The video for "Return of the ninja droids" from Finland's Desert Planet is finally online: http://www.9pm-records.de/en/dp_trailer.htm
Again, this track is one of the many that you can find on the IAT "Reader's companion" compilation. Look for more info on the right. In other news, it's been confirmed that the highly-regarded Stupido Records will be distributing the duo's new record in Finland.
Download a couple free b-sides from The Confusions:
http://cabal.port80.se/massproduktion/confusions/sound/confusions-wish_i_had_my.mp3
http://cabal.port80.se/massproduktion/confusions/sound/confusions-iwillneverletyou.mp3
The band will be playing the The Cavern Club in Liverpool on May 27 as part of the International Pop Overthrow at The Mathew Street Festival. They'll also be playing a late afternoon gig across the street at the Cavern Pub the very next day.
Upcoming international tourdates for Hammerfall:
05/20 - Club Quattro, Osaka (JAP)
05/21 - Shibuya O-East, Tokyo (JAP)
05/24 - Planet Mall, San José (COS)
05/26 - Hard Rock Live, Guadalajara (MEX)
05/28 - Monterrey Metal Fest, Monterrey (MEX)
05/29 - Circo Valador (MEX)
City (MEX)
05/31 - Cupula del Parque O'Higgins, Santiago (CHI)
Hyped Norwegian pop artist Annie will be doing a special DJ recording billed as an alternative to a live act. She'll be working with Finnish producer Timo Kaukolampi (And the Lefthanded, Op:l Bastards) to create a mix called "The Annie Mix - Decks, Beatbox and Vox" that will feature her own music interspersed with other artists along with sampler work, effects and her vocals. Their label says it will be "a severly tight and very dancy crossover set between 60 and 120mins of electro, rock and disco and will be available throughout the summer." More info soon?
The latest album from Umeå's The Perishers is finally out in the US and you can preview it here: http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/perishers/878768/album.jhtml
Apparently drummer Thomas Hedlund has quit his other bands The Deportees and Cult of Luna to work with these guys full time and I can't say I blame him. Who could pass up a huge tour with Sarah McLachlan? They also have a new US website right here: http://www.theperishersmusic.com/
Sorry to say it, but that has to be one of the worst, most annoying flash-based sites I've seen in quite some time.
Vendlus Records has confirmed that the new album "SoulSavior" from Norwegian doom industrial act V:28 will be released on May 24. The record was produced by LRZ of Red Harvest and features guest appearances from Lina Baby Doll (Deutsch Nepal), Peter Andersson (Raison D'etre) and Lars Pedersen (When). Check out the track "Unleash the energy": http://www.vendlus.com/V28_UnleashTheEnergy.mp3
Also new on Vendlus are the reissues of two early albums from Norwegian thrashers Audiopain. Head to the website for samples and ordering info: http://www.vendlus.com/
Swedish singer/songwriter Thomas Denver Jonsson reports that his upcoming album has been pushed back until September due to all his upcoming touring committments. Look for preview samples to go online soon.
The latest Scandinavian music reviews from High Bias:
TSOOL - Origin I
Ben's Diapers - Little pilgrims
Blood Red Throne - Altered genesis
Sweatmaster - Tomtom bullet
Norwegian singer/songwriter Uncle's Institution aka Egil Olsen has updated his website design: http://www.unclesinstitution.com/
After a long silence, he's finally back with a new album called "Walkie talk to me", due out in August via his own Iknowwhatyoudidlastrecords and Tuba Records. Go here to preview the first single "Babe": http://www.unclesinstitution.com/wttm.htm
Pekka Pörtfors has posted some videos from his semi-recent Café Montmartre show: http://www.pekkaportfors.tk/
Cph-Sound has signed Danish metalcore act The Psyke Project. The new album "Daikini" comes out on May 17 and the label will also reissue the band's debut record "Samara" later that month on the 30th. Check out the band on tour:
05/13 - Stengade 30, Copenhagen (DK) (Release fest w/special guests)
05/20 - Studenterhuset, Odense (DK) w/Rentokiller
05/21 - Musikcafeen, Aarhus (DK) w/Rentokiller
06/03 - Ungdomshuset, Copenhagen (DK) w/Funeral Dinner
06/10 - Spot 11 Festival, Århus (DK)
06/11 - HC-32 Festival Vol. 2, Helsinge (DK)
06/29 - Obscene, Roskilde (DK)
06/30 - tba, Magdeburg (GER)
07/01 - Az Connie, Dresden (GER)
07/02 - Buntes Haus, Forst (GER)
07/03 - tba (GER)
07/04 - Subway to Peter, Chemnitz (GER)
07/05 - tba (HOL/GER)
07/06 - tba (HOL)
07/07 - Waterfront, Rotterdam (HOL)
07/08 - Jh Sojo, Kessel (BEL)
07/09 - The Noodle, Berneem (BEL)
07/10 - The Cartoons, London (UK)
07/11 - The Josephs Well, Leeds (UK)
07/12 - The Hospital Club, Darlington (UK)
07/13 - The Studio, Hartlepool (UK)
07/14 - Brickyard, Carlisle (UK)
07/15 - Social Club, Hawick (SCO)
07/16 - The Moorings, Abeerdeen (SCO)
07/17 - The Subway, Edinburgh (SCO)
07/18 - tba (UK)
07/19 - Jailhouse, Coventry (UK)
07/20 - The Joiners, South Hampton (UK)
07/21 - tba
07/22 - Juki 42, Ahrensburg (GER)
07/23 - Lades Kælder, Copenhagen (DK)
Jenny Wilson on tour in Europe:
04/15 - Häpnafestivalen, Stockholm
04/17 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL) w/Jens Lekman
04/18 - Rodeo Club @ Projekt 7, Magdeburg (GER) w/Jens Lekman
04/19 - Schoken, Stuttagart (GER) w/Jens Lekman
04/20 - Atomic Cafe, München (GER) w/Jens Lekman
04/21 - Bierstindl, Innsbruck (AUS) w/Jens Lekman
04/22 - Emporio Malkovich, Verona (ITA) w/Jens Lekman
04/23 - Covo, Bologna (ITA) w/Jens Lekman
04/28 - Café de la Danse, Paris (FRA) w/First Floor Power
04/29 - Le Normandie, Saint-Lo (FRA) w/First Floor Power
04/30 - Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing (FRA) w/First Floor Power
05/18 - KB, Malmö w/El Perro del Mar
05/19 - Stenhammarsalen, Göteborg w/El Perro del Mar
05/27 - Popaganda, Stockholm
Her new album "Love and youth" is out now on Rabid Records, the label run by The Knife.
Download a sound clip from Perfect Combination off their new album "Conquer": http://elqpe.com/skitzophrenic/perfectcombination/music/conquer_new_snippet.MP3
The Swedish hip-hop duo features rappers Tank Marwin and Orphic and the production skills of Skitzophrenic. Guests include Americans K-Skills and MC Justice along with fellow Swedes Akem and Mazy and also Denmark's MC Tia. Head to their website for more details: http://www.perfectcombination.tk/
Okay, I survived Umeå Open day two and actually managed to get up and give my seminar this afternoon at 1. There weren't a ton of people there, but I can't blame them considering how much beer was being consumed the night before. As I said, I barely made it there myself. Firefox played at the same time, too. I'm bummed I didn't get to see her.
Anyhow, the bands I got to see last night were all really, really good. The Tiny kicked things off perfectly and were followed by Tiger Lou. Having only seen Rasmus perform solo before, it was reelly exciting for me to finally hear him with a full band. They played my favorite song "The war between us" along with a couple new tracks, so I was 100% satisfied. I screwed up and totally missed the next few bands while I hung out with friends, but I made sure I got to see The Ark. What can I say? They were amazing. They better come back to the US. Soon.
Tonight I have see Cult of Luna, Isolation Years, Silverbullit and Moneybrother. So many great bands, all at the same fest. And Rasmus from TL is doing guest vocals with CoL, too. Can't wait!