Minneriket Says Much About this One Man Act of a Band He Does All Alone
One man band MINNERIKET does not play live! BUT he does have new music in-store, with several albus released over the years. Some special limited edition versions of releases are being made available in cassette tape form, plus much else. See what the black metal act says about his music and creativeness.....
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Minneriket is a one-man band, so I (Stein Akslen) am the only member. I founded Minneriket in 2014, so this year I’m celebrating 10 years of this special corner of the cosmic darkness.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Minneriket means “The realm of memories” and is an esoteric idea of something that we can tap into, share and that connects us. A cyclic worldview where time means nothing and streams of consciousness means everything.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
I’m based in Norway, and I guess most serious metal fans know of our musical history. I’m not too familiar with the “scene” today though, and don’t think I’m listening to any up-and-coming local bands. Just haven’t found anything interesting.
4. How would you describe your style?
Minneriket plays what I call Romantic Black Metal, and is a very emotional and creative approach to the black metal genre, highlighting the individuality of the artist in presence of nature. I incorporate classical, ambient symphonic and punk elements, while always focusing on the creative process, the inherent darkness in us all and the morality of mankind.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
Minneriket har released several full-length albums over the years, and currently I opened pre-orders for the limited edition cassette tape “A Decade of Darkness: 10 Years of Romantic Black Metal”. The tape is a curated collection of previously released Minneriket songs mainly for the long-term fan, but I also made it available as a Spotify playlist as a gateway and starting point for new listeners. Check it out!
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Right now most of the focus is on the above mentioned compilation cassette tape, but yes… There will be new music, and I am working in the studio these days. But nothing official at the moment.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
Minneriket is a one-man band and does not play live.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
To expand, evolve and grow. There is a new album in the making, which will be different from all the previous ones. Still, it’s a natural evolution. I never make long-term plans, mainly work on one or two projects at the time, so the only thing I can say for certain is that Minneriket har just begun, and these first 10 years are only the foundation of what’s to come later.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can find all official news on minneriket.com, and buy music and merch (most is sold out, sorry!) on BandCamp. The music is also available for streaming on most relevant streaming services.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
Remember yourself. Always look inwards, and let the music guide you.
