I currently use and endorse Mapex Drums and Vic Firth drumsticks

News

November 2024 FastLoaders Amiga Rocks live released!

FastLoaders released their second triple album "Amiga Rocks" in the summer of 2020. An album entirely dedicated to the Amiga computer and its fans! In October 2022 they celebrated a release party at Back In Time LIVE and performed tracks from the album together with original composers; Chris Huelsbeck, Tim Wright and Barry Leitch. Check out the full video below!

March 2024 Planet X guitar and drum tribute

I teamed up with the amazing guitar player Jarle H. Olsen to create our own tribute cover of Atlantis Part 1 Apocalypse 1470 B.C - featured on the first solo album "Planet X" by Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Sons of Appollo, Whom Gods Destroy). The album came out 25 years ago, but it's one that really blew my head of, and was filled with great compositions and intricate rhythms. Check it out!

January 2024 New drum playthrough

Happy new year! I'm out with a new drum playthrough on youtube (this is actually the first playthrough of my solo material).

August 2023 Pitch Black Mentality

New music video by Pitch Black Mentality (Eternal Night from the album World Final Wake )

May 2023 Fastloaders album release

Yay! Fastloaders is finally out with the C64 Rocks albums. Check it out at c64audio.com...

February 2023 New year

New year, new opportunities. Currently, I'm working on finalizing the drum recordings for the upcoming FastLoaders C64 Rocks triple-album. It's super fun, so many good tunes.. If you're in Poland (Warszawa) or England (London) in May/June, we're planning on doing a couple of gigs there where most of the setlist will be comprised of songs from this album release.
Once I'm done with this, I'm planning to release some video stuff from my new studio/rehearsal space... Stay tuned!

November 2022 Pitch black mentality album release!

The album "World Final Wake" by Pitch Black Mentality is out. Please check it out if you're into thrash metal/melodeath.

August 2022 New albums coming up!

It's gonna be a busy autumn! Pitch Black Mentality to release their second album "World Final Wake" where I'm doing the drums. Currently I'm recording the drums for the upcoming triple album of Fastloaders (titled "C64 Rocks"), and there will be more studio sessions with Pretty Blue soon.
In additon I'm gonna do quite a bit of live shows with Fastloaders (Norway and Germany), Pretty Blue and Powerslaves...

June 2022 Brand new studio!

Spent the last 6 months constructing my brand new sound proofed studio/rehearsal room. Looking forward to new sessions there!

February 2022 Fastloader's triple album "Amiga Rocks" is now on Spotify

Check it out on Spotify

October 2021 EP Reviews by Metalized

New Review of my EP in Metalized magazine (7/10 !)(click to enlarge)

August 2021 Reviews

Got some great reviews of my EP from Metal Digest, Ever Metal and Progressor.net (Facebook)

June 2021 My debut EP is out!

My debut EP is out! Listen in Spotify, Bandcamp, Tidal, Amazon, Apple

October 2020 FastLoaders: Amiga Rocks released

The latest FastLoaders album have just been released - containing 33 tracks of rearranged game music from the Commodore Amiga.
Aquire a physical or digital copy at c64audio.com

February 2020 New drum cover, PBM album and new Fastloaders triple album

Posted a new drum and guitar cover of Virgil Donati - Native Metal youtube. Guitars, bass and keys performed by the exceptional Jarle H. Olsen.
Also, I'm in the final stages with the Pitch Black Mentality drum recordings, and soon starting the recording of our new FastLoaders triple album "Amiga Rocks".

September 2019 New website and autumn 2019

Finally a new website. A bit more mobile friendly. Looking forward to proceeding with my musical activities planned for the autumn 2019. First, continue with the Pitch Black Mentality-recordings (new album), some freelance stuff, and gigs with Fastloaders, Pretty Blue, Retroactive, Stein Hauge and Powerslaves. I am also working on a the mix of a new drum cover for my youtube channel. Stay tuned!

June 2019 Fastloaders - Barbarian (Drum Cam)

Do you like 8 bit music? Then check out my band Fastloaders with an exclusive drum cam video available at youtube: Fastloaders - Barbarian (drum cam).
(This is from the back in time 2018 concert).

May 2019 Drum cover Animals as leaders - Tooth and Claw

Check out my Animals as leaders drum cover at youtube. If you like it, please subscribe: Animals as leaders - Tooth and claw (drum cover 2019 by Bjarte.

Nov 2018 Fastloaders: Back in time live

Fastloaders full live video available for free at youtube. Please enjoy. Fastloaders - Back in time 2018.


About Bjarte

I currently live in Bergen, Norway, where I'm playing with a bunch of different bands. I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to play with quite a few great musicians the last decade or so. Check out the bands and discography section for more information about these matters.
Don't hesitate to ask a question or get in touch. I have a YouTube-channel and an Instagram account which is primarly related to my drumming passion if you're interested in more of my drum stuff :)

Inspirations: Planet X, Meshuggah, Chick Corea Electric Band, Dream Theater, Weather Report, Symphony X, Andromeda, Marillion, Wasp, Metallica, Guns N’Roses, Skid Row, Iron Maiden, Testament, Pantera, Slayer, Dave Weckl Band, Greg Howe, Ben Daglish, Camel, 007, Steely Dan, Virgil Donati, Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Erik Smith, Lars Ulrich, Paul Bostaph, Dave Lombardo, Vinnie Paul, Matt Sorum, Terry Bozzio, Steve Smith, Jojo Mayer, Steve Gadd, Tomas Haake, John Macaluso, Mike Portnoy, Buddy Rich and probably a billion more…


Videos

Virgil Donati - Native Metal (drum and guitar cover feat Jarle H. Olsen)

My jaw dropped to the floor the first time I heard this song, and I've always wanted to record it. A lot of fun concepts packed into one song. So here it is featuring my good friend and awesome guitarplayer Jarle H. Olsen (with an epic guitar solo). Jarle also did the bass and keys.


Animals as leaders - Tooth and Claw (drum cover)

Drum cover of Tooth And Claw, originally played by the exceptional Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders). Super-fun song to learn, play and record. Very rhythmically interesting and quite challenging I must admit :)


Fastloaders - Barbarian | Drum Cam (Live)

Drum cam recorded at the Back in Time concert in Bergen, Norway, October 2018. This is one of my favorite tunes from the Commodore 64.



Bands

Bands and projects where I handle the drums..

Card image cap
Jarle H Olsen Quadrasonic
jarleholsen.com

Instrumental Progressive Metal

Pretty Blue
Fastloaders
facebook.com/fastloaders & ninjamusicology.com

Metal of computer game music (C64/Amiga)

Powerslaves
facebook.com/powerslavesnorway

Iron Maiden Tribute

Pitch Black Mentality
Stein Hauge Band
www.steinhauge.no

80s Tribute to pop/rock

Jon Martin Skauge
www.jonmartinskauge.com

Jazz/Fusion/Country

Preachers
N/A

Testament Tribute

Brutallica
N/A

Metallica Tribute


Discography

Some of the music featuring sounds made with my drum sticks. The beautiful green icons has a meaning and can be clicked:
- - -

Buy at C64audio.com

Go to C64audio.com

FastLoaders - C64 Rocks

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars, Bass, Keys

Kjetil Nossum - Keyboards and FX

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums and percussion

Buy at c64audio.com!


Listen here:

Go to Distrokid

Bjarte K. Helland - Maniae

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars

Ric Fierabracci - Bass

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Mixed and mastered by Alex Argento

Listen on all streaming platforms!


Pretty Blue

Jan Ove Nordeide - Vocals and guitars

Geir Rognø - Bass

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Buy at C64audio.com

Go to C64audio.com

FastLoaders - Amiga Rocks

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars, Bass, Keys

Kjetil Nossum - Keyboards and FX

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums and percussion


Pitch Black Mentality - World Final Wake

Tore Christer Storlid - Vocals and bass

Frank Natås - Guitars and Vocals

Jarle H. Olsen - Lead Guitars

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Watch at youtube

Go to YouTube

Fastloaders - Back in time 2018

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars

Kjetil Nossum - Keyboards

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Tore Christer Storlid - Bass

Flute on Wastelands Loader: Mira Thiruchelvam. Also feat.: Chris Huelsbeck on Keyboards and Reyn Ouwehand on Keyboards


Buy at C64audio.com

Go to C64audio.com

FastLoaders - Ninja Musicology - Live from the Dungeons (BluRay)

Ben Daglish - Flutes

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars

Kjetil Nossum - Keyboards

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Tore Christer Storlid - Bass



Listen at Spotify

Open Spotify

FastLoaders - Ninja Musicology (three disk digipack)

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars and bass

Kjetil Nossum - Keyboards

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Mixed and Mastered by Alex Argento


Artificial Comfort

Tore Christer Storlid - Guitars, Bass

Eyolf Nysæther - Keyboards

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Listen at Spotify

Open Spotify

The Jon Martin Group - What else is new?

Jon Martin Skauge - Guitars

Torbjørn Hillersøy - Bass

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Produced by Jon Martin Skauge Mixed by Jon Martin Skauge and Eirik Grønner Recorded by Eirik Grønner


Listen at Spotify

Open Spotify

Jarle H. Olsen Quadrasonic

Jarle H. Olsen - Guitars

Alex Argento - Keyboards

Rodrigo Garcia - Bass

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Guest musicians: Jan Martin Kleveland & Manuel Soto Produced and Engineered by Jarle H. Olsen and Ronny Heimdal Mixed and Mastered at Jailhouse Studios by Tommy Hansen Artwork by Colin Marks at Rain Song Design


Frigaard - Hot Rockin

Peter H Sæverud - Bass

Reino A Småland - Guitars

Terje Frigaard - Vocals / Harmonica

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Listen at Spotify

Open Spotify

Jon Martin Skauge - From the heart

Jon Martin Skauge - Guitars and vocals

Eric Marienthal - Saxophone

Kurt Baumer - Fiddle

Dan Mikael Ripe Frøystad - Steel guitar

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Asgeir Skauge - Guitars on selected songs

Rune Hagen - Electric piano on selected songs

Produced by Jon Martin Skauge and Eirik Grønner Mixed by Eirik Grønner Mastered by Tobben Design/Cover by Frost studio


Listen at Spotify

Open Spotify

Jon Martin Skauge - Micropop

Jon Martin Skauge - Guitars and vocals

Jostein Fonnes - bass

Bjarte K. Helland - Drums

Produced by Jon Martin Skauge and Erik Grønner Mixed by Eirik Grønner Mastered by Tobben Design/Cover by Roald Fernandez


Singles

Tix Lix nXt

Tore Christer Storlid - Vocals and bass, Espen Austestad - Guitars, Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Biff Intro

Drum intro at Biff title sequence (Bergen Internasjonale Film Festival)


Tix Lix - To the highest bid

Tore Christer Storlid - Vocals and bass, Espen Austestad - Guitars, Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Silje Steinsund Rød - Meant to maybe

Silje Steinsund Rød - Vocals, Jon Martin Skauge - Guitars and Bass, Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Silje Steinsund Rød - It can't be anyone else

Silje Steinsund Rød - Vocals, Jon Martin Skauge - Guitars and Bass, Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Tone Rose Bratland - Castle

Tone Rose - Vocals, Jon Martin Skauge - Guitars, Keys and Bass, Bjarte K. Helland - Drums


Studio


Need drums on your album/single etc? Feel free to contact me.

Email


Phone