Skweee stars Randy Barracuda and Mesak are putting out a split 12" via Harmönia Records in November. Randy Barracuda (aka Imatran Voima) contributes "Black vaseline" and a Eero Johannes Kotkan Ruusu mix of the same while Mesak gets a little help from Michael Black Electro on the flip for "Adult games" plus a dub version of the same. Preview at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/harmoenia
MP3: Black Rose - The end
Halloween isn't Halloween without a little King Diamond, so today I've got a track for you from Black Rose, King's band pre-Mercyful Fate. The group formed in 1979 and put out a few records, but the stuff I like best are the rehearsal tapes that were reissued in 2001. The band always had a killer hard-rock sound, but on this stuff the organ is way louder, giving them an even stronger Deep Purple/Iron Butterfly vibe. And for those who are convinced that King's, uh, "distinctive" vocals are not to their taste, you may be surprised here because he doesn't really do any of the falsetto wailing he's known for. Lyrically, it's still pure comic book horror, so naturally that's why I'm offering it to you on this fine Hallow's Eve, but it's not prototypical scary metal. And dig that extended jam that makes up the bulk of the track! Maybe not quite as awesome as some of Fate's best work, but still damn cool, especially that organ solo. Crank it up and have a happy Halloween!
Black Rose - The end
Stand By Your Band, Sahara Hotnight's self-run label, has signed Umeå duo Two White Horses and will be releasing their debut album in March 2009. Hopefully you'll remember that I've told you about them before- it's siblings Jakob and Lovisa Nyström from Säkert!/Isolation Years. Listen at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/2whitehorses
The new Björn Kleinhenz single "At night we die" is now available as a free download: http://www.tomtrecordings.se/mp3/Bjorn_Kleinhenz_-_At_Night_We_Die.mp3
The new album "Quietly happy and deep inside" is out now and hopefully I should have copies available for mailorder very very soon.
This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:
01. Vamp - St. Mandag (Jewel Boks)
02. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Pust
03. Marit Larsen - The Chase
04. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Mål & Mening
05. Rita Eriksen - Hjerteslag
06. Karpe Diem - Fire vegger
07. Herborg Kråkevik - Annleis enn i går
08. Odd Nordstoga - Pilegrim
09. Maria Mena - Cause & Effect
10. Diverse artister - Mgp Jr 2008
11. Halvdan Sivertsen - Mellom oss
12. Øystein Sunde - Meget i Sløyd
13. St. Thomas - St. Thomas Box
14. Smurfene - Smurfeparty
15. Vidar Johnsen & Peter Nordberg - Ord & Øgonblick
16. Thomas Brøndbo - Du sa æ va en drøm
17. Malin - Pang
18. Dag Arnesen - Norwegian Song 2
19. Ida Jenshus - Color of the Sun
20. Onkel Tuka - Hotell Hellman
Fluxblog continues to push Norwegian artist Marit Larsen: http://www.fluxblog.org/2008/10/from-your-bed-to-your-door
Absolut Noise has published the first of a three-part interview with Calle Olsson (The Bear Quartet, Paper, Paddington DC): http://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2008/10/interview-calle-osson-part-1.html
Discobelle has a new track from Timbuktu featuring guest spots from Supreme (Looptroop) and Frej (Slagsmålsklubben, Maskinen, Far & Son): http://www.discobelle.net/2008/10/30/timbuktu-ft-frej-supreme-%e2%80%93-6an/
Upcoming tourdates for Johnossi:
10/31 - GG, Uddevalla (SWE)
11/01 - Brew House, Gothenburg (SWE)
11/04 - Gleis 22, Munster (GER)
11/05 - Gleis 22, Munster (GER)
11/06 - Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
11/07 - Mod Club, Hasselt (BEL)
11/08 - Zakk, Dusseldorf (GER)
11/09 - Substage, Karlruhe (GER)
11/10 - Weekender Club, Innsbruck (AUS)
11/11 - Rockhouse, Salzburg (AUS)
11/12 - PPC, Graz (AUS)
11/14 - Kofmehl, Solothurn (CH)
11/15 - ISC Bern (CH)
11/16 - Roxy, Saarbrücken (GER)
11/17 - Knust, Hamburg (GER)
11/26 - Heartbreak, Gavle (SWE)
11/27 - Raw, Eskilstuna (SWE)
11/28 - S2, Borlange (SWE)
11/29 - Arena, Karlstad (SWE)
12/04 - Mejeriet, Lund (SWE)
12/05 - Debaser, Malmo (SWE)
12/10 - Kagelbanan, Stockholm (SWE)
12/12 - Satin, Orebro (SWE)
Fellow Swedes Nervous Nellie will support on all non-Swedish dates except Amsterdam.
The Washington Post Express talks to Watain: http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/10/blackest_black_watain.php
MP3: Darkthrone - Hiking metal punks
If you can't understand my love of Darkthrone, there's a good chance that you and I just won't get along. I'm not saying you have to share my appreciation, but you need to know where I'm coming from. Modern-day Darkthrone epitomizes everything that's awesome about heavy metal and underground music. They take the best elements of NWOBHM, black metal and punk rock and distill it into something purely Darkthrone -- it's raw and filthy, yet eminently classic. "Hiking metal punks"? Ridiculous, right? Again, that's what's so great about it! These dudes love to go hiking in the mountains with their metal friends, so it's only natural that they're going to immortalize the experience in song. Remember, metal is supposed to be the soundtrack of social misfits, so this fits perfectly. If you listen to old metal, you should already know that a lot of metal is pretty damn goofy; why should Darkthrone be any different? Because they were once grim black-metal warriors? Don't forget, they also used to be a solid death-metal band once upon a time. People change. They evolve, or in this case, regress. No more false edifice or silly posing, just 100% pure heavy metal. All that's left is pure love.
Darkthrone - Hiking metal punks
Umeå punk label Ny Våg has a new website and news about new releases from Tristess, Masshysteri and Epidemics: http://nyvag.com
Upcoming livedates for Swedish noiserockers Traktor:
11/29 - Showdown @ Henriksberg, Göteborg (SWE)
12/04 - 13 Eins, Ansbach (GER)
12/05 - Juz, Weiden (GER)
12/06 - Juze Treff 9, Heidenheim (GER)
12/07 - Stadtwerkstatt, Linz (AUS)
12/08 - Rotes Gugl, Leitersdorf (AUS)
12/10 - Verso, Luxemburg (LUX)
12/11 - Sonic Ballroom, Köln (GER)
12/12 - Lokal, Berlin (GER)
12/13 - Club Adorno @ Laden, Copenhagen (DK)
Pitchfork reports that Lykke Li will be making a guest appearance on a new web-only TV program produced by Josh Schwartz called "Rockville, CA": http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146962--lykke-li-passion-pit-frightened-rabbit-to-appear-on-new-show-from-gossip-girl-oc-creator
It's fairly safe to say that I am not in that program's target demographic, though I appreciate new ways to introduce music to new audiences.
Upcoming Årabrot tourdates in November:
11/05 - Rote Flora, Hamburg (GER)
11/07 - Vortex Club, Siegen (GER) w/Murder Junkies
11/08 - La Zone, Liege (BEL) w/Birushanah
11/09 - Hokaben Festival, London (UK) w/Sun Ra Arkestra
11/10 - le Happy Days, Le Mans (FRA)
11/11 - El Inca, Bordeuax (FRA)
11/12 - Caravan Serail, Toulouse (FRA) w/Habsyll
11/13 - Chiodo Fisso Music Pub, Venezia (ITA)
11/14 - Lucrezia, Genoa (ITA)
11/15 - Cascina Torchiera / TRoK, Milano (ITA)
11/16 - Kunstkeller, Fürth (GER)
11/18 - JetClub, Prague (CZ)
11/27 - Gamle Slakthuset U-18, Haugesund (NOR)
11/28 - Landmark, Bergen (NOR)
11/29 - Gunfest @ Skur 40, Oslo (NOR) w/Nachtmystium
The date on the 28th is the release party for the new Årabrot/[concept.virus] "Absolutenegativism" EP. Read more about the project here: http://tabaskoartists.com/index.php?/promotions/absolutenegativism-project/