Premium Publishing will be putting out "The encyclopedia of Swedish punk 1977-1987" in the very near future and has started taking preorders. Unfortunately it won't let me provide a direct link to the book in question, but if you go to their site you can read a bit about the book and check out the band index list: miumpublishing.com/" target="_blank">https://www.premiumpublishing.com/

mas-Kina Recordings will be putting out a new EP from Norwegian noiserockers Go Ahead Drink Drink on may 26. Hear a sample at myspace: myspace.com/goaheaddrinkdrink" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/goaheaddrinkdrink

Hey look! more myspace friends to check out: m/articles.php?a=381">[click here]

MP3: Unleashed - Before the creation of time

I'm not gonna lie, I was first drawn to Unleashed by the awesomeness that is mon.com/music/images/bands/unleashed.jpg">their logo. Brutal, yet totally legible with a super-prominent upside-down cross. In a word: awesome. I came across the album "Where no life dwells" while browsing the CD racks and was instantly sold. As for the music, I didn't immediately appreciate their plodding, simplistic death-metal style on first listen, but it's grown on me over the years. Unlike other Swedish contemporaries, there's barely any guitar harmonies, the technically is kept at a minimum and the recording is clean and bare-bones (much thanks to esteemed producer Waldemar Sorychta). Instead, the emphasis is on groove and gloom. That's what makes them so damn heavy! That also means you really don't need more than one Unleashed album in your collection, but who cares -- they have an instantly recognizable sound that's all their own, a sound that's undeniably classic. Remember the mantra: keep it simple, stupid! Of those contemporaries from back in the early 90s, very few have aged nearly as well.

Unleashed - Before the creation of time

Pitchfork interviews Sarah Assbring aka El Perro Del mar: media.com/article/feature/49363-interview-el-perro-del-mar" target="_blank">https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/49363-interview-el-perro-del-mar

The Grand Opening
Beyond the brightness
Tapete Records

After having first found The Grand Opening through m/label.php?show=iatmp3002">the netlabel here a couple of years ago, I thought I had an idea of what they sounded like. Suffice to say, I was a bit naïve in that outlook. With "Beyond the brightness", the music has become slightly more minimal, the lyrics dimmer, and the overall package something quite good. At times, it recalls "Northern blues"–era Kristofer Åström, which is not something to look lightly on. That same, bleak yet beautiful feeling is evident here, and best conveyed on tracks such as "On the losing end" and "Lonely hearts night out". "Anxious looks" starts the album off strong and does not let up much at all. As introspective as it is, it's fragility is so accessible, I can see new fans being won over as a result.
- Matt Giordano

MyFriends: The Spurts, Virak, Easy, Seda, That Dude Prince, Evocation

Popjustice has details on Norwegian pop artist Annie's forthcoming album "Don't stop": m/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2503&Itemid=206" target="_blank">https://popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2503&Itemid=206

Vice Books will be publishing photographer Pete Beste's work with the Norwegian black-metal scene in a collection called "True Norwegian Black metal" (naturally) on may 15. Said book includes 200+ pages of photos and interview excerpts plus a sampling of pics from Jon "metalion" Kristiansen, publisher of the pioneering black-metal zine "Slayer". For more info and ordering details, go here: m/bm.html" target="_blank">https://www.peterbeste.com/bm.html

Swedish rockers The Doits will be recording a new album in September/October, once again working with Christoffer Lundquist at Aerosol Grey machine.

Popmatters reviews the US debut of Norwegian jazz/folk act Farmer's market and the album "Surfin' USSR": matters.com/pm/music/reviews/farmers-market-surfin-ussr/" target="_blank">https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/farmers-market-surfin-ussr/

malmö-based indie act Housewifelovers have a new single called "Clarissa" posted as a free download today: myspace.com/housewifelovers" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/housewifelovers
Buy the band's new 10" EP m/store/product.php?productid=575">right here.

Sharin Foo of The Raveonettes is pregnant and thus will be sitting out the remainder of the year's tourdates. The band does promise to continue on without her for the time being, but has not announced any details as to how they plan on doing it just yet.

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
02. Vassendgutane - Xo
03. madrugada - madrugada
04. malin - Pang
05. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: matte marit
06. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
07. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
08. Kaizers Orchestra - maskineri
09. D.D.E. - 15 år live
10. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
11. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
12. motorpsycho - Little Lucid moments
13. Publiners - driv
14. Farmers market - Surfin' Ussr
15. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
16. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
17. Gluecifer - kings of rock
18. madcon - So Dark the Con of man
19. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
20. Surferosa - The Beat On The Street

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero
02. Sanna Nielsen - Stronger
03. Looptroop Rockers - Good things
04. Christer Sjögren - Jubileum 40 år med Christer Sjögren
05. Brolle - Ett hjärta som glöder som en gång brann
06. The Hellacopters - Head off
07. Håkan Hellström - För sent för Edelweiss
08. Nordman - Djävul eller gud
09. BWO - Pandemonium - The singles collection
10. In Flames - A sense of purpose
11. Linda Bengtzing - Vild & galen
12. Pugh Rogefeldt - Vinn hjärta vinn
14. Amy Diamond - music in motion
15. Takida - Bury the lies
16. maia Hirasawa - Though, I'm just me (new edition)
17. Oh Laura - A song inside my head, a demon in my bed
18. Veronica maggio - Och vinnaren är...
19. monica Zetterlund - Sakta vi gå genom stan - Det bästa med monica
20. Tommy Körberg - Rakt upp och ner