IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

Axe - New song, more

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:18:55 -0800

Swedish noisepunks Axe recently recorded 15 new songs at The Dustward Studio in Stockholm and are now currently streaming one of them at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/weareaxe
And on a related note, Axe guitarist David Fried also sends word that his other band Munnen will be doing a 7" in the not-so-distant future on the label Xenomorph. More details on that to come...

Sirius playlist week #39

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:31:05 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Simian Ghost - Beat on the brat
02. TALK 1
03. End of All - Folkhemmet
04. In These Woods - Bear
05. The Bells - Outside
06. Britta Persson - Some girls some boys
07. TALK 2
08. Kråkesølv - Nordavind mot varme kinn
09. Tomas Halberstad - The pendulum swings again
10. WhoMadeWho - Left hand of the boxser
11. TALK 3
12. Säkert! - Köttet är svagt
13. Next Life - Battle tactics
14. Kaka - Candyman
15. The Fine Arts Showcase - Spanish kerosene
16. TALK 4
17. Kimono - Black
18. Axe - Up against common sense
19. NNDC - Mouthful of diamonds
20. Slöa Knivar - Anticimex
21. Enforcer - Take me to hell
22. TALK 5
23. Ikons - Imperiet

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

MP3: EL-SD - Hille

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:27:52 -0700

I haven't been posting too many mp3s lately because there hasn't been too many releases that I'm really excited about. Of course I could keep on posting negative reviews of stuff I dislike, but that's extremely depressing, not to mention needlessly tedious. I still have to listen to the stuff, y'know? So what I'm going to do is what I've been doing (more or less) which is post more tracks from bands I've already talked up. I pretty much have only been listening to the same dozen-plus bands anyway, so it logically follows that my playlist here reflects that. Anyhow, EL-SD impressed me a lot with their side of their Axe split from a few months back and the group is now working on a full-length album. I've been lucky enough to receive a few preproduction samples and lucky for you, I've been given permission to share one. "Hille" doesn't differ much from the template on display in "Walking sideways"; they're still building walls of discordant noiserock anchored by a heavy rhythm section, but oh man, do they have hooks too! I wouldn't think it possible with such weird vocals, but they pull it off exceptionally well. I guess you could say that weird = memorable in this case. I'm told the band is currently seeking label support and though I'm not optimistic for them, I'm eager to be proven wrong. Personally, I'd go DIY in the face of so few indie labels putting out actual indierock, but hey, like I said, I'm happy to be refuted on the subject. Don't let my negativity rub off on you. Spread the word/music.

MP3: Axe - Harm

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:14:39 -0700

Might as well follow up my last mp3 post with something from their split-mates Axe before the record release show tonight. Axe are more spastic than EL-SD, more dense too. Every note is played like it's trying to hold on for dear life as they get tossed into the maelstrom. A clattering din held together by tightly-wound vocals. Reckless, anxious and angry; they're calling you out: "Hey! You're full of bologna!" Well... are you?

MP3: EL-SD - Walking sideways

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:01:20 -0700

Noisy Swedish indierock is always my go-to scene and now you can add EL-SD to the list of current acts making a successful go at it. "Walking sideways" is a new track from the band that's not yet available on any release, but they've got a split 7" with fellow like-minded act Axe (remember?) that comes out tomorrow and you can celebrate with them both (+Soviac) at SugarBar in Stockholm. Expect a full review of that record in the not-so-distant future, meanwhile enjoy this fine slice of sharp, discordant rock.

Sirius playlist week #13

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:42:13 -0700

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU:

01. Brothers of End - Beats for you (Rasmus Hägg remix)
02. TALK 1
03. Haust - A final effort
04. Rasmus Kellerman - Five years from now
05. Echo Is Your Love - Playlist song
06. EL-SD - Walking sideways
07. TALK 2
08. Axe - Harm
09. Khoma - From the hands of sinners
10. Zeigeist - Bunny
11. C.Aarmé - Assuan
12. TALK 3
13. The Fine Arts Showcase - This is the day
14. Sonic Ritual - Early graves
15. Death By Kite - Pills
16. Susanne Sundfør - O master
17. TALK 4
18. Simian Ghost - Star receiver
19. Moloken - Untitled III
20. Darkthrone - I am the graves of the 80s
21. TALK 5

Reminder: my show airs every week on Sundays and Mondays at 11pm ET on Sirius XMU. That's channel 26 on Sirius, 43 on XM and 831 for DirecTV subscribers.

Axe, EL-SD & Karpis Live @ Snövit, Stockholm, 10/24/09

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:32:19 -0700

There's a nice noise-hardcore-scene vibe going around Stockholm with some amazing bands gigging in basements and bars and such, under the radar of -- or underestimated by -- the established clubs; these bands are getting their gigs by themselves and getting together a group of friends in a hole in the ground serving beer. Anyone paying attention will recognize that most members tonite are the usual suspects and this one featured, among others, members of Traktor, Emerson Fittipaldi, Seven Feet Four and Bruce Banner, on stage and in the audience.

Axe kicked off the night with some ferocious hardcore-noise-punk in the vein of Brick and that old hardcore band from Sigtuna that I can't remember the name of right now. They were really cool. They've got hooks! Check out their myspace and you'll see what I mean (the song "Firmafest" is an amazing stand-out!). They also are not afraid to go mid-tempo for some noise-intensity. The live-experience was great, yet lacking some volume and conviction, but hopefully they'll iron this out. If they do, this band will be a force to be reckoned with.

EL-SD were a bit more heady, recalling early Unwound, Sonic Youth, even early Quagmire (!) as well as sporting "Yank crime"-era Drive Like Jehu song lengths. I was blissing out ofc, with the amazing gzzz-ing and no-wave picking guitars of David Fried right in front of me and bumping into Frippe going crazy wielding the bass. Good shit, this.

Karpis went metal on me, taking noise-rock down drop-tuning with growling even. They were bringing it, but I was kind of done unfortunately, trying to flirt, drink beer and stuff instead. I'll catch more of your set next time guys, promise!

So, fellow travelers, when in Stockholm, I humbly suggest you forgo established venues, constantly applying the one-size-fits-all-indie-dancefloor after every damn concert, for the basement jovial hardcore-scene-experience. Get your promille up and cheer for your new-found favourite underground band! You can even pogo a bit if u'd like.

MyFriends: Axe, Cortina, KA SO RE, My Sweet Life, Palpitation, Ryerye

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

And the list is thousands long...

Axe
SOUNDS LIKE: It's no secret that I love noisy rawk and this band has got it down. Git in touch with your manfeelings! Tightly wound and ready to go off!
HIGHLIGHTS: Www, Firmafest
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/weareaxe

Cortina
SOUNDS LIKE: If you want to hear quality Americana, look abroad, look to Norway. RIYL Midnight Choir, Weeping Willows, etc.
HIGHLIGHTS: Don't leave me, In the rain
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/captaincortina

KA SO RE
SOUNDS LIKE: Finland has a well-deserved reputation for producing interesting techno. Witness!
HIGHLIGHTS: Dramatically keep you, One horse down
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/kasore

My Sweet Life
SOUNDS LIKE: Carefree indiepop? Not exactly, the sweetness of the band's name does shine through. Actually, scratch that "band" part, MSL is mostly just Jesper Klein from Birds On Holiday/Speedmarket Avenue.
HIGHLIGHTS: Every day is the same, Come back in time
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/mysweetlifemusic

Palpitation
SOUNDS LIKE: Missed them at Hultsfred, but I'm trying to make up for it. Everything everyone loves about classic Swedish indiepop is what Palpitation epitomizes. And yes, they do it well.
HIGHLIGHTS: I'm happy now, Next stop Tennessee
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/palpitationband

Ryerye
SOUNDS LIKE: Finnish indie act Red Carpet is gone, but ex-member Petri Nakari soldiers onward. Ryerye picks up not too far from where he left off, perhaps adding a bit more of a mature, rootsy vibe to the mix.
HIGHLIGHTS: All three tracks are pretty nice
LINK: http://www.myspace.com/ryeryefi

Wed, 19 May 2004 00:00:00 -0700

"We promise you a fucking brutal and varied piece of work with especially outstanding performances by the new members Axe and Tägtgren, proving Bloodbath is no longer a only tribute to death metal — it's death metal's very own elite." That's what Bloodbath has to say about their recently completed new album "Nightmares Made Flesh", the follow-up to 2002's excellent "Resurrection Through Carnage". Full tracklist:

01. Outnumbering The Day
02. Year Of The Cadaver Race
03. Draped In Disease
04. Cancer Of The Soul
05. The Ascension
06. Eaten
07. Brave New Hell
08. Stillborn Saviour
09. Feeding The Undead
10. Bastard Son Of God
11. Soul Evisceration
12. Blood Vortex