New Decade EP gets release date

New Decade's new EP "Our own complaints" will finally be out on march 26.

Auktion calls it quits, plans final shows + discog release

Auktion is breaking up, but they're not going quietly -- the band will be doing a few final shows in Sweden, Denmark and Germany this fall as well as compiling a discography CD/DVD release. Preliminary details here: myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=7367216&blogId=474928574" target="_blank">https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=7367216&blogId=474928574

New Kristofer Åström split 7" on Sound/Friends

For all you RSS readers or anyone else who doesn't see the big ad in the sidebar: Kristofer Åström has a new split 7" release on the way from US label Sound/Friends featuring his new single "Twentyseven" off the upcoming record "Sinkadus" b/w a track from Virginia act All Fox. Preview/more info: https://www.soundfriends.org/releases/sf_09/

New Lacrosse album in May

Swedish indiepop act Lacrosse have confirmed that their new Jari Haapalainen-produced album "Bandages for the heart" will be released on may 1. Listen to a few preview clips at myspace: myspace.com/lacrossesthlm" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/lacrossesthlm
Says Jari about the record: "Lacrosse's music sounds as if it's being performed by children, but written for adults who stumble their way through life."

Shelflife offers Thieves Like Us preview

Download a few clips off the new Shelflife release from Swedish/international act Thieves Like Us: m/catalogue/LIFE058.html" target="_blank">https://www.shelflife.com/catalogue/LIFE058.html
The indiepop act's album "Play music" comes out on vinyl on march 10 with the CD version to follow on April 7.

Pfork reviews 'Money will ruin everything: the second edition''

Pitchfork reviews the second "money will ruin everything" book/CD compilation released by esteemed Norwegian label Rune Grammofon: media.com/article/record_review/149461-various-artists-money-will-ruin-everything-the-second-edition" target="_blank">https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/149461-various-artists-money-will-ruin-everything-the-second-edition

Cut City/Dagensskiva bday confirmed for It's a Trap! Clubnight in May

Just confirmed for the It's a Trap! Clubnight on may 16 at Debaser malmö: not only do we have the fantastic Cut City taking the stage, but we're also helping our friends at m/" target="_blank">Dagensskiva celebrate 10 years in the internet business. Naturally, we all know who the better site is, but hey - competition makes the market stronger, right? Anyhow, many (if not all?) Dagensskiva writers will be in attendance and I hear that some of them might even be spinning tunes, so it's sure to be a good time. And we all know how writers like to drink...

Harmönia streaming new tracks from Rigas and Yöt

Renown skweee label Harmönia has new releases on the way from Rigas den Andre and Yöt and you can now preview a track from each at myspace: myspace.com/harmoenia" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/harmoenia

MP3: Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco

Spring can't come soon and although I can't be sure that the "spring" in title of the new Florence Valentin single refers to the season, the sound is spring-like enough for me. C'mon! It's march already. Enough with the snow! I want to get started on my garden, I want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. This can be my soundtrack -- I've been looking forward to hearing this ever since I saw them at Way Out West two years ago. Hard to believe it's been that long already, but here we are and here you go! I'm more than happy to share the love.
Also be sure to peep the video for said track: m/watch?v=nq3CAs06C1U" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq3CAs06C1U

Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco

The Rasmus to tour Spain, Germany, UK, Russia

New tourdates for Finnish act The Rasmus:

03/25 - Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona (ESP)
03/26 - Greenspace, Valencia (ESP)
03/27 - Joy Eslava, madrid (ESP)
03/28 - Santana 27, Bilbao (ESP)
04/01 - Zeche, Bochum (GER)
04/02 - Batschkapp, Frankfurt a. main (GER)
04/03 - Arena Vienna, Vienne (AUS)
04/04 - Talstation Gondelbahn Hauser Kaibling, Haus im Ennstal (AUS)
04/06 - Concorde 2, Brighton (UK)
04/07 - The Cockpit, Leeds (UK)
04/08 - Club Academy, manchester (UK)
04/09 - Heaven, London (UK)
04/10 - Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton (UK)
04/11 - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (UK)
06/14 - SCC Peterburzhskiy Arena, Sankt Petersburg (RUS)
06/16 - Stadium, Rostov-On-Don (RUS)
06/18 - Sport Palace, Ekaterinburg (RUS)
06/20 - Hippodrom, Novosibirsk (RUS)
06/22 - Platinum Arena, Khabarovsk (RUS)
06/22 - Stadium, Krasnoyarsk (RUS)
06/26 - Hippodrome, Ufa (RUS)
06/28 - Sportcomplex Olympisky, moscow (RUS)

Stream the new Shogun Kunitoki album

The new Shogun Kunitoki album "Vinonaamakasio" is currently streaming in its entirety at myspace: myspace.com/shogunkunitoki" target="_blank">https://www.myspace.com/shogunkunitoki

New Unanimated album in April

Reunited Swedish death metal act Unanimated will be releasing their new album "In the light of darkness (The covenant of death)" in April via Regain Records.

Höstlöven - Fast jag saknade allt då

Swedish act Höstlöven is offering up a new EP for free download, as recommended by Parker Lewis: march/ny-ep-fast-jag-saknade-allt-da.html" target="_blank">https://hostloven.blogg.se/2009/march/ny-ep-fast-jag-saknade-allt-da.html

New Violators album coming on vinyl

The New Violators self-titled debut album will finally be released on vinyl on march 9 via Playground music. As for those of who want CDs or files, there's no release date announced yet.

Jonathan Johansson
En hand i himlen
Hybris

Beginning with the dancetastic title track, Jonathan Johansson's debut albumshowcases the talent of someone who will surely be one of the biggest popstars to emerge from Sweden this year. Stylistically, I see him as the perfect successor to Kent (in particular their "Vapen & ammunition" album), but his sound is honed further down into slick. Catchy numbers of the uptempo set ("Sent för oss", "Högsta taket, högsta våningen") and the leaning-on-mournfulness of "Psalm noll noll" and "Du sa" all provide for a rather complete listen, especially considering it is a debut. "Innan vi faller" will obviously get many a U2 comparison, but one should not let that be a detraction from how great of a song it is. The only thing I find to be out of place on the album is his cover of "Everybody wants to rule the world" (here as "Alla vill ha hela världen"), as his originals are so strong it provides the albums weak point (also, I fear him becoming a "one-cover-hit wonder"). With a sweet falsetto caressing the melodies, Jonathan Johansson is a name to look out for.
- Matt Giordano