The UK's Heavenly Recordnings will be releasing a new Bear Quartet 7" with the tracks "Put Me Back Together" and "Ambulance". The latest album "Angry Brigade" is also getting distribution in England through Backs/Shellshock.

And in other Bear Quartet related news, there's gonna be a tribute album to the famous Swedish indierockers and you can hear Laakso's contribution right here: https://www.bearquartet.com/web_elements/audio/laakso_-_blizzard.mp3

Upcoming tourdates for Burst:

03/24 - Klubi, Tampere (FIN)
03/25 - Klubi, Turku (FIN)
03/26 - Lutakko, Jyväskylä (FIN)
03/27 - Semifinal, Helsinki (FIN)
04/17 - tba, Bremen (GER)
04/18 - 13, Tilburg (NL)
04/20 - Junction7, Nottingham (UK)
04/21 - The Attic, Manchester (UK)
04/22 - The Warehouse, Plymouth (UK)
04/23 - The Ocean, London (UK)
04/24 - TBA, Folkestone (UK)
04/25 - Goudvishal Festival, Arnhem (NL)
04/27 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE)
06/25-27 - Furyfest, Le Mans (FRA)
08/06-07 - Augustibuller, Lindesberg (SWE)

Swedish all-star power-metal band Dream Evil (feat. Snowy Shaw and Fredrik Nordström) have confirmed May 31 as the European release date of their new album, the wonderfully titled "The Book of Heavy Metal".

Chester Copperpot recorded some new tracks for an EP last weekend and you can check out a silly musical montage from the proceedings right here: https://www.chesterpowerpop.com/cc_komtillkinna.html

New pics of Mustasch, Laakso and The Lightbulb Project from the Rookie tour up at Rockfoto.nu.

German label Three Kings Records has invited Swedish power-pop group The Higher Elevations to contribute a track to an upcoming Christmas comp that's due out next winter. Other confirmed bands include Supersuckers, Darlington and Adam West.

Mustasch, as expected, has been confirmed for Hultsfred. Their new single "6:36" has been delayed so that the release coincides with the festival.

Magnus Uggla is headlining a special showcase tour around Sweden along with Melodifestival-winner Lena Philipsson, Robert Gustafsson, Cecilia Frode and Johan Rheborg. Dates:

07/07–10 - Heden, Göteborg
07/14–17 - Kalmarsundsparken, Kalmar
07/21–24 - S:a Fästningshörnan, Varberg
07/28–31 - Cirkusplatsen, Gärdet, Stockholm

DigitalMetal interviews Tarot from Finland: https://www.digitalmetal.com/interviews.asp?iID=4858

Swedish bands playing this year's We & You Festival in Malmö on July 23-24: The Radio Dept., Ambassadeurs, El Perro del Mar, Like Honey, Happy Go Lucky, The Light Bulb Project, Richard Reagh and Shade Tree.

Peccatum, the band of ex-Emperor mastermind Ihsahn and his wife Ihriel, have confirmed that their new album "Lost In Reverie" will be released on April 19 through Mnemosyne Productions/Voices Music and Entertainment. The End Records will handle the US release on May 25. Tracklist and soundclips:

01. Desolate Ever After
02. In The Bodiless Heart
03. Parasite My Heart
04. Veils Of Blue
05. Black Star
06. Stillness
07. The Banks Of This River Is Night

Rumor has it that Danish metal act Illdisposed has signed a multi-album deal with Roadrunner. Confirmation forthcoming.

I went down to LA on Saturday for that ExMS Swedish Showcase at the Troubadour and it was fantastic. Not only did all five bands (Kristofer Åström, Holden, Kamera, Hell on Wheels and Hardcore Superstar) put on a good show, but everyone was tremendously nice and fun to hang out with. Big ups to everyone involved involved, including Christer at ExMS, Fredrik from Startracks, Alf the tour manager, HS' label folks and so on and so forth. I'm so glad I made the trip. Look for a full write-up soon. I'll try and post some of the pics I took, too.

Don't forget - KVLR's new self-titled album will be officially released in the US tomorrow! Buy it!

A new review from Musiklandet: https://www.musiklandet.nu/ml/index.nsf/1?OpenForm&sk+1F19DCB245303429C1256E56006FCB34 (in Swedish)