The new album from Motorpsycho country twang alter-ego International Tussler Society that's due later this summer/early fall will include a bonus DVD featuring a 'making of' documentary, an official video, outtakes and various other goodies.
Backlash is currently working on new material and plans to record five new songs this summer for the forthcoming album "Lodestar".
Swedish webzine Le Manchester reports on their top picks for the first half of 2004 and their hopes for the rest of the year: http://www.lemanchester.com/artikel.asp?id=529&kat=artikel
Hammerfall bassist Magnus Rosén has reportedly begun work on his fourth solo album "Arose". It's expected to be released sometime later this year.
Swedish Christian nü-metal act Blindside has announced they will be undertaking yet another US tour. It's gonna be called the 'Internal Storm Tour' and Me Without You and The Kick are coming along as support. They'll also be flying out their Swedish friends Namur for a couple select West Coast dates. Shows confirmed so far:
07/06 - Gabes Oasis, Iowa City, IA w/Armor For Sleep
07/07 - Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
07/08 - The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
07/09 - Lifefest 2004, Sunnyview Fairgrounds, Oshkosh, WI
08/08 - Hoi Polloi Festival, Pepsi Center, Denver, CO w/POD
08/10 - Granada Theatre, Lawrence, KS
08/11 - The Creepy Crawl, St. Louis, MO
08/12 - The Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
08/13 - The Machine Shop, Flint, MI
08/14 - Odeon, Cleveland, OH
08/16 - CBGB's, New York, NY
08/17 - Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
08/19 - Trinity Church, Albany, NY
08/20 - Purple Door Festival, Ski Roundtop, Lewisberry, PA
08/21 - Aces Basement, Greensboro, NC
08/22 - The Social, Orlando, FL
08/24 - Floyd's Music Store, Tallahassee, FL
08/25 - Cotton Club, Atlanta, GA
08/28 - ORU Mabee Center, Tulsa, OK
09/01 - The Eagles Bar (The Rave Bar), Milwaukee, WI
09/02 - Ascot Room, Minneapolis, MN
09/05 - WH Lyons Fairgrounds, Sioux Falls, SD
09/11 - Harvest Moon Festival, Heritage Amphitheatre, Edmonton, AB (CAN)
Big congrats to The End Will Be Kicks who managed to rank #11 on CMJ's most added list this week. Be sure to request them at your local college station!
Check out a Digfi session with hyped twee act Suburban Kids with Biblical Names: http://www.digfi.com/default.aspx?id=5816
The new issue of Amplifier Magazine has a short feature/interview with Komeda. It's the one with The Decemberists on the cover.
Tons of new bands confirmed for the Malmöfestivalen today including Sahara Hotnights, Teddybears Sthlm, Markoolio, Kaizers Orchestra, Sandy Mouche, PowerSolo, Tiger Tunes, The Tremolo Beer Gut, Learning From Vegas, Sterling, Epo-555, Niccokick, Latin Kings, Promoe, Chords, Pluxus, Universal Poplab, Conevant, Alice in Videoland and more.
Pitchfork reviews two Jens Lekman EPs: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/l/lekman_jens/rocky-dennis-maple-leaves.shtml
I added a new mp3 from a Danish demo band I've been really getting into recently called The First Miles. They're kinda country, kinda indierock, but all good as far as I'm concerned. Check 'em out and if you like what you hear, there's plenty more on their website. Right now the band is planning to enter the studio sometime around July/August and a record deal is pending.
Hell on Wheels will release their most recent album "Oh my god! What have I done?" in Japan on July 21 via Snow man/Wood records. They'll also be flying over there to play Shibuya O-Nest in Tokyo on September 9.
The (International) Noise Conspiracy fansite theblastoff.tk is now updated with a new look and a bunch of new info pertaining to the new record.
The Cardigans have updated their online tour diary with a bunch of new content: http://cardigans.com/microsites/tourdiary/
Even though it doesn't officially hit the street until September, Lumberjack Distribution is already accepting orders for the new Meshuggah EP "I" and promises to ship 'em out the next day. Go here: http://www.lumberjack-online.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LDOS&Product_Code=14086