The winners of the 2004 Danish Metal Awards have been announced. There's hardly any variety, but here are the winners:
Album of the year: Mercenary - "11 Dreams"
Demo of the year: Submission - "Submission"
Live-band of the year: Hatesphere
Music video of the year: Mnemic - "Deathbox"
Vocalist of the year: Mikkel Sandager and Kral of Mercenary
Guitarist of the year: Martin Buus of Mercenary
Drummer of the year: Anders Gyldenøhr of Hatesphere
Bassist of the year: Obersten of Mnemic
More info: http://www.danishmetal.dk/Awards2004_vinderne.htm
Service Records (The Tough Alliance, Jens Lekman, Embassy, etc.) is releasing a comp of highlights, rare and unreleased material entitled "Razzle dazzle". It won't hit stores until February 2, but you can order it now directly from the label.
Johnny Bråttom Records will be releasing a self-titled EP from singer/songwriter Pete Thompson on January 17.
Firefox will be releasing a 7" on Labrador Records on February 1. After that she'll be heading out on the road for a bit with her husband Tiger Lou as well as a couple dates with Chris Leo. Details:
02/14 - tba, Aachen w/Tiger Lou, Torpedo
02/16 - tba, Vienna w/Tiger Lou, Torpedo
02/17 - tba, Magdeburg w/Chris Leo, Audrey
02/18 - tba, Tangermünde
02/19 - Frühauf, Leipzig w/Chris Leo
02/20 - Garage Pankow, Berlin w/Rob and the Pinholestars
02/21 - tba, Braunschweig w/Tiger Lou, Torpedo
Norwegian electro-rockers Datarock report that they are finishing up work on a new album and hope to have it out soonish. They are also planning to do a lot of touring in the coming year and will be hitting Switzerland first. Dates so far:
01/13 - Helsinki Club, Zürich
01/14 - Tap Tab, Shaffhausen
01/15 - Coupole, Bienne
01/16 - tba
01/17 - Wagenmeister, Basel
Swedish hard-rockers Black Belt kind of/sort of have a proper website now: http://www.blackbelt.se/
Ex-Crown guitarist Marko Tervonen has announced the formation of a solo project entitled Angel Blake. Read more: http://www.angelblake.com/
Satyricon tour guitarists Steinar Gundersen and Arnt Gronbech have been released on bail and have returned home to Norway following their being brought up on drug and sexual assault charges in Canada. They are currently awaiting a new hearing date and will return to Toronto at that time.
Logh's upcoming UK tourdates have been confirmed:
02/05 - Nice & Sleazy, Glasgow, UK
02/07 - Freebutt, Brighton, UK
02/09 - The Legion, London, UK
02/10 - AC 30, London, UK
02/11 - The Adelphi, Hull, UK
02/13 - Ferryboat, Norwich, UK
The band's new album "A sunset panorama" is set for release on February 23 in Sweden via Bad Taste Records, February 21 in Europe. I also have word that the album will be receiving a proper US release through a renown label as well, but I don't think I'm at liberty to reveal the details quite yet. Soon!
Hey everyone, happy new year! Welcome to the brand-new site. I hope you like it. The basic functionality is pretty much the same, but I've started to add a few more features here and there that will hopefully make the user experience much more enjoyable. If you notice anything wrong or have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to let me know either by email or by posting on the new message board. Cheers!
Oh yeah, and since it's also a new month as well as a new year, I've selected Peter, Bjorn and John's excellent new release "Falling out" as January's highlight. The album was one of my top picks for 2004 and I highly recommend that you check it out.
The nominees for the 2004 Manifest Awards have been announced. Here are a few of the categories:
Pop/rock:
David Sandström - "The Dominant Need of the Needy Soul Is to be Needed"
Jens Lekman - "When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog"
Stina Nordenstam - "The World Is Saved"
Silverbullit - "Arclight"
Hardrock/punk:
C.Aarmé - "C.Aarmé"
Dismember - "When Iron Crosses Grow"
Haunted - "rEVOLVEr"
Koma - "Tsunami"
Totalt Jävla Mörker - "Människans ringa värde"
Hip-hop/R&B/soul:
Helt Off - "Helt Off"
Ison & Fille - "Ison & Fille"
Promoe - "Long Distance Runner"
Snook - "Vi vet inte vart vi ska men vi ska komma dit"
Rico Wondahman - "Takin' Over"
Post-rock/electronica:
Backlash - "Heliotrop"
Andreas Tilliander - "World Industries"
Sophie Rimheden - "Miss"
Hans Appelqvist - "Bremort"
IC1 - "The Birth of Industrial Cool"
Dance/house/techno:
Quant - "Getting Out"
Andreas Tilliander - "World Industries"
Sophie Rimheden - "Miss"
Hird - "Moving On"
Ernesto's - "Album"
Solo/singer/songwriter:
Stina Nordenstam - "The World Is Saved"
Florence Valentin - "Johnny Drama"
Billie the Vision & The Dancers - "I Was So Unpopular in School"
Tobias Fröberg - "For Elisabeth Wherever She Is"
Nina Ramsby & Martin Hederos - "Visorna"
Best live:
Existensminimum
Mattias Alkberg
Silverbullit
Svenska Akademien
Jens Lekman
Best newcomer:
Tiger Lou - "Is My Head Still On?"
Nanook of the North - "The Täby Tapes"
Fatboy - "Steelhearted"
Jens Lekman - "When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog"
Cirera - "Honestly, I Love You *Cough*"
The Manifest Awards are considered an alternative to the Swedish Grammy in the same way that the Alarm Prize is regarded in Norway. Winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held February 1 at Nalen in Stockholm. More info: http://www.som.a.se/manifest/index.html
The debut issue of Canada's Kick Magazine has a feature on Finnish electronic music: http://www.kickmagazine.ca/PICTURES/KickMag_Issue1.pdf
Lars Horntveth will be releasing a new EP on Smalltown Supersound later this year.