Fare You Well interview at RMP
Rock-Metal-Punk talks to the excellent Swedish indie/emo/pop act Fare You Well: http://rock-metal-punk.org/interview.php?band=fare-you-well
The Swede Beat #11
Swedish music/art newsletter The Swede Beat has posted their 2009 year-end edition (issue #11) for perusal: http://www.theswedebeat.com/blog/magazine/2009/
Surferosa taking a break
Norwegian neon-pop act Surferosa is going on hiatus: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=3996110&blogId=523648363
No word on if/when they'll be back, but they insist they are not breaking up.
Viola - 2010s (maybe the world won't end)
Viola's first free track of 2010 is now available for download: http://violamusicclub.com/2010-01-2010s-maybe-the-world-wont-end
So are we really calling it the "twenty-tens"?
New Fredrik website, video
Swedish act Fredrik have a new website: http://www.frdrk.org/
Go there to check out their new video for "Vinterbarn".
Mimas live in Reading
Check out a live concert video of Mimas performing in Reading: http://www.beatcast.tv/page/mimas-1
The Giant's Dream finish "Canto III"
IAT.MP3 ambient/electronica artists The Giant's Dream have completed work on the third edition of their "Canto" album series and are currently streaming the entire thing at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thegiantsdream
Check the blog for physical CD ordering info.
MP3: Voices Break the Silence - Lost
Hell yes, Voices Break the Silence are back and apparently there's even a new album on the way. This is the first taste and it's a killer slice of Swedish noiserock, albeit also revealing a slightly poppier direction for the band. Whatever, makes no difference to me -- I'm stoked on it regardless. More details forthcoming?
Voices Break the Silence - Lost
Thee Gutted String - Christmastime In Hagarna EP
Thee Gutted String, the mellow solo alias of Johan Gustavsson (Scraps of Tape, Tsukimono), has an excellent new 3-song EP posted for free download: http://timecanvas.wordpress.com/2009/12/27/christmas-ep/
Definitely worth checking out!
Cats on Fire - The Hague
I received no less than three emails from three different people about this over break, so no doubt it is important: Finnish indie act Cats on Fire have a new single called "The Hague" posted for free download via /: http://www.cosyrecordings.com/cosy024.html
Alpine Those Myriads drop question mark, post new track
Norwegian act Alpine Those Myriads? are dropping the question mark from their name and will henceforth be known simply as Alpine Those Myriads, no extra punctuation necessary. They also have a new song for free download; go here to get it: http://alpinethosemyriads.com/xmas-is-here-so-is-our-present
Farewell to 2009
A few statistics for the year, should you be curious...
Total news items: 3880
Reviews: 77
Mp3s: 235
Top downloads (for tracks posted in 2009):
01. Florence Valentin - Spring Ricco
02. Ison & Fille - Jag skratter idag
03. King Diamond - No presents for Christmas (slightly cheating since I also posted it last year)
04. The Scrags - Psycho cyclone
05. Mercy - Heavy metal warriors
Top search terms:
01. Porno (no surprise, though I suspect most people aren't actually looking for the Swedish rapper)
02. Darkthrone
03. King Diamond
04. Melody Club
05. Black Uniforms
Remember, the mailorder goes on hibernation tomorrow so get your orders in now. Otherwise, I'm hard at work on revamping the site for 2010 and will be back with regular updates next week. Take care and happy New Year!