The Monotonik netlabel has posted a new release from the ever-increasingly prolific Psilodump: http://www.mono211.com/content/releases/mtkmp155.html
Check out Marthe Valle's myspace page to hear her new single "Dandy": http://www.myspace.com/marthevalle
Her debut album "It's a bag of candy" comes out October 24 and was produced by Marthe along with Pål Brekkås and Lars Lien (Int'l Tussler society, ex-Motorpsycho). The record also features numerous guest stars such as Kenneth Ishak (Beezewax) who sings and plays guitar and keys on the aforementioned single and a few other tracks.
Aversionline has ceased with the review updates for now, but it's okay 'cuz they're making up for it with more regular postings on the mp3 blog. Today's pick comes from Deviant, a new young Swedish death-metal band: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2005/11/finally-some-new-swedish-death-metal.html
Sara Culler is now blogging: http://saraculler.webblogg.se/
For those of who don't recognize the name right away, Sara is David Fridlund's better half and appears all over his solo album "Amaterasu".
Just in time for Access All Areas, Smilodon has posted a bunch of free mp3 and video downloads in their press section: http://www.smilodon.se/PRESSMEDIA.htm
Artists featured include Martin Bentancourt, Fredrik Fagerlund, Babylon Bombs and Scoob Rock.
MP3: Notre Dame - Into the coven
Have I never posted anything from Notre Dame before? I feel like the answer is no and that's a damn shame because they're an excellent act and seriously underappreciated. Band leader Snowy Shaw spent some time playing drums for King Diamond and Mercyful Fate some years back before getting frustrated that he wasn't able to contribute his own musical ideas to those projects, so he started Notre Dame, among many other sideprojects such as Memento Mori, Illwill and more recently, Dream Evil. I spent a good chunk of time yesterday listening to some of my old 'Fate records, so I thought why not post a cover tune by an ex-member? Or something like that. I guess I could've posted an actual Fate original since they are actually Danish, but King Diamond has lived in Texas so long it just doesn't seem right. It's almost like considering Metallica to be a Danish act since Lars was born there and we all know that just isn't right. So anyhow, there was a time in the late 90s when everyone seemed to be gung-ho about doing metal tribute albums. The Listenable Records tribute to Mercyful Fate is definitely not the best of the bunch (that title belongs to the first "Slaytanic slaughter" tribute to Slayer), but it's not bad. Pretty much every contribution is played straight-ahead except, that is, for Notre Dame. Snowy Shaw is actually all over this damn comp - he does vocals for Luciferion and also contributes a cover of "Evil" under his own name - but it's the final track "Into the coven" that stands out most. It takes the original song into a whole new dimension of grandeur and theatrics. What's also great about Snowy is that he doesn't take his work too seriously. His comic book-meets-metal vision is often light-hearted and fun, but it's definitely not the same as ironic detachment. This is not like whats-his-name from Pinback playing with Goblin Cock. There is no question that this is true metal. No sly winks or expensive "vintage" t-shirts. Be forewarned however, this is an epic track so that means an equally epic 16mb download. Enjoy!
Notre Dame - Into the coven
Finland's Pink Twins will release a new CD later this month entitled "Paint it pink" which will feature two live sets for a total of 75-minutes worth of music. Details and sound clips: http://pinktwins.com/music.html
The tracklist for Mentoroja's new album "Escaping from the artificial" has been revealed:
01. Pass me the mic
02. What is to be done?
03. The Doom Dada
04. Changes to get all that ft. Scoob Rock
05. Say no more
06. The Escape pt. II
07. Light skinned spic spitting
08. Piece of mind ft. AKEM, Crpl & Bracey Haensun
09. Strike Back
10. Revolutionize the mainstream
11. Still Breathing ft. AKEM
12. Ho Chi Minh style
Head to his website to hear samples: http://www.menteroja.net/
Swedish singer/songwriter Simon Ryman now has an official website: http://www.simonryman.com/
Marit Bergman will be doing a couple more acoustic shows in NYC later this month with friend/cowriter/producer Åsa Jacobsson:
11/10 - Rothkos, NYC (11pm)
11/11 - Pianos, NYC (8pm)
She's also put the call out for local females who can join her onstage to provide some backup vocals. Marit is awesome, so if that's sounds like something you're up for, you should hook it up.
And speaking of Åsa Jacobsson, her other band Consequences with other fellow Bergman bandmates is now on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bewareoftheconsequences
Foxy Digitalis reviews the "Rojo.Tachan.Nosordo" compilation: http://www.foxydigitalis.com/foxyd/review_detail.php?id=1095
It's available for sale in mp3 form right here.
Finland's Iconcrash will kick off a London tour with a gig at Purple Turtle in Camden on November 24. More dates tbc soon. The band will also support the excellent Anathema for three dates in their home country:
12/13 - Lutakko, Jyväskylä
12/14 - Teatria, Oulu w/Charon, Swallow the Sun
12/15 - Nosturi, Helsinki w/Throes of Dawn
Upcoming releases on the way from Finnish label Levy-yhtiö Records:
11/16 - Zacharius Carls Group - Image of love CD
02/08 - Järjestyshäiriö - EP (4 tracks)
02/08 - Voltas - 17 EP (4 tracks)
02/08 - Hostages - Hostages EP (4 tracks)
04/05 - Zacharius Carls Group - Maxi-EP
04/05 - Apulanta - DVD
08/16 - Zacharius Carls Group - Fan club live CD
tbd - Jarkko Martikainen - album
Download a new mp3 from Norwegian hardcore act Dominic: http://dominic.breadshaker.com/barrel.mp3
The band's new 7" "From a strangers hands records" comes out soon via Ape Must Not Kill Ape.