Norwegian black-metallers Dimmu Borgir have confirmed that drummer Tony Laureano from Nile will be sitting in with the band for the Ozzfest tour due to the fact that new Danish drummer Reno Kiilerich's slow-going visa processing problems.

There's a new mp3 today from Swedish singer/songwriter John Alexander Ericson, now residing in Berlin. He's got a great ethereal voice that will probably remind people of Thom Yorke or maybe Jeff Buckley, but the first person I thought of was Ben Christophers. Either way, it's good stuff. The track comes from his album "Songs for quiet souls" which came out earlier this year and he's already got a new one called "Savannah songs" just about ready to go. Be sure to check it out.

Also new on the site today, you'll notice there's an ad for the For the Record Sunday afternoon shows in Stockholm that I'm helping to promote. It's a great lineup of artists, so be sure to check it out if you're in the neighborhood. Oh, and some new photos in header rotation as well.

The Shout Out Louds are playing a couple more showcase gigs in the US later this month:

07/23 - Rothko, NYC
07/26 - Mercury Lounge, NYC
07/28 - Troubadour, LA
07/29 - Spaceland, LA

I suppose it's only a matter of time before they get signed and the backlash begins.

Cadaver (nee Cadaver Inc.) has a new website online: https://www.cadaver.no/
Sadly, it's nothing like the site that brought them to fame with their 'corpse removal service'.

William Hut will release their new 'country' album "Days to Remember" in Norway this coming September with touring to follow in October. The disc was recorded at Rear Window studios in Brookline, MA in the US with producer Michael Dinallo. It features Bjørn Bunes on piano along with various other Boston-area musicians. The first single will be for the song "Springtime Blues". A US and European release will happen early next year.

In other William Hut news, his album "Versus the end of fashion park" will be released in the UK in August/September via Paraphernalia Records. The first single will be "It’s the breeze" and he plans to tour over there in the fall as well.

Danish act Wäldchengarten reports that they'll have a new single out on Swedish netlabel Fukk God in the near future.

"Bigtime" is the name of the first single from the upcoming Soundtrack of Our Lives album, due out in October. Look for a new web-single from the guys next week over at tsool.net.

Finnish alt-country act The Latebirds will do a short tour in the US in September before finishing up the recording of their new album in Woodstock and Nashville. Expect an early 2005 release.

Check out pics from Asstronaut's tour of Germany: https://www.asstronaut.net/germany.html

Vote for your choice of the best band in Stockholm: https://www3.aos.se/bis/nominera/index.php?cid=0&flavor_id=170&nom=yes

Surrounded is hard at work on a new album and says that "Sky full of kites", "Starboat" and "Heliopolis" are some possible song names being tossed around. Stay tuned for some European tour dates in August.

Long-running Swedish indierockers Starmarket are back at last! They've finished the new album "Abandon Time" and sent it off to get pressed. Strange Fruit will release it in Germany while Fredrik at Startracks is helping distribute it in Sweden, though not directly through his own label. There's also going to be a three-song EP in September. Download the song "Antichrist" right here: https://www.starmarket.nu/sound/Starmarket_antichrist.mp3

Nine bassist Robert Karlsson was hurt in an undisclosed accident recently, forcing the band to cancel their scheduled appearances at the Kaktus and Volym Festivals. He's out of the hospital now, but still recovering. Send all get well messages to nine.email@spray.se.

Niccokick will finally release their debut as-yet-untitled full-length album on October 18. The first single "Love and Neonlights" comes out September 13 and a tour is planned for November/December.