Arcturus
Aspera Hiems Symfonia (Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon
Even for those who don’t follow doom and black metal with a fervor that is, shall we say, religious, Arcturus is a band to familiarize yourself with. Combining the vicious passion of black metal with the darkly atmospheric feel of doom, Aspera Hiems Symfonia lashes and caresses the listener’s senses like the cold wind of an icy plain. Banding together members of notorious Norwegian bands not in prison for burning churches or murder (or murdered themselves), Arcturus consists of founding members Sverd on keyboards, Mayhem’s Hellhammer on drums, and Ulver/Borknagar’s Garm as vocalist. Replacing incarcerated Emperor guitarist Samoth is Tritonus guitarist August, and the addition of Ved Buens Ende’s bassist Skoll rounds out the all-star line-up. If all this sounds Greek to you, it’s not. For one, it’s Norwegian, and for two, these men are experienced and highly respected in the underground.
The sound itself is amazing. Liner notes state that neither musicianship nor production were spared in taking Aspera Hiems Symfonia beyond expectation, a fact obvious within moments of first listening. The battery of percussion has the distinctively crisp attack of black metal, much contrasted by significantly less-skilled drummers who rely on monster production to give their work additional umph. Hellhammer displays his lightning-quick playing and dexterous changes as well as a creative use of negative space. Rhythm guitars and eerie keyboard sounds create the body of the songs, soaring majestically, almost whimsically at times, then relentlessly pursuing a theme like a determined hawk hunting its prey. Overall feelings from the music are often of flight – open skies at twilight, the nagging hunger at mealtime and the struggles therein, content and relaxed drifting upon unseen air currents, and the ever-watchful perch at day’s end upon a distant, breathtakingly beautiful landscape. While Garm’s rasp may not be music to the ears of the metal mainstream masses, the gashes clawed by his voice are soothed by the massaging ointment of the baritone duet that often follows. For those who revel in scraping vocals, Garm’s delivery is coordinated beautifully with the movement of the music. Classical inspirations are presented alongside dark emotions. Natural forces such as fire, fear of the vast unknown, and the primal struggle for survival are expressed in passages of respectful appreciation, and a stubborn will to conquer. At times a joyous, heathen dance beneath a moonlit sky, but when the winds change, a terrifying scramble for shelter against unspeakable horror. An epic masterpiece of beautiful, haunting music.
