United Enemies, the new band from ex-69 Hard members Mats Jeppsson and Christian Fridlund, have lined up their first-ever official gig at KB in Malmö on July 9. The band will also release their "Love Kills" EP over in Japan next month via Station Records/JVC. Apparently the Japanese press regards the group as the next big thing coming out of Sweden.
In very loosely related and totally off-topic news, Metz from 69 Hard forwarded me this extremely important and hilarious link: http://www.nintendorks.com/brandon/archives/000475.php
Anyone disgruntled with the state of current pop music is sure to get a kick out of it.
And speaking of even more off-topic things, my pals from the hardcore band Takaru are leaving for Europe next week so be sure to check 'em out if they're coming your way. Here's their Scandinavian dates:
05/04 - Rehearsal room, Kopenhagen (DK)
05/05 - Panora, Malmö (SWE) w/Diatro
05/06 - Meeths, Gothenborg (SWE) w/Diatro, Jam Session, Malysz
05/07 - Coffee Annan, Trondheim (NOR) w/Catena Collapse, Sifnos Plateau Collective
05/08 - Sandviken (SWE)
05/09 - Oasen, Västervik (SWE) w/Diatro
05/10 - Musikhuset elvaerket, Helsingor (SWE) w/Diatro
The rest of the dates can be found here: http://www.takaru.com/index.php?story_id=4
Drum roll please! The winners of the The End Will Be Kicks CD giveaway contest are Mark Yates of England, Marty Williams of Toronto and Per Apelqvist of San Francisco. Thanks everyone for entering, your CDs will be mailed out shortly.
Totalt Jävla Mörker have a new website up with some new tracks ready for downloading: http://www.totaltjavlamorker.com/
MTV has posted an interview with Blindside: http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/blindside/artist.jhtml
Blackstar Foundation reports that they've received the master for the new Abandon album and should be sending it off for pressing soon. "78 minutes of pure anxiety." Sounds good to me. They also report that the new Araki album will be pressed as a double LP and should be ready by the end of May. That's Tiger Lou's old band, for those that don't know.
Some new 'extreme' audio stuff from some old home recording sessions have been posted online by Danish psychobilly nutcases Powersolo: http://www.powersolo.dk/
Planekonomi act Royal Downfall is currently working on a tour for August. Email them if you want to help them out or have them play your town.
Due to lack of tour support money from label Burning Heart, Randy has been forced to cancel their upcoming US dates with Bouncing Souls. Bummer. But on the brighter side of things, the band is now confirmed for Hultsfred.
Full tracklist for the upcoming Niccokick EP "Run! Run! Run!" due out in May:
01. Run! Run! Run!
02. Rich Brunettes
03. When people turn into ghosts
04. Lost souls play R'n'R
Speaking of Niccokick, members Daniel and Philip's other band Sounds Like Violence have lined up a bunch of UK tour dates. I mentioned one yesterday, but here's the full list:
05/31 - Rugby Club, Kendal
06/01 - Satchmo's, Hanley
06/02 - Le Pub, Newport
06/03 - 24 / 7, Liverpool
06/04 - Acklam, Middlesbrough
06/05 - WorcesterArts Workshop, Worcester
06/06 - Satans Hollow, Manchester
06/07 - Shakespeare's Head, Leicester
06/08 - King Alfreds, Southampton
06/09 - The Western, St Ives
06/10 - Cavern Club, Exeter
06/11 - The Metro, London
06/12 - Village Hall, Glasbury
06/13 - Brickyard, Carlisle
Global Domination has posted an amusing and informative interviews with drummer Morten Toft Hansen from Danish metal band Raunchy: http://www.statikmajik.com/gd/interviews/raunchy.php