Country: Sweden

Skriet - Oceandåren (live video)

Kvalität has a new live video from Skriet today: http://www.kvalitat.com/2012/01/s-k-r-i-e-t-oceandaren-live/

Koko - The follower

"The follower" is the first official single from Koko's upcoming debut album, due out later this spring via .

Samling - Stackars lilla värsting (video)

PSL has the premiere of the new Mats Udd-directed Samling video "Stackars lilla värsting": http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/01/23/premiar-samling-stackars-lilla-varsting/
If you dig mellow psychrock like Dungen or The Amazing, you should check this out.

Pig Eyes - Bullet with everything

New postpunk/hardcore from Pig Eyes, a new act featuring current and ex-members from bands such as Nitad, In Solitude, Trapdoor Fucking Exit and Kvoteringen. Look for a 12" EP to be released via later this year.

Loosegoats are back

Swedish indierockers Loosegoats are back in the studio again after 11 years of silence, working on a new album with producer Andreas Ejnarsson.

Abulia Jubilee trailer

After 19 years of being a band, Tennis Bafra will finally release their debut longplayer "Abulia Jubilee" on February 6 via .

Spiknykter - Döda politikers sällskap

New raw hardcore from Sweden, far crustier than related act Lose the Life. Read more here: http://www.swehc.com/2012/01/19/introducing-spiknykter/

Säkert! - The lakes we skate on/Isarna

The latest video from Säkert!, available in both English and Swedish.

Markus Krunegård - Everybody hurts (video)

Here's the brand new Markus Krunegård single "Everybody hurts", as was premiered at P3 Guld this weekend. Look for his new album "Mänsklig värme" to be released on March 28.

The Slytest - Winning without playing (video)

Solid powerpop from Swedish act The Slytest. "Winning without playing" is the band's debut single.

Scraps of Tape back to Germany

Swedish postrock act Scraps of Tape will be heading to Germany next week:

01/27 - Reilstr. 78, Halle
01/28 - Big Buttinsky, Osnabrück
01/29 - Apex Kultur, Göttingen
01/30 - Schocken, Stuttgart
01/31 - Cafe Wagner, Jena
02/01 - Az Conni, Dresden
02/02 - Hafen 02/0Offenbach
02/03 - Drucklufthaus, Oberhausen
02/04 - Waldmeister, Solingen

Serene Record pitching in for Blessings

, the same folks who did the recent Breach reissue, will be co-releasing the upcoming Blessings tape along side the band's own label.

Let's Say We Did - s/tLet's Say We Did
s/t
Nesna Records

8

Here's a nostalgia trip that never tires -- Let's Say We Did happily reminds of all things flannel, Big Muffs and youngsters paying dues to the 'Youth. This 7-track album has some killer easy songs, and its straightforward songwriting style minus shoegazer ripping makes it an endearing choice of recent Nordic 90's revival bands. This sound definitely had its time in the American indie underground -- hoarse, mumbling vocals like Cap'n'Jazz or The Weakerthans, and heartfelt choruses (avoiding the evil "E" word) of early acts. I could probably list a million bands from this era off the top of my head -- there's definitely one for every American suburb -- regardless, what I am getting to is the golden Teenage Fanclub rule: a good melody, is just a good melody, no matter how many or how few chords you use. Standout tracks, "It's OK" opens with a somewhat familiar riff but sticks some teeth around the edges; "Straight back to you" opens with infectious guitar duelling that'd perfectly fit your favourite (fill in the blank) 90s TV series. "On the day" and "Blue skies" have a saintly sweetness long associated with maybe youthful romance or innocence. Not a poor pop-pleaser for those with a weakness for guitar-music, easier on the ear then overproduced frilly, mathcore hits dominating the charts, at least.
- Ann Sung-an Lee

P3 Guld 2012 winners

Here are the winners of the 2012 P3 Guld awards:

Artist: Kapten Röd - Fläcken som aldrig går bort
Group: Deportees - Islands & shores
Song: Vart jag mig i världen vänder - Den Svenska Björnstammen
Newcomer: Den Svenska Björnstammen
Guldmicken (Best Live Act): Kapten Röd
Pop: Syket - With love
Hip-hop/Soul: Ison & Fille - För evigt
Dance: L-Wiz - Samlad produktion
Rock/Metal: Graveyard - Hisingen blues

It may come as a surprise, but I'm actually a fan of the latest Kapten Röd record and am glad to see that he won.

The Silent Ballet reviews September Malevolence

The Silent Ballet reviews the new album "Our withers unwrung" from Swedish post-rockers September Malevolence: http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/4654/Default.aspx