It's not really all that newsworthy, but I made myself some of those fancy-pants blog badges (as well as adding some premade ones). Look at the first column on the right, down under the recent mailorder additions.
Check out an mp3 with preview clips from every track on the new Looptroop album "Fort Europa": http://www.looptroop.nu/mp3/snippet_fe.mp3
Take a listen to a stream of the new Jenny Wilson (First Floor Power) single: http://www.jennywilson.net/flash.htm
Tiger Lou reports that he'll be heading over to Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT around mid-June to mix his new album with engineer/producer Peter Katis. Peter's previous work includes with his own band The Philistines Jr. as well as big names like Interpol, Get Up Kids, Mercury Rev, Clem Snide and tons more.
Meshuggah has posted a bit of an update: http://www.meshuggah.net/news/
Seems like the band is probably not going to tour much for the new album "Catch 33" as they would rather wait until they have something new they can actually perform live. As mentioned before, the new stuff record is one 40+ minute track broken into multiple sections. That's not exactly the sort of stuff that translates well on stage.
Check out some demo tracks from Staffan Carlén, a singer/songwriter who says he's inspired by the likes of Coldplay, Rufus Wainwright and Radiohead: http://www.staffancarlen.tk/
Metal-Rules.com ran a special feature on Finnish speed and thrash metal last year and has just recently updated with part two: http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=120&Itemid=54
Part one is here: http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Finnish-SpeedThrash-Special-Pt1a-Jan2004.htm
Groover Recordings has posted both the video and an mp3 of the new single "Sabotage" from Swedish power-pop act The Sunshine: http://www.grooverrecordings.com/current/sunshine.html
Disfear is back from their tour with Rotten Sound. Read all about it here: http://www.kulspruta.com/Disfear/WEB/tourReport.asp?prmCategoryId=11&prmSubCategoryId=47&prmCategoryToShow=47
Adrian Recordings has confirmed details about the new Björns Vänner album "Får ett eget liv" to be released on April 27. The first single will be for the song "Mörkröda tomater". Read more: http://www.adrianrecordings.com/default.asp?page=new&messid=246 (in Swedish)
Netlabel Monotonik has posted a new EP from Swedish bleep-metal act Machinae Supremacy: http://www.mono211.com/content/releases/mtkmp144.html
The excellent Finnish music blog Lupatarkastaja has posted a link for the Mattias Friberg (Logh) and Switchblade collaboration from the latter's special-edition tour 7"/CDR for download: http://lupatarkastaja.blogspot.com/2005/03/switchblade-w-mattias-friberg-705-mp3.html
Of course the result is great - how could it not be with such amazing talents working together? I thought about posting this track awhile back, but decided against it as I figured the bands wouldn't be too pleased. Glad to see Deathwish is spreading the word as they will soon be releasing it in the US.
Here's this week's MTVe UpNorth video chart:
01. Moneybrother - They're Building Walls Around Us
02. Smak - Hallanvaara
03. Darin - Money For Nothing
04. Thomas Dybdahl - A Lovestory
05. Christian Walz - Never Be Afraid Again
06. Hammerfall - Bloodbound
07. Timbuktu - Alla vill till himlen men ingen vill dö
08. Lazyboy - Underwear Goes Inside The Pants
09. In Flames - Touch Of Red
10. Annie - My Heartbeat
11. The 69 Eyes - Lost Boys
12. Beats And Styles - Two White Monkeys
13. LAB - When Heaven Gets Dirty
14. Sugarplum Fairy - Far Away From Man
15. Moder Jords Massiva - Fast Attack/ Slow Decay
16. Mendez - Is That Ok
17. Husky Rescue - City Lights
18. Jim Stärk - Morning Song
19. Håkan Hellström - En Midsommarnattsdröm
20. Deportees - Champagne
Challengers:
01. Elin Sigvardsson - Stupid Sunday Song
02. The Margarets - Surf Alone
03. Anna Ternheim - My Secret
04. Simone - Last Days And Nights Of Rock'n'Roll
05. Angu - Red Light
Go here to vote for your favorite.