Annika Norlin is currently in the studio with Andreas mattson (Popsicle, etc.) working on a new Hello Saferide album. A tentative release date has been set for September.

MP3: Lack - I want you to call me Peter North

One of Lack's most admirable qualities is their sexual politic. So much of modern hardcore is either contrived macho bullshit (see Terror, Hatebreed, et al.) or fucked-up misogyny (Killwhitneydead comes to mind as prominent example) that even a marginal level of social responsibility seems refreshing. But to talk about sexual relationships outside of the usual context of love/hate songs is absolutely unheard of. The song "Deserters" from their last album "Be there pulse" was hugely progressive in its frank discussion of bisexuality and now, with "Saturate every atom", we have "I want you to call me Peter North" which openly confronts the issue of internet pornography. It's a touchy subject, especially with the rise of so-called "alternative" porn sites such as Suicide Girls or Burning Angel or whatever. Hardcore has always generally been a boys club, but at least there used to be more of a dialog about sexual equality, especially in the 90s when I was more involved in the scene. Now I'm not calling for a return to the days of overzealous workshops (and witchhunts) from the more Than music era (dude, the fest!), but goddamn it, any discussion is appreciated. Hardcore is supposed to be confrontational and it's supposed to challenge stereotypes, not reinforce them. I'm sure I'm not the only one weirded about what the scene has become. Thank god for bands like Lack who tackle these ideas head-on. Even better, the song is awesome. That simple snare roll going into the final chorus with the chukka-chukka guitars gets me every damn time.

Lack - I want you to call me Peter North

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show:

01. Figurines - The wonder
02. TALK 1
03. CS Nielsen - Happy
04. Superfamily - Teens of the 70s
05. Winter Took His Life - Oh
06. TALK 2
07. Frivolvol - Out come the knives
08. Bogus Blimp - Untitled jazz no. 1
09. Firefox AK - Pushing
10. TALK 3
11. Disfear - Get it off
12. Biker Boy - march song (Kalle J remix)
13. Eskju Divine - Darkness all around
14. TALK 4
15. Dogday - New romance
16. mew - Am I wry? No
17. Det Är Jag Som Är Döden - Hello!
18. TALK 5
19. Familjen - Huvudet i sanden
20. Darkthrone - Skald av Satans sol
21. Caesars Palace - (I'm gonna) Kick you out
22. TALK 6
23. Lack - Behead
24. Bertine Zetlitz - Fake your beauty
25. Hebosagil - Old prophet
26. TIAC - OTW
27. TALK 7
28. marybell Katastrophy - Hip
29. Strip music - Never die
30. The Social Services - Electric brae
31. TALK 8
32. At the Gates - All life ends (live)
33. Fireside - Jupiter
34. Ulver - Funebre
35. Paper - They're gonna keep me
36. TALK 9
37. Convoj - Cultural legacy
38. maia Hirasawa - Still June
39. Silverbullit - Run
40. TALK 10
41. massgrav - Vuxenliv

MP3: Snotrocket - Escape

None of the various interviews I have in the works are anywhere near ready for posting, so our weekly Göteborg spotlight post won't contain the usual insightful content you've come to expect. Instead I bring you a track from the Black Sun Records 1994 comp "metal militia: A tribute to metallica". Despite featuring a lot of big names from the 90s Gbg metal scene, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Ceremonial Oath, etc., this collection sucks balls. The only halfway decent track: Snotrocket's cover of "Escape", originally found on my favorite metallica album "Ride the lightning". The thing is, Snotrocket isn't a real band - it's a pseudonym. Now I know that's Tomas Lindberg (At the Gates, Skitsystem, Disfear, etc.) on vocals, but I have no idea who the rest of the band is. Is it At the Gates trying to avoid contractual obligations? Other Gbg all-stars? No clue. Either way, here's the track for you to enjoy.

Snotrocket - Escape

Looks like those rumors of a couple US At the Gates shows were untrue - it's gonna be a full-on tour! Dates just announced:

07/10 - Irving Plaza, New York, NY
07/11 - The Palladium, Worcester, mA
07/12 - Le medley, montreal, QC
07/13 - Opera House, Toronto, ON
07/14 - House of Blues, Chicago, IL
07/15 - Pop's, Sauget, IL
07/17 - Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
07/18 - White Rabbit, San Antonio, TX
07/21 - Cervantes masterpiece Ballroom, Denver, CO
07/23 - El Corazon, Seattle, WA
07/24 - Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR
07/25 - The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
07/26 - Glasshouse, Pomona, CA
07/27 - Henry Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA

Swedish artist marit Bergman has signed to Hypnote in the US. more details to come.

The End Records will be reissuing Lordi's 2002 album "Get heavy" in North America on may 13. Hear a cut at the label's myspace page: myspace.com/theendrecords" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/theendrecords

Drowned in Sound gives high praise to Sweden's Surrounded: m/articles/2894428" target="_blank">https://drownedinsound.com/articles/2894428

Norwegian experimental noiserock act Puma has confirmed that their new album will out on April 15. Look for international tourdates to be announced soon.

music Export Norway is offering a pdf guide to help you decide what bands to see at SXSW: musicexportnorway.no/getfile.php/651520.817.ybcbxapefy/NorwayAtSXSW.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.musicexportnorway.no/getfile.php/651520.817.ybcbxapefy/NorwayAtSXSW.pdf

Killing the Legacy previews the new 7" "No coming back" from Finnish hardcore act Another One Dead: m/2008/03/no-coming-back.html" target"_blank">https://killingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2008/03/no-coming-back.html

Fullhouse Records have posted a sample track from the new Anal Thunder album, due out this April: m/fhr/mp3/028%20-%20Anal%20Thunder%20-%20Hockey%20Temper.mp3" target="_blank">https://www.fullhouserecords.com/fhr/mp3/028%20-%20Anal%20Thunder%20-%20Hockey%20Temper.mp3

BSTBA-affiliated label d'Oorhinge l'Orange Recordings will be releasing a new 3" CDR in late April/early may from Danish group Funny Art Collective as part of their d'Oorhinge mandarine series. Hear samples of other work at myspace: myspace.com/funnyartcollective" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/funnyartcollective

Watch Laakso frontman markus Krunegård play live for PSL: musik-med-markus-krunegard/" target="_blank">https://blogg.svt.se/psl/2008/03/07/musik-med-markus-krunegard/

Popmatters on the US release of Hanne Hukkelberg's "Rykestrasse 68": matters.com/pm/music/reviews/55793/hanne-hukkelberg-rykestrasse-68/" target="_blank">https://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/55793/hanne-hukkelberg-rykestrasse-68/