The White Noise netlabel has posted a new release from noise act Norrsken for free download: http://chambrenoire.rohr.nu/wn/catalogue.html
I think it's safe to assume that this is a different act than the pre-Witchcraft/Graveyard hard rockers.
Universal Poplab is giving away their new single "On the run" as a free download: http://www.universalpoplab.com/
Pg.Lost's debut full-length "It's not me, it's you!" will get a Japan release this week via Octave Records, a full 4 months before it comes out at home in Sweden. In other news, look for the band to tour Europe beginning in August with Danish act Obstacles. Go here for preliminary details: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=5441486&blogID=394285154
Coming later this month on the new Service label coop, a new single from The Embassy: http://www.theembassy.info/
Opeth will play Japan in late August:
08/27 - Blitz, Tokyo
08/28 - Club Quattro, Nagoya
08/30 - Club Quattro, Osaka
PopMatters reviews Swedish artist Kaka: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/kaka-kaka/
Mattias Alkberg has laid MABD to rest, but has also assured his fans that he will continue making music in many, many forms: http://www.mabd.se/?p=87
Hardcore, orchestral pop, whatever... wait and see!
Swedish pop group Lamont has a new video for the track "45 minutes": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvMBXgGkiqA
Maukka Perusjätkä of The Heartburns will be filling on drums for I Walk the Line when they leave on tour next week as Jussi Kenttämaa is currently experiencing some health problems and needs to undergo surgery before he can rejoin the band on stage. Get dates at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/iwtlfinland
Check out Meshuggah's new video for the track "Bleed": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=34070402
Cold Meat Industry is reissuing the 1995 Brighter Death Now "easy listening" album "Necrose evangelicum" as a special 2-disc digipack with a bonus live disc. More info: http://www.coldmeat.se/mailorderitem.asp?id=2475
Kira Skov (ex-Kira and the Kindred Spirits) is currently mixing her new album in LA and reports that it is confirmed for a September 1 release in her home country of Denmark. More details when I get 'em.
It looks like their recent extended stay in Iceland has paid off: Danish act Munich has signed with renown Icelandic label Smeekleysa and will release their full-length album "Those who dare" in June. Listen to the band at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/munichdk
There's a new single by Nordpolen called "Skimret" on now on Sincerely Yours: http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0080.html
Listen at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/nordpolen
The long-awaited Licking Fingers Swedish music comp "Thank You For The Music" will finally be out on May 28 and the label will celebrate with a party that evening at Pet Sounds Bar in Stockholm. Here's the tracklist, as best I can tell:
01. Anna Järvinen - Svensktalande Bättre Folk
02. Jens Lekman - The Opposite Of Hallelujah
03. Lykke Li - Everbody But Me
04. Those Dancing Days - Dischoe
05. Friska Viljor - Old Man
06. Shout Out Louds - South America
07. The Concretes - The Sentence
08. First Floor Power - The Jacket
09. Pacific! - Runaway To Elswhere
10. Kleerup/Lisa Milberg - Music For Girl
11. The Radio Dept. - Freddy And The Trojan Horse
12. Studio - No Company
13. Peter Morén - Social Competence
14. Loney, Dear - Your Time Will Come
15. Wildbirds And Peacedrums - Liar Lion
16. El Perro Del Mar - Glory To The World
17. The Tiny - Too Heavy A Burden
18. Frida Hyvönen - See How I Come Into Town
19. Speedmarket Avenue - Sirens
20. Idiot Kid - Wide Awake
21. Nicolai Dunger - God's Waitingroom