Bob Hund - Festen är över (video)

This is Bob Hund's new video for the song "Festen är över". Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNWx51i0SH4

Kubot are back, looking for label

Kubot, the Swedish duo of Martin Bergström (Bergdom) and Martin Gustafsson (Boy Omega), are back with a new album after 10 years and are looking for a label to release it. Connect with the band via myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kubotmusic

Ghost signs with Rise Above, will also release 7" with Iron Pegasus

Swedish retro metal act Ghost has officially signed with UK label Rise Above Ltd for the release of their debut album this coming fall. The band has also contracted with Iron Pegasus Records out of Germany for a 7" single featuring the track "Elizabeth" which sounds a lot like Mercyful Fate, as you can hear at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thebandghost

Sad Day for Puppets - Monster & the beast

In case you overlooked it when I first posted about it (though admittedly, not so directly), Sad Day for Puppets are giving away the new track "Monster & the beast" as a free download: http://saddayforpuppets.bandcamp.com/
The band's new album "Pale silver & shiny gold" will be released on September 1 via HaHa Fonogram/Sonic Cathedral.

MP3: Nybakat! - Music box

Nybakat!'s new album "Happy land" is no grand departure from the first one, but it's not as if that's a problem. More folk-influenced Swedish jazz? Yes, please! Pianist Ira Mogilevsky does let her bandmates get in on a bit more the action this time 'round though, so I suppose that does diversify the repertoire. As before, Ira's own pieces definitely reflect her Russian/Israeli background and on this particular record her tracks seem to lean more towards the slow and moody (despite the title, not that I'm complaining), but they are also balanced out by songs such as "Music box", a boppier number penned by drummer Vlad Nedelin with an odd time signature and a tense melody that seems to favor chromatic movement. As someone who doesn't necessarily seek out that much jazz these days, I really am glad that this record found its way to me. It's already received considerable playtime in my house and will continue to get much more in the future. Very recommended.

Nybakat! - Music box

This week's Last.fm chart

Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:

01. Familjen
02. The Radio Dept.
03. The National
04. Jens Lekman
05. Håkan Hellström
06. Anna von Hausswolff
07. The Bear Quartet
08. Robyn
09. Band of Horses
10. Shout Out Louds

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: http://www.last.fm/help/

Under the Radar on "The people's record"

Under the Radar reviews Club 8's newest release: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_peoples_record/

Teddybears vs Dramaten vs Don Carlos

Teddybears have composed new music for Verdi's "Don Carlos" and will be present for a one-off live performance of it at Dramaten in Stockholm on May 31. The music will also be released in a 250-copy limited edition vinyl pressing, available only the night of the performance. Read more: http://www.dramaten.se/dramaten/forestallningar/Dramaten-Teddybears-vs-Don-Carlos/ (in Swedish)

Alf - Hälften kvar (video)

Here's the video for Alf's new single "Hälften kvar": http://vimeo.com/11788606

New Steso Songs single: "OD #2"

The new Steso Songs single "OD #2" is out now as a digital download and comes with a new version of "Tonight it's oh too dark" as the exclusive b-side: http://www.klicktrack.com/lyckan/releases/steso-songs/od-2-single

Camouflage turn 25

Swedish postpunks Camouflage have decided to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of their (quite excellent) self-titled debut by putting together a playlist of what they consider to be a best-of collection: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=152856334&blogId=534455400
Not sure if it's available on Spotify, but I bet that almost all of that stuff can be tracked down without too much trouble. Otherwise, it looks like the whole thing is streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/camouflageswe

Imperial State Electric album preview

Imperial State Electric, Nicke Andersson's new "solo" project", is streaming a bunch of new songs at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/imperialstateelectric
Not recommended.

Nirvana 2002
Recordings 89-91
Relapse

Ahhh, the sonic wonder that is old-school Swedish death metal. Remembering the good old days when the likes of Entombed (Nihilist), Dismember, Carnage and the crew were kickstarting a musical style that would not only define a genre, but remain in fond memory for decades to follow. Another band in the fold during those early days of death was Nirvana 2002, also spewing forth the guitar tone from Helvete (you know the one) and blasting out some of the best death metal this side of the "Left hand path". Indeed, the opening track on this, "Mourning", could easily sit on the lauded debut from Entombed and hold its own. In fact, it even kicks the ass of some of the tunes on "LHP" and, since that's probably my all-time favorite death metal record, it's really saying something. The songs here have all the elements of classic Swedish death metal: from the overall, face-ripping sound, to the masterful song construction that offers fast sections, pummelling mid-paced passages, and slow, haunting, melodic runs. Obviously, with this release being a collection of early recordings there's bound to be some variation in production between songs. The quality doesn't really begin to waver though until track seven ("Physical excursion / Truth and beauty"), which is understandable, given the songs from here on comprise the band's very first demos and rehearsal tapes. It's not an issue, however, as they give true insight into the workings of a fledgling genre, essentially serving as a window to the past and offering us the chance to really hear what was going on back in those formative years. On that note, the tracks from 1990's "Disembodied spirits" are presented here in two forms -- the original mix and a fresh 2009 mix. As could probably be expected, while the new mix offers a fuller, beefed out sound, the 1990 mix allows the true power of the original songs to shine through. As a whole, this is an exceptional and very welcome release indeed. An essential album for fans of the genre.
- John Norby

Monty - Seglaren (video)

This is Monty's new single "Seglaren". Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK-_3NRko9w

MP3: The Amazing - And it looks like today

Despite the intermittent rain up here in this part of the world, there's no doubting that spring has finally arrived. Let this new single from The Amazing be your soundtrack. The band's new EP "Wait for a light to come" is out now and it is bliss.

The Amazing - And it looks like today