Martin Axenrot

Erik Martin "Axe" Axenrot[1] (born 5 March 1979 in Linköping, Sweden) is a Swedish death metal drummer, best known as the former drummer for progressive metal band Opeth (2005-2021). Since 2004, he is the drummer for Bloodbath. Known for his intricate playing style, his drumming has been highly praised by Opeth members and fans, with Mikael Åkerfeldt calling him "a joy to play with."[3] Axenrot has also been jokingly referred to as The Lord of the Rings character Legolas by band members and fans.

Martin Axenrot
Background information
Birth nameErik Martin Axenrot[1]
Also known asAxe, Devastator, Skeleton,[2] Legolas
Born (1979-03-05) 5 March 1979
Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden
GenresProgressive death metal, death metal, progressive rock, thrash metal, black metal, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion, guitar, piano, vocals
Years active1992– present
Websitetrondheimexperiment.com

On Blabbermouth.com, Mikael Åkerfeldt stated that Axenrot completed his drumming parts for eleven tracks on the Opeth album Watershed in just seven days.[4]

Nathalie Lorichs, who performed vocals on "Coil" on Opeth's Watershed album, is Axenrot's girlfriend.

History

Martin Axenrot's second band, Triumphator, formed in 1995 and made two records ("The Ultimate Sacrifice" EP and full length "Wings of Antichrist"). Martin Axenrot was only involved with Triumphator's demo "The Triumph Of Satan", released in 1996. He left Triumphator after the demo’s release.

In 1999, Axenrot became a member of Witchery and Nifelheim.

In 2004, he joined Bloodbath as their new drummer after Dan Swanö who continued in the band as one of the guitarists and songwriters. Axenrot met Mikael Åkerfeldt sometime after 15 February 2005, when Peter Tägtgren quit Bloodbath and Åkerfeldt came back into the band again to replace Tägtgren. Axenrot commented on meeting Åkerfeldt, stating "I knew Mikael Åkerfeldt because of the Bloodbath project. I met the other members a couple times because I played festivals with other bands at the same time as Opeth. Sweden is too small to not know every band here. Everybody knows everybody."[5]

On 29 August 2005, Martin Lopez of Opeth, had to leave the band again temporarily due to his illnesses. With Opeth searching for a temporary drummer, Patrik Jensen suggested to Åkerfeldt that his bandmate in Witchery, Axe, fill in. Åkerfeldt knew Axe a bit from being bandmates in Bloodbath, but going on Jensen's reference, Åkerfeldt got Axe to play with Opeth for five tours. On 12 May 2006 Axenrot officially joined Opeth, as Lopez never returned to Opeth after deciding to focus on Soen.[6] On 16 November 2021, after 16 years with the band, it was announced that Axenrot had left Opeth due to "conflict of interests" (his Bloodbath bandmate Nick Holmes said in an interview that Axe decided against taking the Covid-19 vaccine[7]); Sami Karppinen has filled in for the North American tour with Mastodon.[8]

In 2010 Axe, together with Opeth bassist Martin Mendez, was performing together with the late Jon Lord and an Orchestra in Nidarosdomen, Trondheim, Norway.

Equipment

Axenrot is endorsed by DW Drums, Sabian cymbals, Evans heads and Pro Mark sticks.[9]

Discography
ReleaseBandMembershipYear
Pure Black DiseaseNephenzy Chaos OrderEx-Member2003
Promo 2006Nephenzy Chaos OrderEx-Member2006
Death's RiderHellbutcherCurrent2022

References
  1. Erik Martin Axenrot (5 March 1979). "Ratsit - gratis upplysning på företag och privatpersoner". Ratsit.se. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  2. "Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives - Triumphator". The Metal Archives. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  3. "Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt: my top 9 tips for guitarists". 6 May 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. "Interview with Opeth drummer Martin Axenrot" Archived 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. Drummerszone.com. Retrieved on August 10, 2011.
  5. Rex_84 (14 August 2012). "Opeth's Martin Axenrot Weighs in on "Heritage," Opeth's Current and Future Direction and His Career". Metal Underground. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  6. "Martin 'Axe' Axenrot". MetalStorm, Retrieved on August 4, 2009
  7. "MARTIN 'AXE' AXENROT's Vaccination Status Led To His Exit From OPETH, Says His BLOODBATH Bandmate". Blabbermouth.net. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  8. @OfficialOpeth (16 November 2021). "Register" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "Opeth website". Roadrunner Records. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
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