Interview With 'Aktarum'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

Hi I'm Trollbard, guitar player and second vocals of the band. I Joined the crew in 2014 for the release of the "Game Of Troll" EP. Aktarum was created back in 2005 by Trollour (Keyboard/vocals) and Trolaklass (Guitars). We play Troll Metal. The main idea was to play Folk Metal with a unique touch. Trollour and Trolaklass dug way too much everything related to trolls so they wanted to add the "Troll" idea behind the Folk Metal they wanted to play. So everything is about Trolls. The music combines heavy loud riffing with epic melodies. Telling tales of battles, parties of the village of Aktarum. The 5 Trolls spread those stories on stage, sharing their will of partying with every one.

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

The main idea was to have fun. Play a lot of gigs around the world but having fun was definitely the path we wanted to take. People always enjoy a band that has fun. Playing music is sharing with people. When you have fun, so the audience will. Of course the chosen path was to live with Aktarum, reach a worldwide audience and touring all over the globe but sometimes life takes you somewhere else. Besides that, we played tons of gigs, in a lot of differents countries and we always had fun, so I'd say we are exactly where we wanted to be.

Tell us about your latest release and why our readers should check it out.

Our latest record "Ragnatroll" will be out in the 8th of December self released. The album is definitely our most evolved record. It's heavy, epic and brutal. You'll have great "sing along" melodies. Everyone gathered his strength to make and absolute epic and unique album. Fast and extreme drums, epic clean/heavy vocals and sharpened guitars, groovy bass and magical synth orchestrations. You'll have great "sing along" melodies that'll catch everyone's attention. The album will be the band's new start. Keeping its identity, Aktarum evolved and the third album is the testimony of it.

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

Yes of course ! I talk for myself here but yeah I've been amazed to see little bands become bigger. I've been amazed to see the local organization working their asses off to put on shows. Amazed by the talent of a lot of musicians out there. I think the Metal scene has the most dedicated musicians ever. So you never heard of this or this guitar player but he plays with such technique or creativity that's just astonishing. I could list really tons of that kind of musicians. So I feel really blessed meeting those people.

If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?

Well you can expect trolls, and then even more trolls...You can expect a well tight show. You can expect a marvelous party with the band on stage. We like to dance, sing, drink, and making the people dance with us. So a headline show would be the opportunity to share our latest album fully played, with some oldies. You would see the story behind our music. We'll take you to an epic journey.

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

Well I think that's quite easy...Finntroll would be awesome. We played several shows with them and each time we had a lot of fun. The music they played was clearly one of the reason we play Troll Metal. So a Finntroll-Aktarum tour would be totally insane for us. The inspired us really deeply. I would buy a ticket for this tour!

You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?

Well again I'll talk for myself. That'd be without hesitation Jason Becker. Because his story is beautiful and unbelievable. He played in the band Cacophony with Marty Friedman back in the 80's. He reached a whole new level of playing guitar. He was diagnosed with ALS so his ability to play the guitar declined. The doctors said he has 5 years to live and now he is still here 29 years after. He is still making music with a special software his dad made. And by the way he's about to release a new album in december "Triumphant Heart" which will be amazing I'm sure. So I don't know what we could talk about coz i'll be like a shy little virgin in front of him but who cares ?

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Yes, no questions ask ! And by far my favourite !

Website - www.aktarum.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aktarum/