Album · 1991
Punishment Park
The 1991 debut. Recorded at Sigma Studio in Bergen, with rehearsals at Bohus and a Hulen photo session. The project statement in raw form: blunt, tense, and deliberately hostile to polish.
The legendary “party-core” band from Norway. Radio hit in Croatia. Three albums, one EP, tours across Europe and Yugoslavia.
Punishment Park: the legendary “party-core” band from Norway. Three albums and one EP, lots of compilation albums around the world, a number-one radio hit in Croatia in the 90s with “This Ain’t No New York Rap Shit!”, and what is probably the most amazing cover of Nena’s 99 Luftballons. Toured all over Europe during the 90s, including Yugoslavia (Serbia today) during the war in 1992. Active up to 2022 and still semi-active. Catchy songs in a mix of melodic indie gothic punk rock’n’roll that will make you smile and be amazed.

The pasted Wix page relied on a simple, effective rhythm: oversized title, full-width images, embedded Spotify players, and a blunt contact section at the end. That structure works for Punishment Park, so this version keeps it and sharpens the pacing.
Album · 1991
The 1991 debut. Recorded at Sigma Studio in Bergen, with rehearsals at Bohus and a Hulen photo session. The project statement in raw form: blunt, tense, and deliberately hostile to polish.
Album · 1992
The second album. Recorded at Delta Studio in Germany during 1992. First put out as illegal cassettes in 1992/1993, then on vinyl in 2000 and on CD in China in 2006. The album that ended in the label trouble.
Album · 1996/1998
First released as Blendwerk in 1996 and pulled from the market after 1,200 copies. Reissued as Party in 1998, sold 1,900 copies in only 10 days, with four bonus tracks from the 1992 album. Ten songs of melodic indie gothic punk rock with hooks sharp enough to cut.
EP · 2000
Four-track EP from 2000. Survival Sweetie is about Alexandra, Kjell's daughter. The clearest example of the project's friction: pretty language up front, something harsher grinding underneath.
The original page treated the Spotify blocks as the core of the experience. That part stays: each release gets its own image, copy block, and player.
Three early Punishment Park clips from 1991, Bergen and Os live, plus the band’s first national TV appearance.
Two clips from the European tour around The Return of the Shovel Police, live in France.
Two clips from the 1994 European run, Poland and Germany.
Five clips from the German leg of the Blendwerk / Party tour, the album that first came out in 1996 before being retracted and reissued as Party in 1998.
Six clips from the Bergen show in 1997.
Three clips from the 2022 Norwegian shows, thirty-odd years on and still delivering.
Originally released as Blendwerk in 1996 (retracted after 1,200 copies), reissued as Party in 1998, 1,900 copies sold in only 10 days, with four bonus tracks from the 1992 album. Lyrics archived from the original source documents.
Punishment Park, 1998
Who are these people in my kitchen Why is there a queue by the bog When I walk into my living room I can't find my dog What's that smell in the corner? Did somebody die? Looks like turtles have finished their dinner Oh! I'm having a party, that's why! I let everybody in I have bottles of gin I let everybody in Come contribute with a sin Let's do our faces in! A raided fridge Cigarette burns Toiletries savaged Funny the way things turn My cat Fred has not been fed Where is that cat-food I forgot to buy Is it that spread on my bed? Heck! I'm having a party, that's why! Who are these people in my kitchen Why is there a queue by the bog When I walk into my living room I can't find my dog The cat has done its fair share Just look at that, over there Shit! It's my flat, I'm out of here I let everybody in I had bottles of gin Contributed with a sin Now I'm on my own With a flat upside down
Punishment Park, 1998
Sometimes I feel obliged to stay, even there is nothing more to say Sometimes it's hard to tell you things, I try to express it through the words I sing It's so hard, now you hold the triumph card, and it always turns out pathetic When I try to be apologetic I want to tell you that I'm sorry, and try not to worry But you are constantly on my mind Yes, you are constantly on my mind Sometimes I find it hard to think, the less I try the deeper I sink There's nothing in my head to find, now I'm pulled down the blinds There's only you on my mind I want to call around at night, cuddle up in bed and it will be alright It doesn't work that way, you've told me not to I'm so ashamed, oh, what can I do? Sometimes I find it's necessary to beg, I don't want to but I'm clutched to your leg I saw you wouldn't speak to me, until you got your apology You'll never know how it feels to bleed It is for your understanding I plead
Punishment Park, 1998
When torment is the core And you don't wanna sacrifice Nothing ain't nothing anymore Just when your body's getting older And your heart is getting colder The future is wiping out the past Darkness is ahead of you Another moment tightens the screw Tomorrow is just another loss Concrete dream The final scream For those who are left To die
Punishment Park, 1998
Your pulse is cut open But you still insist Coming to me with your problems And that I hold your hand and not your wrist It has brought disgrace upon your face, disperse yourself into space But do it in your own pace Discerning qualities are easy to fake Stop playing psychologist You'll always be a rake Don't waste my time There ain't nothing I can't find That haven't caused a crime In your screwed up mind Your ego was not to be, you copied me, you copied me Your ego was not to be You went into plagiarism But don't copy me and altruism You keep telling me this time is the last But then you mess it up and come too fast
Punishment Park, 1998
Sometimes you tear me into shreds, well knowing I will silence your mouth by just ignoring you "What's the matter?" you say, always too damned notorious And you won't understand even though it's obvious Then you tell me that you hate me, and you say I don't care Then you give me the usual heartbroken stare Shall we do this again and again or shall I smash up your sickening brain Shall we do this again and again I know I was raised to be my only friend But your well chosen words are torturing me again Tough as I am your words run right past But my toughness could well have been made of glass I know very well I'm not emotional dismembered But my feelings for you get sometimes too tempered Shall we do this again and again or shall I smash up your sickening brain, and I know, yes! I know, and I've heard what you've said about the one billion negative quotes in my head A boot in my stomach a punch in my face, then your words like wolves howling your case And once again the weekly hooted up phone "sod off, bastard" and "leave me alone" And I know, yes I know, and I've heard what you say about the one billion negative quotes in my head Shall we do this again and again or shall I smash up your sickening brain Kick you in the face and throw you in the dirt And then once and for all show you what you're really worth Show you what you're really worth
Punishment Park, 1998
I wanna be a starfish Down below where no fishing-rod can reach me Highly strung, almost citharish However cold and wet a sea I wanna be a starfish I went too far, saw only shipwrecks and despair I wanna be a starfish Can you hear me out there? A silent scream from inside of me However cold and wet a sea I wanna be a starfish Black as tar is the inner me I wanna be a starfish, cut me off And I'll get back twice on three Five feet on the ground, I turn around Suck you up my arse, my mouth, my kiss I had one wish I wanna be a starfish
Punishment Park, 1998
Tired of listening to politicians Discussing the problems facing the earth Expensive meetings, expensive hotels Keep on babbling hypocritical friends While they keep on preaching their foul life The forests are dismembered, more and more Day by day Start acting now, start acting now… The fresh air slowly disappears Ozone layer packed with holes And deadly beams of sun overdose Very soon it'll be too late Too late to save the planet Lack of faith, do not sit back Start acting now, start acting now… Think of what you use and throw away Just think about it We'll reach the end one sunbeamed day Start acting now, start acting now…
Punishment Park, 1998
I'm a princess (not for long) Happy in a fool's caress I do like Calaf, bang the gong (don't get me wrong) But I don't dare to write a lovesong Come out flat, tells me nought A broken heart is good for the art The fear of rebuke is so strong I stole this song But I don't dare to write a love song Scrutinized by art police Stop it please! If this is only self defence it makes no sense But I don't dare to write a… eh… lovesong
Punishment Park, 1998
Shaky knees, slippery surface, hybrid, humid and soundless Sick but rough, had enough, so bugger off Shut the fuck up, close the candy shop Stripped, bared, naked, destined for the ground You push me, push me around Can't please you all, I always please you all Your life is such a big yawn And my account is overdrawn Like tears under an eyelid, vulva volcano like tears Another time, another direction, right now inappropriate reaction Laugh at me, and you're mistaking badly I piss on you and you love me madly Rosy, pink as candyfloss, sweet as apple pie Silky, slimy, sizzling slush running down my thigh I can't please you all, I can't please you all I make you stand up, I make you fall Like tears under an eyelid, vulva volcano like tears Cover my eyes like a fog I react to you like Pavlov's dogs You're at the arse-end of rainbow, vulva volcano
Punishment Park, 1998
One: There are people you hide from that you don't like Two: Then there are those you wait for but who are always late Three: Then there are those you don't mind talking to whilst waiting for the ones in category two Four: Then there's the ones you hate You hang around, legs aching and you wouldn't like to know How much the barman is making, And all the money you blow whilst waiting Watching people come and go The barflies have started timing you Walking 'round the bar, And finally the people you look for There they are! Sadly they're the ones, when they see you they're gone Not peculiar though, they place you in category one! You hang around, legs aching and you wouldn't like to know How much the barman is making, And all the money you blow whilst waiting Watching people come and go Finally then, what's the score It seems we move rapidly from category one to four And you are waiting, waiting for the hard core But you're not part of it You're a bore That nobody waits for…
The album that ended in the record-label trouble. First released as illegal cassettes in 1992/1993, then on vinyl in 2000, and on CD in China in 2006. Original lyrics archived from the source documents.
Punishment Park, 1992
How can we struggle when there's no one left to fight How can we pick up the the pieces of broken treaties when there's no one left to think And how can we go on with our, everyday life when life's just a lie How can we be happy when everyone shall die
Punishment Park, 1992
She's leaving town this summer day other places are tempting from far away new hopes and experience are calling at her now other lives are whispering from everywhere But can you find another sky where the clouds never are a shade She has her own meaning of life wants to live not exist as a dutiful wife Don't forget to give us a sign and tell us about all you can find But can you find another sky where the clouds never are a shade
Punishment Park, 1992
If you have climbed the top you wouldn't bother looking down even if you know that other persons suffer you are well off with the rest of your fascist race So you rule the land with an iron hand suck out every bit you can get not sweet at all persecution and disgrace it will blow up in your face the day they get to you when the time is due
Punishment Park, 1992
In El Salvador you get kicked through a door shot dead on the floor In Iraq and Kuwait people lost their rights why did they all fight? In Washington D.C. they say this is the way it's supposed to be Back in England in Downing Street 10 they agreed with the United States again The Russian government said they didn't want to get involved in a war but what did they do they started a war against their own people So at the end we are back at the start if not people get their eyes up and realize what's going on it won't take many years before we and our beautiful world are dead and forgotten
Punishment Park, 1992
Making questions out of questions just for questions sake feet in the air head on the floor kicking in the hinges on heaven's door Still getting strong, still doing wrong still at change within range Even my friends are second hand they never understand playing games with themselves addicted to shelves Spend some time with myself it is best to be alone
Punishment Park, 1992
I'm broken down beaten up drowned in my own mentality never able to feel again never able to find the way And the haze in my head is covering the ground destroying every piece of love my life melts away The colour of wax is in my face and I'm crawling crawling back into my hole
Punishment Park, 1992
So they drag you down again back into the bath where you spent so many hours Like personified ice cubes who slowly chill you down back into the forest back into the grave back to where you started going insane Ice cold blue skies a person who cries melting away with the sun that rose today
Punishment Park, 1992
Sitting on the corner watching people passing by all alone I sit here looking at the world over there Kids listening to stories about right and wrong so they know what to do when everyone else is gone They learn about hate and love how to fight and be strong so they can destroy what's left of our world When the deadline is here I will die in fear for the terrible things that's gonna happen here It's going the wrong way can't you see it too hey ! it's happening right in front of you
Punishment Park, 1992
I want to feel the things I can't feel I want to see the things I can't see nobody need to tell me how to think but a lot of people still do If anyone think they are better than me it doesn't bother me because I'm still free You know we can't always do what we want to do just believe me because it is true The future doesn't look bright the only thing is to fight Life is shit you say, OK but this is reality anyway You know that we know that together we can make it better for you and for me and for everybody the only thing to do is to fight
Twelve songs from the 1991 self-titled debut, recorded at Sigma Studio in Bergen. A mix of English and Norwegian lyrics, archived from the original source documents.
Punishment Park, 1991
When you hear a child scream you understand it's not a dream You feel the cold wind blow the smell of death is all around It's a fullmoon too and it realy scares you Feel like someone watching you and you know it's true Can hear voices far away one is laughing, another cries in pain Imagine torture and pain a lot of blood red rain The silence in the air you can feel the fear What did realy happen here on the churchstair Will it never end the hate and the fear We will never know cause we are to scared
Punishment Park, 1991
Let me sniff my coke alone you know I don't need anyone Just let me get high so I can fly away from it all Now I need some money so I can buy me new dope I need my shot now can't you understand it Do I have to put it in writing you can't be so blind Please give me what I need before I do something terrible I need it under my skin and in my hurting brain I can't stand this terrible pain I need some dope to cure my brain
Punishment Park, 1991
Vi ble banket opp på Voss ingenting hadde de til overs for oss De ville jo bare slåss de idiotene oppe på Voss Blitzere ropte de etter oss vi ignorerte dem til tross De viste jo bare hvor syk de var og at de ikke var helt klar Banket opp av et sykt sinn de må jo ha vært helt blind De ropte og lo mens de sparket og slo vi gikk inn på Pentagon Det var jo helt på bånn med stygge vakter som ikke kunne like oss Det var jo klart fra første stund ingen ville gi oss en sjans Vi var ikke så teite som dem derfor lengtet vi alle hjem
Punishment Park, 1991
He's a hungry, loathsome one slinking over the big floor Disgusting eyes are watching me I think I have seen him before Struggling with his bony feet I think he is smiling at me Not to be kind just for fun I don't dare to see Go away you poor creature find another victim If you don't listen to me now the Henry will be the right thing
Punishment Park, 1991
Saddam Hussein er sprø han burde helst ha været død Han gikk inn og tok Kuwait i en kaldblodig fight Han og Hitler er begge lik for sitt menneskelige svik Tok makt med barnelik hvordan kan nokken støtte slikt Han gjør alt for penger og makt bomber og dreper uten forakt Han har samme syke drøm skulle tro han var Hitlers sønn Store som små burde forstå slik som dette kan det ikke foregå Hva gjør mennesker så rå har de ingen medlidenhet for de små Hva er vitsen med krig blod, hat og vold uten kontroll Død, fordervelse og sorg vi må bygge oss en sikkerhetsborg Slik vanvittig syke menn burde fått mer enn skjenn De burde henges høyt og ta sin dødelig fortjente støyt
Punishment Park, 1991
When I am down tired of all I do wrong abandoned of my life cause every day is the same Every day seem to be a teat but still I feel the sunrise make me to thaw Don't remain regard my life as a strain I don't want whiling away angry with silly duties angry with expensations Abandoned of my life cause every day is the same
Punishment Park, 1991
When you've done somthing wrong the law will take you down You are always on the run and it's not for fun You were fighting for your cause protesting against the wars The government didn't like your face and then they started this wild race If they can get to you they take you to Punishment Park where people drink warm blood Welcome to Punishment Park They give you a ticket to hell so you can hear the bell ringing when you're buried and dead that's what they said Punishment Park is the final end you can't turn back again Punishment Park is where life end you get buried in quiksand
Punishment Park, 1991
I read in the paper today that there's a war going on People are tortured and killed for no fucking reason at all I read in the paper today that people are starving when the government make a bomb we through away the food we didn't eat Is good news blood news I ask you yeah you Is good news blood news I don't think so I heard on the news today that a plane blew up today they say there was organized terror behind I heard on the news today that we're suppose to die for the reason of money why I ask you why
Punishment Park, 1991
Twice is too much can't go on this way I don't like such there's nothing more to say No not any more you can't hold on I've told you before once more I am gone Twice is too much you are fed with a spoon Twice is too much remember I am leaving soon And I whish I were dead how I wish I were happy again And I wish I were dead breach of promise breach of cofidence I feel so empty I'm loosing my sence
Punishment Park, 1991
1939 Hitler was on tour touring Europe with his crew Torturing and spliting familie's in two that he realy knew how to do Killing every little dream that didn't fit his plan Can't you see it's happening again have you all gone totally blind For every day that goes by we get closer to the war He had a sick twisted mine with a lot of power behind Saddam is sitting on Kuwait saying that's his right Bush doesn't think so he's gonna attack very soon now So let's make a stand for the better let's stop it now
Punishment Park, 1991
Like a prisoner I am the society is not my friend On the street I live I have nothing more to give It's so easy to say it's all right it's so easy to say don't fight So what do they know about streetlife The rule of our life is take what you can get Don't ever look back you might just regret It's so easy to say it's all right it's so easy to say don't fight So what do they know about the life we live
Punishment Park, 1991
There is fire all over here dead people you can see them everywhere With warheads in the air people get realy scared Tanks are rolling through the sand nobody seem to understand That there's gonna be fighting and killing to the final end The Irakian people fight for their land taking cover deep in the sand Fighting a holy war for a crazy man he's not worth dying for He loves his holy war he don't care about people who die or the families left behind So what's the reason for the war it's no liberation it's oil that's for sure What about giving peace a chance the oil is not worth a bloody war
Four songs from the 2000 EP. Survival Sweetie is about Alexandra, Kjell's daughter; The Scream is exactly what its title says.
Punishment Park, 2000
99 Luftballons Hast du etwas Zeit für mich Singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Denkst du vielleicht g'rad an mich Singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 Luftballons Und das sowas von sowas kommt 99 Luftballons Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont Hielt man für Ufo's aus dem All Darum schickte ein General 'ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher Alarm zu geben wenn's so wär Dabei war'n dort am Horizont Nur 99 Luftballons 99 Düsenflieger Jeder war ein großer Krieger Hielten sich für Captain Kirk Das gab ein großes Feuerwerk Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht Dabei schoß man am Horizont Auf 99 Luftballons 99 Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister Hielten sich für schlaue Leute Witterten schon fette Beute Riefen: Krieg und wollten Macht Man wer hätte das gedacht Das es einmal so weit kommt Wegen 99 Luftballons 99 Jahre Krieg Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger Kriegsminister gibts nicht mehr Und auch keine Düsenflieger Heute zieh ich meine Runden Seh die Welt in Trümmern liegen Hab 'nen Luftballon gefunden Denk an dich und lass ihn fliegen
Punishment Park, 2000
Hey girl what's in your head Hey girl, whats in your heart Angel whats on your mind Angel you will be fine Survival sweetie You didnt come here to cause pain That's just life down the drain Not a part of doctors rat race I put a fist in someones .. face girl, follow through Angel it's up to you Hey girl, what's in your heart Angel we'll never part Survival Sweetie Hey girl what's in your head Hey girl, whats in your heart Angel whats on your mind Angel you will be fine Hey girl follow through Angel it's up to you Hey girl, you'll always be Angel survival sweetie Survival Sweetie No fear sounding the alarm now you crush us with your charm Hey girl did it again Angel you fooled the old man – Girl – you'll always be Angel, survival sweetie.
Punishment Park, 2000
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!
Punishment Park, 2000
See you I see you comming I see you comming my way under the... ..understand your special way I understand you cover from a front cover Your'e under cover Now you're under covers here with me See you I see you driving see you driving away, under the... ..understand your special way I understand you cover from a front cover Your'e under cover Now you're under covers here with me See you...
01Album · 1991
The 1991 debut. Recorded at Sigma Studio in Bergen, with rehearsals at Bohus and a Hulen photo session. The project statement in raw form: blunt, tense, and deliberately hostile to polish.
02Album · 1992
The second album. Recorded at Delta Studio in Germany during 1992. First put out as illegal cassettes in 1992/1993, then on vinyl in 2000 and on CD in China in 2006. The album that ended in the label trouble.
03Album · 1996/1998
First released as Blendwerk in 1996 and pulled from the market after 1,200 copies. Reissued as Party in 1998, sold 1,900 copies in only 10 days, with four bonus tracks from the 1992 album. Ten songs of melodic indie gothic punk rock with hooks sharp enough to cut.
04EP · 2000 2000
Four-track EP from 2000. Survival Sweetie is about Alexandra, Kjell's daughter. The clearest example of the project's friction: pretty language up front, something harsher grinding underneath.
View releasePhotos and source material from the year of the first album: the Sigma Studio sessions in Bergen, the Hulen photo session, summer at Lysekloster, the Bohus rehearsal space (and bomb shelter), the 24-track master tape, and the Bergens Tidende “Punishment Pønk” feature from August 1991.














Photos from the touring years around the Blendwerk / Party album: Germany, Norway, and London. Photos by Trond "Tronna" Begsvik, Jannice Wise-Hansen, Richard Saure, and Anne Ivarsen.





























Few photos survive, in 1992 a camera wasn’t something anyone thought about. The Delta Studio sessions in Germany, the Belgrade gigs in Yugoslavia during the war, the French live shots from Lyon and elsewhere, and life on the road.





















Both sides of the 2000 Sweetie EP sleeve, supplied by the band.


Two scans of the original Punishment Park logo from the 1990s, both supplied by the band. The 300-DPI LOGO.jpg is the version used in the page hero; logo2.jpg is an older Photoshop 5.0 export kept for reference.

