When Örkuml was founded in the year 1994 it started out as a noise-punk-rock band influenced by bands like Crass, Conflict, Butthole Surfers, Dead Kennedy’s, Boredoms and more alike. As a punk band it released, on it’s own label Örkuml- útgafan, one cassette (Litli ræfillinn frá Vík. 1995), a “7” vinyl album (Edrú og elskaðir. 1997) and a short cd (Verð að fá meira. 1998). Örkuml-útgáfan also released a cd with ten Icelandic punk and metal bands called the Punk is dead in the year 2000. Örkuml had four songs on that cd.

Punk music was the case until the year 2000. Then things changed dramatically to country influenced tones (Why? Probably because of boredom and depression or shall I say No depression?). One can call it alternative country music, if one likes, but it really don’t matter what it’s called.

Still many people which have seen and heard Örkuml perform, after the change, have told that their music is influenced by artists and bands like Neil Young, Nick Cave, Gram Parsons, Will Oldham, Redhouse Painters, Belle & Sebastian, the Byrd’s, My bloody Valentine, Uncle Tupelo (they have often played Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Ryan Adams, and Son Volt songs at their concerts). But what do they know?

The label Vatn í blóð (means: Water to Blood) released one short cd (four songs) with the band under the new style in 2002. But Örkuml is preparing a full size cd (probably twelve songs written by them self’s) that will be released late this fall or early next year.

Some might find it strange that a punk-rock band starts to play some kind of country-influenced music. But it really isn’t. It’s always been Örkuml´s policy to play what they like. That is just what they are doing now (very punk-spirited). Next year they might be doing something totally different.

Örkuml will preform on Vidalín (airwaves) oct. 17. 21:45