Originally published in Verbicide issue #3

So who thinks of modern punk rock when they think about Norway? I certainly didn’t until being introduced to Punishment Park. These folks are native to Bergen, Norway’s second biggest city. Punishment Park has been around for more than 10 years, conceptualized in 1990 by the group’s energetic creator and guitarist Kjell E. Moberg. Their first gig was played in April 1991, at Bergen’s Hulen Rock Club, and by November they received their first offer for a record deal. Since then, they have been signed to numerous labels across Europe, but their shaky road with record contracts has currently culminated in a lawsuit to claim nearly ten thousand US dollars, and they now use their own label, October Party Records.

As is imaginable, there has been a lot of material from Punishment Park over the last decade. Their current release is an EP titled Sweetie. These are some great tracks including “Under Covers,” a melodic, uplifting song about understanding in what one may assume to be a complicated relationship. I remember a description of punk rock from Fugazi’s Instrumental film as that of “agitated guitars.” While Punishment Park may describe themselves as “party pop-core,” their tendency toward this agitated guitar, the super-quick syncopated drum beats of Operation Ivy, and some great female vocals reminiscent of Blonde Redhead, this is a truly eclectic music style. I was particularly touched by the song titles such as “To The Artpolice,” and “This Ain’t No New York Rap Shit.” In fact, “pop” could be construed as hideously insulting to a band whose lyrics include lines such as “Highly strung almost citarish/However cold and wet a sea/I wanna be a starfish,” from the song “starfish.”

Punishment Park are also a band dedicated to the grassroots musical movement. They have performed in clubs, student centers, and squats to crowds ranging from seven people to a thousand people. Every new band goes through this, but here’s a quote from my email conversation with Kjell Moberg: “Your work is extremely important to every band you write about, small and big; without the zines no new bands will be discovered!” Aw…I was touched. This is a great band all around. The music is great, and the story is endearing.

(October Party Records, no address provided)