Rune Grammofon has posted details on their next release, Elephant9's debut "Dodovoodoo": http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/elephant9/rcd-2075---elephant9-dodovoodo
Samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/elephant9theband
Norwegian "Reader's companion" alums Don Juan Dracula have confirmed their new album "New sensations" will be out on June 23, just in time for them to make their triumphant return to the live stage on June 27 at the Hove Festival. Hear two new tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/donjuandracula
Check out the video for the international hip-hop collaboration "Diversidad" which features cameos from Promoe (Looptroop Rockers) and Noora Noor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtJrD2SJY5c
Killing the Legacy revisits the 7" debut from Finnish hardcore act Down My Throat who will be playing their final show at the upcoming Fullhouse Records 10-year anniversary show: http://killingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2008/05/damned-to-live.html
Check out The National Bank's new video for the track "Home": http://www.universalmusic.no/les_mer.asp?newsid=4789
Danish IAT.MP3 act Imagine I Had Hands have a brand new track up on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/imagineihadhands
Naturally, it is very recommended.
Candlelight has posted a new interview with Ihsahn talking about his new solo album "Angl": http://www.candlelightrecords.co.uk/candleweb/redesign/candle_ihsahn_interview.htm
The record is actually really good, I must admit that I'm surprised. Expect an mp3 post next week.
Let's get meta: Idolator reports on the Guardian's report on the Wonky Pop tour featuring Denmark's Alphabeat: http://idolator.com/386564/alphabeat-and-the-rest-of-the-wonky-pop-brigade-are-here-to-save-the-day
There's now a video for the acoustic version of the new Marit Bergman single "Out on the piers": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-x_OMRcNTM
Subscribers to her single series can download a hi-res version in her site's lounge area.
Check out a behind-the-scenes video feature on the upcoming Ida Maria single "Queen of the world": http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=33292842
Premium Publishing will be putting out "The encyclopedia of Swedish punk 1977-1987" in the very near future and has started taking preorders. Unfortunately it won't let me provide a direct link to the book in question, but if you go to their site you can read a bit about the book and check out the band index list: http://www.premiumpublishing.com/
Mas-Kina Recordings will be putting out a new EP from Norwegian noiserockers Go Ahead Drink Drink on May 26. Hear a sample at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/goaheaddrinkdrink
MP3: Unleashed - Before the creation of time
I'm not gonna lie, I was first drawn to Unleashed by the awesomeness that is their logo. Brutal, yet totally legible with a super-prominent upside-down cross. In a word: awesome. I came across the album "Where no life dwells" while browsing the CD racks and was instantly sold. As for the music, I didn't immediately appreciate their plodding, simplistic death-metal style on first listen, but it's grown on me over the years. Unlike other Swedish contemporaries, there's barely any guitar harmonies, the technically is kept at a minimum and the recording is clean and bare-bones (much thanks to esteemed producer Waldemar Sorychta). Instead, the emphasis is on groove and gloom. That's what makes them so damn heavy! That also means you really don't need more than one Unleashed album in your collection, but who cares -- they have an instantly recognizable sound that's all their own, a sound that's undeniably classic. Remember the mantra: keep it simple, stupid! Of those contemporaries from back in the early 90s, very few have aged nearly as well.
Unleashed - Before the creation of time
Pitchfork interviews Sarah Assbring aka El Perro Del Mar: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/49363-interview-el-perro-del-mar