Ferrante Power Equipment discusses the "fine art of black metal" with Frost of Satyricon: http://www.f-p-e.com/interviews/interview.php?id=30
Due to the overwhelming positive response to the "Skydancer" remaster/reissue by Century Media a couple years ago, Dark Tranquility has announced they will be doing the same for the next two entries in their discography, "The Gallery" from 1995 and "The Mind's I" from 1997. There's no exact release date yet, but you can check out the revised trackslistings here: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=29734
Norway's JR Ewing are back in the studio recording a new album with producers Kåre Chr. Vestrheim (Jaga Jazzist, Gluecifer, Gåte) and Mike Hartung (Satyricon, Savoy) and will also be tracking guitars with Don Dons of WE. The band plans to do fifteen songs that they say "represent a new side of JR Ewing," and are "simply the best songs we've ever written." There's no label confirmed yet, but expect a release sometime early next year.
Sweatmaster has revealed that the title for their next album will be "Tom Tom Bullet". The band is currently wrapping things up with the assistance of Bad Afro Records house-producer Jürgen Hendlmeier (The Flaming Sideburns, Baby Woodrose, Ultra Bimboos) and has tentatively set a release date for March next year. The first single will include the tracks "Maggots" and "Fool" and is set to be released sometime in January. Exact dates and more details soon.
The top Scandinavian videos streamed last week at on-demand video service Musicbrigade.com:
01. Gunther feat. Samantha Fox - Touch Me
02. Eric Prydz - Call On Me [Late Night Version]
03. Elin Lanto - I Won't Cry
04. Eric Prydz - Call On Me [Clean Version]
05. Ana - We Are
Requested Videos: 314,955
Total Streams: 451,708
Check out the video for "Tahoe morning diner" from Denmark's Flying Virgins: http://www.flyingvirgins.dk/video/flyingvirgins-tahoemorningdiner.wmv
Even though David Fridlund is just about to release his debut solo album, David & the Citizens are most definitely not facing retirement. The full band has been keeping up with steady rehearsals and will be playing a special concert on December 10 at Loppen –in Köbenhavn, Denmark as part of a Morningside Records label night. The band plans to premiere a ton of new material, so it's not to be missed. Other acts on the bill include Delicia Mini, My Friend George and Nikki Sudden.
New reviews and even a (gasp!) new streaming playlist! Check 'em both out under the articles section on the right.
Deportees
All prayed up
Dolores/Virgin
Indierock heavily influenced by Prince – a match made in heaven, some might say, but although a band like Phoenix has demonstrated that the result of such a mix can be quite good, the Deportees (hailing from Umeå, Sweden) gives us all a warning example of how disastrous this alluring blend can turn out. They almost had me fooled though, with their first fine single "Arrest me 'til it hurts", but compared to the other songs on this debut album, it sticks out like a flower growing in the middle of the highway. It's a real shame that "Arrest me 'til it hurts" has to be accompanied by such an insipid bunch of soulless tracks that "All prayed up" consists of. In fact, this album is so slick, bland, and unsexy that it often comes across as something by a second rate boyband. A bit harsh you think? Yes, perhaps, but even harsher for the poor souls who buy this album, lured by "Arrest me 'til it hurts" (hopefully the awful record cover will have a repelling effect).
- Simon Tagestam
Emil Jensen
Kom hem som nån annan
Adrian Recordings
I really want to like Emil Jensen. I want to be able to sit there with a glass of red wine, look out the window, and listen to the lyrics and dream away. I want to like this album so much, because I know my mom would love it and that way we would have something to talk about. This is not a bad album; it's just an album my 50 year old, state employed, divorced mother would like. With that said, Emil is very talented, seriously, look at his website for all the stuff he has done, and at least I know what I am getting my mom for Christmas.
- Per Appelqvist
Quit Your Dayjob
s/t EP
Bad Taste Records
After sitting and listening to Quit Your Dayjob's EP, I was left in a state of girlish glee. The trio makes quirky drum-guitar-and-synth rock that can best be described as a bit nerdish. In fact, the gentlemen of QYDJ would have it no other way. Coming from the south of Sweden (Malmö to be exact), Jonass (guitar/vocals) sings like he is Fred Schneider's (of the B-52s) Swedish cousin. On tracks like "Look! A Dollar" and "Mike Fast", Jonass' vocals are catchy and the lyrics are simple to remember because most of the time they are just the song titles itself. Combined with Marcass' synthesizers and Andreass' drums, QYDJ create something that is along the lines of Devo and the aforementioned B-52s that can only be described as synth-surf on acid. QYDJ puts a smile on my face and a spazzy feeling in my body.
- Navy Keophan
Tigerbombs
Loves you
Johanna Kustannus
These Finns play keyboard-driven garage-pop very much in the same vein as The Caesars/Caesars Palace. Obviously, they aren't setting out to do anything life-changing or even all that original, but they know how to put together a catchy hook and that's what really matters. They probably could've had a much stronger album if they shaved off a couple tunes, but whatever- there's enough strong material here for me to recommend it to anyone looking for something sugary-sweet and fun to help them get through the winter.
- Avi Roig
Silverbullit
Arclight
NEG
After years of rumors and speculation about its existence, I was very excited to finally hear this damn thing, to say the least. The possibility that the label almost shelved this album just boggles by mind because it's so obviously great. "Arclight" is the perfect culmination of Silverbullit's previous two albums. They bring back the raw power of their self-titled debut, but never lose the sonic experimentation that made "Citizen bird" so amazing. The sound is thick and lush and of course merits the obvious My Bloody Valentine comparisons, but I also hear tones and melodies that remind me of other 80s rock like Sisters of Mercy, early Cure, Jesus and Mary Chain, Killing Joke and New Order. Unlike a lot of bands mining similar influences however, Silverbullit never comes off sounding retro. Rather, they rise above the mere tribute bands and wannabees and create a sound of their own. Highly recommended, definitely a best-of 2004 contender.
- Avi Roig
The Tough Alliance
Holiday EP
Service
The Tough Alliance, the tough ass band that carry baseball bats in their photos and sings about how Coca-Cola runs in their veins, have now on their second single penned a super catchy love song. Right now, I'm looking forward to The Tough Alliance's album more than anything else. Their electropunk has taken me by storm and if there's a more interesting band in the whole wide world, please tell me. This EP also consists of a fine cover of Primal Scream's "Velocity girl" and some sort of weird interlude.
- Simon Tagestam