Opeth's new album "Watershed" has been confirmed for a June 3 release via Roadrunner Records.

Willowtip has announced the signing of Swedish progressive metal act Terminal Function and will be releasing their debut album "Measuring the abstract" this coming spring. Hear samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/terminalfunction
RIYL Opeth, but definitely with more of a Cynic/Death tech vibe as opposed to the typical Swedish melodic death-metal thing.

The new Vapnet single "Plötsligt händer det inte" will be released on February 18 and will include the b-side "Aldrig där". A new album will follow in April.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives are currently back at Svenska Grammofon in Göteborg working on their next record.

Am I correct to understand that Dotshop, Sweden's leading distro/mailorder for adventurous music, has been trying to rally labels against illegal downloading? Even though a great majority of the labels they carry probably disagree with them? Is this true?

Memento Materia has signed electro/goth duo Sadman and will be releasing their debut album "Cold in the state of me" this coming April. Preview tracks at their website: https://www.sadman.se/

Check out the video for the new Bobby single "Tomorrow never leaves": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jV92GKkfl0
Look for the CDS to be released on February 29 with two exclusive b-sides and a remix track. Otherwise, the band's new Andreas Dahlbäck-produced album "Thursday in this universe" will be out soon thereafter.

Look for a new single + album from I'm From Barcelona in the near future. Details to come.

Headspin will release the new Ass album "My get up and go just got up and went" in March. Cover art and tracklist is here: https://www.headspinrecordings.com/releasedetails.php?ID=32

Nomethod will be putting out a 7" from Markus Krunegård of Laakso featuring the single "Jag är en vampyr" b/w "Samma nätter väntar alla". 500 copies, April release, sure to disappear fast. Also look for the debut solo single from Mixtapes & Cellmates frontman Robert Svensson in late February. That one's called "1987" and features guest vocals from Adam Olenius of the Shout Out Louds. The b-side to that will be a remix from labelmate Matts Katt.

Here are the winners of this year's Steppeulven, aka the Danish critic awards:

Best music: Peder
Best producer: SuperTroels
Best band: Efterklang
Best vocalist: Ane Trolle
Best lyrics: Natasja
Best hope/newcomer: Choir Of Young Believers
Best song: Natasja - Giv Mig Danmark Tilbage
Best composer: Efterklang
Best live act: Trentemøller
Best album: Efterklang - Parades
Pioneer prize: Sebastian

The IFPI has managed to coerce Danish ISP Tele2 to block access to The Pirate Bay: https://www.thelocal.se/9877/20080204/

Phil Freeman provides some insight into what to expect from Opeth's next album: https://runningthevoodoodown.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-opeth-album-update.html

Swedish music blog Absolut Noise celebrates their 2-year anniversary: https://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2008/02/absnoise-two-year-anniversary.html

The winners of this year's Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian equivilent to the Grammy:

Female artist: Susanne Sundfør - Susanne Sundfør (Your Favourite Music)
Male artist: Magnet - The Simple Life (Sony BMG)
Pop group: Superfamily - Warszawa (Propeller Rec.)
Electronica: Salvatore - Days Of Rage (Racing Junior)
Rock: My Midnight Creeps - Histamin (MMC Records)
Country: Hellbillies - Spissrotgang (EMI Music Norway)
Metal: Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao (Season Of Mist)
Hip-hop: Madcon - So Dark The Con Of Man (Bonnier Amigo)
Jazz: Petter Wettre - Fountain Of Youth (Household Records)
Open class: Live Maria Roggen - Circuit Songs (Jazzland)
Music video: Dimmu Borgir - The Serpentine Offering (Nuclear Blast) Dir: Patrick Ullaeus
Newcomer: Tine Thing Helseth - Haydn/Hummel/Albinoni/Neruda (Simax Classics)
Hit: Madcon - "Beggin'" (Bonnier Music)
Spellemann: Hellbillies
Hederspris: Dum Dum Boys

For all categories, go here: https://www.spellemann.no/