There was a time when post-punk bands outta Sweden could do no wrong. Bands like Fireside and Refused paved the way for The International Noise Conspiracy, The Hives and Division of Laura Lee. The latter debuted in the US with Black City, a balls to the wall punk record that was just as aggressive as it was catchy. The following year they delivered Das Not Compute a somewhat disappointing follow-up but intriguing and enjoyable nonetheless.

For the last four years, however, the band has been keeping quiet. Aside from a Lovitt Records release of some of their early tracks and a side project from lead singer/guitarist Per Stalberg and drummer Hakan Johansson called Frantis Mantis, the boys have been a bit out of the spotlight...until now. Those crazy Swedes are back with the record Violence is Timeless which is set to hit Sweden in October. The vinyl was just released in their native country with California's own Amoeba Music set to exclusive carry the LP.

The band has even launched a Violence is Timeless website for the record containing a video for their first single Central Park along with weekly short films/videos for different tracks off the album to be directed by surprise guests. The first short officially went live today for the tune Caress/Hotnights and is directed by Fireside frontman Kristofer Aström.

Violence is Timeless streets October 29th thanks to I Made This Records in Sweden with a US release still unannounced.

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The noisy and fantastic The Plot to Blow Up The Eiffel Tower sadly split in late 2006 leaving many fans wanting more. With a few full lengths and EPs under their belt, the band was set to release a post-break up EP on Three One G entitled Savior & Suckers that seemed to simply just fall off the map.

Since the split the band has gone in a few different directions. Singer Brandon Welshez along with drummer Brian Hill and bassist William Graves formed the short lived The Prayers releasing only one recording before disbanding the following year. As of late, ex-Plot guitarist Charles Rowell has now joined forces with Welshez to form Crocodiles while Hill plays drums for a band called The Muslims.

Crocodiles, which I find to be the most promising of the bunch, has not only released a self-distributed two track 7 inch but has also shot a video for their song Neon Jesus. The record can be purchased here.

Crocodiles are currently on tour with a handful of shows sharing the stage with Past Lives. The dates and locales are as follows:

Aug 16 2008 THE CASBAH San Diego, California
Aug 28 2008 BEAUTY BAR San Diego, California
Aug 31 2008 WHISTLE STOP San Diego, California w/ Past Lives
Sep 1 2008 CHE CAFE San Diego, California w/ Past Lives & Kill Me Tomorrow
Sep 2 2008 THE SMELL Los Angeles, California w/ Past Lives
Sep 8 2008 THE CASBAH San Diego, California
Sep 19 2008 WHISTLE STOP San Diego, California
Sep 20 2008 THE SMELL Los Angeles, California
Oct 10 2008 TRUNKSPACE Phoenix, Arizona
Oct 17 2008 CAHOOT'S Louisville, Kentucky
Oct 20 2008 VELVET LOUNGE Washington DC, Washington DC
Oct 21 2008 WESLEYAN COLLEGE Middletown, Connecticut
Oct 25 2008 DANGER DANGER Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 27 2008 GARFIELD ARTS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Oct 29 2008 THE ELM Detroit, Michigan
Nov 3 2008 THE RECORD BAR Kansas City, Missouri
Nov 5 2008 RENO'S Dallas, Texas

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Just admit it. During your punk days of the mid 90s you listened to Japanese band Husking Bee. Sure you didn't know what they were saying but damn were they catchy. Don't be ashamed I liked them too. But what ever happened to them?

After releasing over five records, Husking Bee called it quits in 2005. But that didn't stop them from still rockin' Japan. Hirabayashi Kazuya, who joined the band during the latter part of their existence, made due as singer/guitarist for a band called Fine Lines while singer Isobe Masafumi now sings for the uniquely coined Mars Eurythmics.

Mars Eurythmics seems to follow in the same path once traveled by Husking Bee while Fine Lines tackles more of a mellower side.

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You must know that the kids from Death From Above like to keep busy. During the DFA days Jesse F. Keeler liked switch things up alittle with his side project Femme Fatale. Now the one and only Sebastien Grainger is also trying alittle something on the side while not making we love through music with Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains with an electronica fused piece with heavy shades of early Prince called The Rhythm Method.

If you have been following Grainger since the break up of Death From Above you probably heard a few of these tunes already. Currently he has released a 2 song 7 inch in the UK featuring the tracks Renegade Silence and When We Go Out which can be purchase here. But wait there's more. Grainger has now released a third track - an instrumental diddy entitled First Nations. Take a listen now.

Let's cross our fingers that at the very least the tunes on the The Rhythm Method 7 inch hit the US iTunes (currently on available on the UK counterpart) because they really need to be heard by all.

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So somehow in my shuffle to get this site up and running I missed news on the progression of the new record by These Arms are Snakes.

It seems that Spin.com was first to unleash the interweb with the cover art and the track listing for the latest from These Arms Are Snakes entitled Tail Swallower and Dove. The album is scheduled for a October 7th release courtesy of Suicide Squeeze Records.

Below is the final track listing for the new record:

1. "Woolen Heirs"
2. "Prince Squid"
3. "Red Line Season"
4. "Lucifer"
5. "Ethric Double"
6. "Seven Curtains"
7. "Long and Lonely Step"
8. "Lead Beater"
9. "Cavity Carousel"
10. "Briggs"

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