A bit surprising The Leather Nun has released a new single, “Just Like a Dream”, after 25 years of  release silence. And not only that, in April the new album “Whatever” will be released. Exept from the drummer Gert Claesson they have gathered the same band as before with Jonas Almqvist behind the microphone, complemented with Michael Blair (Lou Reed, Tom Waits) on drums. The album also includes guest appearances by guitarist Carlos Sepúlveda from Psycore and the Brooklyn bass player Jeff Virgo.

How do they sound then? Well, damn great actually. They sound just like I remember them in my head, dark, heavy, postpunk and with Jonas Almqvists cool voice apparently unnaffected by the long break. In fact, as I update myself on the old recordings again, I can say that they sound even better now, like post punk should sound today, but still making a connection to the first album “Lust Games” rather than their later records. Listen here below:

The Leather Nun on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

Pica Pica describe themselves as an art group which manifest themselves as a pop band. The group consists of musicians, producers, songwriters, film makers, photographers, graffiti artists, designers and others. They started out in 2013 as the songwriter and artist Ida Segersten and the producer Per Alexander Esbjörnsson (a.k.a. Slateside) made a recording of Ida’s song “Isolated” whereafter  the clothing designer ClaesMikael Svensson soon joined them in the project.

Sinced then the group has grown with more and more members and has now arrived to the first official released in the shape of the EP “The Darker”, which is launched today. In May they will release the second EP “The Lighter” along with a short film, and everything will be accompanied by other expressions of art like graphic prints, new clothing designs, videos and photos.

They write that the theme of the three songs on “The Darker” is love madness, a melancholic tribute to a grand friendship, and the feeling of something beautiful that’s is torn apart. That description is well depicted in the music which feels beautifully melancholic, sometimes sad, and which they build up to grand crescendos in large rooms, sometimes reaching dramatic and bombastic heights. Here are two of the songs and the video to “Isolated”:

Pica Picas site – on Facebook – on Spotify

“Across the Ocean” is the first single from Night’s upcoming album “Soldiers of Time” (release 2/3). The band have found their way back to a wonderful, unpolished sound from the early eighties’ British heavy metal, when bands like Saxon and Iron Maiden grew big, and just before everyone move into large bombastic halls. “Soldiers of Time” is their first album since the eponymous debut in 2013.

Nights site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

Millencolin are coming up with a new album, “True Brew”, which is their tenth album since the debut in 1994 if my counting is correct. We have to wait for the record until April, but to give us a taste of it they have released one of the tracks, “Sense & Sensibility”, as a music video today. They write that their work with the album sent them on a journey back to their musical roots and that it resulted in a modern version of what once made them start the band. I think they sound just as inspired as they have ever sounded, which is fascinating for a band which has been going on for more than 20 years.

Millencolins site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

Baron Bane is finally back with new recordings. First up is the single “By the Waves” and the aim is a new album later this year. It’s a fascintating song where ominous, pulsating synths meet beautiful piano and song melodies, frenzy meet tranquility like if there was a battle between the two. In the end it becomes rather dramatic and grand-sounding, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a film somewhere looking for a soundtrack just like this.

Baron Bane’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp