Stereo Test Kit has a new 10-track label sampler posted for free download: m/" target="_blank">https://www.stereotestkit.com/
Artists featured include Band in Box, We Are Soldiers We Have Guns, Dear Euphoria, Audrey, Logh and more. And speaking of both Band in Box and We Are Soldiers We Have Guns, STK will be releasing new albums from both of them later this year. First up is Band in Box's debut "This fiction" in may with "Get up, get out" from We Are Soldiers We Have Guns following in June. Keep checking the STK website for new preview tracks from them in weeks to come.

Live video of The Tough Alliance from SXSW: m/watch?v=5m5w4_DKLm0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m5w4_DKLm0

Finally, here's the full tracklist and artwork for that new Förmögenhet tribute album: m/" target="_blank">https://www.diskretforlag.com/
Apparently they got so many quality submissions, there's gonna be a volume 2 later this year.

There's a new live performance from Adam Tensta at PSL: musik-med-adam-tensta/" target="_blank">https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/3/14/musik-med-adam-tensta/

Listen to tracks from Danish act Virak off their forthcoming debut album "Threads": myspace.com/virakdk" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/virakdk
Said album will be released on April 7 via the band's own label mirror mirror music.

Check out a Digfi interview and live performance session with Rabid Records signees First Aid Kit: m/default.aspx?id=11646" target="_blank">https://www.digfi.com/default.aspx?id=11646

SellOut! music has posted a couple new tracks from Hiawata! on myspace: myspace.com/selloutmusic" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/selloutmusic

According to a story on the AP wires, the Swedish government is going to start cracking down on file sharers by forcing ISPs to hand over records: m/article/ALeqm5juqBsPm7AXzVADrglo-YUbOGKvcQD8VD8BO80" target="_blank">https://ap.google.com/article/ALeqm5juqBsPm7AXzVADrglo-YUbOGKvcQD8VD8BO80

manes is dying? Read: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=14551432&blogID=366794799" target="_blank">https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=14551432&blogID=366794799

Danish indie act The Late Parade has licensed their self-titled EP to Rallye & Klee for release in Japan. It will also be released in Benelux in the near future as well. Samples: myspace.com/thelateparade" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/thelateparade

Now that he's a father, drummer Jens Kinch has decided to leave Spleen United to concentrate on his family. A replacement has yet to be announced.

MP3: Starmarket - Forgotten trail

I pulled Starmarket's 2001 album "Song of songs" off the shelf earlier this week and found myself enjoying it quite a bit more than I remember. The earlier records are still the best (classic, even), but now that I'm a tiny bit older, I think I better appreciate the more relaxed direction they started to head towards. However, my favorite tracks are still the noisier ones such as "Forgotten trail", which I've posted for you today. That's the noisepop sound I adore! The huge, thick guitars, the heavy, crashing drums- I have even grown to love that gnarly pinging snare tone. It's totally obnoxious, but it works. It's distinctive; it has personality! The Göteborg metal scene may have piqued my interest in Swedish music, but the Norrland indie sound is what got me hooked for life.

Starmarket - Forgotten trail

Pitchfork on the US release of The LK and their album "vs the snow": media.com/article/record_review/48981-the-lk-vs-the-snow" target="_blank">https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/48981-the-lk-vs-the-snow

Madrugada
s/t
EMI

Guitarist Robert Burås left this world much too soon. And he will be missed. Those of us that got to see madrugada live can certify that he was a main character in this otherwise so well put together combo. Being the sixth and final album from Norway's finest, this is nothing but pure genius. The intensity is evident throughout, both musically and vocally. On this self-titled full-length, the band has taken the atmosphere of foreboding that is their trademark to a higher level, which leaves us, the listeners, in a state of darkness that's indefensible. Simply put, we're reeled right in and I wouldn't want anything else. Frontman Sivert Høyem sings with such authority and grace, it makes my eyes fill up with tears. And seeing that I'm into The Birthday Party and Nick Cave, it's difficult not to compare, but Sivert has a hypnotizing way of taking each song to perfection, something mr. Cave is missing at times. "The hour of the wolf" is a straight-forward rock song with howling guitars, powerful drums and a showcase of one of the shapes that was madrugada. It's rock'n'roll in its purest form. The more acoustic "Look away Lucifer" is a dark and eerie song that sort of sums up the album as a whole. The uncanny feeling of this swan song is charming in a way that you never want to end. But, all good things must come to an end and I can't think of a better way than this. Kudos. And R.I.P.
- Jonas Appelqvist

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: matte marit
02. madrugada - madrugada
03. Kaizers Orchestra - maskineri
04. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
05. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
06. Farmers market - Surfin' Ussr
07. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
08. Hellbillies - Spissrotgang
09. madcon - So Dark the Con of man
10. Diverse artister - melodi Grand Prix 2008
11. Sie Gubba - Sånn e livet
12. Leif Ove Andsnes - mozart: Piano Concertos No 1
13. Gaute Ormåsen - Drømmesang
14. Bertine Zetlitz - In my mind 1997-2007 Best of
15. Anne Nørdsti - Livli på låven
16. Celine - Bæstevænna
17. Beady Belle - Belvedere
18. Trond-Viggo Torgersen - Det du kan + noe rart & noe nytt
19. CC Cowboys - På Svalbard uten strøm
20. Alexandria Quartet - Alexandria Quartet