Aerial are currently in the studio working on their much-anticipated third album. Expect a fall 2009 release via Nomethod.
Aversionline on the new Disfear/Doomriders split: http://www.aversionline.com/blahg/2008/12/03/disfeardoomriders-split-7/
Novoton has now confirmed that Hyper Plastic, the solo act of ex-This Perfect Day guitarist Rickard Johansson, will release their self-titled debut EP on 10" vinyl and digital download December 8. Preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hyperplastic
The nominees for this year's Swedish Radio P3 Guld awards have been announced: http://www.sr.se/p3/guld
Direct list to a complete list of nominees: http://www.sr.se/sida/artikel.aspx?ProgramId=3266&artikel=2483771
Swedish postrockers Jeniferever on tour in the UK:
12/05 - The Crypt, Hastings
12/06 - Arts Centre, Norwich
12/07 - Louisiana, Bristol
12/09 - Joiners Arms, Southampton
12/10 - 93 Feet East, London
12/11 - The Brudenell, Leeds
12/12 - The Luminaire, London
12/13 - Ruby Lounge, Manchester
All dates except for the Luminaire gig are as support for iLiKETRAiNS. Also note that the band is looking for a last-minute gig on December 8, so keep an eye on their myspace page for updates.
Updated US dates for Swedish artist The Tallest Man on Earth:
12/09 - Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
12/10 - Town Hall, New York, NY w/Bon Iver
12/11 - Town Hall, New York, NY w/Bon Iver
12/12 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
12/14 - The Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA w/Bon Iver
12/15 - Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA w/Bon Iver
12/17 - Headliners, Louisville, KY w/Bon Iver
12/18 - The Vic, Chicago, IL w/Bon Iver
12/19 - Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI w/Bon Iver
12/20 - Hollywood Forever Cemetary, Los Angeles, CA w/Will Sheff (Okkervil River)
12/22 - SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, Santa Barbara, CA
12/23 - The Cellar Door, Visalia, CA
12/26 - The Fillmore, San Fransisco, CA w/Two Galants, Crystal Antlers
12/28 - Ron Tom's, Portland, OR
12/29 - The Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA
12/30 - KEXP Radio Performance, Seattle, WA
Finnish doom act Callisto has unveiled that their new album "Providence" will be released on February 18 via Fullsteam Records. Hear the lead single "Covenant colours", their first with new vocalist Jani Ala-Hukkala (previous frontman Markus Myllykangas is now solely concentrating on guitar), at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/callistochaos
The new Dollhouse album "Rock & roll revival" will be released on January 23 via Headphone Records in Sweden and Bad Reputation in France.
Yep Roc has licensed The Soundtrack of Our Lives' new album "Communion" for a North American release on March 3.
Legal Records (Sara Löfgren, Sulo) has signed Swedish artist Staffan Hellstrand and will be releasing a career retrospective collection in April compiling tracks from throughout his 20-year career along with a few new tracks and previously unreleased live cuts.
Our year-end listmania continues! The latest contributions posted are from Magnus Öberg, boss of the label Nomethod, and Viktor Lager from the band Alarma Man. Be sure to read them all!
Not in stock quite yet, but ready for pre-order: Larsen & Furious Jane - Zen sucker (LP)
In case you missed it, our glowing review of said album is right here. Yet another new release that's only available on vinyl in the physical realm, so be sure to grab a copy!
MP3: Magnolia - Tag dig själv i kragen
As usual, Transubstans delivers the goods. No one in Sweden does hardrock better, maybe not anywhere. Now I might not love absolutely everything they put out, but more often than not, it hits the spot. Magnolia is a rare exception in that I don't hate it (Transubstans does put out a few wacky discs I can't hang with at all), but I don't love it either. I guess I'm just not into the Cream power-trio thing as they interpret it -- too much bluesy jamming, not enough balls-out rock'n'roll. I dig the slow swing on "Tag dig själv i kragen", but it doesn't move me like Siena Root or Graveyard. The sweet B3 solo can't even win me over, that's how cold I am. But, like I said, it's not bad, it's just a bit disappointing because I was fully expecting to love it. Color me bummed.
Magnolia - Tag dig själv i kragen
Moloken
We all face the dark alone
Discouraged Records
Glad to hear someone emulating "Souls at zero"-era Neurosis rather than that band's monolithic, latter-day sound. Do that and you're only setting yourself up to fail. Instead, we're treated to crusty metal that's totally bass-driven with a similarly progressive, apocalyptic bent and a strong hardcore rooting. But no, not the usual mid-tempo sludge, thank goodness. They've got a healthy dose of northern darkness too, though I wouldn't put them up against the mighty Breach yet. Anyhow, this EP consists of one epic 15-minute track broken into three sections and while the rhythm section is exceptionally strong, the guitars and vocals don't add much more than texture. At least they're buried in the mix behind the bass because that's where Moloken shines. Gnarly tone, too -- like a cross between Man is the Bastard and Rush. I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.
- Avi Roig
