Danish metalcore act As We Fight has announced that Esben Elnegaard Kjaer Hansen (Numbnuts, Nightrage, ex-Stomped) is now their new, permanent vocalist. The band is currently recording their third album "Meet your maker" with producer Jacob Bredahl (Hatesphere, Koldborn) at Smart N Hard Studio.
Drowned in Sound interview Wildbird and Peacedrums: http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/3326708
Dagens Nyheter has the new Håkan Hellström video for "Kär i en ängel": http://webbtv.dn.se/index.aspx?id=3839
Danish electropop act Small (nee Harmony Boys) will release their debut album this coming August. Listen to the current single "Sunshine lover" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/smallatmyspace
The Afmusic netlabel has a new release from Swedish postpunk act Sleazy Romance posted for download: http://af-music.de/releases/sleazyromance-nosparkextended.html
The new Holiday with Maggie single "Hell(o)" (no, not a Gwar cover) is streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/westsidefabrication
Aversionline on Norwegian artist Stille Opprör, the new solo act of ex-In the Woods guitarist Christer Cederberg: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2008/05/30/stille-oppror-so2-cd/
Danish indie act Late Night Venture are blogging while on tour in Europe: http://late-night-illusions.blogspot.com/2008/05/europe-ventures-part-1.html
MP3: Lama - Bussi
Terveet Kädet may be the gold standard for Finnish hardcore punk (going strong since 1980!), but they're almost a bit too raging for my tastes, believe it or not. Deserving the accolades afforded them? Hell yeah, just not the sort of thing I feel like throwing on the stereo on a regular basis. Instead, I very much prefer the more melodic sounds of bands like Lama. Still raw and totally raging, but with more a streetpunk vibe that you can sing along to, assuming you can understand Finnish. The band's single compilation "...ja mikään ei muuttunut" is 100% killer early punkrock and the track "Bussi" off their debut 7" (as posted today) is a definite standout. Love the gang vocals, the hey! shouts, even the weird, blazed-out solo. 100% classic!
Note: Not to be confused with the contemporary electronic artist from Norway. He's okay, but he's not anywhere near as good as this.
Lama - Bussi
Days
Downhill
Shelflife Records
On their EP and 7", Days adopt all of the delicate splendor that made us all fall for Johnny Marr's guitar lines within The Smiths' catalog, and the James-like approach of Australia's criminally neglected Youth Group. The end result is a luxuriant collection of indiepop tunes, contemplative but upbeat, without either leaning taking up too much of the focus; a delicate balance between sweetness and reflection that easily could have become a saccharine-sweet mess in less able hands. Along with The Mary Onettes, Days have established themselves as among the best musicians continuing the lineage set up in 1980s.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
They Live By Night's new track from the forthcoming "There's a Razzia going on" compilation is now streaming at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theylivebynight
You can also now download their current single "Endless summer" for free right here: http://www.theylivebynight.com/docs/They%20Live%20by%20Night%20-%20Endless%20Summer.mp3
The video for Eskobar's latest single "Flat Earth" is now on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14W2pC7pkT4
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Morten Harket - Letter From Egypt
02. Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion
03. Vassendgutane - Xo
04. Maria Haukaas Storeng - Hold On Be Strong
05. Malin - Pang
06. Madrugada - Madrugada
07. Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen - Sound Your Horn
08. Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons
09. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
10. Kaizers Orchestra - Maskineri
11. Thom Hell - God If I Saw Her Now
12. Ingrid Olava - Juliets Wishes
13. Diverse artister - Sorgen og gleden: Matte Marit
14. The National Bank - Come On Over To The Other Side
15. Eick, Mathias M/Balke/Kleive - The Door
16. Farmers Market - Surfin' Ussr
17. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
18. Nullskattesnylterne - Skrot
19. Elvira Nikolaisen - Indian Summer
20. Roy Lønhøiden - Når dagen demrer blått
Tobias 'Thobay K' Kippenberger of Danish act The Floor is Made of Lava injured in tragic (but funny) drinking accident: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=62158084&blogID=400214384