Finnish act The Crash will see their album "Pony ride" released in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland this coming August via Rykodisc. It was originally scheduled for release May 20 (today), but obviously that it isn't happening.

Detektivbyrån has confirmed that their forthcoming album "Wermland" will be released on September 3 via the band's own label Danarkia. There's no confirmed tracklist yet, but it is available for preorder and will be preceded by a single sometime in July. In the meantime, check out a video of the group performing the new track "Generation celebration": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wLWhSZ1Uvo
Definitely one of my most anticipated releases this coming fall.

Norwegian label Checkpoint Charlie Audio Production has a nice, new clean website: https://www.ccap.no/

Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner (Turbonegro) has posted a big update on his struggle with Hodgkins Disease, among other current events: https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=13678139&blogID=396726519

The London Times spotlights Lykke Li: https://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3939298.ece
Also check the extra feature at the bottom for a weird sidebar about other Swedish pop worth checking out. C'mon, who really thinks that The Concretes have kept silent since Victoria Bergsman left?

Norwegian indie label Spoon Train Audio is now working with Sandviken-based artist Einar Stray. Samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/einarstraymusic

Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt lists his top 10 favorite cock-rock albums for Decibel: https://www.thedeciblog.com/index.php/2008/05/19/mike-akerfeldts-opeth-top-10-cock-rock-albums/

The excellent Oslo-based record store Tiger, one of Norway's only mailorders that ships internationally, is starting up a record label called Fysisk Format. Coming up first will be a split LP featuring Eskatol and Black Blood World followed by new CDs from crusties Haust and Snöras. As for the future, look for a new 7" from Norwegian rockers Silver and the long-awaited album "Shadows" from hardcore act Kaospilot. More info: https://fysiskformat.tigernet.no/

Finnish heavy-rockers Rite will be releasing their 3rd album "Death I hear you calling, but I can't come home right now" on October 6 via Longfellow Records. Listen at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/riteband

Umeå-based crust/hardcore/metal label Discouraged Records is back after a long break and will be putting out four new releases this year:

Moloken - we all face the dark alone CDEP
Angel With No Arms - s/t 7" EP
Bingo - Mer grind än din morsa CD
The Pookie Syndrome - s/t 7" EP

Check out the hyperlinked bandnames for samples.

Surrounded is looking for fans to submit artwork and animations to use in their live show projections and will be giving away signed copies of their most recent album "The nautilus years" to all the best entries. Read more: https://www.surrounded.se/

Volvo will be using the (excellent) old Nicolai Dunger track "Something in the way" off his third album "This cloud is learning" (1999) for an ad-spot to air on US TV this summer, starting in June.

Despotz Records are offering up the new Kaka single "What a frame" as a paid download via Klicktrack for a significant discount: https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=187094648&blogID=395943454
Kaka's self-titled debut is a great underrated pop record, so I'd say it's worth checking out.

Startracks has released a new live album from Christian Kjellvander called "Santiago" featuring his wife Karla-Thérèse Kjellvander in a supporting role. I'm not sure of the tracklist or official release date, but my understanding is that physical copies will be limited, but that mp3s should be available for purchase via Klicktrack/iTunes/the usual suspects. In other news, look for a video for the new single "When the mourning comes" to be released soon.

Pitchfork is premiering the new The Tough Alliance video for "Neo violence": https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/50711-the-tough-alliance-neo-violence-video-premiere
Also note in the footnote that the group has officially signed an international deal with Modular (don't forget they did those shows with them in Australia just after SXSW), who will be giving their most recent album "A new chance" an international release this fall.