The Cables report from Afghanistan
Nö Music has a great tour diary from The Cables recent trip to perform for the Norwegian troops in Afghanistan: http://www.nomusicmedia.com/2009/11/22/afghanistan/
Fact reviews the new Alog 12"
Fact Magazine reviews the new Alog 12" on FatCat: http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3939&Itemid=32
Lacrosse at Fluxblog
Fluxblog has a new post on Swedish indierock act Lacrosse: http://www.fluxblog.org/2009/11/the-silent-treatment-isnt-helping
New music from Thee Gutted String
Thee Gutted String, the pop/indie alias of Johan Gustavsson (Tsukimono, Scraps of Tape), has a bunch of new tracks at myspace including a Solander cover: http://www.myspace.com/theeguttedstring
The Silent Ballet reviews Pg.lost
The Silent Ballet really likes the new Pg.lost album "In never out": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/2905/Default.aspx
I gave it a run-through this past weekend and wasn't so impressed, but I will definitely be revisiting it.
More markdowns!
The It's a Trap! End Tymes CD clearance sale has been so successful, I've decided to mark down even more titles! That's right -- look for new additions in the clearance section as well as lower prices everywhere else. Who knows? I may even throw up a few extra promo CDs if I get the chance. Keep checking back!
Lapko - I shot the sheriff (mp3 + video)
The new Lapko single "I shot the sheriff" is now officially released and is currently available as a free download for a limited time: http://www.lapko.com/
Check out the video here: http://vimeo.com/7753431
Slaktattack - Crawling chaos (video)
Slaktattack pays tribute to Japanese d-beat masters Disclose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0owlHHrisk
Mikael Lind - Thoork
Swedish Iceland-based artist Mikael Lind is working on a new piece that shows him heading in a more organic direction and is offering an unfinished preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mikaellind
New Darkthrone bio, new album confirmed
Fenriz has posted an updated Darkthrone bio on myspace and in it he reveals that the band's next album "Circle the wagons" will be released in February.
Sophie Rimheden - I'm on fire (feat. Annikafiore)
Swedish electro artist Sophie Rimheden has recorded a cover of the Bruce Springsteen chestnut "I'm on fire" together with fellow Bjärnum/Hässleholm-native and ex-Alcazar member Annikafiore. Listen here: http://www.sophierimheden.com/promo/sophie_rimheden_ft_annikafiore_im_on_fire.mp3
Agent Side Grinder signs with Kill Shaman
Excellent Swedish industrial act Agent Side Grinder has signed with US label Kill Shaman Records (Factums, Pink Noise, Swann Danger) who will be rereleasing the band's self-titled debut on CD in a new version with revised artwork and a bonus track. Expect an early 2010 release, but until then you can still grab a copy of the OG vinyl from me right here.
MP3: Magnus Weideskog - 20 år
Ah, to be young and carefree, full of piss and vinegar. Can't say that I'm crazy about this track once divorced from the (excellent) video (above), but it's not bad on its own, not at all. It's got an effortless lilt to it that befits the lyrics. Also, watching the clip and then putting on the mp3 helps me with my Swedish comprehension skills. Beyond that: perfectly pleasant. Good enough!
Magnus Weideskog - 20 år
Tribulation
The horror
Blood Harvest/Pulverised Records
Those of us old enough to remember the emergence of the classic Swedish death metal sound -- that is, the Tomas Skogsberg/Sunlight Studios sound -- know only too well the nostalgic goosebump feeling that arrives every time we hear said sound chainsaw its way out of a good set of Mordaunt-Shorts. And it's that feeling that arrives in abundance upon listening to "The horror", the searing debut album from Arvika's Tribulation. The music itself is a tech-death/black/thrash amalgam that's as musically precise as they come and that benefits from exceptional song construction throughout. Add a shivering guitar sound that references Sweden's old-school elite with a perfectly-balanced production and you have an album that simply commands attention. With vocals bordering on a black metal rasp layered over a relentless metal bombardment, the sparing use of clean and piano passages offers a welcome deviation from the onslaught and exudes an eerie '70s horror movie feel. While the majority of "The horror" is an all-out riff-frenzy, there are numerous slower moments that, without doubt, is when we see Tribulation at their finest; parts evident in the likes of "Curse of resurrection" and "Seduced by the smell of rotten flesh" that suggest that these guys -– if they're clever -– could find themselves the torchbearers for a resurgence in the style. Hell, they even sport an image that screams Stockholm 1990. "Left hand path" this ain't but, by hell, it's one savage album!
- John Norby
New Hästpojken album surrounded by strife
Aftonbladet reports on the chaos surrounding the new Hästpojken album: http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article6169350.ab
To summarize: co-founder Lars Malmros (aka Pop Lars) quit, as did Joel Alme and so did producer Björn Olsson during mixing disagreement. The album "Från där jag ropar" comes out December 28.