Arcturus (band)
Encyclopedia
Arcturus is an avant-garde metal band
formed in Norway
in 1987. They named it Arcturus (meaning Bear Guardian), after the Behenian fixed star Arcturus.
and classical music
, but the band was rooted as a metal outfit.
), was taken out of the band. The band soon became labeled a black metal supergroup
, consisting of Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg
on vocals, Carl August Tidemann
on guitar, Skoll on bass, and the two other original members, Hellhammer
on drums, and Steinar Sverd Johnsen
as main composer/keyboard player. In 1994, Samoth
played guitars on the EP Constellation
and released it on his record label, Nocturnal Art.
. Øyvind performed live with the band, but did not appear on any recordings. On January 5, 2005, the band announced that Øyvind had moved too far away for his continued involvement to be practical and they had parted ways. He was replaced by Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs, who had previously performed vocals on three Arcturus tracks ("Master of Disguise", "The Chaos Path", and "Painting My Horror") on La Masquerade Infernale
. Upon Carl August Tidemann
's leaving the band, Knut Magne Valle joined. In 2003, Tore Moren joined on second guitar for live performances and eventually found himself accepted as an official member of the band. Knut and Tore then shared lead duties on guitar, with
Knut on 7 string guitar
and Tore using a standard 6 string guitar.
Furthermore, ICS Vortex
mentioned that he had plans to resurrect "a band or three" in a blog he posted shortly after being removed from Dimmu Borgir
. Vortex also stated on his Myspace page that he was told by an alien that regarding an Arcturus reunion, 2011 is a lucky number.
ICS Vortex confirmed an Arcturus reunion show at ProgPower USA
2011 Festival. In addition, Vortex also said "Beloved freaks! ProgPower USA 2011 will host the first Arcturus concert in 5 years. This is our first performance in the United States, and since we`re all retarded, probably the last."
The show was later cancelled due to "hibernation sickness" and "outdated parts".
Arcturus was supposed to play its first reunion show at Avant-Garde Night vol. 2 in Poland, but it was cancelled and they rescheduled show to January.
They played a show September 9th, 2011 at the KICK Nattklubb & Scene in Kristiansand, Norway. When asked about it by a fan on his facebook, Vortex said "yes I can confirm once again that Arcturus is on"
They are also planning to play Inferno Metal Festival
in 2012.
In an interview published by Lords of Metal webzine, ICS Vortex says Arcturus are working on a new album.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1987. They named it Arcturus (meaning Bear Guardian), after the Behenian fixed star Arcturus.
Biography
The band has released four official full-length albums. Arcturus has experimented throughout their career, extracting influences and incorporating elements from all over the musical spectrum including black metalBlack metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
and classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, but the band was rooted as a metal outfit.
Early days
The original line-up was changed when bassist/vocalist Marius Vold (ex-ThornsThorns (band)
Thorns is a Norwegian black metal band that formed in 1989 and was part of the early Norwegian black metal scene. They made two highly influential demos in the early 1990s, Grymyrk and Trøndertun, but have only released one full-length album....
), was taken out of the band. The band soon became labeled a black metal supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
, consisting of Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg
Kristoffer Rygg
Kristoffer Rygg , also known as Garm, Trickster G. and recently also God Head is a Spellemannprisen nominated vocalist, musician and producer known as the frontman of Ulver and former vocalist for Arcturus...
on vocals, Carl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann is a highly technical Norwegian Neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, best known for his work in progressive bands like Arcturus and Winds.- With Tritonus :# Shadowland Demo...
on guitar, Skoll on bass, and the two other original members, Hellhammer
Jan Axel Blomberg
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
on drums, and Steinar Sverd Johnsen
Steinar Sverd Johnsen
Steinar Sverd Johnsen is a Norwegian keyboardist and composer, born 1972. Sverd last played keyboards and synthesizers in Arcturus and was also the main composer for the band. He formed the band with Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem in 1987, originally under the moniker Mortem...
as main composer/keyboard player. In 1994, Samoth
Samoth
Samoth is a prominent musician and multi-instrumentalist in the Norwegian black metal scene. He was well known for his distinct guitar work and drumming in the band Emperor, as well as his formation of the death metal band Zyklon...
played guitars on the EP Constellation
Constellation (EP)
Constellation is an EP by the Norwegian black metal band Arcturus. It was limited to only 500 copies. Tracks from this album were later re-recorded on Aspera Hiems Symfonia and re-released on Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel compilation....
and released it on his record label, Nocturnal Art.
Post-Garm era
After three full-length albums, Rygg left the band. He was replaced by Øyvind Hægeland from the band Spiral ArchitectSpiral Architect
Spiral Architect is a Norwegian progressive metal band from Oslo, Norway. They have recorded one acclaimed demo and one album, A Sceptic's Universe, since they began in 1993, as well as a Fates Warning cover "A Prelude to Ruin" for the tribute album Through Different Eyes - A Tribute to Fates Warning...
. Øyvind performed live with the band, but did not appear on any recordings. On January 5, 2005, the band announced that Øyvind had moved too far away for his continued involvement to be practical and they had parted ways. He was replaced by Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs, who had previously performed vocals on three Arcturus tracks ("Master of Disguise", "The Chaos Path", and "Painting My Horror") on La Masquerade Infernale
La Masquerade Infernale
La Masquerade Infernale is a 1997 album by Arcturus. Released by Misanthropy Records, the album is a huge step away from the slow, doom-influenced melodic black metal of Aspera Hiems Symfonia...
. Upon Carl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann
Carl August Tidemann is a highly technical Norwegian Neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, best known for his work in progressive bands like Arcturus and Winds.- With Tritonus :# Shadowland Demo...
's leaving the band, Knut Magne Valle joined. In 2003, Tore Moren joined on second guitar for live performances and eventually found himself accepted as an official member of the band. Knut and Tore then shared lead duties on guitar, with
Knut on 7 string guitar
Seven-string guitar
A seven-string guitar is a guitar with seven strings instead of the usual six. Some types of seven-string guitars are specific to certain cultures . The standard 7-string guitar tuning is BEADGbe...
and Tore using a standard 6 string guitar.
Breakup
On April 16, 2007, it was announced that the band would be breaking up, and more details were revealed in an official statement released on the band's website on April 17. The official statement was written by all of the band members, confirming rumours that had been circulating after their Melbourne concert, the last one of the Australian tour, in which Simen "Vortex" Hestnæs, the band's vocalist, introduced the show to the audience with the words "Welcome to the last Arcturus show- ever." The statement went on to say that the split was a 'decision we made some time ago,' and that because of ongoing 'things' in their careers and lives, the members could no longer 'find the time to continue working with this band.' The statement closed with a tribute to the fans of the band, "We are humble and grateful to all the people that have supported and loved us over the years."Reunion
There were rumours circulating the internet that Arcturus may reform with Garm as the vocalist. Hellhammer confirmed that an Arcturus reunion was inevitable, and that Garm had shown interest in participating. (page 11). Garm later denounced this on his personal Facebook page.Furthermore, ICS Vortex
ICS Vortex
Simen Hestnæs , also known as I.C.S. Vortex, or just simply Vortex, is a Norwegian musician, best known as the current vocalist of the avant-garde metal band Arcturus, the current vocalist and bass guitarist to the progressive black metal band Borknagar, and the former bass guitarist and backing...
mentioned that he had plans to resurrect "a band or three" in a blog he posted shortly after being removed from Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
. Vortex also stated on his Myspace page that he was told by an alien that regarding an Arcturus reunion, 2011 is a lucky number.
ICS Vortex confirmed an Arcturus reunion show at ProgPower USA
ProgPower USA
ProgPower USA is a progressive and power metal festival held annually in the United States since 2001. Its twelfth edition will be held at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia on September 14 – September 17, 2011, with Sanctuary and Therion as headliners....
2011 Festival. In addition, Vortex also said "Beloved freaks! ProgPower USA 2011 will host the first Arcturus concert in 5 years. This is our first performance in the United States, and since we`re all retarded, probably the last."
The show was later cancelled due to "hibernation sickness" and "outdated parts".
Arcturus was supposed to play its first reunion show at Avant-Garde Night vol. 2 in Poland, but it was cancelled and they rescheduled show to January.
They played a show September 9th, 2011 at the KICK Nattklubb & Scene in Kristiansand, Norway. When asked about it by a fan on his facebook, Vortex said "yes I can confirm once again that Arcturus is on"
They are also planning to play Inferno Metal Festival
Inferno Metal Festival
Inferno Metal Festival is an annual extreme metal festival in Oslo, Norway. The festival was founded by Borknagar guitarist Jens F. Ryland in cooperation with Radar Booking in 2001 and take place at Rockefeller Music Hall.-2011:...
in 2012.
In an interview published by Lords of Metal webzine, ICS Vortex says Arcturus are working on a new album.
Full-lengths
- Aspera Hiems SymfoniaAspera Hiems SymfoniaAspera Hiems Symfonia is the debut album by the Norwegian black metal band Arcturus. Four songs are re-recorded versions from the Constellation EP and four are new songs. The album title is in Latin and means "harsh winter's symphony"...
(1995) - La Masquerade InfernaleLa Masquerade InfernaleLa Masquerade Infernale is a 1997 album by Arcturus. Released by Misanthropy Records, the album is a huge step away from the slow, doom-influenced melodic black metal of Aspera Hiems Symfonia...
(1997) - The Sham MirrorsThe Sham MirrorsThe Sham Mirrors is the third full-length album by Norwegian avant-garde metal band Arcturus. It was released on April 9, 2002.The Sham Mirrors is a departure from the band's previous albums...
(2002) - Sideshow SymphoniesSideshow SymphoniesSideshow Symphonies is an album by the Norwegian avant-garde metal band Arcturus. It was released on September 19, 2005. It is the first to feature Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs as the principal vocalist and Tore Moren as second guitarist, as well as the first Arcturus album released by Season of Mist...
(2005)
EPs
- My AngelMy Angel (EP)My Angel is a 1991 EP by Arcturus. Arcturus's first work published on an actual record label, My Angel represents a halfway point between band leader Steinar Sverd Johnsen's original project Mortem, a death metal band, and Arcturus's later symphonic black metal and avant-garde metal albums...
(1991) - ConstellationConstellation (EP)Constellation is an EP by the Norwegian black metal band Arcturus. It was limited to only 500 copies. Tracks from this album were later re-recorded on Aspera Hiems Symfonia and re-released on Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel compilation....
(1994) - ConstellationConstellationIn modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
(1997)
Compilations
- Disguised MastersDisguised MastersDisguised Masters is a compilation album by the Norwegian avant-garde metal band Arcturus. The album has two new songs: White Tie Black Noise and Deception Genesis. Other tracks are re-mixed versions of songs from La Masquerade Infernale and Du Nordavind from Aspera Hiems Symfonia...
(1999) - Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My AngelAspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My AngelAspera Hiems Symfonia '95, Constellation '94 and My Angel '91 is a compilation album by the Norwegian black metal band Arcturus. The album contains their first full-length album Aspera Hiems Symfonia and two earlier releases, Constellation and My Angel...
Current
- Steinar Sverd JohnsenSteinar Sverd JohnsenSteinar Sverd Johnsen is a Norwegian keyboardist and composer, born 1972. Sverd last played keyboards and synthesizers in Arcturus and was also the main composer for the band. He formed the band with Jan Axel Blomberg of Mayhem in 1987, originally under the moniker Mortem...
- keyboards (1987–2007, 2011-Present) - Jan Axel "Hellhammer" BlombergJan Axel BlombergJan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
- drums (1987–2007, 2011-Present) - Knut Magne Valle - guitar (1996–2007, 2011-Present)
- Hugh "Skoll" Mingay - bass (1995–2000, 2002–2007, 2011-Present)
- ICS VortexICS VortexSimen Hestnæs , also known as I.C.S. Vortex, or just simply Vortex, is a Norwegian musician, best known as the current vocalist of the avant-garde metal band Arcturus, the current vocalist and bass guitarist to the progressive black metal band Borknagar, and the former bass guitarist and backing...
- vocals (2005–2007, 2011-Present)
Former
- Kristoffer RyggKristoffer RyggKristoffer Rygg , also known as Garm, Trickster G. and recently also God Head is a Spellemannprisen nominated vocalist, musician and producer known as the frontman of Ulver and former vocalist for Arcturus...
- vocals - Carl August TidemannCarl August TidemannCarl August Tidemann is a highly technical Norwegian Neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, best known for his work in progressive bands like Arcturus and Winds.- With Tritonus :# Shadowland Demo...
- guitars - SamothSamothSamoth is a prominent musician and multi-instrumentalist in the Norwegian black metal scene. He was well known for his distinct guitar work and drumming in the band Emperor, as well as his formation of the death metal band Zyklon...
- guitars - Marius Vold - bass, vocals
- Dag F. Gravem - bass
- Øyvind Hægeland - vocals
- Tore Moren - guitar (2003–2007)
External links
- Official site (no longer online)
- Older official site with interviews, lyrics and reviews
- [ Arcturus] at Allmusic