New Fire! album in late May

Coming out May 20 via Rune Grammofon will be the new Fire! album "Unreleased?" featuring Jim O'Rourke: http://www.runegrammofon.com/artists/fire_/rcd-2111-fire-with-jim-o-rourke-unreleased/

Playground presents Discover the Sound of Sweden

Playground Music is putting out a new comp of Swedish music called "Discover the Sound Of Sweden" featuring selections from artists such as The Concretes, Jenny Wilson and Non Tiq. Read more: http://blogs.playgroundmusic.com/intlpub/discover-the-sound-of-sweden-with-playground-musics-stunning-new-compilation
For non-Scandinavians it appears the the collection is available for sampling via Musikwebb, along with the companion release "Discover the Sound of Denmark". No idea what the restrictions are on iTunes, but maybe you can preview it there as well if you don't hate that application like I do.

Christoffer Roth - Come Life (video)

PSL has the premiere of the video for the new Christoffer Roth single "Come life": http://psl.svt.se/psl/2011/05/05/extra-extra-videopremiar-christoffer-roth-come-life/

Sahara Hotnights album preview

Preview Sahara Hotnights' upcoming self-titled album, due out May 25. Direct link: http://youtu.be/8C15cYhv46g

Ane Brun confirms new single

The new Ane Brun single "Do you remember" has been confirmed for release on May 17 and you can check out a short preview clip at her website: http://anebrun.com/

Makabert Fynd US tour (updated)

Dates for Makabert Fynd's upcoming US tour in July are starting to come together: http://www.myspace.com/makabertfynd/blog/542824977

Dungen at the Hammersmith in June

Dungen will be supporting Fleet Foxes for a two-night stand at the Hammersmith Apollo in London June 1-2.

Degrees album preview

Swedish shoegazers Degrees have a new album "Dream on dreamy" coming out at the end of the month and you can now preview a few of the tracks from it at Bandcamp: http://degrees.bandcamp.com/album/dream-on-dreamy
Look for a video for the track "Idiot dreaming" to come out May 10.

Why do people like Sabaton? PopMatters investigates

Adrien Begrand braves the reissued back catalogue of Swedish power-metal louts Sabaton for PopMatters: http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/139970-once-more-unto-the-breach/

Lilla Sällskapet - Genova (video)

Heavy masturbation and unibrows on display in this NSFW clip from Swedish electro/pop act Lilla Sällskapet: http://youtu.be/5bTpIQAb7d4

ÅBE to tour, record new album

Swedish noiserockers ÅBE will be touring to France and back this summer -- help them out with shows and floors to sleep on: http://aabe.se/?p=109
They're also working on a new record which should be out around midsummer, expect more details as they progress.

Gross Anatomy: Saturnalia Temple

Highly esteemed artist Mr. Dennis Dread takes you behind the scenes into the creation of the artwork for "Aion of Drakon", the new album from Swedish doom act Saturnalia Temple: http://dennisdread.blogspot.com/2011/04/gross-anatomy-part-13.html

Fredrik - Chrome cavities (video)

A new video from Fredrik, the first official clip from the band's new album "Flora" outside of the excellent full album stream. Details:

Inspired by early motion picture magicians like Stan Brakhage, Harry Smith, Isidore Isou and Viking Eggeling, it features an abstract take on Palm Shadowplay using "a vintage British overhead projector, an off-white canvas, scissors, paper, 8 hands and a fishtank full of flammable liquids". The colorations are natural and come from the way the lens refracts light at various distances, much like a prism. The effect has been "accentuated and slightly colour-corrected to fit the overall style".

"Flora" also got a decent review at Pitchfork today: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15388-flora/

Fenriz' Band of the Week: Execration

Fenriz' new band of the week is Execration from Norway: http://www.myspace.com/officialdarkthrone/blog/542840550

Obstacles @ La Fourmi 14/01/2011 (video)

Dude. MATH. Direct link: http://vimeo.com/23166122