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
Hibernation Sickness Complete
Arcturus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pearching for a closure
Poisoned tentacles from the past
Are tumbling fumbling closet
mood set
On full scale regret
Peaking an all time low
But a bleak recollection of something undone
A banished vanished presence
Of the unspeakable secretive kind
The uttermost shame is its essence
The septic transforms the shell shocked and blind
A nightmare released a terrible disease
Lurking behind a thin wall of sleep
The jail-bars of a stigmatized keep
Across the crumbling layers
A tricky haze of control
Beyond matter the untouchable scatter
The cracks are beginning to show
Small gaps out of time with riddles entwined
Looking over my shoulder for some kind of cover
All I can find to bring peace of mind
Is that this bloodstained route
Will carry the strangest of fruits
Not to turn away tainted
But look into the deep and weep
Hibernation sickness complete
The lyrics of Arcturus's song "Hibernation Sickness Complete" depict a deep sense of remorse and regret that the singer is feeling, as they delve into the mysteries of their mind. The first stanza describes the search for closure, introspection into past traumas, and coming to terms with the mistakes that have been made. The second stanza further builds on the themes of shame and guilt, and how these adverse feelings can shape one's identity. The following lines suggest that the singer is in some kind of prison or mental trap, unable to escape from the nightmares and terrible experiences they have been through.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that there is an element of surrender to the situation at hand. Instead of trying to escape or deny the past, the singer chooses to embrace it, albeit with a sense of sadness and resignation. The final lines of the song are particularly striking, as they hint at a kind of acceptance of the "strangest of fruits" that the singer will reap from this experience. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for personal growth and development that comes from confronting and overcoming past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Probing a voiceless void
Searching for meaning where there seems to be none
Perching for a closure
Desperately seeking an end to some form of pain or regret
Poisoned tentacles from the past
Negative experiences from the past that still have an impact on the present
Are tumbling fumbling closet
They are difficult to deal with and are being hidden away
Mood set
Feeling entrenched in negative emotions
On full scale regret
Feeling intense remorse for past actions or decisions
Peaking an all time low
Feeling at the lowest point ever experienced
Distorted patterns no sight with this lantern
Unable to see a way out of negative thought patterns
But a bleak recollection of something undone
Remembering something that was left unfinished or unsolved in a negative way
A banished vanished presence
A previously important entity or aspect has disappeared or been removed
Of the unspeakable secretive kind
Something that was not discussed and kept hidden
The uttermost shame is its essence
The most prominent aspect of this hidden thing is shame
The septic transforms the shell shocked and blind
The bad/negative has impacted those who are vulnerable and defenseless
A nightmare released a terrible disease
A very negative experience has created a lasting negative impact
Lurking behind a thin wall of sleep
A negative thing is right behind the surface of consciousness
The jail-bars of a stigmatized keep
Feeling trapped and confined by negative stereotypes or perceptions
Across the crumbling layers
Looking past the superficial layers of reality
A tricky haze of control
The struggle to maintain control in a challenging situation
Beyond matter the untouchable scatter
Things that cannot be physically touched or grasped are being dispersed
The cracks are beginning to show
The fragile and negative situation is starting to reveal its flaws and vulnerabilities
Small gaps out of time with riddles entwined
Difficult and mysterious aspects of the situation that are hard to understand
Looking over my shoulder for some kind of cover
Searching for protection or safety from negative things
All I can find to bring peace of mind
The only way to find solace is by accepting and dealing with the negative situation
Is that this bloodstained route
The path to overcoming this negative situation is marked by pain and difficulty
Will carry the strangest of fruits
There will be unexpected outcomes from this difficult journey
Not to turn away tainted
Do not try to escape the negative situation by becoming tainted or negative yourself
But look into the deep and weep
Confront the negative situation and grieve for what has been lost
Hibernation sickness complete
Feeling like one has been in a prolonged state of negativity and immobility
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ophiophagus Hannah666
2022 ouvir isso ainda é arrepiante! isso é muito foda! Fudido demais
enrico trevisan
One of the best example of avant-garde metal. Masterpiece
Thalita Costa
Esse álbum é um sonho!😍🤧
Daniel Santos
Você tem?
Jurandir Nunes
In my opinion thi is the best album of Arcturus.
Luis Angel
Yes, a masterpiece.
Jose Roberto RV
Is the best álbum of Arcturus. Epic, Cosmic and Poetic. Wonderfull Music.
Glurbschnurb
Criminally underrated song and record!
The Modern Hermeticist
Best Arcturus album. Love the warmth.
DaEvilSins
When I was listening to Arcturus while high and in my car, it was such an amazing experience.