They have a strong punk, Nordic folk and world music influence and since the release of "Akrobakkus", have taken on jazz influences as well. The name itself means "intoxication and strength" in Old Norse. AFENGINN are an adventurous Danish avant-garde klezmer band who formed in 2002. In 2008, AFENGINN released their third album "Reptilica Polaris" which takes on a different style than thei. Aske Jacoby was chosen as his successor and their sound has now taken on a more jazz-tinged direction. However, during the release party for "Akrobakkus", Andrzej Krejniuk (the original Polish-born bass player) decided to leave the band and a secret vote was taken to choose his replacement. Musically, it continues on from where "Retrograd" left off, with their usual stylistics and good humour. In 2006, they released their second album "Akrobakkus" which again proved to be a critical success, reaching the World Music charts in Europe in February 2007. They released their debut album "Retrograd" (featuring many guest musicians) in 2004 to critical acclaim from the press, receiving many nominations and several awards including "Best World Album" at the 2005 Danish World Music Awards. They are influenced by such acts as KAIZERS ORCHESTRA, ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT, TOM WAITS, TIGER LILLIES and GOGOL BORDELLO and have performed alongside Frank London from the KLEZMATICS. He is ably assisted by Rasmus Krøyer on clarinet (also studying Musicology at the University of Copenhagen, but also previously a student of Lee Morgan of the Royal Danish Orchestra), Niels Skovmand on violin (educated at The Royal Danish Academy of Music), Rune Kofoed on drums/percussion and Aske Jacoby on bass. The main collaborator for AFENGINN is Finnish mandolin and mandola player Kim Nyberg, a student of Musicology at the University of Copenhagen, who brings in that Finnish feel to Afenginn's music. The strong bass rhythm on many of the compositions adds a more rock-oriented feel to the music and their unorthodox approach and time signatures make them appealing to not only progressive music fans, but also those who enjoy jazz and (ethnic and gypsy) folk music. AFENGINN feature a drummer/percussionist and a bass player but adopt the more common klezmer band instruments of clarinet, violin, mandolin and mandola. The group are categorised by the musical press as a "'bastard-ethno' band with Norse melancholy and cheerful madness" and they are not far off with this definition.
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