Sellfish interviews Moneybrother: https://sellfish.de/_start.php?link=interviews/moneybrother.htm

Prolific Danish artist Hjörtur will release a new album of instrumental/new-age music entitled "Piano" on July 8. Get more info and listen to samples here: https://www.hjortur.dk/hjortur/index3-piano.html

Today's Friday classic comes from Norwegian black-metal masterminds Emperor. If you're in any way familiar with the BM genre, this band requires no introduction as they were undeniably one of the scene's most preeminent acts. Their full-length debut album "In the nightside eclipse" is one of my favorite metal records, but that's not where today's song comes from. Instead, I've chosen a b-side from the "Reverence" MCD, the disc that preceded the release of the much-anticipated follow-up record "Anthems to the welkin at dusk". This release marked a huge change in my opinion of Emperor, as it was the first time I considered them to be a real band and not some dark, unknowable force of nature. When I listened to "Nightside eclipse", I never could picture musicians in a room conjuring up such noise together, but the recording of the new material was much cleaner and emphasized the individual performances rather than washing them together in a huge whoosh of reverb. Then there was the video for "The loss and curse of reverence" included on the CD. That was definitely the final nail in the coffin. Once I saw Ihsahn in all his mustached, armored glory, there was no going back. The music was still amazing, but I could never regard them the same way again. But, like I said, the music remains - so here's "In longing spirit", a reworking of a much older song and probably one of the band's slowest and most doomy pieces. Hail the Emperor!

Check out the video for "Miss Huddinge" from Thåström: https://www.thastrom.se/ljudvideo/huddinge.wmv

Sondre Lerche has posted a new web diary entry: https://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=69

Finland's Jolly Jumpers have posted a couple live videos on their website: https://www.jollyjumpers.fi/index2.htm#audio

Check out some pics from the videoshoot for Gluecifer's new single "Desolate city": https://www.gluecifer.com/Pics_Desolatecity.htm
Drummer Danny was in LA at the time for a drum clinic, so Børge from the band Brut Boogaloo was used as a stand-in. As mentioned before, the new song appears on the soundtrack for the Norwegian movie "Izzat", to be released soon.

Stylus reviews Lau Nau: https://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3133

Italian indiepop website Indiepop.it (duh) interviews hte four Swedish acts The Hartmans, Andypandy, Eisenhower and Friday Bridge: https://www.indiepop.it/articoli/sweden_eng.htm (via)

Norwegian singer/songwriter Askil Holm has confirmed that his new album will be out next spring with a single to precede it in the fall. The sound is said to be more acoustic this time around and more details will be coming soon.

Ant Nest Records has signed Malmö's NonWorkingGeneration. Look for an album this fall.

Updated info for Annie's "sweetest fucking tour of the summer":

06/28 - Hiro Ballroom, New York, NY
06/29 - Scenic, New York, NY
06/30 - Sonotheque, Chicago, IL
07/01 - Mighty, San Francisco, CA
07/02 - Virgin Sunset Instore, Los Angeles, CA
07/03 - Standard Downtown Rooftop, Los Angeles, CA
07/05 - Cinespace, Los Angeles, CA

I'd go myself, but the SF date is the day I'm moving to Washington state. Anyhow, if you're interested there's more detailed info here: https://www.vice-recordings.com/annie/

The excellent Swedish music photography Rockfoto.nu is finally available in English.

Even though tomorrow is the official start of Midsummer festivities, I'll still be updating as usual. No rest for the weary!

A new batch of reviews are now posted today. Check 'em out.