Switchblade, down to two

Switchblade made their first live appearance as a duo last night at Kafé 44 in Stockholm and PSL was there to film it: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2010/9/15/switchblade-ar-tillbaka-som-en-duo/

Nancy Baym's five albums you should be listening to right now

Online Fandom writer and sometime IAT contributor Nancy Baym lists "Five albums you should be listening to right now" for Nerve.com, four of which are from Scandinavia: http://nerve.com/entertainment/2010/09/15/five-albums-you-should-be-listening-to-right-now

Principe Valiente - The night (video)

The video is a mess and the song doesn't really get interesting until minute 3, but even still, mediocre goth rock is better than no goth rock at all. Principe Valiente has potential. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69EZnRKe0s

Rasmus Kellerman - The 24th (video)

Rasmus Kellerman's "The 24th" is the cure-all for all creeping negativism, reminding us to mindful of all we have to be thankful for. How beautiful life can be, indeed. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1A-pNs7ywM

Blood Command - Alert all assassins (video)

Check out Blood Command's brand new video "Alarm all assassins": http://vimeo.com/14940098
I'd be into it if it didn't have that terrible heavy, screechy part. Animal Alpha could sort of pull off that sort of thing, but even then, it's still grating.

The Concretes return to the UK

The Concretes return to the UK in December:

12/01 - The Lexington, London
12/02 - The Fleece, Bristol
12/03 - The Deaf Institue, Manchester
12/04 - The Arches, Glasgow
12/05 - Brighton Ballroom, Brighton

Friendly Noise #8

Issue #8 of Friendly Noise -- nothing directly music-related, but if you understand how much government can drive the culture (and are of voting age in Sweden), it's worth looking at: http://www.friendlynoise.se/fzn/8

Dimmu Borgir - Gateways (video, feat. Agnete Kjølsrud)

So this is the new Dimmu Borgir clip. Can't say that I care much for the song (no surprise), but I like the new outfits. However, a bald guy with a mustache will never, ever be scary no matter how much he mugs at the camera. Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KzzbYp7NtY

This week's Last.fm chart

Here is the It's a Trap! listening group top 10 artists of the week, unique to our group:

01. Loney Dear
02. Kent
03. Familjen
04. Robyn
05. Håkan Hellström
06. The Bear Quartet
07. Britta Persson
08. Jonathan Johansson
09. Junip
10. The Radio Dept.

Do you listen to music on your computer or with an iPod? Please join us and make your playlist count! Go here to learn more: http://www.last.fm/help/

PopMatters reviews Junip

PopMatters reviews Junip's debut full-length "Fields": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/130614-junip-fields/

From Hank von Helvete to Cornelis Vreesvijk

Gaffa is reporting that Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby aka Hank von Helvete (ex-Turbonegro) is set to star in the title role of "Cornelis", an upcoming Swedish bio film about beloved troubadour Cornelis Vreesvijk coming in November: http://gaffa.se/nyhet/42907
Mr. Helvete is also recording a couple Vreesvijk tunes for the soundtrack and will be doing an album with Cornelis' son, Jack Vreesvijk.

Loud As Light - There's a clock

Swedish act Loud As Light (ex-The Idle Hands) have a new two-track single posted for free download: http://loudaslight.bandcamp.com/
It's not remotely metal, but it's produced by Dan Swanö should that name interest you. Personally, I'm into the b-side "Hearts" more than the flip.

Slidin' Slim - Right wing blues

More Swedish election music, this time from Slidin' Slim: http://slidinslim.bandcamp.com/

NNDC - Mouthful of diamonds (video)

Niels Nielsen is now Niels Nielsen DC is now NNDC and this/their cover of "Mouthful of diamonds" by Phantogram is the first release under the expanded moniker. More to come soon? Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2wJ661NaDo

New music from Next Stop: Horizon

Check out Next Stop: Horizon, a new act featuring Pär Hagström and Jenny Roos, both from Cirkus Transmopol: http://www.myspace.com/nextstophorizon
Some of it sounds like a stripped-down version of what came before, but I thought the top track "One of those nights" was pretty good/different.