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Released on May 8, 2015 via Prophecy Productions
After the release and subsequent tour in support of Sideshow Symphonies (2007) experimental/avant-garde metal outfit Arcturus decided to call it quits. All the members went their separate ways with vocalist ICS Vortex ending up in Dimmu Borgir. That was not to last though and he left that band in 2011 stating he would like to “resurrect a band or three” in his wake. Rumours started to circulate that Arcturus might be resurrected again. Fast forward four years and the band is back with a new album, simply entitled Arcturian.
Delivering an album that can rub shoulders with such classics as La Masquerade Infernale (1997) and The Sham Mirrors (2002) is no easy task. The band gave it a go with their previous effort, but despite some good tracks it felt short delivering the goods. Fortunately, Arcturus found their cosmic muse again, because literally each composition on Arcturian bristles with energy, creativity and the type of avant-garde vaudevillian madness that make the aforementioned La Infernale Masquerade album such an enchanting listen still after all these years.
It’s not that Vortex and co try to recapture past glories on Arcturian. Another noticeable difference with their older material is that songs like ‘The Arcturian Sign’, ‘Game Over’ and ‘Crashland’ all clock around the five minute mark, yet they manage to pack the same kind of punch as ‘The Chaos Path’, ‘Of Nails And Sinners’ and ‘Nightmare Heaven’. Keyboardist and main composer Steinar Sverd Johnsen delivers the perfect symphonic backdrop for ICS Vortex to sing over. The man’s vocal range have improved considerably since his Dimmu Borgir days and he really brings tracks like ‘Demon’ and ‘Bane’ to life. Jan Axel von Blomberg shows why he’s still counted among the great with his flawless drumming. His work on ‘Angst’ is especially impressive.
Arcturian is the perfect blend between the vaudevillian madness of La Masquerade Infernale and the musical prowess and finesse which characterises The Sham Mirrors. This combined with a matured sense of songwriting make this album a strong contender for album of the year and this might very well be the most accomplished release ICS Vortex and co have delivered so far.
