New album, website for Ingrid Olava
Norwegian artist Ingrid Olava has a new website to coincide with the release of her new album "The guest", due out February 15: http://ingridolava.com/
New music from Little Children
Swedish artist Little Children (ex-Idiot Kid) is streaming three new tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/littlechildrenmusik
A full-length album has been recorded with Andreas Berthling (Tape) and is on the way.
MIC Norway interviews Lars Horntveth
MIC Norway talks with Lars Horntveth of Jaga Jazzist about their new album "One armed bandit": http://listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2010020412084763804989
TV Eye to release album in March
Swedish punkrockers TV Eye (ex-Raped Teenagers) will release their full-length debut album "Nice people" on March 26, which seems crazy since the band has been together since 1998 but hey, that's what Mikael Sörling says, though his notion of "productive" is far different than mine even if they do have another album in the can. Anyhow, hit up their website for samples and stuff: http://www.tveye.se/downloads.html
Joel Alme reviewed at The Line of Best Fit
The Line of Best Fit reviews Joel Alme's new record "Waiting for the bells": http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/02/joel-alme-waiting-for-the-bells/
Motorpsycho to release new 7" on Rune Grammofon
will be releasing a new Motorpsycho 7" on February 22 featuring a short version of the track "X-3 (knuckleheads in space)" b/w "I.C.U (boinganoid)", an unreleased track from the recent "Heavy metal fruit" sessions. 1000 copies in a Kim Hiorthøy (as with all RG releases), preorder available soon.
Still Single: Liechtenstein, The Faintest Ideas, more
Still Single covers the Liechtenstein/The Faintest Ideas split on : http://still-single.tumblr.com/post/369870062/liechtenstein-the-faintest-ideas-searching-for-the
Also mentioned, Tom Karlsson's "Pojknacke" LP and Molnbär av John's 7" on .
The Psyke Project to support Nachtmysterium on tour
The Psyke Project will support US act Nachtmysterium for a number of UK and European dates in March:
03/19 - ighting Cocks, Kingston (UK)
03/21 - The Croft, Bristol (UK)
03/22 - Central Station, Wrexham (UK)
03/23 - Moho Live, Manchester (UK)
03/24 - Ivory Blacks, Glasgow (UK)
03/25 - The Well, Leeds (UK)
03/26 - Rock City Basement, Nottingham (UK)
03/27 - Islington Academy 2, London (UK)
03/28 - Engine Room, Brighton (UK)
03/29 - The Frontline, Ghent (BEL)
03/30 - Markthalle, Hamburg (GER)
03/31 - The Rock, Copenhagen (DK)
04/01 - Inferno Fest, John Dee, Oslo (NOR)
Isobel & November live DVD and radio broadcast
Swedish goth/country act Isobel & November filmed and recorded the record release show for their latest album "The ghostwater gospel" back in November and the resulting film will be released on a limited DVD, available for purchase directly from the band. The live audio of the show will be aired by Swedish Radio P4 on February 8 at 5pm and again on the 15th at the same time.
Howl - Urgency
Norwegian rock act Howl are streaming the new track "Urgency" at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/howl1
Look for the band's new album "Cold water music" to be released on March 8.
MP3: Marvins Revolt - Siberia
"After almost a decade of making music together as Marvins Revolt, we have decided to put the band to sleep for an unknown period of time."
Bummer, especially since I was just now getting into their latest record "Patrolling the heights". The band was always that way for me though, their music always needed extra time to simmer before it reached optimum flavor and that just doesn't fly in this short attention span world. I make notes to revisit, but many others have already moved on. Pity. Anyhow, here's to whatever comes next for those guys -- I'm sure they'll be doing good things whether with Rising or something else. (Read the band's full statement)
Marvins Revolt - Siberia
Arcana to release "The First Era 1995-2002" boxset
Renown Swedish neoclassical/darkwave act Arcana will be remastering and reissuing their first four albums -- "Dark age of reason" (1995), "Cantar de procella" (1997), "...The last embrace" (1998), and "Inner pale sun" (2002) -- as a 4xCD boxset with additional bonus tracks culled from various comps and EPs. More details and samples: http://www.cycliclaw.com/27thcycle.html
22-Pistepirkko - 3 rocks from the lake
There's a 22-Pistepirkko tour doc posted at Finnish mag site Rumba, complete with English subtitles: http://www.rumba.fi/katso-uusi-puolituntinen-22-pistepirkko-leffa-2998/
Gaahl crowned "Homosexual of the Year"
Blabbermouth reports that Gaahl (Wardruna, ex-Gorgoroth) was named "Homosexual of the Year" at the Bergen Gay Galla: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=134544
I think it's great that he's speaking out so much about intolerance within the metal community -- it's long overdue.
Abandon
The dead end
Black Star Foundation/Discouraged Records
Abandon have always had an air of grace about them that belies their sludgy roots and perhaps that's down to the integral part that Mehdi Vafaei's pump organ plays in laying the foundation on which the band's music is constructed. Whether it's pushed to the forefront of the music, as in "There is no escape" or "The dead en", or looming with menace behind guitar-driven tracks such as "Lost we are" or "It's all gone", it's difficult to imagine Abandon having an impact as sinister as they do without. That's not to say they would lack appeal without it. The Göteborg doom crew have always done a sterling job in constructing some of the most crushing and heavy gut-churners out there and they know their craft like seasoned professionals. On "The dead end" they once again prove that they can write songs capable of tearing the very souls from those who embark on a listening experience and they achieve that not only by utilizing the sheer power behind their collective instrumentation, but by knowing when to drop an all-out aural depth charge and when to recede back into the darkness to create an eerie, transcendental mood that's almost hypnotic. Vocalist Johan Carlzon sadly passed away before this album met its awaiting public, but some sort of comfort can be taken in knowing that this was, without doubt, the finest performance the man has given in a complete body of work that comprises nothing but exceptional output. The fact that he had, unlike many vocalists, the intelligence to use his talent sparingly, only when the music really required his presence, served to heighten the impact he had on Abandon's music and showcased not only a creative genius but also a certain modesty. A unique and essential memorial.
- John Norby
