descending winters" is due out soon as well.

The world premiere for the stage adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings" has been set for Toronto in Spring 2006 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien beginning to write the trilogy and follows the 50th anniversary of the publication of said trilogy. As mentioned before, this is revelant to IAT because finnish folk group Värttinä cowrote the music for the production with A.R. Rahman and Christopher Nightingale. Press Night is set for March 23, 2006 at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre, with preview performances from February 2 througn March 22, 2006. Public tickets go on sale on May 16, 2005 via lotr.com. The London premiere is now set for Autumn 2006.

Check out an e-card for finnish goth-rockers The 69-Eyes: https://www.emi.se/artists/69eyes/index.htm

The always amazing 8-bit rockers Desert Planet are set to release their brand-new album "Mario built my hot rod" on May 2 via 9pm Records. The duo will heading out on the road in support of the release and more info can be found here: https://personal.inet.fi/taide/junttila/desert/engani/mario.htm
Desert Planet are one of the many fine acts included on the "It's a trap reader's companion" compilation, so of course anything they do is highly recommended. I also hear that the album includes a guest appearance from members of the finnish humppa group Eläkeläiset, so you know it's gotta be something special.

To celebrate their five-year anniversary this coming May, finnish hardcore label Combat Rock Industry will release a special compilation entitled "The Combat Rock Sound" featuring some of their band's favorite tracks from their past releases as well as rare selections from I Walk the Line, Manifesto Jukebox and Nine. The tracklisting will also include some stuff from recent signees Down My Throat and Lighthouse Project. For samples from both of those bands, head to the CRI website: https://www.fireinsidemusic.com/

Lupatarkastaja passes along word that legendary finnish act Paska is set to make a comeback: https://lupatarkastaja.blogspot.com/2005/03/paska-banana-butt-plug-mp3.html