This is the everything Arcuturs thread!
So, when I was 13 or 14 years old, I finally got the internet at my house. One of the first things I did was go to askjeeves and search for 'metal website' and found a website called metalstorm.ee. I knew that I liked Dimmu Borgir, and that they were 'black metal', so I went to look up some other 'black metal' bands. Browsing through random threads my first time on the site someone mentions Arcturus, saying they're a black metal band and that their album The Sham Mirrors is an absolute masterpiece. I took it to heart and promptly went to FYE and ordered the cd, not having heard a note.
Needless to say I was quite surprised, as they sound absolutely nothing like Dimmu, nor is that cd black metal (mostly), rather clean vocal prog metal (with one track with Ihsahn on vocals) I did however instantly agree that it was a masterpiece, and from this time Arcturus became my #1 favorite band for many years, and though I don't listen to them as much as I used to, they always have a place in my heart.
Of course I did eventually order their complete works (on cd and vinyl), eventually figure out why someone said they were black metal (as they did actually used to be black metal (albeit avantgarde black metal))
My favorite albums in order
The Sham Mirrors>Sideshow Symphonies> Aspera Hiems Symfonia> (Disguised Masters>)(constellation>)La Masquerade Infernale (>Morax)
The Sham Mirrors is nuts. It is super intense, heavy, also pretty and has the best piano work out of their releases. I recommend this album to anyone as it got me into the band. This album also influenced me to buy my first 7 string guitar.
^favorite track: Radical Cut-- I think this is some of Ihsahn's most intense vocal work to date. And the solos are sweet.
Sideshow Symphonies is super good. At first I was a little hmph that it wasn't Garm on the vocals, but Vortex is just such a talented singer and he fits the band very well. This album is very toned down, but also very cool and spacey.
^favorite track: Hufsa-- The vocals are in norwegian, and it's so soft and pretty.
Aspera Hiems Symfonia-- This is not your average black metal album. It is the only album from the band which features Carl August Tidemann who would eventually go on to form the band Winds. This guy shreds. In my honest opinion this album has the best guitar solos as compared with anything else in the black metal genre. They are some of my favorite solos ever written. You think sweep solos can't fit in a black metal song? think again. Tidemann is a genius.
^favorite track: Fall of Man-- dat outro solo
Disguised Masters is not an LP-- it is a compliation/eletronica-remix album. For fans of Ulver once they got all weird... this sort of dark ambient type thing. It does however feature one original song called Deception Genesis which I really really like. It also features a hip hop version of one of their tracks from La Masquerade Infernale.
^favorite track: Deception Genesis-- It's the only original track AND it's super creepy.
Constellation is an EP precursor to Aspera Hiems Symfonia, with most of the tracks also appearing on AHS. However it has one track which didn't, and I have no idea why because it's actually very awesome.
^favorite track: Icebound Streams and Vapours Grey-- I have no idea why this didn't make the cut for AHS it's the best on the EP. Would have been killer with a Tidemann solo added in.
La Masquerade Infernale-- Don't get me wrong, I do actually like this cd. It is by and far the most avant-garde sounding music I can listen to. It's weird guys. It features string instruments in many of the songs, it rocks, it's creepy, it's very unique. It used to be my favorite but where I'm at now notsomuch.
^favorite track: Ad Astra-- long instrumental with string section accompaniment
Morax, for what it is, which is a two track black metal single recorded in 1991 norway, is pretty good. It's different. Not a lot to listen to. Kinda creepy, not very fast, pretty repetitive, but trve in ever sense of the word.
favorite track: Morax. It's only got one riff, but it's a good one.
They have a new album due out this year. Vortex is tracking the vocals. I'm super pumped. I want everyone to talk about this band and what we like (or don't like) about them. If you haven't heard this band then check them out. If you have then lets bring the Arcturus talk!
So, when I was 13 or 14 years old, I finally got the internet at my house. One of the first things I did was go to askjeeves and search for 'metal website' and found a website called metalstorm.ee. I knew that I liked Dimmu Borgir, and that they were 'black metal', so I went to look up some other 'black metal' bands. Browsing through random threads my first time on the site someone mentions Arcturus, saying they're a black metal band and that their album The Sham Mirrors is an absolute masterpiece. I took it to heart and promptly went to FYE and ordered the cd, not having heard a note.
Needless to say I was quite surprised, as they sound absolutely nothing like Dimmu, nor is that cd black metal (mostly), rather clean vocal prog metal (with one track with Ihsahn on vocals) I did however instantly agree that it was a masterpiece, and from this time Arcturus became my #1 favorite band for many years, and though I don't listen to them as much as I used to, they always have a place in my heart.
Of course I did eventually order their complete works (on cd and vinyl), eventually figure out why someone said they were black metal (as they did actually used to be black metal (albeit avantgarde black metal))
My favorite albums in order
The Sham Mirrors>Sideshow Symphonies> Aspera Hiems Symfonia> (Disguised Masters>)(constellation>)La Masquerade Infernale (>Morax)
The Sham Mirrors is nuts. It is super intense, heavy, also pretty and has the best piano work out of their releases. I recommend this album to anyone as it got me into the band. This album also influenced me to buy my first 7 string guitar.
^favorite track: Radical Cut-- I think this is some of Ihsahn's most intense vocal work to date. And the solos are sweet.
Sideshow Symphonies is super good. At first I was a little hmph that it wasn't Garm on the vocals, but Vortex is just such a talented singer and he fits the band very well. This album is very toned down, but also very cool and spacey.
^favorite track: Hufsa-- The vocals are in norwegian, and it's so soft and pretty.
Aspera Hiems Symfonia-- This is not your average black metal album. It is the only album from the band which features Carl August Tidemann who would eventually go on to form the band Winds. This guy shreds. In my honest opinion this album has the best guitar solos as compared with anything else in the black metal genre. They are some of my favorite solos ever written. You think sweep solos can't fit in a black metal song? think again. Tidemann is a genius.
^favorite track: Fall of Man-- dat outro solo
Disguised Masters is not an LP-- it is a compliation/eletronica-remix album. For fans of Ulver once they got all weird... this sort of dark ambient type thing. It does however feature one original song called Deception Genesis which I really really like. It also features a hip hop version of one of their tracks from La Masquerade Infernale.
^favorite track: Deception Genesis-- It's the only original track AND it's super creepy.
Constellation is an EP precursor to Aspera Hiems Symfonia, with most of the tracks also appearing on AHS. However it has one track which didn't, and I have no idea why because it's actually very awesome.
^favorite track: Icebound Streams and Vapours Grey-- I have no idea why this didn't make the cut for AHS it's the best on the EP. Would have been killer with a Tidemann solo added in.
La Masquerade Infernale-- Don't get me wrong, I do actually like this cd. It is by and far the most avant-garde sounding music I can listen to. It's weird guys. It features string instruments in many of the songs, it rocks, it's creepy, it's very unique. It used to be my favorite but where I'm at now notsomuch.
^favorite track: Ad Astra-- long instrumental with string section accompaniment
Morax, for what it is, which is a two track black metal single recorded in 1991 norway, is pretty good. It's different. Not a lot to listen to. Kinda creepy, not very fast, pretty repetitive, but trve in ever sense of the word.
favorite track: Morax. It's only got one riff, but it's a good one.
They have a new album due out this year. Vortex is tracking the vocals. I'm super pumped. I want everyone to talk about this band and what we like (or don't like) about them. If you haven't heard this band then check them out. If you have then lets bring the Arcturus talk!
