In 1993 this amazing new band won the Icelandic "Battle of the Bands". They were kinda innocent looking but the music was heavy, dark and somewhat menacing. What probably secured their victory was the drummer, Ólafur Björn Ólafsson, often nicknamed Obo, who hit the drums like the devil himself. At the time he was one of three young and talented drummers whom I was told had all been tutored by Sigtryggur of The Sugarcubes. One of them would also win the competition the next year. Yukatan was formed in 1992 and won the competition the following year. As reward they got whopping 25 hours in a studio, which they used to record a whole album which was then released on Bad Taste the same year. It was strangely named "Safnar Guðum (Safnar Frímerkjum)", or "Collects Gods (Collects Stamps)" whatever that means. This album has been a favorite of mine ever since, but the band sadly disbanded in 1994, and so far only regrouped for a single concert in 2001 if I remember correctly. Ólafur Björn has been the most prolific in music since then, playing drums in various bands such as Unun, Stórsveit Nix Noltes and Benni Hemm Hemm to name a few. Guitarist Reynir Baldursson is now in a heavy metal band called Perfect Disorder.
The album contained 8 songs, all of whom were good with the possible exception of the last one, which always sounded like an unecessary fill-up. Of all the songs though, none got more to me than "Tunnels". After 14 years it still gives me goosebumps. I suggest you turn up the volume.
Yukatan - Tunnels
Yukatan - House
[Myspace link]
[Buy from Bad Taste]
Thanks for sharing Magnus!
Yukatan reminds me of some Estonian *underground* bands from the same era, like Pedigree and ÖÄK (the first is still sort of active and the second one is disbanded.) They have the same sort of darkish power in them.