(((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))): ARKTIKA

Sunday 8 May 2016

ARKTIKA

Band: ARKTIKA

Genres: Punk / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal / Ambient / Prog / Sludge
Related artists: Francis Brady and Duct Hearts.
Country: Köln GERMANY
Years Active: 2008-2013
Song: "Heartwrencher"
Album: "Heartwrencher"
Year: 2009
For fans of: Amber, Gantz, Ornaments, Rosetta, Isis, Bökanövsky, MilanKu, Breag Naofa, Nine Eleven, Light Bearer, Fall Of Efrafa, Envy, Duct Hearts, Bail, Les Deux Minutes De La Haine, Nous Étions and Monuments Collapse.

Label(s): Self Released / Narshardaa Records / Kreisel Kreisel Records
This post's artist is from the March 2016 Mix. This is track #12.

You can download: the May Mix#5 right here or get the new June 2016 Mix#6 here.

I was first introduced to ARKTIKA when I interviewed Daniel from Time As A Color, the incredible German diy emo label. His love for the band prompted me to check them out, grab their entire discography as well as pick up some 12"s for the ZBR distro (which sold out long ago). The epic, jammy and brooding post-hardcore/post-metal/atmospheric sludge with long instrumental gaps of post-rock and screaming/growling are much akin to MilanKu and Bökanövsky without sounding too much like either band. The songs are always long, rarely dissipating before the six-minute mark and generally reaching 8-9 minutes in length with either many ups and downs or one long, converging explosion near the end of the track. My personal favourite is from the early 12"EP called "Heartwrencher" from the same album, as the swooning nature of the instrumentals coupled with those earnest and passionate screams remind me heavily of Les Deux Minutes De La Haine. There's also an audio clip from (I think) Johnny Got His Gun embedded in the middle of the song which accentuates this truly amazing track that really had me salivating and searching for more all those years ago. I enjoy all three records, although the last album is mostly emotional talking and not singing or screaming which tends to tickle my fancy less than the preceding two. Head over to the ARKTIKA bandcamp and donate/download that discography, which is all linked below.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2009 - Heartwrencher 12"EP (stream/donate/download here)

2010 - At Zero cd/2x12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

2012 - Symmetry 12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2009) ARKTIKA - "Heartwrencher" (from 'Heartwrencher')