the norwegian black metal band Minneriket

Norwegian black betal band Minneriket is the work of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Stein Akslen, who created the project for as much a philosophical and spiritual channeling as a musical outlet. Drawing on influences as various as punk and goth yet steeped in the intensity of the early Norwegian Black Metal scene, Minneriket came into existence in 2014.

Minneriket exists in the realm of memories both past and future, transcendent of the worldly and the profane. 2015 saw the release of the debut album “Vargtimen”, followed by “Stjerner, speil, og svartebøker…” in 2016. In 2017 Minneriket released the Burzum cover album “From the Veins of a Nearly Dead Boy". With the experimental "Anima Sola" in 2018 and the overwhelming successful avantgarde album "Gjennom meg går ingen til hvile" in 2021 with a huge international roster of session musicians, Minneriket has solidified itself as one of the most interesting and unpredictable modern black metal bands.

the musician Stein Akslen

Stein Akslen is a scholar in the history of religions. Both before and after publishing his master's degree about on contemporary religion and alternative spirituality in Norway, he also contributed to several research reports and academic collaborations. His main course of study have been old mythologies, western esotericism and contemporary religion.  

His music has been featured on several compilation albums and featured in clubs as well as in independent short-films. His visual art has been featured in booklets and other collaborations. 

Akslen has a profound grasp of his own pagan past and a brooding personal darkness that together let his art will itself to life. Prior to the birth of Minneriket, Akslen saw successful collaborations with the bands Blodsgard and Vakslen, as well as the solo black art expressionism of V0id&Khaos. Later he has had international success with Æra and continued to branch out through different endeavours.

Minneriket was built in his own image, shunning the formulaic predictability often prevalent in today’s watered-down and orthodox Norwegian black metal. Honest and real, reflecting both self and society, knocking down barriers and ignoring taboos, Minneriket breathes new life into the genre.

Akslen Black Art Records and Livet Er Avlyst Records

In order to maintain total control of his artistic creativity and all rights to his music, Stein Akslen founded the label Akslen Black Art Records in 2014, with a tight bond to the American branch Livet Er Avlyst Records for digital distribution.