Gorgoroth guitarist cleared of rape charge, but still convicted of aggravated assault: m/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=46659" target=_blak>https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=46659

Norwegian webzine Panorama's official top picks of 2005 list: ma.no/vis.php?kat=3&did=4825" target=_blank>https://www.panorama.no/vis.php?kat=3&did=4825
Norwegian picks are at the bottom.

Swedish rockers Captain murphy are working on their second full-length album, once again joining up with acclaimed producer Chips K (Sator, etc.). Look for a new 7" on US label Fandango Records in the near future, too.

music Export Finland has revamped their site a bit: musex.fi/" target=_blank>https://musex.fi/

Check out a new electronic press kit for The Accidents: m/_lib/util/streamvideo.php?id=2623&s=hi" target=_blank>https://www.burningheart.com/_lib/util/streamvideo.php?id=2623&s=hi

Indieworkshop reviews Norwegian electronic artist Biosphere: m/music/2210/" target=_blank>https://indieworkshop.com/music/2210/

Norwegian hard-rockers WE are joining forces with dance act Ralph myerz & the Jack Herren Band on a new EP to be called "Sky is the limit". The acts collaborate on two of the songs and each contribute one individual song apiece. Tracklist:

01. Sky is the Limit (WE/myerz)
02. Deepred (myerz/WE)
03. my Private Night (myerz)
04. 7 Am (WE)

It comes out February 13 via WE's own label Nun music.

Villa Recordings, the Swedish label home to Boy Omega and The Book of Daniel, has a brand new website: m/" target=_blank>https://www.villarecordings.com/

Norwegian singer/songwriter magnus Eliassen will be spending some time in LA for the next week or so and is playing a couple shows:

01/11 - Lave Lounge, Hollywood, CA
01/12 - Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
01/17 - The mint, Los Angeles, CA

Listen to some songs on myspace.com/magnuseliassen" target=_blank>his myspace page, including the recently added "Butterfly". Now what I wanna know is if there's gonna be a repeat of myspace.com/andevo" target=_blank>Norwegian party taxi. I've heard rumors of Andrew WK getting involved.

Check out an e-card for the new Nicolai Dunger album "Nicolai Dunger sjunger Edith Södergran": mi.se/artists/nicolai/ndses/index.htm" target=_blank>https://www.emi.se/artists/nicolai/ndses/index.htm

MP3: Smalltown - Friendly fire

I went and saw the band Smalltown play here in Olympia a little over a month ago at the beginning of December. Despite a less-than-ideal show situation, the band delivered a great set of impassioned, melodic punk-rock. They reminded me a lot of the way Rancid used to be before they started believing their own hype, but with less Clash influence and more of a classic mod-rock feel ala The Jam. I don't consider myself much of a punk-rocker anymore, but I still really enjoy this sort of stuff when it's done well. Smalltown gets it right. Check out the newly posted mp3.

Smalltown - Friendly fire

Robert Post, the Norwegian singer/songwriter with a golden voice and a dreadfully dull name, is travelling to the US for a few shows this month:

01/19 - Temple Bar, LA
01/20 - ASCAP music Cafe @ Star Bar, Sundance Film Festival, Park City, UT
01/23 - Sin-e, NYC

Upcoming tourdates for Norwegian noise duo Ryfylke:

01/19 - Fylkingen, Stockholm (SWE)
01/21 - Splab, Aarhus (DK)
01/23 - mS Stubnitz, Rostock (GER)
01/24 - Scherer 8, Berlin (GER)
01/25 - minimatika, Berlin (GER)
01/26 - Staub Sauger, Leipzig (GER)
01/27 - Staub Sauger, Leipzig (GER)
01/28 - Lecurie, Brussels (BEL)
01/29 - Freaks End Future, Antwerp (BEL)
01/30 - Kraakgeluiden, Amsterdam (NL)
01/31 - The Frontline, Gent (BE)
02/02 - Tanzhaus West, Frankfurt (GER)
02/04 - Zakk, Bremen (GER)

Swedish industrial/EBm label memento materia is launching a new single series called Dynamo in which four artists contribute to a single limited edition CD, packaged in metal and sold at a special price. The inaugral release in the series will include tracks from michigan, Code 64, Backlash and Z Prochek. more details: mementomateria.se/" target=_blank>https://www.mementomateria.se/

Norwegian noise artist Lasse marhaug lists his top picks of 2005 for Groove: ml/list/27673647.html" target=_blank>https://www.groove.no/html/list/27673647.html