Assistert Sjølmord are a Norwegian hardcore band from Oslo, Norway. Their name translated into English is "Assisted Suicide".
Found out that googling the name into google or Youtube, despite being in Norwegian brings up a message about Samaritans so a heads up!
This was one of my favorite releases of 2024, fast and furious hardcore. Seven songs in just under ten minutes, it wouldn't go a miss amongst 80's Norwegian hardcore bands like Svart Framtid, Stengte Dører, and Bannlyst.
If this 7" isn't in years to come held in high regard as the above mentioned bands releases then something is seriously wrong!
Released by Static Shock records, 100 on yellow vinyl and 400 on black and I believe it is sold out from the label. Worth the effort to try track down a copy or just stream or download if that is your preferred method of consuming music! Or just watched the embedded video below!
First 7" by Gateshead's Total Chaos, they had previously released a Demo tape the same year for which two tracks were re-recorded for this release.
Seen them described as UK82 punk but would say more towards anarcho punk with bits of post punk. It's a shame to me that this band isn't more known and really could do with a discography release of all their output. Do believe there was a reunion gig of sorts back in 2024 where 3/4 members with a member from the Reptiles (another old Gateshead punk band) played a few tracks as a one off in Gateshead which I unfortunately missed due to illness!
Slam! Back Cover
There are two version of the 7", it was originally released by Slam! Records N'Tapes in 1981 and then got released again in 1982 by Volume Records.
Slight changes between the two, Slam's edition has 50p on the cover while Volume's is marked at £1!!!
Back cover is also different as shown, Volume changed their version to have the lyrics on the back, believe the Slam version had the lyrics as an insert, though my copy doesn't have it!
Volume Back Cover
Prices seem to range from around £10 to £100 for this release, however would say mainly £10-20, believe anymore would be for the Slam version.
Primetime came from London and weren't around long, maybe three or four years? Members were Claudia Serfaty, Flora Watters, Lucy Anstey, and Maria Tedemalm.
Formed and played their first gig as part of the First Timers Festival, which was about working to remove barriers to participation on the DIY community of London. To which all bands included one or more female, trans and LGBTQIA member. Believe there was other aspects like at least one or more member never played in a band before and one or more are playing an instrument they haven't played before in this new band.
Despite not being around for long and think rarely playing outside of London, we got some really great post punk with hints of Kleenex and I think a bit of Gang of Four from them
S/T - 2014
They did release two fantastic 7"s on La Vida Es Un Mus. I had planned with this blog to just highlight one release per entry, however, decided to mention both as they are worth tracking down and I really think in years to come people may click back on to them and they will become "classics" so to speak.
The self-titled came out a year after they had formed in 2014 and we get 4 tracks here, Tied Down being the big hitter and getting a music video made.
However, really do like the fast-paced Right Track that kicks off the B-side.
Going Places - 2016
Going Places released two years later in 2016 is a slightly faster paced released with another 4 tracks but all under 2 minutes, opening track Pervert just gets into it, while Anyway on the B-side sort of reminds me of The Clean a little bit. Both releases do have the whole early 80's post punk feel and if Primetime had been around then I reckon they would have blown up.
I do wish they had recorded more, maybe done an album but it wasn't to be!
All members have gone on to do other projects over the years. Lucy has a solo project called Viscount that sort of no wave goth pop and was in post punk band Hygiene and was on their last release back in 2023 though unsure if they are still a band. Flora and Maria play in the excellent synth punk band Es.
Claudia moved to Australia and has played in Blank Statements and The Stroppies. All these bands are worth checking out as well.
