New Music Nordics – Album and EP releases for May 2022
Denmark
| Artist | Title | Format | Released | Genre | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jada | Elements | Album | 20/5/22 | Pop | lnk.tt |
| Junkyard Drive | Electric Love | Album | 13/5/22 | Hard rock | Bandcamp |
| Lucer | The New World | Album | 20/5/22 | Hard rock | Bandcamp |
| Modest | Friend | Album | 6/5/22 | Indie rock | Bandcamp |
| Pil | Kom Vi Flyver, Siger Du | Album | 13/5/22 | Electropop | Spotify |
| Sonic Girl | Confessions | Album | 23/5/22 | Pop | Spotify |
Commentary: A rock heavy selection coming out of Denmark for this month. So in typical fashion, I'm gonna skip over the generic guitar riffs and angsty lyrics this May and focus instead on the crisp pop voice of Sonic Girl. The track “hackerboy” is worth a listen just for the shoehorning in of antivirus and IP addresses!
Finland
| Artist | Title | Format | Released | Genre | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Am The Night | While The Gods Are Sleeping | Album | 6/5/22 | Black metal | Bandcamp |
| Madboiali | 22 | Album | 27/5/22 | Hip hop | Spotify |
| Mary Ann Hawkins | Mary Ann Hawkins | Album | 20/5/22 | Surf rock | Bandcamp |
Commentary: Where Denmark failed with rock, Finland might just have delighted this month. The country is synonymous with death metal, so imagine my surprise to find a source of surf rock in the band Mary Ann Hawkins. Their track “Hawkinsmania” is an espresso shot of frenetiscism.
Iceland
| Artist | Title | Format | Released | Genre | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear The Ant | Unconscious | EP | 26/5/22 | Psychedelic pop | Spotify |
| LÓN | Thankfully Distracted | Album | 15/5/22 | Rock | Spotify |
| NEVERNEVER | Glorious | EP | 11/5/22 | Alternative rock | Spotify |
Commentary: Iceland is a small place, with 366,000 people and counting, so sometimes pickings are low. But they do say quality over quantity, and that's what we have here. The names behind NEVERNEVER have some real pedigree in the music industry and are led by the strong vocals of Klara Elias.
Norway
| Artist | Title | Format | Released | Genre | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humle | Døgnvill | Album | 20/5/22 | Pop | Spotify |
| Sigrid | How To Let Go | Album | 6/5/22 | Pop | href+ |
| TrollfesT | Flamingo Overlord | Album | 27/5/22 | Folk metal | Bandcamp |
Commentary: In April Norway took the crown for the month's biggest and best release with Röyksopp's newest. They've done it again! Sigrid's follow-up to her debut album, “How To Let Go” is a real banger, with stand-out track “Mirror” destined for summer playlists all across the Nordics.
Sweden
| Artist | Title | Format | Released | Genre | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bjorn Rydhog | New Day Coming | EP | 20/5/22 | Pop | SoundCloud |
| Friska Viljor | Don't Save The Last Dance | Album | 13/5/22 | Indie Rock | Spotify |
| Jens Lekman | The Linden Trees Are Still In Blossom | Album | 4/5/22 | Baroque pop | href+ |
| Jireel | MOTY | Album | 6/5/22 | Rap | Spotify |
| Karakou | Via Dolorosa | Album | 13/5/22 | Pop | Spotify |
| Lykke Li | EYEYE | Album | 20/5/22 | Indie pop | Bandcamp |
| Miynt | Lonely Beach | Album | 6/5/22 | Experimental pop | Bandcamp |
| Olof Wallberg | We | Album | 27/5/22 | Indie pop | Spotify |
| Omar Rudberg | OMR | Album | 27/5/22 | Pop | Spotify |
| Omni Of Halos | Care Free | EP | 20/5/22 | Rock | SoundCloud |
| Orkan | Livsgaranti | Album | 13/5/22 | Prog rock | Spotify |
| Paula Jivén | The Duality In Me | EP | 6/5/22 | Pop | Spotify |
| Sahara Hotnights | Love In Times Of Low Expectations | Album | 6/5/22 | Rock | Spotify |
| Svart Ridå | 18 Minuter Av Ditt Liv | EP | 13/5/22 | Experimental pop | SoundCloud |
| Tusse | Happiness Before Love | EP | 20/5/22 | Pop | Spotify |
| Vero | Unsoothing Interior | Album | 6/5/22 | Indie rock | Bandcamp |
Commentary: Four years since the previous album, it's great to have Lykke Li back. “EYEYE” is a brutally melancholic album, with heart-felt lyrics taking centre stage. Margaret Farrell at Pitchfork had this to say: ‘Her music is a companion to sorrow in the same way the sun is a companion to the morning.’