Top 10s for 2008: John Roger Olsson (The Grand Opening)

Top 10s for 2008: Emil Johansson (The Giant's Dream)

Top 10s for 2008: Daggan (Novoton)

Check out the new video for "Mona Lee" from Swedish act The Sweet Serenades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWGpbDJlMj8&fmt=18

Sondre Lerche on his favorite albums of the year: https://www.sondrelerche.com/diary.asp?id=644

Shelflife Records will be releasing the debut album "Aboa sleeping" from Finnish act Burning Hearts on February 10. Preview samples at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/burningheartsmusic

Mattias Alkberg (The Bear Quartet, MABD) will be releasing a 7" on Ny Våg early next year called "Jag är en antenn". "Extremt Lo-Fi" he describes it. After that, look for him to record a new full-length around February for release on A West Side Fabrication or maybe again with Ny Våg.

Nö Music reports from playing a show at the prison Oslo Fengsel with The Cables: https://www.nomusicmedia.com/2008/12/05/hot-girls-hot-prisons-part-i-oslo-fengsel/

Hey look, a Finnish advent calendar with a garden gnome flipping the bird and all sorts of seemingly random videos: https://irc-galleria.net/hc-joulu/

Friendly Noise has a new 2-track single from Testbild!, the first taste of what's to come on their upcoming album "Aquatint": https://www.friendlynoise.se/single-from-forthcoming-testbild-album-aquatint/

Powersolo's new album "Bloodskinbones", their first as a pared-down duo since losing drummer JC Benz in October, is confirmed for release on February 23.

Voting is now open for the Rockbjörnen Myspace Prize: https://www.myspace.com/rockbjornensmyspacepris

Global Domination interviews Osku Kähkönen from the excellent Finnish doom/sludge act Hebosagil: https://www.globaldomination.se/interviews/hebosagil-osku-kaehkoenen

PopMatters discusses the so-called world of "post-ironic Swedish rock": https://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/66114-life-after-abba-post-ironic-swedish-rock/

The Figurines DVD documentary "The detour" will be released on December 15 and will include a CDEP in addition to the film which includes four previously unreleased tracks.