Northern Silence Productions Artist- Arctos Interview up
1. Tell us a bit about the Dark epic metallic sounds of Arctos and how you came to be?
We are a Canadian black metal band that plays music inspired by the barren and majestic landscapes that surround us. Arctos began in 2014, although some of the initial ideas started as far back as 2008. The founding members initially met while playing together in another band, and when that project went on hiatus, we began to explore those aforementioned ideas that had been hibernating for years. It didn’t take us long to turn those ideas into full fledged songs, and shortly afterwards we decided to make a serious go of the project. After almost 3 years of writing and honing our craft, we recorded and released our debut EP, A Spire Silent.
2. How does The Spire Silent Ep differ from your new album?
I think that it builds on the EP, but not drastically so. Many of the songs on the full length and the EP were written around the same time, so in many ways they are very similar albums. I’d say the main improvements come from the recording process. The EP used digital amps and some sampled drums, and though this saved us some money, I wish we would have saved a bit more to go for the more natural approach. Recording drums in a great sounding room and using our actual gear for guitar and bass recording went a huge way towards capturing our live tone.
3. On Beyond the grasp of mortal hands I hear elements of Borknagar, Mythotyn, Immortal and Arcturus. So much more then just black metal. I hear Folk, Viking and Doom elements as well. What bands have inspired you?
Sticking to metal, the 80s Thrash bands like Metallica, Testament, Overkill, Kreator, all that stuff was very formative music for me. I’ve always loved fast music, so it’s no surprise that I ended up getting into Black Metal. Immortal, Bathory, Dissection, Enslaved, and all the other black metal royalty. I loved that almost every one of them had their own take on the genre that spoke of a unique musical heritage that they were drawing upon.
4. Your released your new Beyond album on Norhtern Silence Production how did that come about? How has the exposure changed so far?
They were one of the first labels I reached out to when we were searching for labels. When I heard back from them and read their enthusiastic and professional replies, I knew they were the label for us. I would never want to approach a label unless I was completely confident that we were up to their standards, so it was extremely gratifying to receive a signing offer from them! As far as exposure goes, Northern Silence has definitely broadened our reach. it’s been really awesome to see so many more international listeners interested in our music. I love knowing that people are around the globe are enjoying our art.
5. Will there be a vinyl releaseis this something your interested in?
Stay tuned…
6. Is there a theme or story line behind Beyond the grasp of mortal hands?
Disillusionment, solitude, and misanthropy are themes that the album explores. We are heavily influenced by our natural Canadian landscapes as well, which should come as no surprise to anyone. We don’t want to write songs about subjects that we know nothing about, rather we like to stick to subjects that resonate with us. Every song on the album is based on thoughts, real life experiences, or even dreams that we have had that we have commited to song. Certainly we utilize metaphor as a means of creating a more engaging experience, but every song is rooted in relevance to us.
7. If you could do a proper video of new album what track and how would if look and be presented?
I think each of the songs could make a compelling video and each one would lend itself to a different style of video. I think the one I would be most interested in seeing to fruition would be for The Light Beyond The Sky. The subject matter is ethereal by nature and would allow for a highly creative approach to the visuals, utilizing the natural landscapes of the Rocky mountains and the wild phenomena of the Aurora Borealis.
8. Live vs Studio which do you enjoy more and how does Arctos sound differ between the two?
I don’t think I have a preference between the two as they have different demands and rewards, but also they’re part of the same journey. In the studio is where you solidify your musical vision, sometimes after years of refining, so that is an amazingly satisfying experience. The live side of things is a further extension of that refinement and it allows you to bring your art into a physical space.
9. How has the digital age You tube, Soundcloud, bandcamp, podcasts and blogs changes the extreme underground and how music is presented?
It’s definitely made it easier for people to find new bands and for artists to get their work out there, but it’s not without it’s failings though. With the increased access and subsequent volume of releases on all sorts of platforms, it’s also easier than ever for underground work to fall through the cracks. If an artist wants their work to be heard, it also requires them to diligently self promote a lot more and hope that reviewers and other influencers will start spreading the word as well.
10. You're from Canada are there bands from your area of Edmonton that we should check out that just havent gotten the hype they deserve?
There are quite a few great bands here, but I’d like to give a shout out to Begrime Exemious. For over a decade they’ve been delivering some really excellent metal that combines death, thrash and elements of black metal. Their drummer Lee actually filled in for us this past summer at a festival and it was awesome to have the opportunity to play with such a veteran musician.
11. Arctos how did the name come about and how does it fit the band in 2019?
It took quite some time for us to decide on a name that we felt suited the band and our music. I was reading an article about wildlife conservation efforts in our national parks and noticed the word as part of a scientific name for a Grizzly bear. Upon further research I discovered that Arctos is a latin word that means, as we understand it, ‘bear’ or ‘Northern people.’ We found this to be quite fitting for us as we are heavily inspired by nature and our Northern habitat
12. Looks like many of you came from a band named Trollband how did that differ from Arctos ?
Trollband was the project where most of us met for the first time. Trollband’s music is much more heavily folk influenced, but has black metal in it’s roots also. I’d say the main difference is that with that band we were mostly just members as opposed to writers. Arctos reflects our coming together as individual artists to contribute to the creation of music as a true collective.
13. How does image and visuals make or break a band in 2019?
I think that visual imagery is extremely important for any band to take seriously. It’s another piece of the art and it can help to add further depth to your music for your listeners, especially in the case of bands that deal with esoteric or fantastical subject matter. If your music seeks to create an atmosphere or evoke certain emotions or thoughts, an asynchronous image might harm the musics effectiveness to do so.
14. What bands are currently impressing the members of Arctos?
The new Mgla and Blut Aus Nord albums are fantastic, also really enjoying the latest Imperium Dekadenz release. I just saw Blood Incantation a week ago and I’m really interested in picking up their upcoming album. Super wild take on Death metal.
15. If you could tour with any band who would it be and why?
Definitely Moonsorrow, mostly just so I could see them play every single night.
16. Thank you for the time any closing thoughts here
I say this to everyone, but seriously try and take the time to listen to the album front to back at least once! I personally recommend going out into nature with a good set of headphones and just let yourself be immersed in the sonic and physical experience. Other than that, I hope you enjoy the album in whatever way feels best to you.
Hails,
Dan
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