Arcturus was originally formed in 1987 as a death metal 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.
In 1997 Arcturus released the much acclaimed "La Masquerade Infernale" album. The theatrical, almost carnivalesque, style built around Sverd's keyboards was introduced by the large vocals range of Garm, becoming their trademark.
After a remix album "Disguised Masters", Arcturus offered their third major effort with "The Sham Mirrors", whose keyboards' dynamic melodies also received good reviews.
In 2004, after three full-length albums, Kristoffer Rygg left the band. He was initially replaced by Øyvind Hægeland from the band Spiral Architect. Øyvind performed live with the band, but did not appear on any recordings. In 2005 the band announced that Øyvind had moved too far away for his continued involvement to be practical and they had parted ways. In 2005 Simen Hestnæs (aka ICS Vortex of Dimmu Borgir), who had previously performed guest vocals on three Arcturus tracks ("Master of Disguise", "The Chaos Path", and "Painting My Horror") on "La Masquerade Infernale", became the new vocalist of the band.
With "Sideshow Symphonies", released in 2005, Arcturus moved towards more progressive tones and a strong lunar sound, leant on a space trip concept narrated by Simen's ethereal voice. A DVD, "Shipwrecked in Oslo" was released in June 2006.
The band split up after the successful tour of Australia in March 2007.
In early September of 2009, after being ejected from Dimmu Borgir, Simen released a statement on his blog with the following quote: "There is another meeting also planned with Arcturus members to discuss about the future of the band and a possible reunite.".
In 2011 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" In an interview published by Lords of Metal webzine, ICS Vortex said Arcturus were working on a new album. The band's fifth album, Arcturian, was released in 2015.
Official Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/arcturusnorway
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arcturusnorway
Ad Astra
Arcturus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and nowhere found
So I lift the bleedin' bodkin
And thrust the grief deepest in
The gleaming bodies of infinite skies
Have for my spirit
The cold charm
In secret to my soul
They are Ideals of old
The lyrics of Arcturus's song "Ad Astra" are full of philosophical, and perhaps even existential, musings. The first couplet of the lyrics is particularly interesting, as it seems to reference a never-ending search for something that remains elusive despite the attempt to find it. The allusion to the "bleedin' bodkin" evokes the idea of suffering, perhaps highlighting the futility of the search. This image is intensified by the line "And thrust the grief deepest in." The next stanza shifts focus to the celestial bodies in the sky, which, according to the singer, have a captivating, though deathly charm. They represent the "Ideals of old," which are a secret to the singer's soul, hinting at a search for something abstract or unknown.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ad Astra" are enigmatic and can be interpreted in various ways. The song seems to express the struggle of trying to find meaning and purpose in life, and the difficulty of capturing elusive ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
I have everywhere sought
I have searched for answers and meaning in all aspects of life
and nowhere found
But have been unable to find any substantial answers or meaning
So I lift the bleedin' bodkin
As a result, I resort to self-harm by stabbing myself with a sharp object
And thrust the grief deepest in
To try and cope with the overwhelming emotions of grief and despair
The gleaming bodies of infinite skies
The stars and constellations in the vast expanse of the universe
Have for my spirit
They have a significant impact on my being and emotions
The cold charm
Their beauty is contrasted by the feeling of emptiness and sorrow
Of death's welcoming eyes
The stars remind me of the inevitability of death and how it can seem comforting in comparison to life's struggles
In secret to my soul
The stars evoke a strong emotional response within me that is often kept hidden
They are Ideals of old
The stars represent ancient ideals and wisdom that have persisted through time
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juhaj.5616
Epic song. 20 years or something later I still love.
@d0low0life1991
This was my favorite song off this album. It was about 14 years ago when I first heard Arcturus and I STILL love the fuck out of them! 🖤
@krzysztofuczak4924
i know right!
@toprak3479
This is their magnum opus
@andreapreti5961
Absolute masterpiece.
@JacksonAquino96
🤘🏼Arcturus magnífico. Banda do caralho
@vxdbrawlhalla4238
Amo esta canción!! Muy especial!!
@cosmicaxis6313
Arcturus are a universal paradox,always were always will be beyond light <3
@ozeri
You put it such perfectly and poeticly
@Xen0Phanes
'Amazing sounds! To the stars..!'