Stereo Test Kit is offering up a new 2-track single from Band in Box for free download in advance of the release of their new album "This fiction" which will be out in 3 week. Go grip it: https://www.stereotestkit.com/

Swedish crusties Avskum have a couple new tracks on myspace off their forthcoming Prank Records release "Uppror underifrån": https://www.myspace.com/avskum

Finnish heavy-rockers Rite will be releasing their 3rd album "Death I hear you calling, but I can't come home right now" on October 6 via Longfellow Records. Listen at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/riteband

Umeå-based crust/hardcore/metal label Discouraged Records is back after a long break and will be putting out four new releases this year:

Moloken - we all face the dark alone CDEP
Angel With No Arms - s/t 7" EP
Bingo - Mer grind än din morsa CD
The Pookie Syndrome - s/t 7" EP

Check out the hyperlinked bandnames for samples.

Surrounded is looking for fans to submit artwork and animations to use in their live show projections and will be giving away signed copies of their most recent album "The nautilus years" to all the best entries. Read more: https://www.surrounded.se/

Volvo will be using the (excellent) old Nicolai Dunger track "Something in the way" off his third album "This cloud is learning" (1999) for an ad-spot to air on US TV this summer, starting in June.

Watch a seizure-inducing video of Swedish art-punks Knife and Ape performing the track "Night touch" live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdN8jYzeZ4w

The Guardian gives Alphabeat a 5-star review: https://music.guardian.co.uk/omm/story/0,,2279917,00.html

Despotz Records are offering up the new Kaka single "What a frame" as a paid download via Klicktrack for a significant discount: https://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=187094648&blogID=395943454
Kaka's self-titled debut is a great underrated pop record, so I'd say it's worth checking out.

Adrian Recordings has posted the new Printer single "You need to" as a free download: https://www.adrianrecordings.com/1.Printer-You_Need_To-Short_Edit.mp3>
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slz_WwuW3M4

Startracks has released a new live album from Christian Kjellvander called "Santiago" featuring his wife Karla-Thérèse Kjellvander in a supporting role. I'm not sure of the tracklist or official release date, but my understanding is that physical copies will be limited, but that mp3s should be available for purchase via Klicktrack/iTunes/the usual suspects. In other news, look for a video for the new single "When the mourning comes" to be released soon.

Here is the It's a Trap! Last.fm listening group top 10 artists of the week:

01. Death Cab for Cutie
02. Radiohead
03. Jens Lekman
04. Håkan Hellström
05. Lykke Li
06. The Radio Dept.
07. Coldplay
08. Vampire Weekend
09. Feist
10. Sufjan Stevens

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: https://www.last.fm/help/

Pitchfork is premiering the new The Tough Alliance video for "Neo violence": https://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/50711-the-tough-alliance-neo-violence-video-premiere
Also note in the footnote that the group has officially signed an international deal with Modular (don't forget they did those shows with them in Australia just after SXSW), who will be giving their most recent album "A new chance" an international release this fall.

Here's this week's radio show playlist:

01. Siena Root - Waiting for the sun
02. TALK 1
03. Cult of Luna - Eternal kingdom
04. Svartbag - Black Capricorn
05. Kite - Ways to dance
06. TALK 2
07. Eero Johannes - Finnrexin
08. Looptroop Rockers - The building
09. Holiday for Strings - Touch the tiger
10. TALK 3
11. Silverbullit - Magnetic city
12. Thomas Denver Jonsson - My wardrobe
13. Samtidigt Som - Constant in motion
14. Wolfbrigade - Feelings you don't want to feel
15. TALK 4
16. Johndoe - Piggtråd og piss
17. Sol Andersson - All is full of love
18. King of All the Animals - The snowflake song (I Was A Teenage Satan Worshipper remix)
19. TALK 5
20. Last Days of April - You don't believe me (Monster & Maskiner remix)
21. Pacta Sunt Servanda - To claim your prize
22. The Goner - Spirit round-up
23. TALK 6
24. Tape - Altamira
25. Letum - Tallriksis
26. Zeigeist - Black milk
27. TALK 7
28. Knife and Ape - Semiotic dysfunction
29. Terveet Kädet - Message
30. Giant Boar - Chronic date
31. The Lionheart Brothers - Time river floaty
32. TALK 8
33. Echo Is Your Love - Lion tamer vs tigers
34. Agent Side Grinder - Lashes of flashes
35. Skitsystem - Solidaritetens sista utpost
36. TALK 9
37. Final Exit - Punk enough

Reminder: my show on Sirius Blog Radio runs Saturdays at 12 noon and midnight ET on channel 26 (Left of Center). My show is being preempted this coming weekend (05/24) for a special Memorial Day Block Party special, but I'll be back in full effect on June 7.

It's a Trap! is nominated for the Svenska Podradiopriset (Swedish Podradio Prize) in the best mp3-blog category. Go here to vote/rösta: https://www.daytona.se/podradiopriset
For the Swedish-deficient, scroll down to the "Bästa mp3-blogg" category, select the "It's a Trap!" radio button, fill in your email address (they send a confirmation email to verify your vote is for real) and click the button. Thanks!