The new Swedish R&B site Plain Gold is now online: https://plaingold.com/

Swedish dark ambient artist Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio's new album "O N A N I - [Practice makes Perfect]", their 8th overall, is confirmed for release on January 17. Details: https://www.coldmeat.se/mailorderf.asp?id=2752

The Metal Bastard mp3 blog lists his top 25 albums of 2008 which of course includes a healthy dose of Scandinavian rawk: https://metalbastard.blogspot.com/2008/12/metal-bastards-top-25-of-2008.html

Last Mile has enlisted yet another new drummer; this time it's Peter Høj Larsen (Powderhog, ex-Self). Look for the band to do a few European dates around late March.

Laleh's new album "Me and Simon" will be released on January 21.

New releases on the way from Labrador Records:

01/28 - The Sound of Arrows - M.A.G.I.C CD/EP
02/04 - Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - #4 CD/EP
03/25 - The Sound of Arrows - tba

After a six-year break from playing music, Jonas Rosén (Asterisk*The Female Anchor of Sade) is back with the new moniker Orchestra Senza Testa and an album called "Fabula" on Kalligrammofon. Collaborators on said album include Fred Lonberg-Holm, Råd Kjetil and the Loving Eye of God, Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins), WT Nelson (Bastard Noise), among others. More info: https://www.kalligrammofon.com/main.php?artist=6

Industri Royal's new website is open: https://www.industriroyal.com/
Look for the band's new album "Tacky skills" on January 28 via Alleycat Records.

Oh No Ono's as-yet-untitled forthcoming album will be out on April 20, 2009.

"Give me fire" will be the title of Mando Diao's next album. As mentioned before, it's due out in February.

Look for Daniel Savio's debut solo LP on Flogsta Danshall in late January/early February. This will be the skweee label's very first full-length release. In other news, check out new 7"s from both Limonious and Mangrove out now.

Hanne Hukkelberg is back in Oslo at Propeller Studios recording a new album. Expect a spring release.

Universal has signed Swedish pop-metal act Dead By April and will be sending them into the studio with producer Henrik Edenhed (Robyn, Lambretta) to record their debut album. Hear demo tracks at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/dbaswe

MIC Norway profiles young composer Øyvind Torvund: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2008120412525795697413

"Baltic Sea" by The Social Services is Indie MP3's #7 track of 2008: https://www.indie-mp3.co.uk/2008/12/tracks-of-year-7-baltic-sea.html