Check out Cut-Out Witch, a brand new band out of Stockholm featuring two members from Sad Day for Puppets: https://www.cutoutwitchband.com/
The band's self-titled debut EP was recorded by a "pretty drunk" Mattis Ruwe (Makabert Fynd) and will be getting a proper digital release in the near future, but it's already available for full streaming at the aforementioned website. If you dig the classic indie sound of bands I've posted before such as Life Before Man, you'll dig this too.
Rotten Sound has a tour blog and if it's anything like the other Finnish punk/metal tour stories I've seen, it's guaranteed to be good: https://rottentours.blogspot.com/
Swedish label is back from the dead, the reason being that "many of my old artists have finished new music that is too good for not being released," plus, "I have also bumped into some new artists that i just love." Guess that once you're in, it's hard to walk away forever. Anyhow, their first new release will be Akaba with the song "Fake it", as you can see/hear above. After that, look for new stuff to follow from the likes of Nanook of the North, Molesome and maybe also Vera Vinter. I'd also be way into a new Vijaya record, but I know the chances of that are slim to none.
Finnish president Tarja Halonen has awarded Music Export Finland the 2010 Internationalization Award for their excellence in promoting Finnish business (and in this case, art) abroad: https://www.musex.fi/en/news/music-export-finland-receives-the-internationalization-award-of-the-preside/
Quoteth the article: "Music Export Finland is the first organisation to win the award that operates in an industry, where revenues are primarily derived from the sales of immaterial goods – in this case the music copyrights, as well as a whole range of other music-related services and products."
Happy 5th birthday to Swedish music blog Absolut Noise: https://absolutnoise.blogspot.com/2011/02/absolut-noise-is-five-years-old.html
Likewise, happy 2nd birthday to online newsletter/webzine The Swede Beat who are turning 2 and celebrating with a clubnight in Brooklyn featuring a DJ set from Victoria Bergsman/Taken By Trees: https://www.theswedebeat.com/events
When I started this site way back when there was literally no one else out there exclusively covering Scandinavian music. Over the years, many sites have come and gone, but for the ones that stick around: much love! It makes my job easier and the more niches we all cover, the better it is for the readers and the artists.
The Guardian reports the new scene of necromantic noise coming out of Norway: https://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/feb/02/necromantic-rock-metal-norway
Of course, regular readers should already be well aware that they are talking about Haust, Okkultokrati and Årabrot, three of Norway's best. No idea what those commenters are thinking praising Turbonegro over these dudes as if the last 15 years didn't happen, but whatever. Remain ignorant and enjoy Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult.
Iceland Music Export on "Iceland: Beyond Sigur Rós", a new not-for-profit 30m documentary on the Icelandic music scene which is available for free streaming online: https://www.icelandmusic.is/News/1684/Iceland--Beyond-Sigur-Ros---New-Music-Documentary--/default.aspx
Featured artists include Ólafur Arnalds, Hafdis Huld, Mugison, Bloodgroup, For A Minor Reflection, Seabear and more plus a number of behind-the-scenes folks such as journalists and producers.
Rasmus Walter, frontman for Danish act Grand Avenue, is going solo. His self-titled debut will be out in April and the first single should be revealed next week.
Gaffa reports that Sort Sol will be releasing an extensive 11xCD boxset featuring all eight of the band's studio albums plus three discs of bonus material including EP cuts, comp tracks, radio recordings and other such rarities: https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/46521 (in Danish)
Swedish indie act Alibi Tom reports that their new album "This sleeping" will be released on March 14 via . There will be a release show at Boy Rio in Göteborg on March 12 where the band will perform together with the chamber choir Krydda and a string quartet.
has announced that their next release will be a new 7" from female-fronted punk act Särkyneet called "Mitä on olla levoton". Official release date is February 16. After that, they'll be doing another 7" from God Given Ass, a band featuring various long-time scenesters such as ex-Lighthouse Project drummer Niila, and of course, more classic Finnish punk reissues to follow soon thereafter.