I saw Arcturus live for the first time the other night in Camden at the Underworld, a rather small venu that I had been to once before to see Dimension Zero. Arcturus were supporting their latest album, Sideshow Symphonies which was released a few weeks ago. Arcturus play a certain kind of avant garde, experimental metal and they have a spacial theme to their music that I find quite captivating.
The gig started after two support bands were finished. The first, I don't know the name of but consisted of three large, ugly women (one fronting the band, one on keys, the last drumming), a piss poor guitar player and mediocre bass player. They were a goth band and not memorable. The next band was Red Harvest. They surprised me and played a kind of industrial, very dark metal...recommended.
Arcturus came on stage in full costume, wearing a full array of pirate-like tops and trousers, masks and makeup. They immediately opened up with Ad Absurdum and went right into Nightmare Heaven. Unfortunately those are the only two tracks from 2002's eipc, The Sham Mirrors. Other tracks were Alone, Diception Genesis, Painting my Horror, The Chaos Path, Master of Disguise, Evacuation Code Deciphered, Hufsa, White Noise Monster, Reflections and Raudt Og Svart. Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer was on the setlist but for reasons unbeknownst to me they didn't play it. I was disappointed because that is my favorite song from their new album. Other than the songs Sverd had a two minute show off on the keyboard and Knut and Torre on guitar as well. The show as complete with female stage dancers, great strobe lighting and fog. There was a very theatrical theme and feel to the show, much like the band's great music. I didn't hear a single flaw from any of the performers and it was great to see Hellhammer do his thing in a live setting. Vortex sounded great and had a terrific stage persence. I think I prefer his vocals in Arcturus rather than Garm, which is saying a lot because Garm has a great voice and fitted the band perfectly.
If you can catch the band on their European tour don't pass it up. Go out and buy their new album, too.
The gig started after two support bands were finished. The first, I don't know the name of but consisted of three large, ugly women (one fronting the band, one on keys, the last drumming), a piss poor guitar player and mediocre bass player. They were a goth band and not memorable. The next band was Red Harvest. They surprised me and played a kind of industrial, very dark metal...recommended.
Arcturus came on stage in full costume, wearing a full array of pirate-like tops and trousers, masks and makeup. They immediately opened up with Ad Absurdum and went right into Nightmare Heaven. Unfortunately those are the only two tracks from 2002's eipc, The Sham Mirrors. Other tracks were Alone, Diception Genesis, Painting my Horror, The Chaos Path, Master of Disguise, Evacuation Code Deciphered, Hufsa, White Noise Monster, Reflections and Raudt Og Svart. Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer was on the setlist but for reasons unbeknownst to me they didn't play it. I was disappointed because that is my favorite song from their new album. Other than the songs Sverd had a two minute show off on the keyboard and Knut and Torre on guitar as well. The show as complete with female stage dancers, great strobe lighting and fog. There was a very theatrical theme and feel to the show, much like the band's great music. I didn't hear a single flaw from any of the performers and it was great to see Hellhammer do his thing in a live setting. Vortex sounded great and had a terrific stage persence. I think I prefer his vocals in Arcturus rather than Garm, which is saying a lot because Garm has a great voice and fitted the band perfectly.
If you can catch the band on their European tour don't pass it up. Go out and buy their new album, too.
