Arckanum

by Ed Rivadavia
Few bands are as committed to their subject matter as Sweden's Arckanum, whose interest in the pagan ?old ways' of their Viking ancestors and open worship of the God Pan transcend mere curiosity towards sheer obsession. Going so far as to compose his dark musical invocations in ancient Swedish, Arckanum's founder (and usually lone charter member), Shamaatae first broke bread with elves and trolls in 1992, but only obtained a record deal with Necropolis Records two years later on the strength of the 15-song "Trulen" demo. A proper debut, 1995's Fran Marder (meaning "From the Forest") followed, and its primitive black metal orchestrations provided a fitting background to Arckanum's eccentric lyrical musings -- as did conceptually continual follow-up efforts, 1997's Kostogher and 2000's epic double disc Kampen.