Yep Roc has licensed The Soundtrack of Our Lives' new album "Communion" for a North American release on march 3.

Legal Records (Sara Löfgren, Sulo) has signed Swedish artist Staffan Hellstrand and will be releasing a career retrospective collection in April compiling tracks from throughout his 20-year career along with a few new tracks and previously unreleased live cuts.

Our year-end listmania continues! The latest contributions posted are from m/articles.php?a=392">magnus Öberg, boss of the label Nomethod, and m/articles.php?a=391">Viktor Lager from the band Alarma man. Be sure to read them all!

Not in stock quite yet, but ready for pre-order: m/store/product.php?productid=601">Larsen & Furious Jane - Zen sucker (LP)
In case you missed it, our glowing review of said album is m/reviews.php?r=661">right here. Yet another new release that's only available on vinyl in the physical realm, so be sure to grab a copy!

MP3: Magnolia - Tag dig själv i kragen

As usual, Transubstans delivers the goods. No one in Sweden does hardrock better, maybe not anywhere. Now I might not love absolutely everything they put out, but more often than not, it hits the spot. magnolia is a rare exception in that I don't hate it (Transubstans does put out a few wacky discs I can't hang with at all), but I don't love it either. I guess I'm just not into the Cream power-trio thing as they interpret it -- too much bluesy jamming, not enough balls-out rock'n'roll. I dig the slow swing on "Tag dig själv i kragen", but it doesn't move me like Siena Root or Graveyard. The sweet B3 solo can't even win me over, that's how cold I am. But, like I said, it's not bad, it's just a bit disappointing because I was fully expecting to love it. Color me bummed.

Magnolia - Tag dig själv i kragen

Top 10s for 2008: Magnus Öberg (Nomethod)

Moloken
We all face the dark alone
Discouraged Records

Glad to hear someone emulating "Souls at zero"-era Neurosis rather than that band's monolithic, latter-day sound. Do that and you're only setting yourself up to fail. Instead, we're treated to crusty metal that's totally bass-driven with a similarly progressive, apocalyptic bent and a strong hardcore rooting. But no, not the usual mid-tempo sludge, thank goodness. They've got a healthy dose of northern darkness too, though I wouldn't put them up against the mighty Breach yet. Anyhow, this EP consists of one epic 15-minute track broken into three sections and while the rhythm section is exceptionally strong, the guitars and vocals don't add much more than texture. At least they're buried in the mix behind the bass because that's where moloken shines. Gnarly tone, too -- like a cross between man is the Bastard and Rush. I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.
- Avi Roig

The tracklist for Viola's new remix album "melancholydisco 2" has been revealed:

01. The hardest hit
02. Imaginary times (Hannulelauri remix)
03. Invisible revolution (Videovalvontaa remix)
04. We owe love
05. Outsider code (Regina remix)
06. Unreal life (I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper remix)
07. Fleeting world
08. The deadweights (Black Audio remix)
09. Planet struck (Kiva Tekkno Supplies arena remix)
10. Ada bell (In A montage)

The long-awaited disc finally goes out for pressing this week and should be available for order before the end of the month. Expect samples online shortly.

The new album from Dundertåget (Thunder Express på Svenska) is done and confirmed for release in February.

Roxy Recordings will release Hanne Boel's new album "A new kinda soul" on January 28. Said record will include four new tracks, four re-recorded old songs and four covers.

Lobotom Records has a new website and a brand new 7" release from Bondage Fairies: mrecords.com/" target="_blank">https://www.lobotomrecords.com/

Once again, Finnish act Kirlian Crossing has a new volume of "Repeat and repeat" posted for free download: m/kirliancrossing/repeat.htm" target="_blank">https://www.verdurarecords.com/kirliancrossing/repeat.htm

The video for the new Hello Saferide single "X telling me about the loss of something dear, at age 16" is now online; read all about it right here: m/?p=302" target="_blank">https://www.hellosaferide.com/?p=302

Anna Järvinen (ex-Granada) is working on a new album with Gustav Ejstes from Dungen to be released in march 2009 via Häpna.

Vice is giving away The Raveonettes Christmas track "Come on Santa" as a free download: m/the_raveonettes-come_on_santa.mp3" target="_blank">https://www.vicerecords.com/the_raveonettes-come_on_santa.mp3