The new Hjärtats Orkester EP "Ensamma hjärtan" will be out on June 4 via Kapellet Records and is now available for preorder. Listen to the band at myspace: myspace.com/hjartatsorkester" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/hjartatsorkester

Combat Rock Industry will be releasing the new live album "Tavastia" from long-running Finnish punk-rockers Lama on July 4. As for the future, look for a split from manifesto Jukebox and A Death in the Family to be released in September. The label has also signed Swedish act Victims, my favorite current d-beat act, and will be releasing their new album sometime later this year.

Absolut Noise talks to Johan from The Exploding Boy: m/2007/05/interview-exploding-boy_24.html" target=_blank>https://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2007/05/interview-exploding-boy_24.html

Danish act Green Concorde has posted an iPod-compatible video for the song "The anthem to which we fall" as a free download: m/movies/anthem.m4v" target=_blank>https://www.greenconcorde.com/movies/anthem.m4v

The Silent Ballet reviews Danish act Slaraffenland and their new record "Private cinema": m/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/510/Default.aspx" target=_blank>https://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/510/Default.aspx

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli
02. Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør
03. The Kids - Hits fra Kids
04. Tone Damli Aaberge - Sweet Fever
05. BigBang - Too much Yang
06. magnet - The Simple Life
07. Jonas Fjeld og Chatham C. - Amerikabesøk
08. TNT - The New Territory
09. Steinar Albrigtsen - moments of Peace
10. Vidar Busk and the Voo Doodz - Jookbox Charade
11. D.D.E. - No går det så det suse
12. Heroes & Zeros - Strange Constellations
13. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
14. marit Larsen - Under The Surface
15. Tord Gustavsen Trio - Being There
16. Silje Nergaard - Darkness out of blue
17. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
18. Finn Kalvik - Komplett Klassisk Kalvik
19. my midnight Creeps - Histamin
20. Skambankt - Eliksir

Finnish electronic artist monophobic has twelve new tracks posted for free download: monophobic.net/" target=_blank>https://www.monophobic.net/

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Takida - Bury the lies
02. mustasch - Latest version of the truth
03. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
04. Cornelis Vreeswijk - CV - Det bästa med Cornelis Vreeswijk
05. Sonja Aldén - Till dig
06. Sofia Karlsson - Visor från vinden
07. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
08. Nanne - Jag måste kyssa dig
09. The Tough Alliance - A new chance
10. Lillasyster - Hjärndöd musik för en hjärndöd generation
11. markoolio - Värsta Plattan
12. Eldkvarn - Svart blogg
14. Jimmy Jansson - Sån e jag
15. Sonic Syndicate - Only inhuman
16. Shout Out Louds - Our ill wills
17. The Boppers - 30
18. Vikingarna - Bästa kramgoa låtarna 2
19. marie Lindberg - Trying to recall
20. Salem Al Fakir - This is who I am

mIC Norway profiles up-and-coming producer and electro artist Skatebård: mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007052416034968821698" target=_blank>https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2007052416034968821698

Indie mP3 on the upcoming Icelandic music showcase that will hit London in mid-June: mp3.co.uk/2007/05/reykjavik-nights-in-london.html" target=_blank>https://www.indie-mp3.co.uk/2007/05/reykjavik-nights-in-london.html

Norwegian black metal act Sjodogg has signed with Osmose Records and will have their "Landscapes of disease and decadence" released this fall. Listen to samples: myspace.com/sjodogg" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/sjodogg

Interested in the history of Norwegian black metal? Finally, it looks like someone made a decent online guide: metall.com/" target=_blank>https://www.norsksvartmetall.com/

The new album from Icelandic experimental hardcore act minus "The great northern whalekill" was just released this week and you can hear a whole bunch of tracks on myspace: myspace.com/minus" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/minus
Doesn't initially sound as genre-pushing as some of their earlier stuff, but still dece. A bit like the last JR Ewing maybe, but more out-there.

Some new US dates for Peter Bjorn and John:

07/31 - Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
08/01 - House of Blues, San Diego, CA
08/02 - Gallivan Center, Salt Lake City, UT
08/03 - tba (Lollapalooza aftershow), Chicago, IL
08/04 - Pimlico Race Course (Virgin Festival), Baltimore, mD
08/05 - Grant Park (Lollapalooza), Chicago, IL

my good friends KVLR are back in the studio working on new material: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=60251497&blogID=268111610" target=_blank>https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=60251497&blogID=268111610
They'll probably never tour again which is a shame, but at least we'll get more music at some point.