Finnish hardcore acts Rites of the Youth and Frivolvol will tour Russia next week:

03/15 - Friday Club, St. Petersburg
03/16 - TIR Club, Pskov
03/17 - Plan B, Moscow

Lots of new performances at the Handheld Shows archive, including stuff from the bands Je Suis Animal, Wildbird & Peacedrums and more: https://handheldshows.blip.tv/posts?view=archive&nsfw=dc

Magasinet Novell is a new Swedish music mag launching in April: https://magasinetnovell.se/

Efterklang are celebrating their 5th anniversary as a live band today with a free mp3 download: https://efterklang.net/home/2008/03/06/5-year-anniversary-as-a-live-band-today-free-mp3-gift/

Drowned in Sound interviews Cardigans frontwoman Nina Persson: https://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/3015753

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
02. Madrugada - Madrugada
03. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
04. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
05. Secret Garden - Inside I'm singing
06. Madcon - So Dark the Con of Man
07. Anne Nørdsti - Livli på låven
08. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
09. Sie Gubba - Sånn e livet
10. Leif Ove Andsnes - Mozart Piano Concerto Nos 9 & 18
11. Hellbillies - Spissrotgang
12. Gaute Ormåsen - Drømmesang
13. Bertine Zetlitz - In my mind 1997-2007 Best of
14. Beady Belle - Belvedere
15. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2008
16. Celine - Bæstevænna
17. CC Cowboys - På Svalbard uten strøm
18. Trond-Viggo Torgersen - Det du kan + noe rart & noe nytt
19. Valkyrien Allstars - Valkyrien Allstars
20. Minor Majority - Candy store (2 CD edition)

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Neverstore - Heroes wanted
02. Tomas Andersson Wij - En sommar på speed
03. Fernandoz - Anders & Git - En helt ny dag
04. Carola - Främling 25 år
05. The Cardigans - Best of
06. Lykke Li - Youth novels
07. Takida - Bury the lies
08. Kent - Tillbaka till samtiden
09. Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
10. Majornas 3dje Rote - Majornas 3dje Rote med Tomas von Brömssen
11. Within Y - The cult
12. Kikki Danielsson - Kikkis bästa
14. Jill Johnson - Music Row
15. Hellsongs - Hymns in the key of 666
16. Sahara Hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
17. El Perro Del Mar - From the valley to the stars
18. Pacific! - Reveries
19. Sara Isaksson & Anders Widmark - Pool of happiness
20. Säkert! - Säkert!

Stina Nordenstam will reportedly have a new album out later this year. See her recently revamped website: https://www.stinanordenstam.net/

Norwegian postpunk/noiserockers Hypertext (remember?) have a new demo track on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/hypertextband

Pitchfork reviews Imperial Recordings artist Promise and the Monster: https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/48816-transparent-knives

New live dates for The Whitest Boy Alive:

03/23 - Tape, Berlin (GER)
03/25 - Kassablanka, Jena (GER)
03/26 - Palac Akropolis, Prague (CZ)
03/27 - Pling Plong Klub @ Fluc Wanne, Vienna (AUS)
03/28 - 59:1, München (GER)
05/21 - Koko, London (UK)

The LK have posted updates US tourdates on their website: https://www.thelkhideout.com/
I'd copy and paste them for you here, but I can't since it's a shitty Flash site.

Racing Junior and The Norwegian Council for Mental Health have created a new memorial trust in the name of singer/songwriter Saint Thomas to raise money for improved mental health care and support for young people and to help produce more public dialog on the subject. A box set and memorial concert is being put together for October to help raise funds for the cause.

Swedish crusties Massgrav have posted the cover art, tracklist and a couple samples from their new LP, "This war will be won by meat eaters" which is due out later this summer via Sound Pollution. Check it: https://www.massgrav.com/

The first batch of CDs I got from And the Sound blew out of here mighty quick, but fear not! More have arrived! Check it:

Ef - Give me beauty... or give me death!
Immanu El - They'll come, they come
Ef - I am responsible