Swedish pop label Dead Frog Records has launched a new sub-label called Tadpole for developing bands. So far the label has two acts, Grey and jeremiha. Read more: https://www.deadfrogrecords.com/tadpole/

Danish label Crunchy Frog, home of bands like junior Senior and Powersolo, has signed indie-rock act epo-555 who they describe as "drawing on the same musical qualities as Bob Hund, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, The Flaming Lips, The Velvet Underground, Calexico and other cool cats." Read more about them here: https://www.crunchy.dk/asp/default.asp?News_Id=109

This week's top 10 Nordic video chart from YLE/Morjen:

01. Nightwish - Nemo (FIN)
02. Uniklubi - Rakkautta ja Piikkilankaa (FIN)
03. Finntroll - Trollhammaren (FIN)
04. Nina Rochelle - Stockholm kommer förstöra mig (SWE)
05. Eskobar - Bring the action (SWE)
06. Sofia - You know what to do (FIN)
07. Petter - Fredrik Snortare och Cecilia Synd (SWE)
08. The Rasmus - Funeral song (FIN)
09. Dallas Superstars - Crazy (FIN)
10. Teddybears Sthlm - Hey boy (SWE)

There's no new challengers until September 2 when they'll be back with 13 new artists.

jaga jazzist will be entering a studio in Cologne, Germany in july to record a new album with producer Marcus Schmickler of Pluramon. The finished product probably won't be released until early 2005, but there should be a 'taster' of some sort available before the end of the year.

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

01. The Rasmus - Funeral Song
02. Promoe - These Walls Don´t Lie
03. A-Teens - I Promised Myself
04. HIM - Solitary Man
05. Kashmir - Aftermath
06. Petter - Repa skivan
07. Paleface - Colgate Soulmate
08. Christian Walz - Maybe Not
09. Blue Foundation - End Of The Day
10. Bergman Rock - jim
11. C21 - All That I Want
12. Tungtvann - Slepp Dae Laus
13. Whyte Seeds - Black Key Song
14. The Mo - The Right World
15. Infinite Mass - No.1 Swartskalle
16. Winta - I Want You
17. Grand Avenue - This Is Not An End
18. Venke Knutson - Scared
19. Alcazar - This Is The World We´re Living
20. Nik + jay - Pop Pop

Challengers:
01. Eskobar - Bring The Action
02. Elin Sigvardsson - A Person Called She
03. The Ackermans - Song In Your Street
04. Virgo - The Wall
05. Elastinen - Syljen

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

Expressen reports that Håkan Hellström is entering the studio to record a new album this summer: jsp?a=141964" target=_blank>https://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=141964 (in Swedish)

Klas Åhlund from Teddybears Sthlm talks to Aftonbladet about his divorce from Paola: je/story/0,2789,486692,00.html" target=_blank>https://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,486692,00.html (in Swedish)

Corporation 187 has announced that they will be entering Studio Underground at the end of july to begin recording their new album. After that, they'll head to Studio Helltower in August to finish things off. Look for a release at the end of the year from Earache Records imprint Wicked World.

Lock-Up, the all-star death-metal/grind band featuring Tomas Lindberg from At the Gates/Disfear/etc., Shane Embury and jesse Pintado of Napalm Death and ex-Cradle of Filth drummer Nick Barker, have confirmed that they have finished mixing their new live album. The footage comes from the band's 2002 tour in japan and is expected to be released late this year on Toys Factory Records in japan and on Shane's own label, Feto Records, in Europe.

Eye Will Drown Records has just released a new EP from 'avantgarde noiserock' band The Eitsoul Ashes called "Erogenic Evasion". Listen to the track "Colonel Colonel": https://81.230.68.16/web1/musik_eitsoul.mp3

Finnish label If Society has announced that they'll be releasing the new Hero Dishonest LP "Let Your Poison Scream" at the end of june. 20 minutes of no bullshit, no posing hardcore including a cover of "Pääni" by classic Finnish punks KTMK. Also in the works from the label is the new album "Szklarska Poreba" from Fun. The sound is described as "classic 80's american indie á la Flipper, Big Black, Minutemen, Fugazi, Butthole Surfers, Saccharine Trust" and it should be ready by the end of july. Download older track "The Rocket Song": https://www.knobox.no-ip.info/~riku/fun/media/the_rocket_song.mp3
And that's not all - the label also has plans for a 7" from The Protestants, a split 7" with Hero Dishonest and Mukeka Di Rato from Brazil and the follow-up to "8 Hours" from Echo is Your Love.

The new Gluecifer single for "Here come the pigs" has been confirmed for a july 5 release.

Alpha Safari (aka Washoe), the side project of Entombed guitarist Uffe Cederlund with three ex-members of Misery Loves Co.. have confirmed that they will release an album in August on Threeman Recordings. The first single "Disappear" should already be available.

In Flames has reportedly scored the opening slot on the Metallica show at Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany on june 16.

All About jazz reports on Finland's strong DIY spirit and their embrace of so-called forgotten formats: jazz.com/php/article.php?id=2049" target=_blank>https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=2049
Labels covered include Lal Lal Lal, Rikos Records, POK and If Society.