Black Metal

Haunting and enthralling raw Black Metal. First full-length album of this underground act.

Black Metal

Raw Black Metal from these two entities mastering both the melodies and the aggression.

Black Metal

A monument of melodic and grandiose Black Metal, to metaphysical paganism and spiritual rebirth, from Nahtrunar’s mastermind.

Last copies, available again.

Black Metal

Following their early EPs “My Angel” (1991) and “Constellation” (1994), ARCTURUS finally released their debut album “Aspera Hiems Symfonia” in 1996. The Norwegians derived their name from the brightest star of the Northern hemisphere and were obviously influenced by the massively expanding black metal scene of their homeland. Already featuring such well-known protagonists as ULVER’s Garm and MAYHEM’s Hellhammer, the line-up on “Aspera Hiems Symfonia” saw Samoth replaced by excellent guitarist Carl August Tidemann and outstanding ULVER bass player Hugh “Skoll” Mingay also joining the band. Despite their audible black roots, ARCTURUS clearly begged to differ by daring to experiment and adding an avant-garde twist with strange sonorous vocals complementing those piercing shrieks, Sverd’s cinematic keyboards, the technical guitar solos, and more elements that to this day mark the band from Oslo as progressive innovators.

Black Metal

Having grown out of the Norwegian Death Metal band MORTEM, ARCTURUS emerged under the irresistible influence of Oslo’s creatively bursting and fast rising underground black metal scene officially with the two-track 7″ “My Angel” (1991). With then-guitarist and formidable keyboard player Sverd and MAYHEM drum-beast Hellhammer at its core, vocals were first contributed by Marius Vold, who also sang on the legendary THORNS demo “The Thule Tape”. While still very much influenced by death metal, the addition of doom-laden slowness and eerie keyboards already pointed into a far blacker cosmos. On the four tracks of the original 1994 “Constellation” EP, ULVER’s Garm had taken over the vocal duties and Samoth from EMPEROR had joined the band on guitar. Yet, ARCTURUS already went off the (in reality quite wide-ranged) black metal norms mainly due to Sverd’s keyboard arrangements that were pre-shadowing the trademark theatrical or circus-like style the Norwegians adopted on their following albums.

Black Metal

On their sophomore full-length “La Masquerade Infernale” (1997), ARCTURUS took their musical experimenting three ambitious steps further. The Norwegians succeeded in wedding a devilish concept loosely based on the characters of Faust and Mephistopheles with an eclectic range of surreal sound elements into an album that is rightfully considered a prime example of what later came to be known as avant-garde metal. From quoting Edgar Allan Poe in operatic paraphrases by frontman Garm (ULVER) or the additional high notes from the unmistakable I.C.S. Vortex (BORKNAGAR) via the spaced-out electronic samples, classical instrumentation, and an even increased use of psychedelic guitar riffage alongside more “traditional” black and death metal elements. Brilliant guitarist Knut Magne Valle replaced Carl August Tideman, which brought stability to this position of the band’s line-up. ARCTURUS aimed dangerously high with “La Masquerade Infernale” – but remarkably pulled off the extremely difficult feat of forging such widely differing elements into a wildly fascinating, over the top listening experience that has stood the test of time and surely deserves to be labelled a “masterpiece”.

Black Metal

The album features 9 new and hostile death metal hymns clocking in at roughly 50 minutes. Don’t expect anything less than the habitual heavy-duty finger-picked bass lines, triumphant dueling guitars, hoarse vocals, and engrossing leitmotifs.

Black Metal

Dreamscapes of Illusion captures the volatile and uncontrollable essence of a dream. The album is a journey into landscapes that are hidden from our sight and conceptually revolves around the many illusions incorporated into our reality.

The third studio album. Pure experience in an absorption of ecstasy.

Black Metal

Debut full-length from Italy.

Black Metal

Cult material available on digipack CD.

Black Metal

This is a debut coming from the Catalan duo ARNA, and a powerful first release as well.

Coming in strong with its modern day and quality production, yet still keeping a raw and unfiltered sound.

Impressive and atmospheric guitar riffs along side dark and beautiful lyrics that tell wicked tales.

Black Metal

This masterpiece of Heathen Black Metal available on CD.