Arcturus

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Oslo, Norway (1987 – 2007, 2011 – present)

Arcturus is an band from Oslo, Norway featuring many prominent members of the Norwegian black metal scene from bands such as Ulver, Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem, Borknagar, The Kovenant, Emperor, and Winds. Arcturus have experimented throughout their career, extracting influences and incorporating elements from all over the musical spectrum including black metal and classical music, but the core of their sound has always been metal.

Arcturus was originally formed in 1987 as a act, named Mortem. They released a demo tape in 1989, titled “Slow Death”. The line-up consisted of Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) on drums, Sverd (Steinar Sverd Johnsen) on keyboards, and Marius Vold on bass/vocals.

In 1990, they changed their name to Arcturus, which is the name of a star, meaning Bear Guardian. “My Angel”, their debut EP, was released on 8 July 1991.

In 1993 the original line-up was changed when bassist/vocalist Marius Vold was taken out of the band. Arcturus soon became labeled a black metal supergroup, consisting of Garm (Kristoffer Rygg of Ulver) on vocals, Carl August Tidemann on guitar, Skoll (Hugh Stephen James Mingay) on bass, and the two other original members, Hellhammer on drums, and Steinar Sverd Johnsen as main composer/keyboards player.

In 1995, Arcturus released “Aspera Hiems Symfonia”. Acclaimed to be one of the most innovative black metal album ever, it is a mix of early 1990s Norwegian black metal, classical melodies and a refined touch of nordic coldness. The lyrics concentrate on the themes of winter and the darkness of night.

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  • DelargeF

    EVACUATION CODE DECIPHERED!!! ♥

    8 May 1:30am Reply
  • YaDaOne

    When in doubt, listen Arcturus! <3

    24 Apr 2:29pm Reply
  • ikd-sj

    -HIBERNATION SICKNESS COMPLETE- cool (`❤ω❤)

    14 Apr 8:55am Reply
  • iamdeathunlimit

    wonderful !!!

    13 Apr 9:15pm Reply
  • misiek993

    They are fuckin great. Radical Cut is a masterpiece :)

    13 Apr 9:06pm Reply
  • X__xX__x

    но ведь это хорошо, что жирные челкастые школьники, дрочащие на конибалкорпус, сусайд сайленсер, бегемот и и прочих кристин орбакайте, не могут в арктурус. молодец, щенков, так держать \m/ [2]

    12 Apr 11:42pm Reply
  • petterRL

    Me and Knut Magne Valle in Mexico city great guy!... tomorrow in the gig

    11 Apr 3:43am Reply
  • LORDINFERNO666

    3 FUCKING DAYS TO LIVE IN MY CONTRY!!! AVE ARCTURUS.....

    9 Apr 3:23am Reply
  • shit-ehat

    MY ANGEL >>>>>>

    7 Apr 7:14am Reply
  • JapkoReloaded

    Fuku, Mengsk.

    17 Mar 12:13am Reply
  • auksta

    nightaeternal, It is unique! =) mmm.. Vulture Industries - The Dystopia Journals?

    6 Mar 7:52pm Reply
  • nightaeternal

    I'm in search for a space metal album like The Sham Mirrors, can you guys suggest me any?

    5 Mar 2:03pm Reply
  • dimmuborgir6666

    Happy Birthday Simen :)

    3 Mar 11:49pm Reply
  • auksta

    "For Arcturus live : Oyvind Hageland > Vortex > Garm" Hageland > Vortex, yep! But where can you find videos with Garm?

    3 Mar 4:46pm Reply
  • VampireFool

    но ведь это хорошо, что жирные челкастые школьники, дрочащие на конибалкорпус, сусайд сайленсер, бегемот и и прочих кристин орбакайте, не могут в арктурус. молодец, щенков, так держать \m/

    1 Mar 7:16pm Reply
  • LastInBlackList

    у тебя в штанах

    1 Mar 3:48pm Reply
  • NikitaShenkov

    хуйня

    28 Feb 4:21pm Reply
  • endofsomething

    To the untrained eye, the circus/jester-theme of Arcturus may be confused with something from the homosexual cultural sphere.

    27 Feb 8:00pm Reply
  • XxLordbelialxX

    Takkeri: hey look at me i'm a troll

    30 Jan 12:09am Reply
  • Takkeri

    The Sham Mirrors is a hell of an album, and I definitely prefer the singer in it than on Sideshow Symphonies. Before I really listened them, I saw Arcturus perform live in Tuska. After seeing the incredibly gay live manners of ICS Vortex, for me Arcturus has represented a band that's gay but not afraid to show it. I know thats not supposed to happen, but I can't shake off the feeling. I probably need therapy.

    29 Jan 3:27pm Reply
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