Deamon Painter
Roughly 8 years ago I discovered a progressive/operatic/avant-garde/black/metal band known as Arcturus. Arcturus was/is a super group composed by members of established metal bands, two of whose members happened to be in one of my favorite bands at the time Dimmu Borgir. Having obsessed with Death Cult Armageddon for quite a while then delving into the entire repertoire of Dimmu Borgir’s extensive discography, I found myself exclusively listening to songs that included Simen Hestnæs (ICS VORTEX) in a lead vocal/ choral solo dynamic.
His voice impressed me to such a degree that I began trying to find more and more projects he had been involved with (Lamented Souls, Borknagar). It must have been close to a year after Sideshow Symphonies was released that I happened to listen to a one minute snippet of the second track “Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer” which is currently and has been for quite some time on my favorite songs of all time list. When I realized it was Hestnaes’ voice I was thrilled, my wish had come true, an album that utilized Hestnaes’ singing abilities to the fullest. Soon after I learned of this album I also learned that Arcturus had dissolved pretty much immediately after the album was released (give or take 2 years). Scheduled for Fall of 2013 (though not yet available), Arcturus is preparing to release a new album with Hestnaes as front man.
A track I had not really payed much attention to when the album was released, “Deamon Painter” caught my attention several years after my initial confrontation with Hestnaes’ Arcturus. I must have been on a long drive somewhere and was listening to the song when I began to pay really close attention to the lyrics, which struck me as very ominous and foreboding while remaining extremely sincere and poetic.
Deamon Painter
Walking among shadows
Shady characters of faded cast
Acting out their last role
Beautiful lonely stars
These are my people
These fallen stars
You may think you see us
You never had a part
Flickering performance
On a burning stage
In naked daylight
For you to hate
Directing the audience
I paint in tones of gray
In shades of black
In cold dismay
I paint my deamons
As scars of blood
In a barren landscape
Where all is lost
First off, the song starts off slow and sad, not droning or doomy but simple and melodic. Then out of nowhere you hear a burp. I can only interpret this as stating, yes this song is sad but don’t take it so seriously.
Walking among shadows, shady characters of faded cast…to me refers to Hestnaes’ band mates, whom are all involved in projects which at the time could be considered bigger than themselves as individuals or as Arcturus…faded cast.
Acting out their last role, Beautiful lonely stars…at the time I heard this, Arcturus had dissolved and was no more. The lyrics were written with this in mind, they knew that this album would be Arcturus’ last “flickering performance on a burning stage”.
These are my people, these fallen stars…these are Hestnaes’ colleagues whom share his title as a sideshow.
You may think you see us, you never had a part… speaks of the public’s interaction with Arcturus. They might have been perceived as just another band or as consumer’s fantasy but in reality we never really knew them. This project was not meant for us, it was an outlet for themselves.
In naked daylight, for you to hate…I must admit that after reflecting on the lyrics on the way I did I was angry at the band for completely relinquishing such brilliance and potentially dissolving at the height of their prowess.
The rest of the lyrics don’t really speak to me in the same tone. They are ominous and dark but not as direct as the first lines. The song picks up steam towards the end with blistering solos and melodic arrangements only to be abruptly snuffed and finished. Just as the band’s potential, the song ends without warning and with long echoes.
Now, 7 years later, Arcturus is back.
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