Norwegian-literate readers can keep up with Draumir as they blog the recording of their new album: https://blog.myspace.com/draumir
As mentioned before, they have enlisted the talents of legendary producer/engineer Phill Brown (Talk Talk, Robert Plant, etc.) and no longer playing with frontwoman Alexandra Bråten. Expect a fall release.

Diet Records will be releasing a career retrospective from Holiday With Maggie this coming May featuring ten of their best songs plus seven previously unreleased/rare tracks. More details tba.

Finnish bitpop favorites Desert Planet will release their brand new album "Moonrocks" on March 19 at home and on April 8 in GAS via 9pm-records. They describe the record as "more electropunk, more action-game oriented and more science fiction influenced than earlier" and will be unveiling a a free downloadable single on March 7. The group will also be posting a tour movie featuring a collage of footage from their tours these past few years plus a few live tracks and a video for the new track "Green fireballs".

Beatservice will be releasing the new Ralph Myers single "All night long" later this month: https://www.beatservice.no/release.asp?catno=101#BS101CDS

Audrey's new album "The fierce and the longing" is now confirmed for release on April 17. Head to their website for updated tourdates: https://www.audrey.se/

Captain Poon (ex-Gluecifer) is currently blogging while on tour with his new band Bloodlights: https://blog.myspace.com/bloodlights

Finnish powerpop act Hundred Million Martians have confirmed that their new album "Marseille" will be released on March 26 with digital downloads available one week earlier on March 19. Samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/hundredmillionmartians

Check out "Northern Rock" act Hellsingland Underground: https://www.myspace.com/hellsinglandunderground
The band plays American-style Southern Rock with a Swedish touch and features two members from Maryslim. Look for their self-titled debut album on March 7.

Norwegian act Monzano has signed with Friend of Mine Records in Japan. They will release the band's debut album over there this coming spring with three extra tracks tacked on as a bonus. Hear the band here: https://www.myspace.com/monzano

Swedish artist Melpo Mene has licensed their new single "I adore you" for use in a Volvo commercial airing over here in the US. Stream it at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/melpomenemusic

Stockholm-based crust/grind act Splitter is looking for a new bassist.

Swedish rockers Wired for Mono will be releasing a new album on May 5. It was recorded by Tomas Skogsberg, an engineer problably best known for his pioneering "Sunlight Sound" which is/was popular among the Swedish death-metal scene. Hear samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/wiredformono

Umeå-based act Cocoanut Groove has signed with Fridlyst and will be releasing their debut album "Madeleine Street" in April along with a new 7" single on UK label Phonic Kidnapping Records. In related news, look for a new record from Bolywool on Fridlyst in the near future as well.

IAT.MP3 artists The Grand Opening have confirmed that the excellent new album "Beyond the brightness" will be released on April 4. Check out the new website for more details or head to myspace to hear some new songs: https://www.myspace.com/thegrandopening
Also check the sidepanel for updated tourdates.

Looks like my suspicions about the return of Zeigeist were correct - the Swedish pop/electro/art-rock group who first rose to prominence by including the track "Tar heart" in an early leak of The Knife's "Silent shout" is back and now signed to Imperial Recordings in cooperation with previous label Spegel. Look for the single "Bunny/Humanitarianism" on April 2 with the album "The Jade Motel" to follow on April 30.