Nominees for Norway's Alarm awards:

Rock:
Turbonegro - Scandinavian Leather
King Midas - Romeo Turn
Ricochets - The Ghost Of Our Love
Amulet - Danger! Danger!
Sgt. Petter - It's A Record

Pop:
Julian Berntzen - Waffy Town
magnet - On Your Side
Ephemera - Air
Thomas Dybdahl - Stray Dogs
Karen Jo Fields - Chase The Blue

Metal:
Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
El Caco - Solid Rest
The Cumshots - Norwegian Jesus
Enslaved - Below the Lights
Thulsa Doom - ...And Then Take You To A Place Where Jars Are Kept

Hip-hop/Rap:
Paperboys - The Great Escape
Equicez - State of Emergency - Generation Equiz
Jaa9 & OnklP - Bondegrammatikk - The Mixtape
Spetakkel - Spetakkel
Diaz - Velkommen hjem, Andres

Electronica:
Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band - A Special Album
Pleasure - Pleasure
Xploding Plastix - The Donca Matic Singalongs
Tøyen - Did You Bring
Erlend Øye - Unrest

Jazz:
Atomic - Boom Boom
Supersilent - Supersilent 6
Come Shine - With The Norwegian Radio Orchestra In Concert
Håvard Wiik Trio - Postures
Paal Nilsen-Love / Ken Wandermark - Dual

Song:
Ephemera - Girls Keep Secrets In The Strangest Ways
Equicez - Barnslig
Ricochets - The Ghost Of Our Love
King Midas - Romeo Turn
Turbonegro - Fuck The World

Live:
Turbonegro
Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band
King Midas
Equicez
The International Tussler Society

The Alarm awards aren't quite as respected as the Spellemannprisen, Norway's version of the Grammy, but are considered more of a stepping stone for young artists. Go to the Alarm site to vote for your favorites: https://www.alarmweb.org/2003/

Gluecifer has just confirmed that they will support Monster magnet on tour across Europe between the dates of February 20 and April 12. Details soon! The band will also be debuting new material from the album "Automatic Thrill" at a show at Carling Academy Islington in London on Saturday, December 6.

Madrugada, one of Norway's biggest bands, plays a one-off gig in London tonight at The Metro to try and raise some awareness about the UK-release of their latest album "Grit" on Music for Nations. Check out the flyer here. The UK version of the album also has a different tracklist than the original, featuring just seven songs from the Norweigan version. Members Frode, Sivert and Robert with the thought that they'd rather provide a much broader overview of the band's sound as opposed to just the new tracks. Here's what they came up with:

01. Blood Shot Adult Commitment
02. Ready
03. I Don't Fit
04. Madrugada
05. Majesty
06. 7 seconds
07. Lucy One
08. Hands Up - I Love You
09. Got you
10. Belladonna
11. Ready To Carry You

It's also got a new cover that you can view here. The band hopes to come back for a full UK tour in January, but I don't have anything confirmed yet.

In other news, the band reports that they are hard at work on new material and practicing 6-7 hours a day. They should hopefully have something out by next autumn, but nothing's been set yet. Ah, but they do have a confirmed new release coming up! They'll be doing a split EP tribute to revered psychedelic rocker Roky Erickson together with We, another Norweigan band I really like. Madrugada does the 13th Floor Elevator song "Slip Inside This House" and it should be out soon on Black Balloon Records. And in related news, Sivert's sideproject The Opposition have their debut album coming out in February and they will tour Norway in support soon after in March. While not turning out as singer/songwriter-esque as he originally imagined, he says it's "pop, the way I perceive that pop should be like" and is incredibly proud of the way it sounds. And last but not least, on December 9, Sivert will take part in a Johnny Cash tribute album recording at, where else but Kretsfengsel avd. A prison in Oslo with the inmates as the audience. Very cool. Other artists set to take part include Thomas Dybdahl, magnet, Steinar Albrigtsen, Paal Flaata from Midnight Choir and Øystein Greni from Big Bang and it should be out in either late January or early February.

Jim Stärk is releasing a special limited edition double-vinyl edition of their two albums "Ten Songs and Hey Hey" and "No Time Wasted" this week. The former was much-revered by Norweigan critics and received a Spellermann nomination while the latter is quite nice, too. I'm still gathering my thoughts for writing a full review, but don't listen to me - go and listen yourself at the band's website. Upcoming dates for the group:

12/06 - Frelsesarmèens Julemusikanter, Egertorget, Oslo
01/15 - Rockefeller, Oslo w/magnet

Updated tourdates for Logh:

10/16 - Palladium, Växjö (SWE)
10/17 - Ruds Fg, Karlstad (SWE)
10/18 - Woody west @ Pusterviksbaren, Gothenburg (SWE)
10/23 - Rio Rio, Göteborg (SWE)
10/24 - Mejeriet, Lund (SWE)
10/25 - Sunset-Mission Festival, Dresden (GER)
10/26 - Cafe Trauma, Marburg (GER)
10/27 - Clubkeller, Frankfurt (GER)
10/28 - Klüpfel, Nürnberg (GER)
10/29 - Stellwerk , Donauwörth (GER)
10/30 - Juz Degerloch, Stuttgart (GER)
10/31 - BOA, Luzern (CH)
11/01 - L'Usine, Geneva (CH)
11/02 - KTS, Freiburg (GER)
11/03 - Hirscheneck, Basel (CH)
11/04 - Chelsea, Wien (AUS)
11/06 - Workstation, Innsbrück (AUS)
11/09 - Velvet, Aviano (ITA)
11/11 - Moby Dick, Madrid (ESP)
11/13 - Meu Mercedes, Porto (PORT)
11/14 - Atholon Rock, Castellon (ESP)
11/15 - El Cortijo, Santa Christina D`aro (ESP)
11/16 - Sidecar, Barcelona (ESP)
11/17 - Centre Civic La Fonteta, St. Feliu De Godines (ESP)
11/18 - La Guintuette Pirate, Paris (FRA)
11/19 - Short Film Festival, Regensburg (GER)
11/20 - Sojo, Leuven (BEL)
11/21 - OCCII, Amsterdam (NL)
11/22 - 013 Popcentre, Tilburg (NL)
11/23 - Astra Stube, Hamburg (GER)
11/24 - Blue Shell, Cologne (GER)
11/25 - magnet, Berlin (GER)
11/26 - Cafe Central, Weinheim (GER)
11/27 - Bogen 13, Zürich (CH)
11/28 - Ilse Erika, Leipzig (GER)

Umeå-based slowcore rockers Cobolt are getting off their ass and playing some German shows in December:

12/09 - Astra Stube, Hamburg
12/11 - magnet, Berlin
12/12 - H.O.T. Alte Bude, Magdeburg

Upcoming Soviac European tourdates in support of their new album "Triology Sexlife Rodeo Friscotti":

10/10 - Athus, Le Marignan
10/11 - Selestat, Au Bar Le Tigre
10/12 - Occii, Amsterdam (NL)
10/13 - tba
10/14 - Tanzhalle, Hamburg
10/15 - K4, Nürnberg
10/16 - tba, Kassel
10/17 - magnet, Berlin
10/18 - Jugendhaus Komma, Esslingen
10/19 - Stellwerk, Donauwörth
10/20 - Prager Frühling, München
10/21 - AZ, Mühlheim
10/22 - Cafe Panama, Fulda
10/23 - Titty Twister, Dresden
10/24 - Zone 11, Hallein
10/25 - Shelter, Wien
10/26 - Fiesta Club, San Vendemmiano
10/27 - Tempio, Pavia
10/28 - Chorus, Lausanne
10/29 - Molodoi, Strasbourg
10/30 - Les Brasseurs, Nancy
10/31 - tba, Berlin
11/11 - Smalls, Västeråas w/Black Eyes, 7feet4
11/15 - tba, Västervik w/Black Eyes, 7feet4

Added a whole slew of new mp3s today. There's the first half of a great live set from Randy, but I'm more excited about the semi-exclusive demo track from Isolation Years. "What's the occasion?" you might be thinking. Well, I'm glad you asked! My pals over at Galaxy Gramophone records are gearing up to release the band's amazing first album "Inland Traveller" over here in the US on November 4. "I'm Gonna Flip" is from said record and I strongly encourage you to check it out. The new GG website will debut shortly and we can expect to hear quite a bit of even more exciting news from them in the near future. I'll be sure to keep y'all posted.

The Caesars aka Caesars Palace are playing a bunch of shows around the world in support of their most recent album "39 Minutes of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)". The dates:

10/18 - Club Quattro, Tokyo (JAP)
11/07 - Sabotage Club, Dortmund (GER) (VISIONS Magazine sponsored show)
11/08 - magnet, Berlin (GER) (VISIONS Magazine sponsored show)
11/09 - Atomic Cafe, Munich (GER)
11/30 - Rock City, Nottingham (UK) w/Inspiral Carpets
12/01 - Academy, Glasgow (UK) w/Inspiral Carpets
12/02 - Barbican, York (UK) w/Inspiral Carpets
12/03 - tba w/Inspiral Carpets
12/04 - Academy, Liverpool (UK) w/Inspiral Carpets
12/05 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London (UK) w/Inspiral Carpets
12/06 - Apollo, Manchester (UK) w/Inspiral Carpets

The band also reports they are hard at work writing and getting ready to record a new album, due out sometime next year.

Artists appearing at the GAS Festival in Göteborg, Sweden on October 11-19: magnetic North Orchestra, Jaap Blonk, Fe:mail Lotta Melin, Jonny Axelsson, Ensemble MA, Mats Gustavsson, Duo Gelland, Pan Sonic, Magnus Andersson and more. Details: www.gas-festival.com

Fall tour dates for Logh:

09/27 - Kartago, Sölvesborg (SWE)
10/01 - Metropol, Hultsfred (SWE)
10/04 - Sputnikfestivalen, Allhuset, Stockholm (SWE)
10/16 - Palladium, Växjö (SWE)
10/18 - Pub Bastun, Mariehamn, Åland (FIN)
10/24 - Mejeriet, Lund (SWE)
10/25 - Sunset-Mission Festival, Dresden (GER)
10/26 - Cafe Trauma, Marburg (GER)
10/28 - Klüpfel, Nürnberg (GER)
10/30 - Juz Degerloch, Stuttgart (GER)
10/31 - BOA, Luzern (CH)
11/01 - L'Usine, Geneva (CH)
11/04 - Hirscheneck, Basel (CH)
11/05 - Chelsea, Wien (AUS)
11/06 - Workstation, Innsbrück (AUS)
11/11 - Moby Dick, Madrid (ESP)
11/18 - La Guintuette Pirate, Paris (FR)
11/19 - Short Film Festival, Regensburg (GER)
11/20 - Sojo, Leuven (BEL)
11/21 - OCCII, Amsterdam (NL)
11/22 - 013 Popcentre, Tilburg (NL)
11/25 - magnet, Berlin (GER)
11/26 - Cafe Central, Weinheim (GER)
11/28 - Ilse Erika, Leipzig (GER)

Nine is hitting the road in Europe with The Hope Conspiracy for four weeks starting on October 22. Dates so far:

09/23 - Club Mondo, Stockholm w/Entombed, more (SWE)
09/27 - Silo club: Funtime festival, Leuven (BEL)
10/23 - JC Horizont, Antwerpen (BEL) w/THC
10/24 - Winston, Amsterdam (HOL) w/THC
10/25 - Clubhaus, Saalfeld (BEL) w/THC, Terror
10/26 - Schlachthof-Magazinkeller, Bremen (GER) w/THC
10/27 - Meeths, Gothenburg (SWE) w/THC
10/28 - Skylten, Linköping (SWE) w/THC
10/29 - Café 44, Stockholm (SWE) w/THC
10/30 - Stengade 30, Copenhagen (DK) w/THC
10/31 - Musik-O-Droom, Hasselt (BEL) w/THC, Terror
11/01 - U club, Wuppertal (GER) w/THC, Darkest Hour, more
11/05 - Villa, Darmstadt (GER) w/THC
11/06 - Tonne, Wangen (GER) w/THC, Paint the Town Red
11/07 - Leoncavallo, Milano (ITL) w/THC, A18
11/08 - Rock Planet, Pinarella (ITL) w/THC
11/09 - Trafo, Gödöllö (HUN) w/THC, Walls Of Jericho and Undying
11/11 - Shelter, Wien (GER) w/THC
11/12 - Backstage, München (GER) w/THC, Paint the Town Red
11/13 - magnet, Berlin (GER) w/THC, Terror
11/14 - Conne Island, Leipzig (GER) w/THC, more
11/15 - Goudvishal, Arnhem (HOL) w/THC, A18

Nine will also be doing a co-record release show at Café 44 in Stockholm on September 13 to celebrate "Killing Angels" along with Switchblade who have a new record out, too.

magnet is heading out on a tour of Norway:

09/24 - Kvarteret, Bergen
09/26 - Rust, Ørsta
09/27 - Høvleriet, Haugesund
10/01 - John Dee, Oslo
10/02 - Kroa, Bø
10/03 - Blæst, Trondheim
10/10 - Checkpoint Charlie, Stavanger
10/10 - Meieriet, Sogndal
10/10 - Luftslottet, Grimstad
10/09 - Energimølla, Kongsberg
10/10 - Markens, Kristiansand

Updated tourdates for various Rec90 artists:

Costar
08/11 - Barfly, London (UK)
08/27 - Waterrats, London (UK)

Lorraine
08/14 - Hoppegarden, Hamm (GER)
08/15 - Underground, Cologne (GER)
08/16 - Festival, Munster (GER)
08/18 - Barfly, London (UK)
08/19 - Barfly, Liverpool (UK)
08/20 - Barfly, Glasgow (UK)
08/21 - Courtney, Manchester (UK)
08/22 - House of Live, Paris (FR)
08/23 - House of Live, Paris (FR)
09/25 - Hulen, Bergen (NOR)
10/02 - John Dee, Oslo (NOR)

Sister Sonny
09/11 - Mono, Oslo (NOR)
09/12 - Garage, Bergen (NOR)

magnet
09/15 - Club Quatro, Tokyo (JAP)
09/16 - Club Quatro, Osaka (JAP)

Jon Balke's magnetic North Orchestra has lined up some fall tour dates and will also be recording for ECM Records in the near future. The band consists of Jon Balke on piano along with Peter Spissky (violin), Bjarte Eike (violin), Thomas Pitt (cello), Per Jørgensen (trumpet), Arve Henriksen (trumpet, also in Supersilent), Helge Norbakken (percussion), and Ingar Zach (percussion). The dates:

09/25 - Jeriko, Malmö (SWE)
09/26 - Bimhuis, Amsterdam
09/30 - New Morning, Paris (FRA) tbc
10/02 - Nordlys festival, Winterthur (SWI)
10/03 - Dornbirn (AUS)
10/04 - Copenhagen Jazz House (DK)
10/05 - Ultima festival, Oslo (NOR)
10/11 - GAS festival Gothenburg (SWE)
11/07 - Berliner Jazztage, Berlin (GER)

More info: magnetic.no/projects.html" target=_blank>www.magnetic.no/projects.html

Added a new mp3 today from Norweigan singer/songwriter and current UK press darling magnet. I'm not totally enthusiastic about the album myself, but it's far from bad. Then again, what do I know? Download the track and make your own decision.