Check out a new track from Finnish hardcore act Lighthouse Project on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/lighthouseproject
The band's new 7"/DVD collection "Misanthropic humanist" will be out in July.
Look for a new 7" from Finnish punks Karanteeni to be released on Combat Rock Industry later this summer.
Danish pop heroes Alphabeat will return to the UK for a string of dates this fall:
10/20 - Carling Academy, Liverpool
10/21 - University, Newcastle
10/22 - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
10/24 - ABC, Glasgow
10/25 - Academy 2, Manchester
10/27 - Waterfront, Norwich
10/28 - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London
10/31 - Anson Rooms, Bristol
11/01 - University, Plymouth
11/02 - University, Southampton
11/03 - Concorde 2, Brighton
11/05 - Carling Academy, Oxford
11/06 - Roadmender, Northampton
11/07 - The Leadmill, Sheffield
11/09 - Kasbah, Coventry
11/10 - Trent University, Nottingham
11/11 - Metropolitan University, Leeds
The new album "Traveler" from Swedish country/pop act Abalone Dots is confirmed for release on July 30. Said album was recorded in Nashville with genre legend Al Perkins and producer David Z.
Danish indie label VUF Empire has another new compilation posted for free download: http://vuf-empire.dk/
After working separately on numerous sideprojects, Norwegian act Jaga Jazzist is back together in the same place rehearsing new material.
MP3: Masshysteri - Monoton tid
Travel day today - heading to Umeå from Malmö with a brief layover in Stockholm where I make the switch from rails to air. Enjoy a tune from one of Norrland's current best punkrock acts Masshysteri, the new, much-improved band that rose from the ashes of The Vicious. Looking forward to a Midsommar wedding in Umeå, I can't imagine it gets much better than this!
Masshysteri - Monoton tid
Kranium has now released the full-length debut "Ibland kan man inte hindra sig själv" from Swedish hardcore punx Nitad (apparently I missed them here in Malmö the other night and am bummed). said disc includes 12 new rippers plus all of the various cuts from their earlier EPs for a grand total of 31 cuts. Listen to samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kraniumrecords
In Flames will do a huge European headlining tour this fall with support from Gojira (FRA) and Sonic Syndicate (SWE). Check their site for the latest dates: http://www.inflames.com/Tour.aspx
Check out a trailer for the new Studio album "Yearbook 2", now available for preorder: http://www.inf000.com/
Finnish avant/experimental act Kuusumun Profeetta will release their fifth album "Lyhtykuja" ("The alley of lanterns") in July via Ektro Records (Circle, etc.). Hear a new track at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/moonfogprophet
Efterklang has contributed a photo diary of their first US tour to Self-Titled Magazine: http://www.self-titledmag.com/2008/06/11/coming-to-america-a-photo-diary-of-efterklangs-first-us-tour/
Digital Renaissance recounts a bit of the discussion from the seminar on digital music distribution that I attended at Hultsfred: http://www.digitalrenaissance.se/2008/06/17/a-future-music-service-and-the-arguments-to-engage-with-it/
Check out a new no-budget video for "A backlash is here" from Umeå noiserockers Royal Downfall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOTcBaUJUj8
You can now also download the band's most recent album "These means have no end" for free via Last.fm or The Pirate Bay.
Listen to Ulver's contribution to the massive Norwegian Prince tribute collection "Shockadelica: 50th Anniversary Tribute To The Artist Known As Prince": http://www.myspace.com/ulver1