Marduk is planning to begin work on a new album sometime this summer. Among the tracks set to appear on the record is a collaboration between the band and Arditi, the new project from H. Moller of neo-classical nihilistic darkwave act Puissance and M. Bjorkman. Arditi's music is described as "military percussions, oppressive industrial loops and samples of speeches and old songs to instill a dark and sinister atmosphere."
Updated tourdates for Nicolai Dunger:
04/20 - Feierwerkm, München (GER)
04/21 - ISC, Bern (SWI)
05/26 - Centre Culturel Suedois, Paris (FRA) (solo show)
05/28 - Noveau Casino, Paris (FRA)
06/08 - Peace & Love Festival, Borlänge (SWE)
06/19 - Hultsfredsfestivalen, Hultsfred (SWE)
There's a new festival in Fagersta, Sweden on May 22 with Differnet, Sophie Rimheden, Jens Lekman, The Legends, Paris, The Kid, Slagsmålsklubben and Hell On Wheels. There will also be film, theatre, workshops, graffiti, exhibitions along with other artistic ventures, so it's sure to be a good time. It's online quite yet, but more info will be posted soon at http://www.ohanamisaturday.com/
Mando Diao has flown over to England for two weeks to record their new album. They'll be working with producer Richard Rainey who has worked with bands like U2, Mew, Lemonator and Mansun.
Ape has posted a sample from their new self-titled EP called "Not Like You" on their website. Beware: ou have to sit through a long flash intro first: http://www.apeclan.net/
Download a clip of "Book of Instructions", a new track from the band Rallypack which features members from Lok: http://www.rallypack.se/ljud/bookkort.mp3
Norwegian singer/songwriter Sgt. Petter is currently at Gjøa Studio with The Sensible Twins and drummer Tarald Tvedten working on his second album. The as-yet-untitled album is due out around September.
Updated tourdates for Marit Bergman:
04/22 - Gisleparken, Gislaved (SWE)
04/23 - Diezel, Halmstad (SWE)
04/24 - Rust, Köpenhamn (DK)
05/28 - tba, Köping (SWE)
05/29 - Springbreak, Kalmar (SWE)
05/30 - Popaganda, Stockholm (SWE)
06/18 - Hultsfredsfestivalen, Hultsfred (SWE)
07/09 - Kalas, Kalmar (SWE)
07/09 - Peace and love, Borlänge (SWE)
07/10 - Gatufesten, Sundsvall (SWE)
07/10 - Kalas, Örebro (SWE)
07/11 - Kalas, Gävle (SWE)
07/15 - Arvikafestivalen, Arvika (SWE)
07/16 - Kalas, Helsingborg (SWE)
07/17 - Kalas, Göteborg (SWE)
07/23 - Kalas, Lysekil (SWE)
07/24 - Kalas, Malmö (SWE)
07/25 - Kalas, Karlskrona (SWE)
07/30 - Kalas, Varberg (SWE)
07/30 - Storsjöyran, Östersund (SWE)
07/31 - Kalas, Norrköping (SWE)
07/31 - Piteå dansar och ler, Piteå (SWE)
08/06 - Kalas, Karlstad (SWE)
08/07 - Kalas, Stockholm (SWE)
08/14 - Emmabodafestivalen, Emmaboda (SWE)
Meshuggah has announced a fan-art t-shirt contest. More info on the band's forum: http://www.tandjent.com/meshforum/viewtopic.php?t=6836
The official Madrugada website has compiled a bunch of English press regarding their recent performances in the UK: http://www.emi.no/madrugada/news.asp
The new double-a-side single for "Majesty" and "Seven Seconds" comes out on April 12.
Cult of Luna will enter Tonteknik Studios in Umeå, Sweden on April 22 to begin work on their new album. They say they are "highly focused and determined to make our contribution to rock-history noticable" and should probably finish up around June and will see it released in the fall. As usual, the band will produce themselves.
Finnish indie-hardcore act Disco Ensemble has posted some new tracks from their forthcoming album "Viper Ethics" to their website: http://www.discoensemble.com/