Oh, right. My girlfriend is fluent in Icelandic, and Sweden and Iceland have a ton in common, linguistically and culturally. She informed my ignorant ass that Svart Framtid means "black future," and I started to think about what it must be like to be a punk in Iceland. Iceland can be a harsh environment in which to live, and it's not surprising that it has produced some excellent death metal and gloomy instrumental music. But, why is it that when one thinks of Scandinavian punk one instantly turns to Sweden's raw thrashing legacy (ANTI-CIMEX, SKITLICKERS, MOB 47 etc.) or Finland's noisey HC giants (RIISTETYT, TAMPERE SS)? Surely Iceland got in on the HC train in the 80's too?
It turns out that Iceland's punk legacy is neither as prolific nor as excellent as that of several other Scandinavian nations, but there is a very interesting history there with some gems mixed in. Several artists who would later acheive international recognition - most notably Bjork Gudmunsdottir and Einar Orn Benediktsson who went on to form THE SUGARCUBES and the wonderfully freaky saga that is BJORK - came right from the small but active punk scene in Reykjavik. Benediktsson in particular was essential in mobilizing the movement in Iceland. Having met and collaborated with CRASS while studying at university in 1980, he came home to promote a DIY ethic for the scene's early punk/new wave bands.
Iceland's golden age of punk was relatively short lived, lasting from 1979 to 1983, but was thankfully captured forever in time on the absolutely essential documentary/soundtrack, Rokk i Reykjavik. Filmed in the harsh winter of 1981-1982, Rokk i Reykjavik was aspiring director Fridrik Thor Fridriksson's attempt to document what he considered an important, but overlooked, subcultural movement of artists, poets, freaks, and dead-end kids. What resulted was an unbelievable glimpse into a fiery moment and place in time that was somehow simultaneously unique and universal.
The Icelandic punk bands of the early 80's mostly gravitated toward dark, angular new wave. All of the bands featured in the documentary were obviously heavily influenced by JOY DIVISION, CRISIS, THE KILLING JOKE, and PATTI SMITH. This sound was quite evident in Bjork's early band, TAPPI TIKARRASS (roughly translatable to "cork the bitch's arse"):
And Q4U
At its finest moments, however, the influence of Discharge and (presumably?) early USHC releases creeped into the aesthetic and sound, synthesizing in the ferocity of Rokk i Reykjavik's opus, the song "O Reykjavik" by Vonbrigdi:
Perhaps my favorite song on the compilation is EGO's nefariously tongue-in-cheek "Sieg Heil." Firmly planted on the left, frontman Bubbi Morthens lamented the digression of German socialism into a totalitarian state. Morthens considered state socialism on a par with fascism, and didn't care if he offended communists, fascists, democrats or anyone else by saying so. Morthens had also formed the seminal Icelandic new wave band UTANGARDSMENN and would continue to be a big player in the Icelandic music scene for years to come. "Sieg Heil" is a perfect combination of influences - the dark, new wave aura of JOY DIVISION/CRISIS, the early hardcore pacing of BLACK FLAG, the pop-sensibilities and political satire of THE CLASH, and the attitude of the SEX PISTOLS. The guitar tone is unbeatable for its style and this is one of the catchiest punk songs I've ever heard. Enjoy.
There are several other gems on this record that make it worth listening to from beginning to end. As far as comp records from lesser known Euro/Scandi scenes go, this is one of the best. I need to track down a copy of the record and the doc. Perhaps I can snag one or both if Frida and I make it to Iceland sometime soon? (???) The film was remastered and released as a DVD in 2008, but the shipping and scarcity make it a pricey import. A good copy of the record is even harder to find. Lucky for you, you little punk, you can download it here.
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