User:Erjohnse 71/sandbox

Stein Akslen, born in 1988 in Melsomvik, Norway, is a Norwegian black metal musician, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist.

His primary musical endeavor is named Minneriket, translating to "The Realm of Memories" in English, and falls within the Norwegian black metal genre. However, Akslen has labeled Minneriket as "romantic black metal," expressing his intention to revitalize and evolve Norwegian black metal.

Despite his involvement in the black metal scene, Akslen holds the view that the entire Black Metal genre has lost its significance to him, considering it a relic, due to orthodoxy and conformity in the black metal scene in Norway. As the saying goes, "don’t cry ‘cause it’s over, smile ‘cause it happened"[1].

Inspiration
Akslen draws inspiration from various music genres, including punk and goth, extending beyond the confines of black metal.

Minneriket operates as a studio and solo project, but Akslen collaborates with other musicians on certain projects. Notably, his latest album, "Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile," features contributions from over 20 session musicians/vocalists, including the notable Māra Lisenko[2].

In an interview, Akslen explained that he established Minneriket not only as a musical outlet but also as a philosophical and spiritual channel. The term "romantic" in "romantic black metal" is not interpersonal but is rooted in Romanticism as an artistic and intellectual movement from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Romanticism emphasizes emotions, individualism, a deep connection to nature, and specific aesthetic preferences.

Aligned with his romantic perspectives, Akslen actively engages in environmental activism, holding membership and former positions in the Norwegian environmentalist group "Natur og ungdom." In 2017, Akslen released the album "From the Veins of a Nearly Dead Boy"[3], featuring cover versions of selected Burzum songs, acknowledging Burzum's minimalist approach to composition as a significant contribution to black metal.

In 2017, Akslen released the album "From the Veins of a Nearly Dead Boy"[3], featuring cover versions of selected Burzum songs, acknowledging Burzum's minimalist approach to composition as a significant contribution to black metal. In the album Akslen combines Burzums melancholy with some added ambience to create a new listening experience to what is otherwise considered classik norwegian black metal.

Akslen releases music with both Norwegian and English lyrics, earning placement on various underground compilation albums and independent short films[4].

Akslen is also a key member of bands such as Æra and Blodsgard, with previous involvement in projects like V0id&Khaos and Vakslen.

Blodsgard
Musical prosject with fellow Norwegian Fredrik Rex.

Add content here.

In 2014, Akslen wrote his master's thesis in the history of religion at the University of Oslo, titled "The Princess and the Angels: A Study of Princess Märtha Louise's New Religious Project in the Period 2007-2012." In media statements, Akslen argued that the Princess' school provokes Norwegians by challenging traditional Protestant Christianity, emphasizing the need to examine the phenomenon from a broader perspective.

In addition to his romantic pursuits, Akslen contributed to a research report on domestic terrorism in Norway on July 22nd, 2011.

Stein Akslen (born 1988 in Melsomvik, Norway) is a Norwegian black metal musician, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.

His main musical project goes by the name Minneriket, (The realm of memories in english) and is part of the norwegian the black metal genre, although it should be mentioned that Akslen has referred to Minneriket as "romantic black metal", and stated that the project is his attempt to renew or further develop Norwegian black metal. "But this whole Black Metal thing is pretty dead to me. It’s a relic. Like they say, don’t cry ‘cause it’s over, smile ‘cause it happened."Stein Akslen himself says that he is influenced is inspired by several genres of music, such as punk and goth, and beyond the black metal scene.

Minneriket is a studio and solo project, although Akslen is also involving other musicians in his projects. On his latest album named "Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile", he collaborated with more than 20 session musicians/vocalists, including the very notable Māra Lisenko.

According to one interwiev, Stein Akslen created the Norwegian Romantic Black Metal band Minneriket for as much a philosophical and spiritual channeling as a musical outlet. It should here be pointed out that the romantic in "romantic black metal" is not of the interpersonal typ., but is rooted in Romanticism as an artistic and intellectual movement, going back to to the late 18th and early 18th century. Romaticism is characterized by its emphasis on emotions and individualism, as well as a deep connection to nature, and a certain set of estetic preferences.

In line with his romantic perspectives and values, Akslen has been an active environmentalist with membership and former positions in the Norwegian environtmentalist group "Natur og ungdom".

He is also a key member in bands such as Æra and Blodsgard. Previous projects he has been involved in include V0id&Khaos and Vakslen.

In 2017, Sten Akslen released the album "From the veins of a nearly dead boy". The album consists of cover versions of selected Burzum songs, and is a recognition of Burzum's musical contribution to black-metal through his minimalist approach to composition.

Akslen has released music with both norwegian and english lyrics.

His music has been featured on several underground compilation albums, as well as in independent short-films.

In 2014, Stein Akslen wrote his master's thesis in history of religion at the University of Oslo named "The Princess and the Angels: A study of Princess Märtha Louise's new religious project in the period 2007 - 2012". He has stated in the media that he thinks the Princess' school provokes norwegians because it challenges traditional Protestant Christianity, and that the discussions surrounding the "Angel School have had too much personal focus where one could rather look at the phenomenon in a broader perspective.

In line with his romatic

Stein Akslen has also contributed to a research report about domestic terrorism in Norway on July 22nd, 2011.

Labels

 * Minneriket - published by Akslen Black Art Records. Digital distribution by Livet er avlyst Records.
 * Æra - upublished by ATMF (Aeterinas Tenebrarvm Mvsicae Fvndamentvm)
 * Vakslen - published Merdümgiriz Productions
 * Blodsgard - published The Oath

Discographi

 * 2023 - Månesyke: Phase I: Livets høst (single)
 * 2022 - Minneriket: Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile (album)
 * 2021 - Minneriket: Sorg og savn (single)
 * 2021 - Minneriket: Hjemlengsel (single)
 * 2020 - Æra: The Source of Ruin
 * 2019 - Æra: The Craving Within
 * 2018 - Æra: Rite of Odin (single)
 * 2018 - Minneriket: Anima Sola (album)
 * 2017 - Minneriket: Tro, håp og kjærlighet (single)
 * 2017 - Minneriket: An all to human heart (single)
 * 2017 - Minneriket: From the veins of a nearly dead boy. A tribute to Burzum (album)
 * 2016 - Minneriket: Stjerner, speil og svartebøker (album)
 * 2016 - Minneriket: Jærtegn (single)
 * 2016 - V0id&Khaos: Ataraxia - Nordic Noir
 * 2015 - Minneriket: Vargtimen (album)
 * 2014 - V0id&Khaos: Orion vs Osiris: Interstellar Forces Mix
 * 2013 - Vakslen: Crucif***ed
 * 2013 - Blodsgard: Monument
 * 2012 - V0id&Khaos: Aletheia - Cogito ergo doleo
 * 2012 - V0id&Khaos: AlieNation
 * 2011 - V0id&Khaos: Apatheia - Suburban Anxiety
 * 2011 - Blodsgard: Solve et Coagula​ (demo)

Publikations

 * «Prinsessen og englene: En studie av Prinsesse Märtha Louise sitt nyreligiøse prosjekt i perioden 2007 - 2012» i religionshistorie ved Universitetet i Oslo (2014)
 * En nasjon i sorg - de andre historiene» av Samarbeidsrådet for tros- og livssynssamfunn (2013)