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
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Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer
Arcturus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And outdated parts collapsed and discharged
Autopilot on emergency power from
Random fuel devoured
Red alert sirens sighing
Rusty pipelines dying
Empty hull shatter into cold dark matter
Unknown space pioneer the end draws near
Is now burnt out and dying
now that I am shipwrecked
A piece of shit falling
Through space and time
Moaning oh why oh why did not I
Just stop in time
knowing the answer I am dirty as a cancer
Once a virus like me is set free
Old grim flashes his grin
And violently introduces
A shortcut for loosers
drop all illusions as I pop the next fuse in confusion
Transvesting the mind evolving past mankind
Unknown space adorer toxic waste explorer
Lost in free will time stand still
Full front on
drifting here in the outer rim
As a piece of spacejunk
No valuables within
A scraphead of sin
too much acid in these batteries
Leaking out its filthy grease
disband all current settings to standard default
Fall and arise you diamond of lies
You know what is wise
Fire or ice
that's when I find
Hyperspace-central-divine
A pitstop maintenance hall for the mind
Satanic protectors of my kind
I shop some new parts
Re plugged and charged
I head towards the stars
Knowing that this trip
Will be my last slip
The lyrics of Arcturus’s “Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer” describe a dystopian, sci-fi universe where a mechanical breakdown leads to a catastrophic reactor core meltdown, causing the outdated parts to collapse and discharge uncontrollably. The ship is now adrift in space, dependent on emergency power and rapidly running out of fuel. The ship’s warning sirens are sounding, indicating a sense of impending doom. The ship, once agile and acrobatic, is now slowly dying in the vastness of space, with no hope of rescue. The chorus further underscores the hopelessness of the situation, with the singer lamenting their inability to stop in time and their current state as a piece of worthless, falling space junk.
As the ship continues to break down, the singer realizes that they are essentially a virus set free in a world that they do not understand. The concept of time is proclaimed meaningless, along with any sense of free will. The singer becomes resigned to their inevitable fate, and is described as drifting through the outer rim of the universe. The batteries on the ship are leaking, and the singer watches as their life, symbolized by the acid leaking out of the batteries, disintegrates before their eyes. The final verse describes the singer’s last hope for salvation, as they stumble upon a centuries-old maintenance hall deep in the bowels of the universe. They shop for new parts, having no expectation that they will survive the journey, and head towards the stars with the knowledge that this will be their last chance.
Line by Line Meaning
Mechanical shutdown due to reactor core meltdown
The ship's core malfunctioned, causing it to stop working and begin to break down.
And outdated parts collapsed and discharged
The ship's outdated parts failed and caused the ship to break down further.
Autopilot on emergency power from
The autopilot was running on limited power due to the ship's failing systems.
Random fuel devoured
The ship was taking in any fuel it could find in order to keep running, regardless of its quality or safety.
Red alert sirens sighing
The ship's alarms were signaling that the situation was dangerous and dire.
Rusty pipelines dying
The ship's pipelines were in poor condition and failing, leading to further damage and malfunction.
Empty hull shatter into cold dark matter
The ship was destroyed and broken into small pieces, scattered through space.
Unknown space pioneer the end draws near
The ship's crew was facing their imminent demise as their ship broke down and failed.
What once was acrobatically flying
The ship was once in peak condition, able to maneuver and perform complex feats, but was now struggling to stay aloft.
Is now burnt out and dying
The ship was damaged beyond repair and unable to continue functioning.
now that I am shipwrecked
The singer is reflecting on their current state of being stranded and helpless.
A piece of shit falling
The ship is in such poor condition that it is comparable to excrement falling through space.
Through space and time
The ship is adrift through the vast emptiness of space and time.
Moaning oh why oh why did not I
The singer is expressing regret and lamenting their choices that led to their current situation.
knowing the answer I am dirty as a cancer
The singer recognizes that their past actions have led to their current predicament and feels guilty and responsible.
Once a virus like me is set free
The artist views themselves as a harmful influence that was allowed to operate unchecked, leading to their current state of despair.
Old grim flashes his grin
Death is personified as an entity that is pleased to see the artist's suffering and impending demise.
And violently introduces
Death is portrayed as a force that is actively causing harm and destruction.
A shortcut for loosers
Death is presented as an easy way out, but one that only serves to exemplify the singer's failure.
drop all illusions as I pop the next fuse in confusion
The artist decides to give up trying to hold onto false hope and instead embrace their doom.
Transvesting the mind evolving past mankind
The artist is transcending their human limits and becoming something beyond human or mortal comprehension.
Unknown space adorer toxic waste explorer
The artist is describing themselves as someone who has dedicated themselves to exploring and exploiting space, even if it means involving themselves in dangerous or harmful practices.
Lost in free will time stand still
The singer feels disconnected from the flow of time and feels adrift in the universe with no direction or purpose.
Full front on
The artist is proceeding onward with determination and bravery, despite their perilous situation.
drifting here in the outer rim
The singer is lost and adrift in a far-flung and desolate area of space.
As a piece of spacejunk
The singer sees themselves as a disposable and worthless object, undeserving of attention or help.
No valuables within
The ship and its crew have nothing to offer in exchange for rescue or survival.
A scraphead of sin
The ship and its crew are seen as being corrupt and unworthy of salvation.
too much acid in these batteries
The ship's batteries are damaged and contaminated, rendering them useless or even dangerous.
Leaking out its filthy grease
The ship's inner workings are failing and causing damage or contamination to the surrounding area.
disband all current settings to standard default
The singer is resetting themselves to their default or base state, abandoning any previous identity or goals.
Fall and arise you diamond of lies
The artist is acknowledging that they have been dishonest or disingenuous in the past, but now need to embrace their true self in order to overcome their current hardship.
You know what is wise
The artist is confident that they are making the right choices in the face of their adversity.
Fire or ice
The artist is contemplating the nature of their eventual demise, wondering what form it will take.
that's when I find
The singer experiences a moment of epiphany or realization.
Hyperspace-central-divine
The artist discovers a place of great power and significance in the universe.
A pitstop maintenance hall for the mind
The place the singer has discovered is somewhere that can provide mental and emotional healing and rejuvenation.
Satanic protectors of my kind
The singer is protected or welcomed by entities that are typically seen as evil or malevolent.
I shop some new parts
The singer obtains new tools or resources that will help them overcome their current predicament.
Re plugged and charged
The artist has repaired or improved their ship's systems and is now ready to continue their journey.
I head towards the stars
The artist is once again pursuing their dreams and goals, with renewed vigor and determination.
Knowing that this trip
The singer is aware that this journey may be their last, but is still willing to take the risk and pursue their goals.
Will be my last slip
The singer is accepting that their journey may end in failure or disaster, but is still committed to trying their best.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
killyourtv4321
Vortex has one of the very best male voices of heavy metal.
Dhunnaks
Is the same vortex from SAMAEL?
VeN
Why male
Eggers Eggers
The
Jose Roberto RV
Parece compuesto desde otra dimensión. Todo el álbum es una maravilla. Uno de los discos más preciados de mi extensa colección.
semxtex
12 years later, this is still fire
Ramiro Garza
to hear this song under thousands stars, and to feel a strange feeling from the outer space
Seanus32
Soooooo impressive. Such a wide range of vocals. Vortex, take a bow!
dolguldur6
Amazing lyrics! Beautiful metaphors for the central nervous system
MisterMortombachman
Dont normally listen to anything this heavy, but this sounds pretty good.