Drummer MARTIN 'AXE' AXENROT Talks OPETH, BLOODBATH And WITCHERY

Dose Of Metal recently conducted an interview with Swedish drummer Martin "Axe" Axenrot (BLOODBATH, OPETH, WITCHERY). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Dose Of Metal: You've been playing with BLOODBATH since "Nightmares Made Flesh". What is the biggest difference between playing with Peter Tägtgren and Mikael Åkerfeldt?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: The biggest difference, I guess, is that I know Mikael a lot better than Peter and we've play in the same band together for a while now. We've done quite a lot of touring and concerts together, ya know. I have never played live with Peter, from what I can remember. Very nice guy, though... and good voice, too!

Dose Of Metal: What is the biggest difference between playing for BLOODBATH, WITCHERY and OPETH?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: It's very different when it comes to the music I would say. When we go out on tour with OPETH, we'd be out for two years, and play 200-250 shows a year. That makes it very different to the other bands with which we only do a couple of shows, if even that. I guess BLOODBATH and WITCHERY is a bit more physical than OPETH. At least for me it is.

Dose Of Metal: How do you feel about the term "supergroup" in relation to BLOODBATH?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: Good, I guess. I personally don't call it the "supergroup," but if someone wants to call it that, it's fine with me.

Dose Of Metal: BLOODBATH have done a couple of dates at festivals this year. Are there plans to do a full-on BLOODBATH tour in the future?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: Don't think so. Everyone is occupied with their main bands, I think. KATATONIA tours a lot now, and OPETH are working on a new record. Hopefully there is time for a new BLOODBATH record at some point...

Dose Of Metal: How hard is it to get a decent shower during tour?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: It depends on where in the world you are. We don't have shower problems with OPETH that much. I've done some wicked tours in Europe with SATANIC SLAUGHTER in the Nineties when we slept in a minivan for two weeks. There weren't even enough seats for everybody to sit in while we drove. One time one of the tires exploded on the German autobahn and we almost crashed. Pretty hard tour. It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock n roll... hehe.

Dose Of Metal: You've been in OPETH for four years now. What was it like to step into Martin Lopez's footsteps?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: Actually my first show was 8th of August, 2005. But as a member, I guess it has indeed been four years. I've played a lot of songs from OPETH's earlier days live, both with Anders and Martin on drums on the records. It's always a good challenge to make 'em sound as good as possible live.

Dose Of Metal: Mikael Åkerfeldt recently stated that OPETH are currently writing for their upcoming album. How far are you with the songwriting yet?

Martin "Axe" Axenrot: I'm not involved with the actual songwriting but Mike sent me a demo with a few tracks that he'd written so far and I'm working out the drum part from my own home. Can't wait to hit the studio and start recording!

Read the entire interview from Dose Of Metal.

(Thanks: Mookie)