Pain, the pop-metal crossover act of Hypocrisy frontman Peter Tägtgren, will release their new album "Cynic paradise" on October 31. Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon guests on two tracks.

Fluxblog on the new Marit Larsen single: https://www.fluxblog.org/2008/08/swallow-half-moon.html

Dagens Nyheter reports that a Broder Daniel documentary is in the works: https://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2198&a=814689

IAT favorite Tobias Hellkvist is the artist of the week over at The Silent Ballet: https://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Articles/tabid/55/ctl/Details/mid/412/ItemID/1692/Default.aspx

Kalle Gustafsson Jerneholm and Daniel Nyström of Svenska Grammofon Studios recorded Broder Daniel's final show at Way Out West this past weekend. I have no idea if it will be released, but I assume so.

Norwegian drone artists Huntsville will unveil their new double-disc album "Eco, arches & eras" on September 22. I assume they are still working with Rune Grammofon, so unless I hear otherwise I'd presume that's the label. The group also says there will be "three visitors" on the album, but provide no further details at this time.

Emiliana Torrini's new album "Me And Armini" will be released on September 9. Preview a few tracks at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/emilianatorrini

Norwegian pop artist Maria Mena will release her new album "Cause and effect" in September. Hear the first single "Belly up" at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/mariamena

Kira Skov (ex-Kira and the Kindred Spirits) has re-confirmed her debut solo album "The rail train, the meadow, the freeway and the shadows" for release on September 15.

Danish alt-country act Southern Gothic Tales will release their debut album "In every seaport town" on September 8 via Cope Records. They've got quite a few guests on the record too, including illustrious names such as Lise Westzynthious, Camilla Munck (Munck//Johnson) and Kim Mentzer. Samples: https://www.myspace.com/southerngothictales

Danish label Speed of Sound has signed The Bronson Brothers and will be releasing their new album early next year. Samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/thebronsonbrothers

My friend Björn Kleinhenz has given his site a small facelift: https://www.kleinhenz.se/

Finland's Hundred Million Martians report back from their trip to Liverpool for the International Pop Overthrow festival: https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59969651&blogID=422543673

The new Cake On Cake album "Hymns I remember" is confirmed for release on October 1 via Sleepy Records. Samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/cakeoncake

Scraps of Tape are at Mission Hall Studio with engineer/producer Mathias Oldén (Logh) for the next two weeks working on their next album.