Sator side-project The Wild Kings report that they have finished work on their "Down at Wild Kingdom" 7". The b-side will be a live cover of "Career of Evil" by Blue Oyster Cult, and if that's not 'wild' enough for you, it will be released by the label Wild Kingdom.

1349 is the second band confirmed for the Hole in the Sky Festival.

Two new Eskobar dates:

08/14 - Marktrock Festival, Leuven (BEL)
09/02 - Platens Bar, Linköping (SWE)

Some new Madrugada dates:

07/17 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NOR)
08/27 - Leeds Festival (UK)
08/29 - Reading Festival (UK)

Lots of Norwegian artists continue to get strong reviews abroad. Check out this rundown on the latest from MIC Norway: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2004061613470569096360
It's amazing how much attention is being given to what is mostly very non-pop music. Whether that translates into sales is a different story, but acclaim isn't bad.

Nine will be replacing Give up the Ghost at the Hultsfred Festival on Saturday at 13:30 in Teaterladan.

Desert Planet's 2001 album "Asteroid Hopper" is nearly sold-out in physical form, but it's now available for purchase as mp3s from Zonkmusic.com: http://www.zonkmusic.com/album.php?albumid=65
Zonk Music was founded by sci-fi/fantasy/progressive music composer and producer Bjorn Lynne.

Deltahead's new website is online: http://www.deltahead.se/

You don't have to be Finnish to appreciate this photoshop message board thread featuring European Parliament member Alexander Stubb: http://www.stealthunit.net/message.aspx?intBoardID=3&intMessageID=158580

Finland's Wasted will record their third album in July, tentatively titled "Heroes Among Thieves". It will be released by Combat Rock Industry when it's ready.

Check out Dagensskiva's Hultsfred special: http://www.dagensskiva.com/artiklar/festival2004/ (in Swedish)

Pitchfork reviews The Cardigans: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/c/cardigans/long-gone-before-daylight.shtml

Candlelight Records will release Einherjer's most recent and final album "Blot" in the US on August 10.

Also coming on August 10 from Candlelight will be the reissue of Enslaved's 1994 recording "Vikingligr Veldi" which will be paired together with "Hordanes Land". "Hordanes Land" was originally released as a split with fellow Norwegian black-metallers Emperor.

Europe has set "Start From the Dark" as the working title for their new album, tentatively due out in September.