Hello, is this thing on? I'm still retired from running this website, but I never stopped caring about Scandinavian music and apparently some people still care about what I have to say on the sub...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41029-bla-mandag-podcast-interview
It's been a long time coming, but I've finally got something new up and running at my new blog site Harsh R: The State of Swedish Industrial Check it out, let me know what you think, spread the w...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41028-new-blog-new-interview-series
Stick a fork in me, I'm done. After 10 years of near-daily blogging I have decided to walk away from It's a Trap!, a decision that I have weighed for quite some time and one that did not come eas...
"Elsewhen" finds longtime Swedish audio terrorist Henrik Nordvargr Björkk (MZ.412, Nordvargr, etc.) taking on the esoteric industrial sound of "Last rights"-era Skinny Puppy, a period defined ...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41026-nexus-kenosis-elsewhen-progress-productions
The camera work in this live clip is totally obnoxious, but thankfully the performance by I Break Horses far outshines it.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41025-i-break-horses-load-your-eyes-live-at-room-205
Spiders have always had a great sound and a killer frontwoman, but the quality of their first few releases was hampered by mediocre songwriting. "Flash point", the band's debut full-length, thank...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41024-spiders-flash-point-crusher-records
The Last Massacre by Suffer The Pain Should have posted this days ago, but it got lost in the shuffle. Raw metal/punk from Sweden released on cassette, just as it should be. Look for a split 7" w...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41023-suffer-the-pain-the-last-massacre
Pitchfork finally gets hip to the amazing Susanne Sundfør, bestowing their "Best New Music" tag on the single "White foxes": http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14304-white-foxes/
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41022-pitchfork-says-susanne-sundfor-is-best-new-music
The young jazz piano trio Moskus is Listen to Norway's latest band of the week: http://www.listento.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2012092512363985846646
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41021-listen-to-norway-band-of-the-week-moskus
New visuals from Terrible Feelings filmed while on tour in Europe.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41020-terrible-feelings-next-rounds-on-you-video
The new Taken By Trees album "Other worlds" is currently streaming in its entirety as a YouTube playlist.
Swedish powerpop act The Sweet Serenades now have a video for their latest single "Can't get enough".
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41018-the-sweet-serenades-cant-get-enough-video
Tobias Hellkvist makes such lovely drone music. I tend to listen to so much stuff in a more "dark ambient" style that I forget just how pretty this kind of music can be, but Tobias is always ther...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41017-tobias-hellkvist-everything-is-connected-home-normal
New music from Dinner aka Danish artist/producer Anders Rhedin, probably best known for his work behind the scenes with Choir of Young Believers and also as an ex-member of Jong Pang. "You are li...
Swedish music distributor Border Music is finally up on SoundCloud and the first thing they have posted in the excellent new track from Swedish goth/postpunk/shoegazers Then Comes Silence.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41015-then-comes-silence-slowly-dragging-you-down
Old school Swedish death metal is the order of day from this Swedish four-piece. It's all simple enough stuff, quite reminiscent of a less-tech Tribulation in places. "The serpent's redemption" l...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41014-bombs-of-hades-the-serpents-redemption-pulverised-records
New epic dark and heavy rock from a band called Vibracula featuring members of other acts I've talked up over the years but whose identities I'll leave up to you to discover on your own.
Nomethod has announced that they'll be doing a number of digital re-releases from the old Chalksounds archive via the new imprint Faux Pas. First up on October 15 will be Soviac's albums "GMC out...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41012-nomethod-launches-new-imprint-faux-pas
The Swedish Institute has launched a new video interview series and guests so far include Tiger Bell and Azure Blue. More at FB: https://www.facebook.com/SwedishMusic
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41011-swedish-institute-vs-tiger-bell-azure-blue
A live version of Artymove performing their new single "One of these days". Obviously not as ecstatic as the regular version, but still dece.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41010-artymove-one-of-these-days-live-video
Allvaret is a new band from Göteborg, debut LP soon via Erste Theke Tonträger Records/P.Trash.
Another video clip from quality Danish psychrock act Halasan Bazar.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41008-halasan-bazar-figure-it-out-video
Rasmus Kellerman has a new band, but he won't tell us what it's called, or who else is in it. If you've wanted more of the arrestingly heart-felt acoustic music that Kellerman began to explore wi...
Apparently Oslo and Stockholm are ahead of the curve when it comes to music discovery (and rejection): http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-04/18/cities-musical-taste
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41006-study-oslo-and-stockholm-lead-europe-in-music-taste
Essential first-wave Swedish hardcore that's raging fast, surprisingly melodic and also a heckuva lot of fun. Even better, the rare tracks culled from various cassette releases, live sessions and...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41005-missbrukarna-zooma-in-en-zombie-skrammel-records
The official video for the new Graveyard single "Goliath".
Solid Swedish pop balladeering from The High and Lows.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41003-the-high-and-lows-londons-sleeping
Swedish cult/psychrockers Goat have an exclusive live video up at PSL: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/09/24/premiar-goat-goatman/ Strobe-sensitive folks are advised to open said clip in a hidden ta...
Pitchfork likes the new Enslaved album "RIITIIR", but perhaps not quite as much as some folks: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17147-riitiir/
Check out the Facebook page for "Den Svenska Synthen", an upcoming book by Bengt Rahm (one of the founders of Labrador Records) on the Swedish synth scene including interviews with tons of bands,...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/41000-book-tip-den-svenska-synthen
Yep, the crusties will love this! Hombre Malo kick off proceedings off and, to be honest, they do take a while to hit their stride. Once they do though, they just click and you're right in there ...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40999-hombre-malo-desert-icons-split-nooirax-producctiones
Death metal in-jokes abound! This is the title track of the band's upcoming 7" EP, due out November 6 via Relapse.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40998-general-surgery-like-an-ever-flying-limb
New from Finnish cult/psychrockers Hexvessel off their latest record "No holier temple".
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40997-hexvessel-his-portal-tomb-video
PSL has the premiere of the new Woodlands (remember?) video "River running wild": http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/09/21/premiar-woodlands-river-running-wild/
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40996-woodlands-river-runs-wild-video
Swedish dubstep? Sure, okay.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40995-fritjof-pikanen-sag-da-video
In i dimman by In i dimman Cool! A Swedish band whose sound harkens back to the early days of Kent and other similar 90s-era alt-rock.
Add together stop/motion animation + Swedish Kraut/pop and you get Spagyrikerna. Look for an album this fall via White Line Recordings.
It's far too smooth for my tastes, but here's the latest from Swedish pop/rap act Norlie & KKV.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40992-norlie-kkv-hon-vill-vara-du-video
The latest from Swedish electro/pop trio Artymove.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40991-artymove-one-of-these-days-video
Ghost and Jess & the Ancient Ones have a lot to answer for. Between them they seem to have started this classic rock-tinged occult psychedelic thing where the next, more underground generation th...
Presenting the Ligetizer, a new 6-metronome instrument designed and constructed by Espen Sommer Eide of Alog/Phonophani. Full details here.
Pitchfork is not too impressed by Efterklang's latest: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17087-piramida/
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40988-pitchfork-reviews-efterklang
Saturday night at Debaser Malmö! The very last It's a Trap! Clubnight EVER! And we're going out with a bang too with two of Sweden's finest hardcore acts, Out of Vogue and Anchor, gracing the ...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40987-sista-chansen-out-of-vogue-anchor-debaser-malmo-22-9
Maen by DÖDAREN Transubstans Records has signed Swedish heavy rockers Dödaren and will be releasing the band's debut full-length "Maen" this coming December.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40986-transubstans-picks-up-dodaren
PSL's newest correspondent does the live music thing for the video blog site with her band Säkert!: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/09/20/musik-med-sakert-4/ Very recommended, naturally. Also at ...
Rafael, Memento Vitae by Simeon Frohm from Fajta on Vimeo. The fascinating Swedish jazz/experimental/spiritual label Compunctio has announced that the long-awaited debut album "Nattens lovsång...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40984-ensemble-lakonia-to-be-released-soon
Here's the video for the new Daniel Gilbert single "The smell o'thunder".
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40983-daniel-gilbert-the-smell-othunder-video
Speaking of Fullsteam Records, the label is also now streaming the new Disco Ensemble album "Warriors" in full via Soundcloud which I appreciate because it's not available on Spotify in the US ye...
Presenting NEØV, the band once known as Neufvoin and now newly signed to Fullsteam Records. Look for the album "Orange morning" to be released this fall.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40981-neOv-windvane-koralleven-remix
Hear a new Graveyard tune as part of NPR's Fall Music Preview: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/19/161004028/fall-music-preview
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40980-graveyard-the-suits-the-law-the-uniform
"Outrun" is the 2nd video from Murmansk's excellent new album "Rüütli". It's also the track that seems to reliably come up on shuffle almost every day when I'm out running (no complaints!).
Finnish indiepoppers Paperfangs do a low-key cover of "Everyday" by Buddy Holly.
Pitchfork praises the new audiovisual album/DVD from cryptic Swedish pop act Iamamiwhoami: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16722-kin/
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40977-pitchfork-reviews-iamamiwhoami
World Tour now have a video for their single "Forever tonight".
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40976-world-tour-forever-tonight-video
Coming November 5 via Tambourhinoceros, the new EP "Variations" from Danish artist CTM aka the solo alias of Cæcilie Trier (Chimes & Bells, Choir of Young Believers). A 2nd EP will follow in e...
Daniel Gilbert - the Soul of a Fool 7" by Gaphals The new Daniel Gilbert 7" is now streaming via Gaphals' Bandcamp page.
The Quietus talks to Årabrot frontman Kjetil Nernes about the band's new EP "Mæsscr": http://thequietus.com/articles/09864-interview-arabrot-kjetil-nernes-maesscr
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40973-the-quietus-talks-to-Arabrot
Live footage of Haust playing in Oslo last weekend with their new lineup and a guest appearance from AnnK of Dark Times.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40972-haust-live-last-train-oslo-video
Since I've totally failed to cover this record myself in a timely fashion, allow me to redirect you to Still Single's assessment of Finnish noiserockers Giglinger's latest 7": http://still-single...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40971-still-single-reviews-giglinger
It was bound to happen eventually: they're making a film based on the lyrics of Håkan Hellström called "Kånn Ingen Sorg" starting in Göteborg this fall with the expectation of a Febru...
Hear the new Markus Krunegård single "Vi dansar bättre utan kläder" via SR P3: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=4067&artikel=5273860 Personally, I am incredibly underw...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40969-markus-krunegard-vi-dansar-battre-utan-klader
The latest video from Swedish duo First Aid Kit.
New from Ane Brun. In related news, Ane had to cancel her US tour with Paul Gabriel due to illness and is being replaced by friend/band member/Swedish artist Jennie Abrahamson.
As usual, this latest offering by Switchblade is tough going. We're six minutes into what has to be classified as a pretty boring opening track ("Movement I"), before things kick off in earnest a...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40966-switchblade-s-t-trust-no-one-recordings
Check out a sample from the upcoming RAS album, due out in October via Skrammel Records: http://t.co/qEOCrkS0 I don't know anything about this band at all, but instrumental synthpunk is all good ...
Nomethod has announced that the new First Love, Last Rites single "Charlot" will be released on November 12.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40964-first-love-last-rites-charlot-trailer
Finnish indierockers Delay Trees pay tribute to their hometown Hämeenlinna, also the birthplace of renown composer Jean Sibelius. The band's new album "Doze" will be released on October 19 via...
New visuals from Swedish punkrockers Dalaplan as directed by Christian Jönsson for an upcoming documentary due to be released next year. Look for the band's new 7" single "Ta mig när jag fa...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40962-dalaplan-trillar-i-video-more
From the band's new album "Torches ablaze", out now via Ektro Records.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40961-arkhamin-kirjasto-sea-of-madness-video
Richard Reagh explains the concept behind his latest project "The Ed Harris Masters", a series of five digital singles he'll be releasing in the near future. As for the Marvin Gaye cover he refer...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40960-richard-reagh-presents-the-ed-harris-masters-video
Solid expansive melancholia out of Kalmar.
We Are the Storm report that they are now finished with their new album "Wastelands" and are currently shopping it around for release. As mentioned earlier this summer, said album was recorded at...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40958-new-we-are-the-storm-album-finished
Horrible Houses / Songs For Halloween & Early Hours by zeon light kassett New/old super lo-fi recordings from Swedish artist Horrible Houses, just repackaged and rereleased in a small limited-ed...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40957-horrible-houses-songs-for-halloween-early-hours
Scandinavian hardcore acts Terveet Kädet, Infernöh and Lower are three of the first bookings for next year's Chaos in Tejas Fest. Details at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chaos-i...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40956-first-acts-confirmed-for-chaos-in-tejas-2013
Scraps of Tape have officially started work on album #5: http://scrapsoftape.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/album-5/ No word yet on when to expect it, but I would imagine an early 2013 release.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40955-scraps-of-tape-working-on-new-album
Pitchfork is lukewarm on the new Hooded Menace album "Effigies of evil", their first for US-based label Relapse: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17076-effigies-of-evil/
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40954-pitchfork-reviews-hooded-menace
New from Norwegian artist Susanna aka Susanna K. Wallumroe off her latest record "Wild dog".
Check out Swedish industrial/EBM act The Pain Machinery covering genre pioneers Klinik.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40952-the-pain-machinery-hours-hours
Teg Publishing (Norra Kust, Magnus Ekelund) has signed Maria Eriksson (The Concretes, Santa Maria, Heikki) and will be releasing her debut solo album på svenska "Stjäl det du behöver" ea...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40951-teg-publishing-signs-maria-eriksson-mattias-alkbergs-begravning
The 2nd video from Finnish cult psychrock act Seremonia.
B/B/S/ = Erik Skodvin (Deaf Center/Svarte Greiner) + Aidan Baker (Nadja) + Andrea Belfi. An album has been recorded and will be released in 2013 via Miasmah, in the meantime hear some live improv...
Wild blues-rock outta Sweden by way of Dear Euphoria's Sven Johansson and Fashionpolice Records. Album this fall?
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40948-the-sven-gunnar-experience-go-go-go
At long last, something new from Superfamily! Recommended! Expect more singles this fall and then a new album in 2013?
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40947-superfamily-pay-the-price-video
More like this please: killer early 80s synth-heavy gothrock outta Finland, recently given the vinyl reissue treatment via Svart Records. So, so good; such a shame I only just heard about them a ...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40946-mp3-musta-paraati-hyvaa-yota
NPR is currently streaming the new Efterklang album "Piramida" in full: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/16/160681284/first-listen-efterklang-piramida
Luxury has digitally re-released all three out-of-print, self-released CDr EPs from Göteborg-based indiepop act Bonne Idée and you can now listen to them via Spotify or purchase them at Kli...
Here's the video for the new Petra Marklund (September) single "Händerna mot himlen". Definitely a bit more low-key than her previous stuff, but that's not a bad thing at all.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40943-petra-marklund-handerna-mot-himlen-video
It has been officially revealed that Gaphals has picked up Niels Nielsen and will be releasing his new 7" single "Shadow twin" on October 26 with a full-length album to follow in spring.
Noisey sits down with Susanne Sundfør at Øya to talk Norwegian music.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40941-noisey-interviews-susanne-sundfor-video
PSL presents live musik with 6-piece old-man noiserockers Pig Eyes: http://blogg.svt.se/psl/2012/09/14/musik-med-pig-eyes/ More here.
Gaphals will be handling the release of the new Daniel Gilbert (ex-Broder Daniel, Håkan Hellström, etc.) 7" single "The soul of a fool" featuring the a-side "Led 2" b/w "The smell o'thunder...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40939-new-daniel-gilbert-single-soon
Soft progressive rock from Norway with an album of epic 4xLP proportions coming this winter via Dayladore Collective. Can't say that it sounds like a good idea to me, but kudos to them for having...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40938-flashback-caruso-butterfly-blood
Avant-garde Metal talks to Ivar Peersen of Enslaved about the band's new album "RiiTiiR", among many other subjects: http://avantgarde-metal.com/content/stories2.php?id=263
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40937-avant-garde-metal-talks-to-enslaved
"Kids" is the new single from Norwegian dance-friendly alt-rock act The Lionheads, officially due out September 17 via Brilliance imprint Diamond Club.
The Raveonettes have a new video for the tune "The enemy" off their latest record "Observator". No idea what Pitchfork was thinking, I think the new album is totally solid.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40935-the-raveonettes-the-enemy-video
New from Swedish rockers Riddarna; hastily made in true rock'n'roll fuck-all style.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40934-riddarna-vakna-till-liv-video
A new video for "LÃ¥gsus" from Danish hip-hop crew Specktors, this time remixed with guest vox from pop artist Medina.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40933-specktors-medina-lagsus-video
Next week! Come celebrate the autumnal equinox with an evening of Swedish hardcore at Debaser Malmö with Out of Vogue and Anchor! As always, It's a Trap! Clubnights bringing you the best Scand...
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40932-its-a-trap-clubnights-9-22-out-of-vogue-anchor
Progress Productions released the new Nexus Kenosis album "Elsewhen" earlier this week and while it's not yet available on all digital platforms, there's an abridged sampler up for streaming via ...
Look for the new album "Understand the world" from Swedish retro/psych-rockers Three Seasons to be released on November 14 via the always-reliable Transubstans Records.
http://www.itsatrap.com/n/40930-new-three-seasons-album-in-november