Check out the video for the new Robyn single "Handle me": m/watch?v=x4UHNhVSrEm" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4UHNhVSrEm

Check out Club 8's new video for "Whatever you want": m/watch?v=HVC-Sag5Qxo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVC-Sag5Qxo

The Hives will be releasing a new 6-track digital-only EP featuring tracks from the forthcoming "The black and white album" as well as the exclusive cut "Fall is just something grownups invented" which was recorded for the Cartoon Network.

The latest issue of the Finnish music Quarterly features a spotlight on the experimental and avant-garde scene: mq.fi/issues.html" target="_blank">https://www.fmq.fi/issues.html
Not all of the articles are online for free reading, but the three that are are definitely worth taking a look at.

Swedish singer/songwriter Gustav Haggren (Gustav and the Seasick Sailors) continues to tour endlessly as part of the Indienational Tour alongside fellow Swede Helena Arlock and US artist Christian Cuff. They've already done 82 shows this year, but they've still got a ways to go and you can get the latest details over at myspace: myspace.com/indienational" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/indienational

Irya Gmeyner's new 7" "The basement takes from Textilgatan" will be released on October 24 via her own Byker Wall label in cooperation with Universal music. The 4-song EP was mixed by Ebbot Lundberg (The Soundtrack Of Our Lives) and features contributions from other TSOOL members as well as people from Bob Hund, Weeping Willows and more. more details and samples at myspace: myspace.com/iryamusic" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/iryamusic

MP3: Ghost Brigade - Horns

I was a little late to the game with Ghost Brigade's original 4-track demo, but m/mp3.php?t=299">once I finally got into it, I was stoked. Naturally, anticipation was high for the debut full-length "Guided by fire" which came out last month and I eagerly snatched up a copy as soon as I could. On the downside, and I'm not sure this is just familiarity speaking, the re-recorded demo tracks are definitely the early standouts. That's no terrible crime, but I was really hoping for something a bit more surprising. On the other hand, the rest of the record is plenty satisfying. The general formula remains the same: heavy, melancholic doom rock made more powerful by a killer lock-step rhythm section. Comparisons to Katatonia are inevitable, but I find that Ghost Brigade has a far rougher edge due to the use of gruff vocals and more mosh-heavy riffs. Ghost Brigade is also way more rawk. Unfortunately, that also means I can hear a stronger grunge influence lurking beneath the surface. many of the clean vocals come awfully close to the yeee-ah croon of Eddie Vedder. It doesn't ruin the record, but it does make me cringe sometimes. When said clean vocals work though, they work quite well such as on the track I've posted today. The way the harmonies on the chorus trail off into dissonance is awesome. It's a great counterpoint to the thrashy verse riff and creates a welcome dynamic shift. The sung vocals at the end are nice as well - there's still a slight Alice in Chains/Stone Temple Pilots vibe in his timbre, but it's offset by the evil lyrics ("This time your god won't help you!"). I definitely prefer the darker, heavier stuff overall, but I respect that they're trying to develop a more original sound, a niche I think fans of both older (pre-clean vox) and newer (post-clean) Katatonia can appreciate.

Ghost Brigade - Horns

New tourdates for Swedish blues-punks Deltahead:

11/03 - Recession Festival, Aarhus (DK)
11/08 - Bebop Fest, Le mans (FRA)
11/09 - La Nef, Angouleme (FRA)
11/10 - Woodstock Boogie Bar, Limoges (FRA)
11/13 - Le Poste a Galene, marseille (FRA)
11/14 - Le Brise, Annecy (FRA)
11/15 - Cylindre, Besancon (FRA)
11/16 - Centre Paul Baillard, massy (FRA)
11/17 - L'abordage, Evreux (FRA)
11/18 - La manekin, Pont St maxene (FRA)
11/29 - Studenterhuset, Ålborg (DK) w/Powersolo
11/30 - Lades Kælder, Copenhagen (DK)

Zweizz has posted a comprehensive updated on all the various projects he's involved with: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=101585526&blogID=317585705" target="_blank">https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=101585526&blogID=317585705
Highlights include Solefald remixes, beats for fellow Norwegian hip-hop act momrakattakk and a new cassette release on Epicene Records.

Up-and-coming Swedish indie act New Decade finally got themselves a proper domain name: https://www.newdecade.se/

Peter Bjorn and John are the house band at mTVu this week - watch as they uncomfortably play in the hot, hot sun for scantily-clad beach-goers at The Palms Casino and Resort pool: mtvu.com/video/?name=today&id=1570928&vid=179622" target="_blank">https://www.mtvu.com/video/?name=today&id=1570928&vid=179622

Pitchfork reviews Kemialliset Ystävät's self-titled album: media.com/article/record_review/45897-kemialliset-ystvt" target="_blank">https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45897-kemialliset-ystvt

miss Li's third album "Songs of a ragdoll", her 2nd this year, will be out on October 17. You can also hear her on the new Lars Winnerbäck album "Daugava".

Sista Sekunden
Skyll inte på oss
Cage Match Federation/Instigate

The cover of "I am not a punk", translated into Swedish ("Jag är inte punk"), by Descendents sums it up pretty damn good. Besides the obvious; the fact that this four piece punk-rock combo from malmö, Sweden has developed a complete and utter infatuation for American hardcore, it's clear that we're dealing with high quality punk-rock that stands out. And in times like these, the eccentric take of singing in Swedish is also a thing I applaud. 'Cause to be honest; you can easily sort out the quality from the quantity when it comes to punk sung in this native language nowadays. There's not on an ounce of originality to Sista Sekunden's music, I know, but they have the honorable courage to think outside the box sometimes. Furious hardcore in the vein of Adolescents is mixed with melodic punk rock in "Bombplan" reminiscent to early Bad Religion somewhere around "How could hell be any worse?" and that's a typical characteristic of the band and this album. "Skyll inte på oss" ("Don't blame us") is a reckless and rash album similar to a rollercoaster. In a good way, that is. If you're only going to buy one punk album this year, buy this one. Or maybe "Paranoia" by Insurgent Kid, that's how good this one is.
- Jonas Appelqvist

Check out the confirmed tracklist for the upcoming Sounds of Perpetual Astonishment (SOPA) compilation "Deliciosa": https://www.sopa.dk/sopadeliciosa
44 tracks, some 2.5 hours of music.