In case you weren't adequately underwhelmed the last time, Emperor will be returning to the US for a trio of shows in 2007:
05/30 - The metro, Chicago, IL
06/01 - BB King Blues Club & Grill, New York, NY
06/03 - Key Club, West Hollywood, CA
Hopefully Samoth won't be denied entry again this time 'round.
Finnish prog act Alamaailman Vasarat reports that they are done with their new album "maahan" and have two teasers tracks posted for download: m/" target=_blank>https://www.vasarat.com/
Some new UK dates for 120 Days:
02/26 - Club NmE/Astoria, London (UK)
02/27 - White Heat/madam Jojos, London (UK)
Via m" target=_blank>One Chord to Another comes word that Finnish indiepop act Puny will be releasing their new album "It kills you" on January 24 and also have a single available for free download at their website: m/" target=_blank>https://www.punysounds.com/
This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:
01. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
04. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
05. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
06. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
07. Jan Werner - Stronger
08. 120 Days - 120 Days
09. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
10. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
11. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
12. marit Larsen - Under The Surface
13. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
14. morten Abel - Some Of Us Will make It
15. Rockettothesky - To sing you apple trees
16. malin - malin på månen
17. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
18. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
19. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
20. mari Boine - Idjagiedas - In The Hand Of The Night
mIC Norway reports that Annie has signed with Island Records and has secured the services of Brian Higgins (Girls Aloud, Sugababes) to produce her forthcoming sophomore album.
This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Lasse Stefanz - 40 ljuva år!
02. moneybrother - Pengabrorsan
03. markus Fagervall - Echo heart
04. Laleh - Prinsessor
05. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
06. martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
07. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
08. Björn Skifs - Andra Decennier
09. Abba - Number ones
10. Lisa miskovsky - Changes
11. Lars Winnerbäck - Efter nattens bränder - 1996-2006
12. Therion - Gothic Kabbalah
14. Orup - Faktiskt
15. Koop - Koop islands
16. The Refreshments - It's gotta be both rock & roll
17. Vikingarna - Bästa
18. Peter Jöback - Flera sidor av samma man
19. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
20. Eric Gadd - Gaddamn - The ultimate collection
The new Sahara Hotnights album will be released on April 18 via the band's own Stand By Your Band label and will be distributed via Universal music. The first single "Cheek to cheek" will be premiered at the Swedish Grammys on January 30.
Swedish power-pop act The Virtues will be back in the UK this month:
01/23 - Acoustic gig, Chester
01/24 - The Rampant Lion, manchester
01/25 - Frog & Nightingale, Chester
01/26 - The Cavern, Liverpool
Ink19 reviews the most recent Hell On Wheels album "The odd church": m/issues/january2007/musicReviews/musicH/hellOnWheels.html" target=_blank>https://www.ink19.com/issues/january2007/musicReviews/musicH/hellOnWheels.html
Consequences have recorded a new, faster version of the song "Birds are singing" for their next single. It was recorded and produced by Ronald Bood and a video is under production by Filmtecknarna. The official release date is February 21.
Full disclosure: Blinders On singer/guitarist Jonas Appelqvist is a frequent It's a trap! contributor. We have similar taste in music, so it's no surprise that I also like his band. There is no clandestine financial relationship between us.
As Jonas himself pointed out in m/index.php?a=276">his recent review of The Sound O.E, the noisy-indierock/post-hardcore scene in Sweden is still very much alive and well, despite a few quiet years. All those bands Jonas lists? Blinders On fits right in. Like all the best examples of the genre, the songs are built on layers of jagged guitars and a heavy, driving rhythm section, but at the same time, always strongly informed by pop conventions. The textures may tend towards the dissonant, but there's always a melody lurking beneath the surface and a huge chorus around the corner. Great stuff and y'know what's even nicer? If you like the song I've posted today, you can m/" target=_blank>head to the Blinders On website and download the band's entire new record "Obsolete music" for free. It doesn't get much better than that.
Blinders On - You had me at hello
my Swedish language skills are fairly minimal so most of Emil Jensen's appeal is lost on me. The award-winning slam-poet turned singer/songwriter is a fine musician, but it's obvious that he's a wordsmith first. Now, I like foreign-language music just fine as many years of death-metal has taught me to passively ignore most lyrical content (it's not what you say as much as how you say it), but it can still be a big stumbling block to not understand the words. Example: Håkan Hellström I got immediately, Emil Jensen I did not. However, I make sure to keep an open mind so when Jensen's latest EP m/store/product.php?productid=369&cat=0&page=1">"maj förra året" came my way, I gave it an honest listen. I may not love everything that Adrian Recordings puts out, but I respect them enough to ensure that every new release gets a fair chance for frontpage posting. It's a good thing too, because the Familjen remix track I've posted today is making me reconsider Emil Jensen's previously cast-aside back catalogue. The jaunty electronic beeps compliment him nicely, elevating the material beyond his usual folk-rockness. I still may never fall in love with the rest of Emil Jensen's music, but this I like.
Emil Jensen - Där stigarna tar slut (Tommy-remix av Familjen)
Announcing the It's A Trap! Record Club! Either m/index.php?d=1152">read monday's post on the subject or m/store/product.php?productid=383&cat=1">go here to join up! Act fast as my super-cheap introductory offer of $10/mo won't last.
Got a fresh batch of reviews posted for y'all today: m/index.php?a=276">[click here]
I gotta say that the new Isolation Years just keeps growing and growing on me after a less-than-impressive first impression. Definitely one of my recent personal favorites.