Interviews: Aktarum

In this new occassion we have had the opportunity to interview the  Troll Metal/Metal band Aktarum from Belgium. Check out the interview and this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

We wanted something trollish that sounds folk and Trollaklass (guitars) and trollour(keys and vocals) came up with that idea. I think it came out of nowhere.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Back in the days where the band started we wanted to play something new in the neighborood. The members who created the band wanted to get out of the extreme metal scene where they came from. Always been fan of Moonsorrow, Finntroll,...so they decided to do something folk within the local scene.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Nope. Trollour and Trollaklass knew each other but the rest of the band is quite new. We joined the band like 5 years ago Trollhammer (Drums) and me (Trollbard-Guitars-vocals). I know the band since it's beginning and for Trollaflem(Bass-Vocals) he joined us 2 years ago.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Trollour (Keys and Vocals) Finntroll

Trollaklass (Guitars) Moonsorrow

Trollaflem (Bass-Vocals) Devin Townsend

Trollhammer (Drums) Ne Obliviscaris

Trollbard (Guitars-Vocals) Stratovarius

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I guess everything inspires us. For the writing process. We let all the doors open to find new sounds. Back in the days maybe we'll have said "no that's not Troll enough" or "that melody is to candy like"... For this album we worked hard on the arrangements so every song could be as good as we can. For example Trollaklass wanted to hear a eagle scream ...we were all like..."What ?" So he did put this damn eagle sound...and now we couldn't imagine that song without this freaking eagle. He felt like putting eagle's cry and he did good. So everything inspired us. We've inspired each others. 

And for the concept story behind the album we wanted to tell a story. We wanted the album to be a journey with the trolls. So you could say that we were inspired by the greatest tales of old, like the Lord of the Rings.

6. Where was your last gig?

It was in The Netherlands in late september for the Oktober Fest ! Great venue and great live !

7. Where would you like to perform?

I think i'll answer for the rest of the band here. Everywhere ! Graspop Meeting Metal, Hellfest Open Air,...Every festival in the whole world.

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

We've already played with Finntroll but i think it will be the best match ever. So if we can tour again with Finntroll that'd be awesome.

9. Whom not?

No bands in particular. As long as we can play it's good. And As long as we get along with the band, it's alright.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I never had stage fright. Maybe from time to time we got anxious when playing on a huge stage or in front of a big audience. Most of the time we just hang around and have fun before the show.

My advice for the ones who feels that is :Talk to your bandmates, chill out with them. It's just a show. Give your best like there's no one watching and it'll be fine.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Definitely Finntroll, Moonsorrow, Arkona, Turisas, Equilibrium... We relate to them. It's not modern folk metal but it's epic folk metal. We've played almost with every band i've listed and we always got along with them. That's for the band in general. If you take each member one by one, the answer would be different.

Trollaflem (Bass) that'd be heavy metal and Thrash metal. You take Trollhammer (Drums) and me (Trollbard-Guitars-Vocals) that'd be more Epic Extreme metal. And i guess that's exacly what the 2 founding members wanted. You can feel everyone's touch in the new album. It combines new features thanks to the new members and that's definitlty something you want to hear.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Signing on boobs and tits ... well that's not something you do everyday :D

13. What do you think of your fans?

Not fans...Trolls partying with us. The best we could dream of.

14. What do you think of our site?

It's a very great website. I've discovered really cools bands thanks to you and your great job!

15. Something to add?

FIGHT WITH THE RAGE OF A 1000 TROLLS, FIND WHAT THE WOODS HIDE IN THE DARK !!!