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Getting started as a side-project and releasing legendary albums in the mid 90’s ARCTURUS suddenly got out of the grave again, grandiosely headlining the first day of last year’s Nebelmond Party edition in Germany. Now the Norwegians are officially back, grown to a real band with a new singer (although Simen Hestnæs already contributed guest vocals La Masquerade Infernale) they made their live (re)-debut at this year’s first installment of Inferno (indoor) Festival in London, performing in front of a sold out venue. ARCTURUS just released their brand new album Sideshow Symphonies supporting this record for the very first time with a European tour. This caused sort of a run within the NH crew since many of us are long-time ARCTURUS fans. So we couldn’t resist to attend three shows to check them out for what the band is about nowadays (here we would to say THANK YOU so much to Ann Frestad for making this possible *cheers!*). ARCTURUS got supported by Norwegians finest RED HARVEST who needed to drop out last six days for occupational reasons, getting replaced by France’ KILL THE THRILL… pictures :: Hamburg :: Vienna :: Essen :: Hamburg
- Markthalle Vienna - Planet Music There are not many bands anymore I’ve never seen performing live but I absolutely want to see. ARCTURUS is one of these bands. In fact the latest two releases didn’t kick me out of my socks the way older records did, but I at least expected an exceptional… and I got what I was longing for ;) But
first one needed to “survive” ::
RED
HARVEST :: These Norwegian gents had their
last guest performance in Vienna 5 years ago as Mayhem support.
Since that time the band gained a lot of new fans. The band’s
music is still not my cup of tea, sensing the show quite sluggish
as other ones who know the band well confirmed. They played songs
through the entire band history focusing more on the slower material.
But I guess the “target audience” was very satisfied
with what they got offered.
With the last
tones fading out sparely appeared audience got thrilled more and
more, wondering if Simen is able to perform older tracks authentically
(since his voice sometimes strikes coz of alcohol abuse) and what
kind of show the band has prepared. With Ad Absurdum
resounding expectations increased distinctly. With huge hats and
masks :: ARCTURUS
:: were entering the stage and Simen Hestnæs
made it to perform believably despite of permanently jumping and
clowning around. Worries about his voice were proved wrong. He
indeed couldn’t hit all high tones perfectly – especially
in Chaos Path – but his entire performance was
solid. The band focused more on newer material from La
Masquerade Infernale on, but since they played 4
tracks from this grandiose album I was very satisfied with the
set-list. Also the show was worth it a view: two blood-dripping
harlequins sweetened a couple of songs with their special dances
and stage-entertainment. It was a perfect masquerade for the band
;) After around an hour show-time the band got screamed back for
an encore. Performing the hit Masters Of Disguise, a
guitar solo and a song from the new album Sideshow
Symphonies old fans also got pleased with Raudt
Og Svart from 96 album Aspera Hiems Symfonia.
Tonight’s
evening will definitely get stuck in my mind permanently. Such
kind of outlandish shows you won’t get that often. Everybody
who didn’t appear for no matter what: you missed something
special! [Dunja] Essen - Zeche Carl I also was really looking forward to the next ARCTURUS show. The debut-show in London was ok, but the Underworld is pretty small and was sold out and very crowded this evening. I finally wanted to see these Norwegian cats rocking the classic stages in Europe as a headliner freed from time limits festivals usually have. I was quite worried as I got the first impressions from the Hamburg show… but hey, no problem, ARCTURUS rocked da house ;) ::
KILL
THE THRILL :: have been the surprising support
act at this evening, since everybody expected Red Harvest, who
dropped out the tour for job-related reasons. After typical aberrations
and confusions in matter of time schedule these Frenchmen and
–woman kicked off their show 8.30 pm in front of around
50 people. Although the trio (consisting of Nicolas Dick, git,
vox; Frédéric De Benedetti, git, vox, und Marylin
Tognolli, bass) played their asses of, they just could raise a
bland cheers. I assume the bands music that is very close to Neurosis
and leanings to Devin Townsend, blending Metal/Psychedelic/Industrial/DarkWave/PostRock
was too heavily slow, monotone and noisy for such an audience.
I admit I also missed a real drummer anywhere around, since everything
came out of a laptop. In addition I wished bass-lady Marylin would
have sung too, since she has done that on previous albums. With
just three songs from the 2003 album 203 Barriers,
KILL THE THRILL focused on their new material
milled on their current album Tellurique.
After 45 minutes the show was over and opinions split. Most people
didn’t like the show sensed it as boring. Since I’m
a huge fan of the Neurosis sound, I liked this show a lot and
will keep an eye on this band for sure ;)!
::
ARCTURUS
:: entered the stage after a 30 minutes backline
change and spread so much fun, high spirits, enjoying their play
right from the grid. Fan troops increased to around 150 people
but made the band fell like playing in a sold out venue ;) Special
eye-catcher this times the two harlequins that were much more
aggressive and agile I have in mind from the Nebelmond Party.
They were dancing and rolling around the stage, gurning, spitting
on and kicking the band members, seriously trying not to laugh
about themselves and the situations they created. Vortex was likewise
jumping and clowning around again like a Norwegian troll (or clown
respectively *g*), joking with the crowd. His voice wasn’t
the best, which might have been sound problems too, since there
were a lot of up and downs in volume. The rest of the band was
very tight, playing their souls out of the body and having a blast
while doing so. Hellhammer most time disappeared behind is huge
battery, just allowing a quickly view on him now and then.
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