Metal blog Another Perfect Day has posted tracks from Norwegian black-metallers Khold and 1349: https://killformetal.blogspot.com/

Denmark's Wild Evil Entertainment Dept. will be doing some dates in the UK around mid-April. Details soon.

Tiny Mix Tapes reviews The Tiny: https://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/t/tiny.htm

Mp3 blog TTIKTDA posts a track from The Raveonettes: https://teachingtheindiekidstodanceagain.blogspot.com/2005/03/lets-go-to-where-its-fun.html

The English-language version of the Melody Club website is back online: https://www.melodyclub.com/uk/?NODE=1

Indieworkshop reviews Rune Grammofon artist Nils Økland: https://indieworkshop.com/reviews/1590/

PopMatters reviews 22 Pistepirkko: https://popmatters.com/music/reviews/t/22pistepirkko-nature.shtml

Here's this week's YLE/Morjen top 10 Nordic video chart:

01. Smak - Nousen (FIN)
02. Korpiklaani - Hunting song (FIN)
03. Anniina - Who's about to cry (FIN)
04. Kent - Max 500 (SWE)
05. The 69 Eyes - Lost boys (FIN)
06. Disco Ensemble - We might fall apart (FIN)
07. Hammerfall - Bloodbound (SWE)
08. Pain - Same old song (SWE)
09. The Mo - Howl in the jungle (SWE)
10. Infernal - From Paris to Berlin (DK)

Challengers:
11. Maj Karma - Sodankylä (FIN)
12. Nina Rochelle - Mörkertal (SWE)
13. Searching for Nurmes - Pyhätunturi (NOR)

Here's this week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. Kent - Du och jag döden
02. Moneybrother - To die alone
03. Christer Sjögren - Love Me Tender
04. Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
05. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himmelen men ingen vill dö
06. Håkan Hellström - Ett kölikbarns bekännelser
07. Darin - The anthem
08. Bodies Without Organs - Prototype
09. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - So much for staying alive
10. Christian Walz - Paint by Numbers
11. Lars Winnerbäck - Vatten under broarna
12. Anna Ternheim - Somebody Outside
13. Arash - Arash Arash
14. Magnus Uggla - Den tatuerade generationen
15. Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan
16. The Wallstones - Pleasure and pain
17. The Real Group - In the Middle of Life
18. Caesars - Paper Tigers
19. Ted Gärdestad - Sol vind & vatten - Det bästa
20. Stefan Nilsson - Så som i himmelen (filmmusik)

Eldkvarn have set April 20 as the release date of their new album "Atlantis" along with the first single "Konfettiregn". The record was produced by Bear Quartet guitarist Jari Haapalainen and features guest appearances from Christer Sjögren and Håkan Hellström.

Novoton Records, home of bands such as Novak and Black Belt, will now be distributed in Australia via Music Farmers. All of their releases should be available in stores over there soon. More info: https://www.musicfarmers.com/indexd.html

Late Thursday thoughts:

Moneybrother is Stellan Skarsgård's favorite band.

Both Kim and Kelly can't get the thought of Ola Salo's too-tight jumpsuit out of their heads.

The best thing I can say about Deportees is that at least they're slightly better live than on record. Poor Thomas Hedlund sure is slumming.

Vikings are the new pirates.

That is all, back tomorrow.

I knew something was different when the envelope had a fancy wax seal. I'm always excited to get packages in the mail, but it's rare that I receive something sent with such care and effort. Upon opening I was even more intrigued - here was a CD packaged in an elaborate insert designed to look and fold out like a flower. My words can't do it justice - you really have to see and feel it to appreciate it. This was most definitely not the standard mediocre demo material I often receive. No, Ea Philippa is most definitely not mediocre or average. Besides the CD, the package also included one of the most ridiculous press releases I've ever seen. Ridiculous as in "Composer and singer Ea Philippa releases her debutalbum "Fjerne Himle" ("Distant Skies") the 7th of March this and with that she bids welcome onboard the starship towards distant galaxes and enchanting realms." Ridiculous as in "The music describes a univers far from this world wraped in magic and fairytales quite ready to explore. It includes glaktic princesses from faraway planets, Dreamweavers in spiderwebpalaces, indecent wizzards and beautyfull elven women with chameleonhair." (all typos reprinted as-is) Did I mention that it's printed on paper with faux burnt edges? And that it includes a map of her aforementioned "magical univers"? Normally this sort of thing would go straight into the trash bin after a good laugh, but I must admit - my curiousity had been raised. There is something so earnest and purehearted in the way that Ea presents herself that I just had to give her more of a chance. I'm glad I did because the music turned out to be quite good.

Genre-wise, Ea exists somewhere between Björk and Stina Nordenstam or maybe within the realms of Loreena Mckennitt and Joanna Newsom. The sound is jazzy at times and very vocal-heavy, but not in a love-it-or-hate-it way like how Newsom is regarded. There's an element of mystery and fantasy that tiptoes the line of absurdity without falling over. The compositions have strong folk and classical compenents as well, in both the melodies and the arrangements. One of my favorite ingredients of the sound is the use of vocal noises and body percussion for beat construction. It's so organic and natural sounding. I suspect that if I understood Danish I might be a bit bummed by the lyrics, but ignorance is bliss. I don't need to know, I just want to enjoy it. Overall, I can't say that this is the best thing I've heard in awhile, but it is easily the most interesting and unique. Definitely worth checking out.

Umeå Open has confirmed my speaking engagement for April 9 at 1pm. If you want to hear me rant about online music, this will be the time and place to do it.

IAT will be in LA tonight for the ExMS showcase at the Troubadour. No news update tomorrow - back Friday with a full report.

Recent Verdura Records signees Kirlian Crossing now have a website with some mp3s online: https://www.verdurarecords.com/kirliancrossing/
The band describes themselves as Nick Drake type folk inspired by Soviet Union-era Tarkovsky sci-fi. Good stuff.