Sincerely Yours #102
Sincerely Yours has a new single from JJ out now: http://www.sincerelyyours.se/yours0103.php
Show No Mercy interviews Hooded Menace
The latest edition of Pitchfork's "Show No Mercy" column features an interview with Finnish act Hooded Menace: http://pitchfork.com/features/show-no-mercy/7637-show-no-mercy/
For other death metal fans, Dead Congregation (one of the other bands interviewed) are very recommended.
Moonbabies add date in Switzerland
Updated Moonbabies dates for next week:
04/02 - Die Box, St Gallen (CH)
04/03 - K4, Nürnberg (GER)
04/04 - Vortex, Siegen (GER)
Brighter Death Now live album on the way
Cold Meat Industry will be releasing Brighter Death Now's US live debut from back on Friday, June 13, 2003 in Chicago as a live album entitled "Where dreams come true: Live in Chicago". Due out April 23, 1000 copies only. Full details: http://www.coldmeat.se/mailorderf.asp?id=2896
Thomas Troelsen to produce new Raveonettes album?
It looks like Thomas Troelsen (Superheroes, Private) might be producing The Raveonettes' next album: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=4263957&blogId=479277262
New Kongh album on May 15
Swedish doom trio Kongh reports that their new album "Shadows of the shapeless" is finished and confirmed for release on May 15 via Trust No One. 5 songs, 57 minutes, so you know it's a major epic. There's also word of a pending US release in a addition to a 2LP version, but no dates yet on either. Listen to samples of two tracks at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kongh
I'm From Barcelona back to Europe in May
New European dates for I'm From Barcelona:
05/23 - Schüür, Luzern (CH)
05/24 - Manufaktur, Schorndorf (GER)
05/25 - Rockhouse, Salzburg (AUS)
05/26 - A38, Budapest (Hungary)
05/27 - PPC, Graz (AUS)
05/28 - Pauk, Zagreb (CRO)
05/29 - Europavox festival @ Cooperative de Mai, Clermont Ferrand (FRA)
05/30 - ARTROCK festival @ Poulain Corbion, St, Brieuc (FRA)
05/31 - Aéronef, Lille (FRA)
MP3: Taake - Umenneske
I seem to remember Taake being reviled back in the day for using too many keyboards, but that's definitely not the case on his latest album as this is pure, cold Norwegian black-metal. Pure, as in purely by-the-book though; regardless of however long he's been making music (or stirring up controversy), nothing can hide the fact that this record (the third in a trilogy) is boring. Or maybe I'm just over this style of cold black metal. I like the various NWOBHM-touches on the riffs and some bits of the doomy breakdown, but it never really goes anywhere. It just keeps going and going and going and going... until it finally peters out. Why bother?
Taake - Umenneske
Ex-Motorhomes vocalist now John ME
Ex-The Motorhomes vocalist Mattias Edlund will release his debut solo album "I am John" under the name John ME on April 8. Samples (and Swedish tourdates) at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/johnmemusic
Hate to say it, but as a Motorhomes fan, I am underwhelmed.
New Magnus Lindberg album in April
Magnus Lindberg, the singer/songwriter from Grymlings -- not the Cult of Luna member nor the Finnish composer, will release his new album "Ett eget liv" on April 22.
New Eardrums comp on Saturday
Eardrums' new free spring download compilation will be unveiled on Saturday, March 28: http://eardrumsmusic.com/2009/03/26/live-blogging-the-new-eardrums-compilation-on-saturday/
Boing Boing ups Desert Planet
Better late than never, renown tech site Boing Boing finally discovers Finland's Desert Planet: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/25/gamethemed-finnish-m.html
This year's Scandinavian lineup at the Great Escape
Scandinavians representing at this year's Great Escape Festival in Brighton, England include team Norway: The New Wine, Harrys Gym, Thomas Dybdhal, Casiokids, I Was A King, Tommy Tokyo and Starving For My Gravy and Datarock; Sweden: The Deer Tracks, A Sad Day for Puppets and Dag for Dag; Finland: TV Off and Jaakko and Jay; and finally, repping for Iceland: Hjaltalín and Lay Low. Details: http://www.escapegreat.com/
PopMatters reviews Fever Ray
PopMatters reviews Fever Ray: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/71581-fever-ray-fever-ray/