Norwegian hardcore act Amulet is doing some European dates:

09/23 - Volksbad, Flensburg
09/24 - tba, Tilburg
09/25 - Volta, Amsterdam
09/26 - Goudvishal, Arnhem
09/27 - Mtc, Köln
09/30 - K 19, Kassel
10/01 - Universum, Stuttgart
10/05 - Schlachthof, Wiesbaden
10/06 - Erdbeermund, Karlsruhe
10/07 - Alter Stattbahnhof, Schweinfurt
10/08 - Conne Island, Leipzig
10/09 - Nexus, Braunschweig
10/10 - Molotow, Hamburg
10/11 - Magnet, Berlin
10/13 - Kultiplex, Budapest
10/15 - Ajz Talschock, Chemnitz
10/16 - Ex-Haus, Trier
10/17 - Magazinkeller, Bremen
10/18 - Alte Meierei, Kiel

Online label Racewillbegin has a new release out today from Stockholm-based Dj/Producer collective Under Ten Hurtz. Check it: https://www.racewillbegin.com/

Satanic Surfers are doing a short European tour:

08/18 - Garage, Buxtehude (GER)
08/19 - Kreuz, Fulda (GER)
08/20 - Lez´art sceniques Festival @ Les Tanzmatten, Selestat (FRA)
08/21 - Open Air Gränichen, Gränichen (CH)
08/22 - L'Usine, Geneva (CH)
08/23 - Universum, Stuttgart (GER)
08/24 - K19, Kassel (GER)
08/25 - Anne Frank Haus, Minden (GER)
08/26 - Underground, Köln (GER)
08/27 - jUZ, Mannheim (GER)
08/28 - Ieper Festival, Ieper (BEL)

Renown Swedish singer/songwriter/popstar Håkan Hellström is working on his next album with the legendary Björn Olsson (Union Carbide Productions, Soundtrack of Our Lives). Read more: jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=286&a=171060" target=_blank>https://www.gp.se/gp/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=286&a=171060 (in Swedish)

More additions to the Arvika lineup: Salvatore, Svenska akademien, The Iskariots, Disfear, David Sandström, Square, Deltahead, Assid, Flora & Fauna w/Olof Dreijer aka Dj Coolof (The Knife).
Check out the full schedule: https://www.galaxen.se/laddaner/runningorder_arvikafestivalen.pdf

Official website for the 'Where the action is' festival? https://www.wheretheactionis.se/
P3 Musikjournalen is saying the show is happening on August 21 at Frihamnen in Göteborg and August 25 at Riddarholmen in Stockholm.

Backyard Babies are travelling to the US for a one-off showcase gig at the Troubadour in LA on August 11. Support will come from Doheny, the new band featuring jon "j.S." Clayden from Pitchshifter and ex-Cult bassist Billy Morrison.

Here's this week's top 20 Swedish albums:

01. Gyllene Tider - Finn 5 Fel
02. Vikingarna - Bästa Kramgoa Låtarna
03. Ted Gärdestad - Sol Vind & Vatten - Det Bästa
04. Agnetha Fältskog - My Colouring Book
05. Gyllene Tider - Gt 25 - Samtliga Hits!
06. Günther & the Sunshine Girls - Pleasure Man
07. Teddybears Sthlm - Fresh
08. jimmy jansson - Flickan Från Det Blå
09. Shirley Clamp - Den Långsamma Blomman
10. Di Leva - Tiden Faller
11. Carola - Credo
12. Peter jöback - Det Här Är Platsen
13. The Solution - Communicate!
14. Sandra Dahlberg - Här Stannar jag Kvar
15. Per Gessle - Mazarin
16. Hans Martin - Den Blomstertid Nu Kommer
17. Sahara Hotnights - Kiss & Tell
18. Marit Bergman - Baby Dry Your Eye
19. Infinite Mass - 1991
20. Petter - Ronin

Gaffe.dk reports that the band Girlfriend is the first bunch of Danes to score a hit on the garageband.com pop/rock chart. Check it: https://www.garageband.com/genre/poprock

Pilota.fm has posted an entire live show from Lasse Marhaug of jazzkammer together with Franscisco López from the Trollofon festival in May 2003 for download and streaming. There's quite a few other interesting live shows there for listening as well.

MIC Norway reports that there's a new web portal being launched for Norwegian music under the banner "Music from Norway". Pretty clever, eh? The initiative is a joint venture between Brand Management and Norgate AS and will feature content from the MIC as well as a web-shop. Read more: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004062512434348231631

Marduk will enter Endarker studio in Norrköping, Sweden in mid-july to begin work on their ninth album, tentatively due out in November.

Dan Swanö's new project Second Sky has signed with US label The End Records. The sound is described as "Post-Prog with a strong emphasis on big choruses and great vocal hooks" and is set to take influence from "Marillion ('85-'95 era), Kansas, Asia's first two albums and the 'non-prog years' of bands like Genesis, Pink Floyd, and Yes, among others."

Here's this week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. Promoe - These Walls Don´t Lie
02. Nightwish - Nemo
03. Elastinen - Syljen
04. Venke Knutson - Scared
05. The Raveonettes - Heartbreak Stroll
06. A-Teens - I Promised Myself
07. Christian Walz - Maybe Not
08. C21 - All That I Want
09. Sahara Hotnights - Hot Night Crash
10. Eskobar - Bring The Action
11. Kashmir - Aftermath
12. Petter - Repa skivan
13. Nik & jay - En dag tilbage
14. Division Of Laura Lee - Does Compute
15. Tungtvann - Slepp Dae Laus
16. Dallas Superstars - Crazy
17. Sugarplum Fairy - Stay Young
18. jens Lekman - You´re The Light
19. Malk De Kojin - Fågt Op I Skalle
20. Bergman Rock - jim

Challengers:
01. Weeping Willows - You Weren´t Even Close
02. jonna Tervomaa - Myöhemmin
03. Don Diego - Tankarna
04. Tue West - Sig Du Er Sikker
05. Teddybears STHLM - Hey Boy

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Norwegian hard-rockers We shot a video for the song "Catch Electrique" yesterday with actress Ane Dahl Torp at a racetrack right outside Oslo. I presume that track will be the lead single from the just-completed new album "Smugglers", due out this coming fall.

Norwegian singer/songwriter Thomas Dybdahl together with Nils Erga of Noxagt have produced the soundtrack for the upcoming film "Monstertorsdag". It hits theatres on October 9. Also coming in October from Thomas will be his brand new full-length album. More details when I get them. His 2002 album ""....That Great October Sound" will get a European release on june 26 via Glitterhouse.