Looks like the plans for drummer Frost (Satyricon, 1349) to collaborate with fellow Norwegian black-metallers Gorgoroth have been called off. According to a statement from Khaoz Productionz, Frost is way too busy with his other projects to give the Gorgoroth work the attention it deserves. 1349 and Gorgoroth plan to tour Europe together in October.

New pics of jmyhaze Beatbox up at Rockfoto.nu.

The Swedish pop group Caitlyn are doing some dates in Germany:

07/30 - Schokoladen, Berlin
07/31 - Zentrum Altenberg, Oberhausen
08/01 - Brause, Dusseldorf
08/02 - CVjM, Hattingen w/Chelsy, Goodbyvega, Silk Cut
08/03 - Subway to Peter, Chemnitz
08/04 - Sprungschanze, Dresden w/Chelsy
08/06 - Sudpol, Recklinghausen
08/07 - Temple Bar, Essen

The band's first album "Save Yourself" was just rereleased over there on My Favorite Toy Records.

Vote for Aftonbladet's picks of bands vying for a place on this summer's Kalas tour: je/story/0,2789,469990,00.html" target=_blank>https://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/noje/story/0,2789,469990,00.html

Swedish record label National (Stefan Sundström, The Mo , Alice in Videoland, Cajsalisa Ejemyr and Kristian Anttila) has split from Bonnier Amigo and become wholly independent. I fully expect we'll see more of this trend as indie labels become more and more self-reliant so that they can retain more profits in the ever-increasingly troubled music world. Coming soon from the label is new stuff from Pugh and a new album from Stefan Sundström in fall.

Apparently Arch Enemy has pulled out of the current Machine Head tour in the States. Previously, it was reported that the band was having visa troubles and would join the tour at this past weekend's New England Metal And Hardcore Festival. Although they did arrive at said fest, an apparently throat infection suffered by vocalist Angela Gossow made it impossible to carry on. Look for an official explanation soon. Machine Head's own take on matters can be read here: https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=22001

johan Bergqvist has posted soundclips for every track from his new album up on his website: johanbergqvist.com/" target=_blank>https://www.johanbergqvist.com/

Updated tourdates for Tiger Lou:

05/07 - Vinylbaren at Tivoli, Helsingborg (SWE)
05/13 - Herrgårn, Linköping (SWE)
05/16 - Smålands Nation, Växsjö (SWE) (solo) w/Mary Lou Lord
05/19 - Smålands Nation, Lund (SWE) (solo)
05/21 - Pustervik, Göteborg (SWE)
05/22 - some festival, jönköping (SWE)
05/26 - Beat On The Brat, Uppsala (SWE)
05/28 - Popaganda, Stockholm (SWE)
05/29 - Immergut Festival, Neustrelitz (GER)
05/30 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
05/31 - Cookys, Frankfurt (GER)
06/03 - Projekt 7, Magdeburg (GER) w/Rob & the Pinholestars
06/04 - Roter Salon, Berlin (GER)
06/05 - Orangehouse, München (GER)
06/06 - Blue Shell, Köln (GER)
06/08 - Scheune, Bardinale Festival, Dresden (GER)
06/11 - tba, Göteborg (SWE) (solo)
06/12 - Hågelby, Stockholm (SWE) (solo)
06/19 - 18:15 @ Stora Dans, Hultsfred (SWE)
07/22 - KB, Malmö (SWE)
07/24 - Tullakrok, Ängelhom (SWE)

Some new Soundtrack of Our Lives tourdates:

06/04 - Osnabruck Hasepark Open Air (GER)
07/04 - Aachen Radio Eins (GER)
07/18 - Ilosaarirock Festival, joensuu (FIN)
08/19 - Pukkel Pop Festival (BEL)
08/20 - Biddinghuisen Lowlands Fest (HOL)
09/19 - Austin, Texas City Limits Festival (US)

The Cardigans, jessica Fletchers and Magnet have all been confirmed for the Norwegian Wood Festival on june 19.

Here's this week's top 20 Swedish albums from je/listor/hitlistan/svensk" target=_blank>Aftonbladet:

01. Agnetha Fältskog - My colouring book
02. Gyllene Tider - GT 25 – samtliga hits!
03. jens Lekman - When I said I wanted to be your dog
04. Marit Bergman - Baby Dry Your Eye
05. E-Type - Loud Pipes Save Lives
06. The Hep Stars - Cadillac Madness 40 Years - 40 Hits
07. Fredrik Kempe - Boheme
08. Magnus Lindberg - På bergets topp
09. Nina & Kim - En annan tid
10. In Flames - Soundtrack to Your Escape
11. Teddybears STHLM - Fresh
12. Cans - Beyond the gates
13. Björn Rosenström - Pop på svenska
14. Eskobar - A Thousand Last Chances
15. Sarek - Sarek
16. Europe - Med vidöppna fönster
17. Per Gessle - Mazarin
18. Promoe - The long distance runner
19. Roland Cedermark - Så skimrande var aldrig havet
20. Lisa Miskovsky - Fallingwater

Check out the video for "Wolf's Blood" from Swedish thrashers Wolf: https://www.wolf.nu/mp3/wolf%20-%20wolfs%20blood%20320x240.wmv
The look of the clip is described as "Thin Lizzy at 'Top of the Pops' '77 meets judas Priest at Budokan in '81." As for the sound, I'd say they perfectly combine the best qualities of Mercyful Fate and Iron Maiden.

Updated tourdates for Lorraine:

05/01 - Spikersuppa, Norsk Folkehjelps Humanitære Festival, Oslo (NOR)
05/07 - Markens, Kristiansand (NOR)
05/10 - Nordischer Klang-Festival, Greifswald (GER)
05/11 - Hamburg – Weltbühne (GER)
05/12 - K 19, Kassel (GER)
05/13 - Cafe Nova, Essen (GER)
05/14 - Düsseldorf – Coffy (GER)
05/15 - Hagen – Kultopia (GER)
05/16 - Fürth – Kofferfabrik (GER)
05/18 - Riesa Efau, Dresden (GER)
05/19 - Luna Club, Kiel (GER)
05/20 - Möppken Open Air, Emlichheim (GER)
05/21 - Karreraklub Bastard, Berlin (GER)
05/22 - Ilse´s Erika, Leipzig (GER)
06/12 - NRK TV – Store Studio (NOR)
07/22 - Sinus, Bodø (NOR)
07/23 - Sjonstock, Mo i Rana (NOR)
07/24 - Midnattsrocken, Lakselv (NOR)
08/06 - Raumarock, Åndalsnes (NOR)
08/07 - Malakoff Rockfestival, Norfjordeid (NOR)

Change is good, right? As you can see, there's a couple new things in the right-hand column today. Maybe some more stuff coming later. In the meantime, jellvander/player.html" onclick="window.open(this.href,'christiank_ecard','width=850,height=402,scrollbars=0');return false">check out this e-card thingy I made to help promote those upcoming Christian Kjellvander dates. Feel free to pass it around.

For all you people who are actually curious to learn more about me and my fascination with Scandinavian music, here's a little interview I did with the Cut the Chord webzine: https://www.cutthechord.com/artintmain.html
They also talk to my pal and associate jim Kelly of Parasol/Galaxy Gramophone fame.