Enforcer wisely ditched the kitsch and the cracker-jack clothes for their sophomore album "Diamonds", a fine example of classic quality Heavy Metal done right. Which is not to say they excised all of the corny glamness, but the bit that remains is played for fun, not ironic laughs. When I first came across these dudes I was worried they were less than full devotees, however, the more I listen, the more I'm convinced that they're doing it right. They'll never regress to blue-collar denim-clad street toughs and you can still pick out copycat riffs all over the place, but I doubt they care -- they're definitely going for a Tokyo Blade kind of thing, complete with Japanese fascination as evidenced by songs like "Running in menace" (chorus: "See you in Tokyo / Out in the city") and today's mp3 pick, "Katana". This is the centerpiece of the album for me; not only is it the longest, most epic track, it's also way catchy and features a ton of great guitar breaks during the long instrumental mid-section. Great backing vocals too, a definite plus and an under-utilized genre hallmark. It's not quite cool enough to recommend shelling out for the lame picture disc on , but should you come across the UK version on white from for a decent price, I say jump on it. Picture discs are lame anyhow, classic metal like this is not. Do not mix.
Danish shoegazer Keith Canisius will release his third solo album "This time it's our high" on September 6 via . Hear a preview tune at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/keithcanisius
Not just the best death metal release of 2009, it was also 2009's Oslo Award-winning album of year, and now it is finally available on vinyl courtesy of . A small stack of them just showed up on my doorstep so now I can offer them to you for the not-quite-a-bargain price of $24 plus s/h. If you think that sounds rough, well, that's far below what new vinyl from Norway usually costs with shipping and let me assure you, this modern classic is well worth it! 500 copies, awesome matte sleeve plus a bonus 7" featuring two exclusive cuts not available anywhere else: "Dawn of the deluge" b/w "Dead by dawn" (Dr. Shrinker)
Want one? Email mailorder@itsatrap.com. Recommended for all fans of dirty, ugly death metal.
"Zuzuvela", the Håkan Lidbo-composed piece for vuvuzela commissioned by Swedish radio, is now available as a free download: http://hakanlidbo.com/archives/1483
Y'know, just in case you didn't get enough of that sound during the World Cup.
Danish act Emily and The Orgasm Addicts just finished up mastering their new album and are now streaming two tracks at their website: http://www.eatoa.dk/
Danish hardcore label is back in effect after an extended break and will be putting out a reissue of Finnish KBD punk act Nukketeatteri's 1982 7" "Tervetuloa helvettiin..." in August. Beyond that, expect some other CPH-related releases this fall, but nothing has been specified yet.
Summer heat getting you down? For audial escapism, it's hard to beat music performed on instruments constructed from solid hunks of ice. That's composer/percussionist Terje Isungset's specialty and the result of his work truly is just as strangely cold and beautiful as you'd expect. Watch the short doc posted above and then listen to "Contemplation", off his 2008 album "Ice concerts".
will be releasing the self-titled debut full-length from Finnish Kraut/electronic act K-X-P, featuring Timo Kaukolampi (OP:L Bastards, Annie), on July 19.
Whatever happened to Swedish modesty? Grab "Bästa låten ever" ("Best song ever") from all-stars Supergruppen over at Discobelle: http://www.discobelle.net/2010/07/09/basta-laten-ever/
Pretty weak track for such a boast IMO, especially with that corny auto-tuned chorus.
It's always refreshing to see a label with so much devotion to good music that it'll have a multitude of acts spanning a variety of genres on its roster. It's the mark of a true music fan; someone who's not afraid to take risks and stick two fingers up to the naysayers and proudly state: "This is what I like and I'm releasing it!" Norwegian Nils Bech, is one of the non-metal acts on , his laid back, retro-styled electropop sitting alongside the fist and fury metal battery from the likes of Obliteration, Haust or Okkultokrati. It has to be said that there's a time and a place for "Look back"; It requires a certain frame of mind before someone could take the entire album in one sitting, but that doesn't mean it's a bad release. It's just conducive to pre-planned, late-night, candlelit ambience rather than any summer drive-time fervor. And when it kicks off in that kind of subdued atmosphere, it can be simply wondrous. Vocally, Bech is probably what a Morten Harket and Morrissey hybrid would sound like if they had been releasing stuff in the early '60s. Sure, his music might be classed as electropop but, with its definite retro leanings, it sounds more like the male counterpart of Goldfrapp's "Felt mountain" than the '80s disco companion of "Scoundrel days". The term 'crooner' springs to mind often on this and, if there's one main criticism of Bech, it's that his English pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. Generally, English sung in a foreign tongue adds a certain mystique to an album and, while that's true on a lot of "Look back", Bech's approach can be slightly off-putting at times. The songs on here are well done and, while there's a good buzz around Nils Bech, the vocals really taint this release in places. Best tracks on here are the upbeat "Medieval times" and the distinctly Björk-y "French affairs". A good album that's definitely original. Unfortunately, it would have been much better if Nils had sung på norsk. - John Norby
is putting out a Swedish hip-hop collection called "Evolutions", charting the local history of the genre from the 90s though present day, including skweee. The comp was curated by Gaffa journalist Ametist Azordegan along with The Salazar Brothers and should be available in late summer.
Nils Bech