Norwegian label Checkpoint Charlie Audio Production has a nice, new clean website: http://www.ccap.no/
Jeremiha's video for the new single "Teen machine" is now online: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32481020
Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner (Turbonegro) has posted a big update on his struggle with Hodgkins Disease, among other current events: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=13678139&blogID=396726519
Check out José González performing live for Pitchfork.tv: http://pitchfork.tv/dont-look-down/jos-gonzlez/killing-for-love
Watch Jonas Gustavsson from Division of Laura Lee perform a cover of "Going up the country" live with his little brother Simon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdvMi7NjHdY
The London Times spotlights Lykke Li: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3939298.ece
Also check the extra feature at the bottom for a weird sidebar about other Swedish pop worth checking out. C'mon, who really thinks that The Concretes have kept silent since Victoria Bergsman left?
Norwegian indie label Spoon Train Audio is now working with Sandviken-based artist Einar Stray. Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/einarstraymusic
Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt lists his top 10 favorite cock-rock albums for Decibel: http://www.thedeciblog.com/index.php/2008/05/19/mike-akerfeldts-opeth-top-10-cock-rock-albums/
The excellent Oslo-based record store Tiger, one of Norway's only mailorders that ships internationally, is starting up a record label called Fysisk Format. Coming up first will be a split LP featuring Eskatol and Black Blood World followed by new CDs from crusties Haust and Snöras. As for the future, look for a new 7" from Norwegian rockers Silver and the long-awaited album "Shadows" from hardcore act Kaospilot. More info: http://fysiskformat.tigernet.no/
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: http://www.stereotestkit.com/
Swedish crusties Avskum have a couple new tracks on myspace off their forthcoming Prank Records release "Uppror underifrån": http://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: http://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: http://www.surrounded.se/