the history of Snack Ohm Tapes

by PunkOlsen, 2003

Snack Ohm Tapes did happend partly coincidendtly. The idea itself came from my friend, Knut Klausen in the Norwegian fanzine; Sjokk in 1982, and he talked about creating a label releasing punk music (there was not so many label back then). And in 1983 a music festival was arranged in my hometown, Bergen and several alternative bands did appear, such as Liliedugg and The Aller Værste. Some friends and me wanted to attend, but we were to young to go. And we could join if we wanted attend as an underground label. So we did.

The zine, Sjokk from 1981-82

The name of the label we made up in the same way. During that time we had ideas concerning of making a label, but we lacked a proper name. Many name was proposed, but was rejected until we stood back with a single name. Snack Ohm Tapes doesn’t mean a lot, but was a sort of ironic. Like our releases were something to talk about…

Snack Ohm Tapes has done several releases since 1984, and has released compilation cassettes, - records and CD, mainly Norwegian punk. Several bands have started, and later been well-known, and some of the bands appears on the releases. Maybe you have heard the Norwgian punkbands like; Wannskrækk, Kafka Prosess, Barn Av Regnbuen, Angor Wat, Dead Swingers, Svartidaudir, Angst, Xantippe, Kort Prosess, Pøbelvelde, Dead Gerhardsens, Statens Menn, og Alltid Jaget?

The zine, Sjokk from 1982-84

Each releases began by receiving some demo’s from bands or contacting them. Some of the demo’s were collected to a master tape. The lyrics of the bands didn’t concern us, but we printed the lyrics on the cover of the release, to make the bands responsible for what they wrote. Each cassette releases were made in 100-200 copies, and the vinyl releases were made in 1000 copies. The prices have been low to make sure that people can get our releases at reasonable costs. This to avoid the profitmaking or the commerce business that runs the society else where.

The name of each releases reflects our message to the society in an anarchistic manner, and are surely political. Everything from attacking the nasionalism, patrotism, militarism, and of course attacking our goverments beloved state and it’s protective hand. In many matter have our releasese been influenced by great authors as Orwell, Kafka, and the Norwegian author; Bjørneboe.

Our first releases have been concidered as punk classis, and was done in 1984; “Ja vi elsker..?”/Yes, we do love..? , and the compilation LP from 1987; “Tsjernobilly Boogie”. Wi will also recommend other releases as our compilation cassette; “Arbeide frigjør eder!”/Arbeid macht frei!,  the release from 1999; ”Der volder ennu noget rabalder…”/There’s going to be a little more noise…, and the release from 2000; the classic punk cassette “Null Problem”/No Problem on CD. And the CD from 2004, containing contemporary Nor. HCband "Fanden Ta Deg!".

Every one of the releases of Snack Ohm Tapes on cassettes continues to be avaible on CD-R, and we do so because we want alternative punk to be avaible for the future punk.

Nor text, HERE!

Latest Update: 2008-08-23