Aquarius Records has posted their 2003 best-of picks and of course there's a whole bunch of Scandinavian artists like Trad, Gras och Stenar and Sagor and Swing listed.
Stockholm-based rock n' rollers "Demons" (yes, with quotes) are returning to the US in February. The tour will begin on the west coast and wrap up at SXSW in Austin, TX in March. I don't have the dates yet, but I'll post 'em as soon as I can get 'em. US label Gearhead will be putting out the band's "Demonology" collection of singles, b-sides and other errata very soon.
Swedish punk bands Down and Away and The Ghoulies will both be putting out new full-lengths on Germany's Rockstar Records early next year. The Ghoulies will also be hitting the road in support:
01/24 - tba (SWE)
01/25 - Wild at Heart, Berlin (GER)
01/26 - Bla, Bonn (GER)
01/27 - Hauptquartier, Aachen (GER)
01/28 - Barake, Münster (GER)
01/29 - tba, (DK)
01/30 - Aarhus, (DK)
01/31 - tba, (DK)
Satyricon have reportedly been selected for one of the support slots on the upcoming 'American Heretic Tour' with Morbid Angel. Suffocation and Premonitions of War are the other two bands on the bill and April 14 is the kick-off date. Details soon.
Hyprocrisy frontman Peter Tägtgren reports that he has remixed and remastered the new record "The Arrival", due out February 16 from Nuclear Blast. He also says that fans will get a say in choosing the band's setlist on their upcoming US tour supporting Cannibal Corpse. Go here to weigh in with you picks.
Via Blabbermouth comesthis message from ex-Halford/current Painmuseum guitarist Mike Chlasciak and his trip to Studio Fredman in Göteborg where he laid down guest solos for both Joacim Cans' (Hammerfall) upcoming solo album and the new CD from Dream Evil.
And speaking of Blabbermouth, they really seem to love the new album from Denmark's Raunchy. Read more.
Since we're neck-deep in the holiday season I figured I'd just throw up the rest of those Isolation Years live mp3s as well as an oldie (but a goodie) from Cobolt. Enjoy! Updates will be sporadic until Monday, but even then I doubt much of interest will be happening for me to report.
Don't forget those other special yuletime treats from Sondre Lerche and Uncle's Institution.
Magyar Posse has a brand new website. Their upcoming second album "Kings of Time" is due out next month from Verdura.
Norweigan gothic-folk band Gåte received the Prøysen prize yesterday, as broadcasted on NRK. The prize is named after legendary Norwegian singer/songwriter Alf Prøysen. Read more: http://www.adressa.no/kultur/article.jhtml?articleID=463520 (in Norweigan)
Melody Club's album "The Music Machine" will get a UK release early next year and the band will head over in February to start promotion. More info when I get it.
Backdraft will heading to Spain to play the Serie Z Festival in Jerez de la Frontera on March 19-20. They'll be doing a bunch of other dates to coincide with the trip, but nothing's confirmed yet. More info: http://www.festivalseriez.com/
You can also head over to the band's website to get their favorite records of 2003 lists. (look under 'Stuff')