Trollfest (stylized as TrollfesT) is a Norwegian

folk metal Folk metal is a fusion genre of heavy metal music and traditional folk music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. It is characterised by the widespread use of folk instruments and, to a lesser extent, traditional singing styles (for example ...

band.

The band released their first full-length album, '' Willkommen Folk Tell Drekka Fest'', on the Solistitium Records label on 15 March 2005. The album name translates roughly to "Welcome Folk to the Drinking Feast" in English. Their second album, '' Brakebein'' (2006), was released by Omvina on 24 May 2006. The band performed at the 2007 Barther Metal Openair festival in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

, which was their first-ever live appearance; in 2008 they played at the pagan metal

Ragnarök Festival Ragnarök Festival is a pagan metal music festival, festival held annually in Germany since 2004 founded by Ivo Raab. It started out as a small, one-night festival with only regional bands in the town hall of Hollfeld. In 2005 it was decided to g ...

. On 10 January 2022, the band were announced as an act in Melodi Grand Prix 2022 with the song "Dance Like a Pink Flamingo".

History

Trollfest was formed in 2003 by John Espen Sagstad (Mr.Seidel) and Jostein Austvik (Trollmannen). Their first album ''Willkommen Folk Tell Drekka Fest!!'' was released in 2005, and the band followed up with the second album ''Brakebein'' in 2006. During the first years, Trollfest never played live, and the first foray beyond the planning stage occurred in 2007 as one of the headlining bands at the Ninth Barther Metal Open Air Festival. TrollfesT then went on to headline and play various festivals and concerts around Europe during 2007–08, including the

Ragnarök In Norse mythology, (also Ragnarok; or ; ) is a foretold series of impending events, including a great battle in which numerous great Norse mythological figures will perish (including the Æsir, gods Odin, Thor, Týr, Freyr, Heimdall, a ...

and Riedfest festivals. From October to November 2012, the band went on tour with

Wintersun Wintersun is a Finnish melodic death metal band from Helsinki originally formed as the side project of Jari Mäenpää, then-vocalist and guitarist of folk metal band Ensiferum. In 2003, Mäenpää began pulling together songs that he had bee ...

Korpiklaani Korpiklaani (Finnish language, Finnish for ) is a Finnish folk metal band from Lahti that was formerly known as Shamaani Duo and Shaman. History Shamaani Duo While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani st ...

Krampus The Krampus () is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (''Krampusnacht''; "Krampus Night"), imme ...

and Varg for Heidenfest 2012 tour. Trollfest's third studio album, ''Villanden'', was published in January 2009. In 2011 Trollfest signed with NoiseArt Records, and later that year ''En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral'', the band's fourth studio album, was released. Trollfest announced their new album, ''Brumlebassen'', which came out 24 August 2012. The band's sixth studio album ''Kaptein Kaos'' was released in April 2014. Following the release of ''Kaptein Kaos'' the band embarked on their first European headliner tour. Their seventh studio album, ''Helluva'' was released in 2017. On 10 January 2022, it was announced that TrollfesT is one of the acts competing in Melodi Grand Prix 2022 with the song "Dance Like a Pink Flamingo".

Band members

Current

* Jostein "Trollmannen" Austvik – vocals * John "Mr. Seidel" Sagstad – guitars * Eirik "Trollbank" Renton – drums, bouzouki * Dag "Drekka Dag" Stiberg – saxophone * Kai "Fjernkontrollet" Renton – accordion, keyboards * Fabian "Fabio Grimdrap" Jiru – guitars * Bjørn "Kjellkjé" Rønnow – drums * Alexander "Böesse Basshöl" Bøe – bass

Former

* Martin "Psychotroll" Storm-Olsen – bass * Øyvind Manskow – accordion, banjo * Per Spelemann – guitars * Morten "Dr. Leif Kjønnsfleis" Müller – guitars, vocals * Tor "St. Beinhard" Rogn – guitars * Øyvind "Lodd Bolt" Johannesen – bass

Timeline

Musical style

Most of Trollfest's lyrics are written in the fictional Trollspråk, which is a mixture of Norwegian and German. The band is also known for their use of saxophones and accordions in their songs. They describe their own music as Balkan metal.

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Willkommen Folk Tell Drekka Fest!'' (2005) * '' Brakebein'' (2006) * ''Villanden'' (2009) * ''En Kvest For Den Hellige Gral'' (2011) * ''Brumlebassen'' (2012) * ''Kaptein Kaos'' (2014) * ''Helluva'' (2017) * ''Norwegian Fairytales'' (2019) * ''Flamingo Overlord'' (2022)

EPs

* ''Uraltes Elemente'' (2009) * ''Happy Heroes'' (2021)

Compilation albums

* ''A Decade of Drekkadence'' (2013) * ''20 Years in the Fast Lane'' (2024)

Gallery

File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 06.jpg, Singer Jostein "Trollmannen" Austvik File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 01.jpg, Guitarist John Espen "Mr.Seidel" Sagstad File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 14.jpg, Drummer Bjørn Dugstad "Kjellkjé" Rønnow File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 16.jpg, Saxophonist Dag "DrekkaDag" Stiberg File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 09.jpg, Guitarist Leif "Dr. Leif Kjønnsfleis" Kjønnsfleis File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 03.jpg, Bassist Øyvind Bolt Strönen "Lodd Bolt" Johannesen File:Trollfest Rockharz 2018 22.jpg, Accordionist Kai "Fjernkontrollet" Renton

References

External links

*Web site
http://www.trollfest.com
{{Authority control Norwegian folk metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2003 2003 establishments in Norway Musical groups from Oslo