IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

New Switchblade underway this spring

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:24:39 -0500

According to this tweet, Swedish doom trio Switchblade will be recording a new album this spring with Karl Daniel Liden (A Swarm of the Sun/Dozer).

Oak - Demo (self-released)

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:13:59 -0400

This down-tempo post-metal lark is really getting tired now. Mention of a new band in the genre always sparks a bit of interest in the hope that someone is going to bring something new and exciting to the table. That rarely happens, however, and the story is no different with Sweden's Oak. The four tracks on offer here are melodic, overdriven and ponderous with so little in the way of vocals that it could almost be classified as instrumental. Musically, it's well executed; creatively, it's not great at all. It's like Isis without the ingenuity, Switchblade without the dirt, and Red Sparowes without the atmosphere. In that respect, Oak find themselves well behind the times and, if they endeavour to make a mark in the scene, really need to rethink their strategy before releasing future material.
- John Norby
Rating: 3

Switchblade, down to two

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:25:07 -0400

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

Switchblade and Kongh to release split LP

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:16:41 -0500

Switchblade and Kongh, two of Sweden's finest doom acts, will be releasing a split 12" LP later this year via Trust No One Recordings.

Switchblade - s/t (Trust No One Recordings)

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:00:00 -0500

When it comes to a matter (or lack) of speed there aren't that many bands capable of touching Switchblade. The Stockholm trio have taken the rules of drone/doom to the extreme in order to spew forth a barrage of sickening dread upon anyone who dares listen. Think of an ambient, guttural drone coupled with a tortured, black metalesque vocal and you get the idea of what this band are all about. Given the ultraslow nature of Switchblade, mention must be made of how tight the musicianship is on here. With vast chasms between beats, it's inspiring to hear everyone come in on cue every time, and that's not easy when the bpm borders on the negative. That said, with little in the way of variety on display, it can be a difficult and, at times, tedious listen if you're not in the right frame of mind. Released on drummer Tim Bertilsson's own label Trust No One, this fifth full-length recording might be more of the same from Switchblade, but it's sure to leave die-hard fans of the genre in awe.
- John Norby
Rating: 8

Sirius playlist week #43

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:37:22 -0400

Here's the playlist for this week's radio show Sirius XMU, a special pre-Halloween edition:

01. TALK 1
02. Switchblade - 1815
03. TALK 2
04. Abandon - In reality suffer
05. Raison d'Etre - Metamorphyses phase III
06. TALK 3
07. Notre Dame - Le theatre du vampire
08. Mercyful Fate - Desecration of souls
09. Cortex - Warrior night
10. TALK 4
11. Immortal - All shall fail

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.

Switchblade/Kongh September tour

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:04:35 -0400

Swedish doom masters/labelmates Switchblade and Kongh are heading out for a string of dates together in September:

09/04 - Winston, Amsterdam (NL)
09/05 - Frontline, Ghent (BEL)
09/06 - Ashes to ashes, Doom to dust (NL)
09/07 - Waldmeister, Solingen (GER)
09/08 - AZ, Aachen (GER)
09/09 - Hafenklang, Hamburg (GER)

Switchblade album preview

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:09:45 -0400

Swedish doom masters Switchblade have a new website and are streaming their forthcoming self-titled album, a monumental 49-minute piece split into three sections: http://www.switchblade.se/
Lots of great studio pics there too -- be sure to check the gallery.

Kongh - Unholy water

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:30:38 -0400

Swedish trio Kongh step up the game on their new album "Shadows of the shapeless" by delivering a concise, punishing record. "Concise" is a stretch actually, but when you consider how many of their ilk go for the longer=better formula, any tracks < 15 minutes stand out. Only one band can hold chords and my attention for any longer and that's Khanate and they're long gone; broke the mold and took it with 'em too. Anyhow, music that despairing is almost too painful to revisit with any frequency, so I much prefer the far more straightforward pummel of Kongh. It's slow and heavy, it's got discernible head-banging riffs, it makes me happy in a way that only the most crushing doom can. We'll see if Trust No One label bosses Switchblade can top 'em whenever their new one drops, but for now this one stands alone.

Switchblade sets recording date

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:16:56 -0400

Switchblade will be entering Gr�ndal Studio with engineer Karl Daniel Lid�n (VAKA, Dozer) on April 24 to begin recording their next album.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:18:42 -0400

Kongh plans to enter the studio this fall to record their new album, tentatively titled "Shadows of the shapeless". Expect an early 2009 release, but in the meantime, be sure to catch them on tour with labelmates Switchblade - dates (and samples) at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kongh

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:55:41 -0400

Swedish doom acts Switchblade and Kongh are doing some shows together in September:

09/03 - Utkanten, Malmo (SWE)
09/04 - Cassiopeia, Berlin (GER)
09/05 - Kunstverein, Nurnberg (GER)
09/06 - Negasonic, Aalst (BEL)
09/07 - 013 (Ashes To Ashes, Doom To Dust III), Tilburg (NL)
09/08 - tba

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:35:18 -0400

Belgian doom artist Fear Falls Burning is enlisting the help of Swedish musicians Johannes Persson and Magnus Lindberg (both from Cult of Luna, guitar and drums respectively) plus Tim Bertilsson (Switchblade, drums) to help him perform his album "Frenzy of the absolute" in its entirety on November 1 at Schouwburg Cultuurcentrum Luchtbal in Antwerpen, Belgium. Oh, and Steven Wilson from acclaimed UK act Porcupine Tree will be supporting with his solo act Bass Communion. Read more: http://www.ccluchtbal.org/2003/Concert2003/FearFallsBurning.html

Promise and the Monster - Sheets

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:27:43 -0500

Promise and the Monster in a word: haunting. For awhile, I had her CD sitting on my desk next to Kongh's "Counting heartbeats" and it's amazing how similar the cover art for the two albums are. Kongh, a band on Trust No One (the label run by Switchblade drummer Tim Bertilsson), play loud, crushing doom which of course is far from the quiet, reserved sounds of Promise and the Monster, but they both evoke similar feelings of despair. The dark woods, the serif font, represent it well. As the best doom bands know, heaviness is not always related to volume and distortion. It's the space between that's often darkest.

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 12:25:21 -0400

Here's the playlist for this week's special spooky/scary Halloween edition radio show:

01. TALK 1
02. Entombed - Hollywood Babylon
03. ARM - Humming bug
04. Camouflage - Oktober
05. TALK 2
06. Notre Dame - Red Cross
07. Sanctum - Lie low
08. Bay Laurel - Pale colours
09. TALK 3
10. At the Gates - Blinded by fear
11. Frode Haltli - Lude
12. Brighter Death Now - Little baby
13. Death Breath - Lycanthropy
14. TALK 4
15. Breach - Mr. Marshall
16. The Skull Defekts - Carved in bones
17. The Cardigans - Mr. Crowley
18. TALK 5
19. Diabolique - Catholic
20. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - Masks, walls and other ways to keep things out, to keep things in
21. The Bear Quartet - Broken heart
22. Mercyful Fate - Come to the Sabbath
23. TALK 6
24. Beyond Dawn - Cigarette
25. Pimentola - Heart's dementia (Phase I)
26. Repoman - Chemically obsessed
27. TALK 7
28. MZ412 - Infernal affairs II
29. Satyricon - Nemesis divina
30. Switchblade - Selfdestruct schematics / Open aftermath
31. TALK 8
32. Rasion D'etre - Metamorphyses Phase IV
33. Cortex - We are the dead
34. TALK 9
35. Emperor - I am the Black Wizards

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Trust No One reports that their entry into the Logh "Raging sun" 7" series (theirs is 3/4, mine is 4/4) will soon be available for preorder: http://trustnoonerecordings.blogspot.com/2007/04/sorry-for-abscence-of-updates-lately.html
Also on the way from the label is the debut album from Kongh as well as a possible Switchblade live DVD.

Top 10s for 2006: C-J Larsg�rden (A Perfect Friend, Pacta Sunt Servanda)

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Top 10 records 2006:

01. Sonic Youth - "Rather Ripped" (Geffen)

02. Yo La Tengo - "I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass" (Matador)

03. SunnO))) & Boris - "Altar" (Southern Lord)

04. The Evens - "Get Evens" (Dischord)

05. Ekkehard Ehlers - "A Life Without Fear" (Staubgold)

06. Melvins - "A Senile Animal" & "Houdini Live: A Live History of Gluttony and Lust" (Ipecac)

07. Svarte Greiner - "Knive" (Type)

08. Stereolab - "Fab four Suture" (To Pure)

09. Red Sparrowes - "Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun" (Neurot)

10. Pruditsch / Rowenta - "Orion und Kassiopeia" (Jeans Records)

Others who made good records 2006: Juana Molina, Amute, Akron/Family, Isis, Mogwai, S�bastien Roux, Alva Noto, Damien Jurado... etc.
It has been a good music year.

Top 10 Swedish things:

01. Audrey - "Visible Forms" (CD, Tenderversion)

02. Pontus Lundqvist - "Mina �gon!! Mina �gon!!! 1987-2006" (Book, Lystring)

03. Switchblade - "Switchblade" (CD, Trust No One)

04. To play and record with A Perfect Friend

05. M�klarna (TV)

06. Ideal Recordings (Record label)

07. Elope - 3WD (CD, Gravitation)

08. Normal Man (Fanzine)

09. Detektivbyr�n - "Hemv�gen" (EP)

10. Musikministeriet (TV)

---------------------------

C-J is currently working on the debut album of A Perfect Friend, his electronic/folk duo with Thomas Denver Jonsson. Look for it next year via Stilll.
www.pactasuntservanda.se
www.aperfectfriend.com
www.myspace.com/aperfectfriend

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Trust No One and Riptide/Pleasure Syndicate are teaming up to release Switchblade's latest self-titled album on vinyl. No word on an exact release date yet, but it will include slightly different artwork in a gatefold format and there will probably be clear, clear with smoke and black vinyl.

Out of Clouds - Like a lily

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

I like the dichotomy of switching between heavy gloom and doom and happy, sunny pop. So it's only natural that I follow yesterday's post on the mighty Switchblade with something just a bit more appropriate for the season. A track from Out Of Clouds' "Into your lovely summer" EP is an obvious choice. The band actually does have their melancholy moments (as is the case with most Swedish pop), but the opening track "Like a lily" is nothing but sweetness. Good tunes for good times.

Switchblade - 7:05

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Switchblade's latest (and greatest) self-titled album is out now in the US via Cyclop Media. Two songs, one clocking in around 30 minutes and one topping off around minute 17. I considered posting a track, but man - that's a lot of bandwidth. And besides, the whole thing is available for streaming here. Posting samples would be redundant. What I have for you instead is the original version of track 2, the song featuring Mattias Friberg of Logh on vocals and additional guitar. Originally released on the tour-only 7"/CDR back in 2004, the song marks an important point in the band's development. It's less focused on plodding mid-tempo Isis-esque riffage, more on space and texture. The guitars are still plenty heavy, but they're brighter, cleaner and much more sparse. You can hear every note of each ringing chord - nothing is lost in overly sludgy tone. Think of how Shellac's guitar sound is still threatening without necessarily being totally overdriven and distorted. The song builds slowly and remains focused on Mattias' half-spoken vocals before breaking out into an awesome lurching riff at around 4:40. Obviously, it takes awhile to get there, but the journey is worth it as the moodiness of the song's first half is just as important as the bombastic conclusion. If you like Khanate, but sometimes wish they were a bit less esoteric, this is for you.

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Switchblade will be doing a few tourdates with Amen Ra in August:

08/24 - La Batofar, Paris (FRA) (possibly featuring E on vocals)
08/25 - Ieper Festival (BEL)
08/26 - tba
08/27 - Exzess, Frankfurt (GER)

Deud - Fredag

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

I mentioned Deud in passing when they first appeared on myspace, but I always worry that my little side comments go unnoticed. I knew the band was something special even after hearing just a few songs streamed online, so I immediately requested a copy of their demo "The man who was Sunday". Blessed be the miracle of the Internet, I had mp3s in my mailbox in less than 24 hours! That's modern magic right there! The music probably isn't for everyone, but I for one love their take on doomy post-hardcore. Think Breach, but way more drawn-out and atmospheric. It's not quite as dark and menacing as Khanate or Switchblade, but it's still mighty ruling and the track I've posted today is a definite highlight. The sound quality can be a bit rough (it is a demo after all), but the sounds they create overcome the technological limitations. Please note that you can download the whole damn demo at the aforementioned myspace link, but also be aware that I boosted the levels for this particular mp3 so it'll sound slightly different.

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Check out an e-card for the US release of the new Switchblade record: http://www.switchblade2006.com/
They sound way more like Khanate than Isis this time around and I think that's a good thing. Definitely recommended, especially the track with Matthias Friberg from Logh.

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Canadian label Cyclop Media has licensed the most recent Switchblade album for release in North America. It comes out May 9.

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Switchblade's upcoming record release show has been moved to Kafe 44 in Stockholm on February 23 now that Mondo is dead and gone.

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Enough Fanzine reviews the new Switchblade record: http://enoughfanzine.com/index.php?rID=1794&view=reviews_music_detail
I'm really looking forward to hearing this.

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Some new Scandinavian music reviews from Sellfish:

JR Ewing - Maelstrom
Jens Lekman - Oh you're so silent Jens
Switchblade - s/t

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Check out some tracks from Circle Six, a crusty slowcore band in the vein of Switchblade, (older) Isis and so on: http://www.circlesix.net/ (under 'music')
The band features ex-members from Roswell, Dawn and Retaliation and is currently seeking a label.

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Switchblade has a new website: http://www.switchblade.se/
The newest self-titled album comes out January 24. Can't wait to hear it.

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Switchblade's new album has now officially been completed and will be released in Sweden in January via drummer Tim's own Trust No One Recordings. As mentioned before, the disc was tracked at Mission Hall with Mathias Old�n (Logh) manning the desk and will feature three songs clocking in at a total time of somewhere around forty minutes.

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The mighty Switchblade returns to the studio today to begin work on their next album. They'll be working at Mission Hall with Mathias Old�n (Logh) manning the desk. The new music is supposedly much darker, slower and heavier than ever before, but I can assure you that it'll at least be more epic - the entire tracklist of the record will consist of just three songs, clocking in around forty minutes total. Keep track of their progress at their online studio diary: http://www.trustnoonerecordings.com/studio/

Mon, 06 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Switchblade reports that they'll be entering Mission Hall Studio on August 1 to begin recording their next presumable self-titled album. "Expect the new material to be a lot slower, heavier and more epic than ever," they say.

Podcast: This is a test (post-rock/electronics)

Sat, 04 Jun 2005 00:00:00 -0400

DATE ADDED : 06.04.05
LENGTH : 30:00 min
DOWNLOAD : itsatrap_podcast_06042005.mp3 (21.1mb)
RSS : [click here]

Tracklist:
01. Caterpillar Ghost - True bypass
02. Beyond Dawn - Bloody comeback (Martin Horntveth remix)
03. Single Unit - Antlers! Antlers! Antlers!
04. A Gilbert Play - V�g l�ng hem
05. Alog - Buffalo demon
06. Sanna Kurki-Suonio - Minne (Where)
07. The Now - China
08. Plain Fade - Art brut machine
09. Switchblade - 5'12"

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

The excellent Finnish music blog Lupatarkastaja has posted a link for the Mattias Friberg (Logh) and Switchblade collaboration from the latter's special-edition tour 7"/CDR for download: http://lupatarkastaja.blogspot.com/2005/03/switchblade-w-mattias-friberg-705-mp3.html
Of course the result is great - how could it not be with such amazing talents working together? I thought about posting this track awhile back, but decided against it as I figured the bands wouldn't be too pleased. Glad to see Deathwish is spreading the word as they will soon be releasing it in the US.

Thu, 10 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Splendid reviews Switchblade: http://www.splendidmagazine.com/review.html?reviewid=1109331799522953

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500

DigitalMetal reviews Switchblade: http://www.digitalmetal.com/reviews.asp?cid=6217

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Switchblade is planning on recording something new in later spring/early summer. Otherwise, that tour 7" they put out a couple months ago with guest vocals from Mattias Friberg of Logh will be getting a US release via Deathwish/Icarus soon.

Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Today's top 10 is from Tim Bertilsson of the band Switchblade and the label Trust No One Recordings, both of which are excellent and worth investigating if you're into heavy music such as Isis or Cult of Luna. Check it.

Top 10s for 2004: Tim Bertilsson (Trust No One Recordings/Switchblade)

Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:00:00 -0500

01. My now 6 months old daughter Elina

02. Releasing yet another album by Isis

03. Seeing (and feeling) Khanate live

04. Interpol � "Antics" + Live

05. Recording at Mission Hall w/ the Logh guys

06. Playing live w/ All Hail The Transcending Ghost

07. Releasing yet another album by Old Man Gloom

08. Having worked 10 years at Sound Pollution this year

09. Deathwish releasing the latest Switchblade album in the US

10. The Melvins � "Neither here nor there" book + CD

---------------------------

When does Tim find time to sleep? His label Trust No One recently released the 2x7" version of the latest Old Man Gloom album "Christmas Eve", a 2xLP gatefold version of the latest Isis album "Pantopticon" and a new Switchblade 7" featuring a guest appearance from Mattias Friberg of Logh. Next year the label plans to put out more vinyl releases for Logh and Candlemass. When he's not busy with all that, Tim plays drums for Switchblade whose latest untitled album got a US release earlier this year via Icarus/Deathwish. He also plays guitar/pedals with the new band All Hail the Transcending Ghost featuring Nordvargr of MZ412/Folkstorm/Toroidh/et al. Look for an album from them early next year.
www.trustnoonerecordings.com / www.trustnoonerecordings.com/switchblade

Mon, 30 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Indieworkshop gives props to Switchblade: http://indieworkshop.com/reviews/1084/

Mon, 16 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Aversionline.com has posted new reviews from Switchblade and Wolfbrigade.

Wed, 21 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400

The mighty Switchblade has recorded two new songs for a 7" that they'll be bringing with them to the upcoming Ieper Fest on August 29 at Vort N� Vis. One song features Mattias Friberg from Logh on vocals and additional guitar, so I'm definitely excited to hear it. That's not the only Logh connection either - Mathias Old�n engineered the session at Mission Hall.

Mon, 19 Jul 2004 00:00:00 -0400

The latest Aquarius Records new release list features reviews and samples from Switchblade, Dungen, Mum, Thergothon the "Team Yamaha" comp (feat. Aavikko & Pluxus) and tons more: http://www.aquariusrecords.org/cat/newest.html

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

In what's looking to be one of the best festival lineups in Sweden this summer (IMO, of course), the Blow Up a Panda Festival has now added [ingenting], The Baboon Show, Shout Out Louds, Unisex, Sons Of Cyrus and The Knife and Ape to the lineup. Other acts already confirmed include KVLR, Ellis the Vacuumchild, Tiger Lou, Last Days of April, Switchblade, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, The End Will Be Kicks, C.Aarm� and more. So who wants to fly me out? Details: http://www.blowupapanda.se/

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Switchblade will be heading into Mission Hall Studios in July to record two songs for a new 7". One track will feature Mattias Friberg of Logh on vocals and the whole thing will be engineered by Mathias Old�n, also in Logh. It should be ready for release by the time of the band's short European tour in late August based around their appearance at Ieper Fest on 08/27.

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Bands confirmed for the Blow Up a Panda Festival at Gula Villan in Haninge on July 31 - August 1: Tiger Lou, Phoenix Undead, The Steroids, Last Days Of April, Hank, The Sunshine, Twopointeight, Switchblade, The High Heeled Honeys, The End Will Be Kicks, Voice Of A Generation, Sparks Of Seven, C.Aarm� and The Legends. More info: http://www.blowupapanda.se/

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500

I'm a little slow on picking up on it, but the new Switchblade website is finally online: http://www.trustnoonerecordings.com/switchblade/

Wed, 25 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The mighty Switchblade has signed with Deathwish Inc./Icarus in the States. Look for a May 4 release of their most recent self-titled album over here.

Mon, 23 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Logh's new 7" with a slowed down version of "Bones of Generations" and a cover of Slayer's "War Ensemble" is now available for ordering online. In other news, Trust No One Recordings, the label run by the guys in Switchblade will be releasing the vinyl version of the full-length album "The Raging Sun". They'll also be doing the third 7" from that record which will include a remix of the title track as well as an as-yet-unknown b-side.

Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500

Justadelf Versus Gross Alatisch is the name of a new Swedish "all-star" band featuring guitarist Gareth Smith of Raging Speedhorn, guitarist Erik Olsson from Cult of Luna along with ex-CoL drummer Marco Hild�n. The music is described as Neurosis meets Mogwai meets Godspeed You Black Emperor. Gareth is also a part of the Stockhom-based black-metal band Dr�p de Kristna (Slay the Christians) with members of Switchblade and Vinterkrig.

Wed, 14 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0500

New mp3 today from heavy semi-instrumental rockers Switchblade. Fans of bands such as Neurosis and Isis should take note if they haven't already.

Tue, 09 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Manhattan Skyline is a new Norweigan band featuring ex-members of Kaospilot that plays "tech-chaos-metal something" akin to (older) Switchblade or Dillinger Escape Plan. They recently put a couple new mp3s up on their website from their upcoming 3", so head on over if that's the kind of stuff that you're into.

Fri, 05 Dec 2003 00:00:00 -0500

New pics are up at Musique One-Stop of Hell on Wheels, Switchblade, First Floor Power, Her Majesty and Cult of Luna.

Tue, 25 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Cult of Luna has finally confirmed their upcoming Scandinavian tourdates:

11/25 - Debaser, Stockholm (SWE) w/Switchblade
11/26 - Ungdomens hus, Uppsala (SWE) w/Switchblade
11/27 - Subscene, Oslo (NOR)
11/28 - Musikens hus, Gothenburg (SWE)
11/29 - Gislaved (SWE) CANCELLED
11/30 - Tivoli, Helsingborg (SWE) w/Nebula
12/01 - Skylten, Link�ping (SWE)

Don't forget - they're touring the UK with Dillinger Escape Plan in December, too:

12/07 - Riot fest, Antwerp (BEL)
12/08 - Concorde 2, Brighton (UK)
12/09 - Academy 2, Birmingham (UK)
12/10 - Hop & Grape, Manchester (UK)
12/11 - Fleece And Firkin, Bristol (UK)
12/12 - Cathouse, Glasgow (UK)
12/13 - Rock city, Nottingham (UK)
12/14 - Meanfiddler (K-fest show), London (UK)

Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500

It's not totally new, but here's an interview that Switchblade did last month.

Wed, 19 Nov 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Switchblade will be touring Europe beginning in January. Dates so far:

01/14 - Fundbureau, Hamburg (GER)
01/15 - Mikrokosmos, Magdeburg (GER)
01/16 - Scheune, Dresden (GER)
01/17 - Caf� Nexus, Braunschweig (GER)
01/18 - Alhambra, Oldenburg (GER)
01/19 - Bla (tbc), Bonn (GER)
01/20 - tba
01/21 - Clubkeller, Frankfurt (GER)
01/22 - tba
01/23 - Le Marignan, Athus (BEL)
01/24 - Textilhuis, Kortrijk (BEL) @ w/Amenra
01/25 - JuZe, Saarlouis (GER)
01/26 - tba
01/27 - Les Brasseurs , Nancy (FR)
01/28 - KTS, Freiburg (GER)
01/29 - Hirscheneck, Basel (CH)
01/30 - Juze Degerloch, Stuttgart (GER)
01/31 - Kaf� Kult, Munchen (GER)
02/01 - B.A.C.H., Wien (AUS)
02/02 - day off
02/03 - Prague (tbc)
02/04 - tba
02/05 - Immerhin, Wurzburg (GER)
02/06 - Rote Zora, Altenburg (GER)
02/07 - Berlin (tbc)

Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400

Webzine Aversionline is now updated for October with a feature on Arvika Sweden's ATTACK!fanzine along with their usual onslaught of reviews, including Apocryphal Voice, Blind Dog, Bolt, Victims, Hlidolf, Omnium Gatherum, Razor Crusade, Security Threat, Sewer Election, Switchblade, Total Devastation and tons more. As always, I don't necessarily agree with a lot of their taste, but anyone even remotely interested in hardcore and metal should definitely check it out.

Fri, 10 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400

Switchblade just sent their new album off to be pressed in a nice gatefold vinyl format and is starting to take preorders over at Trust No One Recordings. The sooner you order, they say, the more limited color of vinyl that you'll get. In other news, the band is planning a European tour set to kick off sometime in January, but nothing is confirmed yet.

Mon, 06 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0400

There's a new streaming radio mix for you to enjoy. The focus is on some of the more noisy and less pop-oriented stuff I listen to, so check it out. Some of the artists featured include Jazzkammer, Beyond Dawn, When and Switchblade.

Tue, 09 Sep 2003 00:00:00 -0400

Nine is hitting the road in Europe with The Hope Conspiracy for four weeks starting on October 22. Dates so far:

09/23 - Club Mondo, Stockholm w/Entombed, more (SWE)
09/27 - Silo club: Funtime festival, Leuven (BEL)
10/23 - JC Horizont, Antwerpen (BEL) w/THC
10/24 - Winston, Amsterdam (HOL) w/THC
10/25 - Clubhaus, Saalfeld (BEL) w/THC, Terror
10/26 - Schlachthof-Magazinkeller, Bremen (GER) w/THC
10/27 - Meeths, Gothenburg (SWE) w/THC
10/28 - Skylten, Link�ping (SWE) w/THC
10/29 - Caf� 44, Stockholm (SWE) w/THC
10/30 - Stengade 30, Copenhagen (DK) w/THC
10/31 - Musik-O-Droom, Hasselt (BEL) w/THC, Terror
11/01 - U club, Wuppertal (GER) w/THC, Darkest Hour, more
11/05 - Villa, Darmstadt (GER) w/THC
11/06 - Tonne, Wangen (GER) w/THC, Paint the Town Red
11/07 - Leoncavallo, Milano (ITL) w/THC, A18
11/08 - Rock Planet, Pinarella (ITL) w/THC
11/09 - Trafo, G�d�ll� (HUN) w/THC, Walls Of Jericho and Undying
11/11 - Shelter, Wien (GER) w/THC
11/12 - Backstage, M�nchen (GER) w/THC, Paint the Town Red
11/13 - Magnet, Berlin (GER) w/THC, Terror
11/14 - Conne Island, Leipzig (GER) w/THC, more
11/15 - Goudvishal, Arnhem (HOL) w/THC, A18

Nine will also be doing a co-record release show at Caf� 44 in Stockholm on September 13 to celebrate "Killing Angels" along with Switchblade who have a new record out, too.

Wed, 07 May 2003 00:00:00 -0400

Ink19 declares "6" from Supersilent to be "a landmark album." Furthermore, they say "It is a harrowing work of jazz, electronica and ambient textures that is as exciting as it is mind-blowing." Read more.

Peaceville has yet again delayed the release of Beyond Dawn's forthcoming album "Frysh", this time to June 30. If the 3-song sampler is any indication, it's gonna be damn great. Can't wait.

Preorder a copy of the new Her Majesty album "Happiness" and receive an exclusive free pin. Go here.

The latest news from V�rttin�, as posted on their website:

[We] just returned from a tour of Scotland, Turkey, Switzerland and France. Edinburgh, Stans and Bern were the highlights with great shows and incredible audience response. Big news from France is that "iki" [the new album] is the Number 3 Best Selling World Music album at the main FNAC shop (Forum) in Paris. Additionally, "iki" is named Album of the Week at Swedish Radio P2 Klingan and World Music Album of the Week on WDR Radio KC6ln. iki also reached Number 6 on the CMJ World Music Chart in USA. In England, "iki" was picked Number 9 in the Songlines magazine Top of the World chart. Finally, "iki" received a glowing review from Songlines Magazine: "From the exhilarating drive of "Nahkaruoska", its jostling rhythms and bristling close harmonies bringing to life a story of infidelity and leather whips, to the sheer beauty of "Maahinen Neito", a song of an unwanted earth maiden, V�rttin�'s tenth album (celebrating their 20th year) is their most radiant and satisfying to date. .. A totally desirable disc." (Songlines Jan Fairley)

Those of you in Denmark can check out The Cardigans on the 'Barend & van Dorp' show tomorrow night playing their new single "You're the Storm" live. The program starts at 10:30 pm.

Clawfinger's new album "Zeros & Heroes" comes out May 26. Singer Zak Tell says he is confident fans will like it. The band is also hitting the road this summer. Dates so far:

05/17 - Bengtsfors, S
06/12 - Crans-sur-N., CH
06/14 - Bolzano, I
06/18 - Z�rich, CH
06/20 - Scharans, CH
06/21 - Burgum, NL
07/05 - Leipzig, D
07/19 - Eberschwang, A
08/01 - �budai Island, H
08/08 - H�chstenbach, D

Soviac has booked a number of dates around Sweden this summer:

05/24 - Ronneby, Uterock
05/26 - Stockholm, Debaser w/Paris, Marit Bergman
05/27 - Stockholm, Gula Villan Blowupapanda pre party
05/28 - G�teborg, Valand w/Fox�n wolf
05/29 - V�stervik, Oasen
05/31 - Stockholm, Debaser w/7feet4
06/07 - Fredricia, Formanova03 w/The Price Of Ink, Switchblade

Look for a video from the band for song "Boogie Woogie" soon, too.

MTVE.com has posted the new video for "Reconsider Me", the first single from Moneybrother's new album "Blood Panic".

The Norweigan musicians union and the Stavanger Symphonic Orchestra are raising money to send musical instruments to Iraq. So far about 60,000 NOK has been brought in for the effort. Read more. (in Norweigan)

The six finalists for the Roland/SAMI Artistpris 2003:

1. Steroids (rock)
2. Yukon AK (country/pop)
3. Ane Brun (singer/songwriter)
4. Peter Murphy (pop)
5. The Terrible Misstakes (punk)
6. Andreas Giri (pop)

They will all be performing at Alcazar (Nalen) in Stockholm on May 28 to vye for the various prizes in front of a jury of various music industry professionals. Read more. (in Swedish)

Proof that The Hives have reached a significant level of success: Weird Al has parodied them on the song "Angry White Boy Polka" from his new album "Poodle Hat". Congrats guys.

Ed Hartcourt that he will be making a Gr�na Lund appearance on August 22.

The Amnestys endagsfestival on May 17 at Mondo in Stockholm will feature Florence Valentin, Shout Out Louds, Paris, Ane Brun and The Concretes.

Dagensskiva gives Logh's new album "The Raging Sun" a 9 out of 10 in their review today. I'd have to agree - I managed to find myself an advance copy and have been listening to it quite a bit. Easily one of the best records I've heard so far this year.

Arch Enemy has set "Anthems of Rebellion" as the title of new new record due out August 26 from Century Media, and in Japan on July 23 from Toy's Factory. Guitarist Michael Amott is quoted as saying "There is a thread of ANTI-establishment and REBELLION that goes through all the songs lyrics and also the artwork, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it a full-blown concept � that kind of stuff usually tends to get in the way of the music... It sounds thicker and more heavy than the last album." Read more. (from Blabbermouth)

Via the pHinnweb mailing list comes this glossary of various terms and items relevant to Finnish art and music.

Entombed's upcoming eigth album "Inferno" has now been delayed to an August 4 release date. Pelle Gunnerfeldt of Fireside produced and I for one am very curious to hear how it turned out.

As hinted at before, David & the Citizens are at Gula Studion (The Yellow Studio) in Malm� with producer Jens Lindg�rd working on their new record. Word has it that Pelle Ossler of Wilmer X guests on a track along with the klezmer band Tummel on another.

Cold Meat Industry acts IRM and Institut will play the Red Rose in London on May 9. More info here.

Tue, 01 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0500

Brand new feature: If you look to your right, you'll see I've now got myself a mailing list. So if you want to receive weekly mailings of the news I report, go right ahead and sign up. And just to make it more worth your while, I'm gonna try and throw in some special bonuses with each mailing, too.

The transcript to yesterday's XFM chat session with The Cardigans has been posted. Highlights: they are playing "Changes" by Black Sabbath live plus they recommend The Knife (see video link earlier today).

They may not be together as a band anymore, but Your Halo is a Radar will be getting a new album released in the US. No details yet, but I'll keep you posted. As for the former member's current projects, keep your eyes open for new stuff from Switchblade and The Je Ne Sais Quoi.

Sahara Hotnights will be Conan O'Brien's musical guests on April 10. Check local listings for airtimes.

Kristofer Åstr�m says that if you got a copy of his new CD "Dead End" with the title printed on the actual CD, you are one lucky dude. Apparently, only twenty copies exist like that. If you're one of those lucky folks, email him and he'll send you "Northern Blues" on vinyl along with some other goodies like t-shirts.

Cult of Luna has posted some new live photos. They also got an interview online over at DigitalMetal.com.

Swedish rapper Petter making a bid for international recognition? It seems that he's not only lined up a guest appearance on the new RZA (from Wu-Tang) album "The World According To RZA", but he's also doing some dubbing work for Tommy Boy Film's reissues of classic kung-fu movies. Read more.

Hank, the lead singer for Turbonegro, was hospitalized after taking a bottle to the head at a show in NYC on Sunday. He received ten stitches and was held overnight, but was back on stage for a show the next night. Read more.

The Knife has put the video for their latest single "You Take My Breath Away" online: big (10 mb) / small (3 mb) (requires Quicktime)

David and the Citizens will be having a release party for their new EP "New Direction" at Club Debaser in Stockholm on April 18. They'll be playing both the new EP and as-of-yet unreleased material from their upcoming second full-length. Oh, and they'll be DJing their favorite records, too. It's free, so why not? "New Direction" hits stores April 7.

The first Kaiku Sound and Video Art Festival will be taking place May 31 at Wiljami in Rovaniemi, Finland. Billed as "a night of sonic mayhem and visual eruptions", the festival series promises to "support and encourage the development of contemporary music/video artists in the north of Finland, and to provide a venue for new Finnish and visiting international electronic media artists in the region." Playing this time around are Pure & Berger (AUT/NOR), Emi Maeda (JAP), Ceniq (FIN), and Ker�nen / Roberts / Verhaverbeke (FIN/UK/FRA) and entry is free. More info here: http://www.valotalo.com/kaiku/

Word has it that Agnetha F�ltskog is planning a comeback and will release a new solo album next winter. It will be her first release since "I Stand Alone" from 1987. Read more.

Safari Season are having tunes from their debut album "The Sound of the Sun" played all over American MTV during programs such as 'The Real World', 'Road Rules' and 'Extreme/All-Star Challenge'. It remains to be seen whether this means they will catch on with a wider, international audience, but it's definitely a good start.