Musique Machine reviews the new Meshuggah: http://www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=614
Pitchfork does a respectible job giving an intro to Finnish psych/folk-rock: http://pitchforkmedia.com/features/weekly/05-04-18-finnish-psych-folk.shtml
Also at Pfork today is an interview with Norwegian post-rock/jazz combo Shining: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/interviews/s/shining-05/
Hammerfall has announced that they will doing a North American tour with Edguy in August. Dates so far:
08/10 - tba, Toronto, ONT
08/11 - Medley, Montreal, QUE
08/12 - Imperial, Quebec City, QUE
08/15 - Jaxx, West Springfield, VA
08/16 - B.B. King's, New York, NY
My Darling You has just finished recording a new EP called "Moving out of your hose and into another" and has posted two tracks for download:
Old Man's Child, the solo project of Galder from Dimmu Borgir, has finished recording their new album "In the orbit of torment". The record features eight songs, one being a rerecording of the classic tune "Born of the Flickering", the title track from the first album released in '95. Galder once again played every instrument on the album except for the drums which were handled by Reno Kiilerich (Dimmu Borgir, Exmortem).
The new video for "Mr. Suit" from Powersolo can now be viewed online at the band's website: http://www.powersolo.dk/mrsuit.html
The excellent music blog For the Eardrums has posted a great article on Icelandic music covering artists such as Mugison, Steintryggur, Botnledja, Ampop, Stafrænn Hákon and more: http://eardrums.blogspot.com/
Håkan Johannson and Per Stålberg of Divison Of Laura Lee and Shelby Cinca of Frodus/Decahedron have a new band together called Frantic Mantis. Check out their myspace page for a soundclip: http://www.myspace.com/franticmantis
Look for the debut full-length "This is data-punk" to be released on Lujo Records this coming fall.
Speaking of things DoLL-related, Håkan's label Carcrash Records just released a new album from Alarma Man. Head to the label's website for a free soundclip: http://www.carcrashrecords.com/
Anders Hjelmtorp of on-demand video service Musicbrigade has been announced as the new head of Export Music Sweden. He replaces Christer Lundblad who is leaving for a new job with the music distribution company CDA. In other Musicbrigade-related news, I understand that Simon Gooch from Luger is once again returning to the fold as Vice President Content and Programming. Congrats on the new baby and the new job Simon! Best of luck!
It's too late now, but Sirius satellite radio broadcasted a recording of the ExMS showcase in NYC with The Ark, The Drowners, Moneybrother and The Deportees on channel 26, "Left of Center". Sorry I didn't get to posting the news before the weekend (it was aired both Saturday and Sunday), but it's good to note that people are paying attention and that these bands are getting promoted.
Some of the people from Hybris Records and Songs I Wish I Had Written are starting a new project to promote Swedish pop abroad: http://www.lovelysweden.com/