This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:
01. Thorleifs - Sweet kissin' in the moonlight
02. E.M.D. - A state of mind - deluxe
03. Caroline Af Ugglas - Så gör jag det igen
04. Larz Kristerz - Hem till dig
05. Malmö Opera Kör & Orkester - Jesus Christ superstar
06. The Boppers - Vibrations
07. Veronica Maggio - Och vinnaren är...
08. Måns Zelmerlöw - MZW
09. Innocent Rosie - Bad habit romance
10. Lisa Ekdahl - Give me that slow knowing smile
11. Sofia Karlsson - Söder om kärleken
12. Promoe - Kråksången
13. Alcazar - Disco defenders
14. Thåström - Kärlek är för dom
15. Intohimo - Us; the hollows
16. Pauline - Never said I was an angel
17. Moneybrother - Real control
18. Lili & Susie - Nu och då - Det bästa med Lili & Susie
19. Theresa Andersson - Hummingbird, go!
20. Miss Li - Dancing the whole way home
"We're General Surgery! We play Death Metal!" Indeed they do, and they do it well. Last night's show here in Olympia was fantastic, bonus that recent Fenriz band-of-the-week pick Midnight played support along with local faves Funerot (who keep sounding better and better each time I see them). I actually don't think I've ever spent much time listening to General Surgery on record -- their discography is awfully meager considering how long they've been around -- but I may have to correct that now. Gore-obsessed grind can easily get tedious, but those dudes throw in enough grooves and classic Swedish death melodies to rise above the rabble. Performed live on stage in bloodied hospital whites just makes it that much more powerful. I'm still smiling thinking about it now.
General Surgery - Slithering maceration of ulcerous facial tissue
Tomas Halberstad appears to have found himself a band: http://tomashalberstad.com/2009/05/14/band-hunting-done-hunting/
Will we see live shows in the future? Will the 2nd album be tracked as a unit? Wait and see...
Under the Radar reviews Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/drunken_trees_ep/
Sincerely Yours (The Tough Alliance) has a new full-length album out now from Avner entitled "Lyssna". Check it: http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0109.php
Susanna and the Magical Orchestra now have a video for the new song "Palpatine's dream": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S9cZXzwwGc&fmt=18
Turbonegro frontman Hank Von Helvete is following in the footsteps of Ola Salo (The Ark) and will be appearing as Jesus in a Norwegian stage production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". The show opens on September 3 at Det Norske Teatret in Oslo.
Hybris artist Jonathan Johansson will be singing a part in The Knife's upcoming Darwin opera work "Tomorrow, in a year": http://hybrism.blogspot.com/2009/05/jonathan-johansson-to-sing-in-opera-by.html
Check out Blood Mortized, a new old-school style Swedish death metal act featuring members from Excruciate, Amon Amarth and Arcana: http://www.myspace.com/bloodmortized
The band's self-titled debut album is out now via Singapore-based label Vrykoblast Productions.
Swedish electronic artist Nois Etc has a new EP called "Live robotics" available for free download via Gourmé! Records: http://www.chainsawbaby.com/
Catch a preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/noisetc
Check out a teaser clip from Ane Brun's upcoming live DVD "Ane Brun - Stockholm Concert Hall", due out in September: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5MfQ-Wa584
Members of the backing choir include a number of prominent Swedish artists, including Anna Ternheim, Lisa Ekdahl, First Aid Kit, Tobias Fröberg, Elin Ruth Sigvardsson, Liv Widell (Don't Be a Stranger), Anja Bigrell (Montys Loco) and more.
MIC Norway profiles the three acts appearing at this year's Cannes Film Festival; Kaada, Det Är Jag Som Är Döden and Transjoik; who will be appearing at a special event on Norwegian film music: http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009051413023439783016
Hardcore Superstar is seeking fans to appear as zombies in their new video: http://www.hardcoresuperstar.com/video-shoot.html
Swedish noiserockers par excellence The End Will Be Kicks have a brand new track called "Luleå Los Angeles La Paz" available for free download/streaming: http://theendwillbekicks.com/
Swedish hip-hop act Speech Defect will release their third album "Happy hunting" on June 10. Hear samples at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/speechdefect