Rumors abound that Tjodalv might be leaving Susperia to drum for Dimmu Borgir. Or maybe just for OzzFest. But it appears to be untrue, or so says a recent news posting on their website.
Here's this week's top 20 Swedish albums from Aftonbladet:
01. Weeping Willows - Presence
02. Sara Löfgren - Starkare
03. Per Gessle - Mazarin
04. Sophie Zelmani - Love Affair
05. Lisa Miskovsky - Fallingwater
06. Mikael Wiehe - Kärlek & politik
07. Stefan Andersson - Strangers house
08. Peter LeMarc - Det som håller oss vid liv
09. Carola - Guld platina & passion
10. Jill Johnson - Roots and wings
11. Patrik Isaksson - Vi som aldrig landat
12. Backyard Babies - Stockholm Syndrome
13. J's Plain Band - Boulder Dash
14. The Hellacopters - Cream of the Crap II
15. José González - Veneer
16. Moneybrother - Blood panic
17. September - September
18. Alice Babs - Alice babs bästa
19. Broder Daniel - Cruel Town
20. Arns rike - Arn the gothia
The debut album from Tub Quartet has been confirmed for a release in mid-March via Curling Legs. The band features Andreas Hessen Schei from Jaga Jazzist on piano along with Hilde Marie Kjersem (vocals), Magne Vestrum (bass) and Pål Hausken (drums). The music is described as "contemporary jazz and pop with a strong emphasis on availability and appeal" and was recorded and produced by Even Ormestad (Jaga Jazzist) and Audun Borrmann.
New, updated tourdates for Swedish southern-style rockers Backdraft, now featuring Greg Strzempka from Raging Slab on lead vocals:
03/23 - Den Helder (NL)
03/24 - Verviers (NL)
03/25 - Kingston (UK)
03/26 - tba
03/27 - Alkmaar (NL)
03/28 - Gent (NL)
03/30 - tba
03/31 - Linköping (SWE)
04/01 - tba
04/02 - tba
04/03 - Stockholm, Rabbitfighter (SWE)
07/16 - Stoned at the Underground Festival, Erfürt (GER)
08/28-29 - Serie Z Festival, Jerez (SPA)
The band is currently in talks with labels and working on songs for their next album.
Looks like there's a new album on the way from Bloodbath, the classic-style Swedish death-metal group featuring Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, October Tide) and Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Edge of Sanity, etc). They've booked studio time for late spring and hope to have a record ready for a late summer release. However, there have been some lineup changes in the group. Vocalist Mike Åkerfeldt of Opeth is out (I assume he's probably too busy) and they say they have replaced him with "one of the biggest names in the scene." My guess would be LG Petrov, but who knows? Maybe Tompa is taking on yet another new project. Anyhow, Dan has also switched over from drums to guitar and taking his place his "yet another big, big name." Look for details to be announced soon.
Upcoming dates for Green Carnation in the UK and Europe:
05/06 – tba, Dublin (IRE) (acoustic show)
05/08 – tba, Dublin (IRE)
05/09 – tba, Belfast (IRE)
05/29 – Wave Gotik Treffen, Leipzig (GER)
08/19-21 - Summer Breeze, Abtsgmünd (GER)
Indieworkshop.com has posted the first American review of the new KVLR album: http://indieworkshop.com/reviews/702/
Some pics of Dark Tranquility recording their new record at Studio Fredman: http://www.darktranquillity.com/media/studio.html
Pics from the recent Hell n' Diesel tour in Germany: http://www.shufflerec.com/hellndiesel/_images/gallery/tyskland/default.asp
Updated European tourdates for The Rasmus:
04/23 - Printemps De Bourges, Bourges (FRA)
04/24 - Elysée Montmartre, Paris (FRA)
04/26 - Academy 2, Birmingham (UK)
04/27 - Cathouse, Glasgow (UK)
04/28 - Academy 3, Manchester (UK)
04/29 - Mean Fiddler, London (UK)
05/27 - Razzmatazz, Barcelona (SPA)
05/28 - Madrid, Festimad (SPA)
05/30 - Pinkpop, Landgraaf (HOL)
06/04 - Rock im Park (GER)
06/06 - Rock am Ring (GER)
07/03 - Werchter Festival (BEL)
07/09 - Gatufest, Sundsvall (SWE)
07/10 - Outside Festival, Zurich (SWI)
07/11 - Ruisrock, Turku (FIN)
08/01 - Ankkarock, Vantaa (FIN)
08/07 - Sziget Festival, Budapest (HUN)
08/20 - Mont Soleil Festival (SWI)
08/21 - Gampel Open Air (SWI)
Danish hardcore act Lack will be putting out a new 7" on US label Level-Plane called "Greetings from a non-believer". It should be made available in Europe by Nova Recordings. No release date yet, but soon. As for other new material, the band has recorded a three-song demo and is shopping around for a new label. The plan is to record a full-length at some point this summer, but nothing's confirmed yet. In other news, the band will play Loppen on March 20 with fellow Danes Complete and Psyke Project and has plans to tour with Barra Head in May. Details are still being worked out and a full schedule should be coming along shortly.