Full-length, Einsatz Productions
December 11th, 2009
Recorded at Grasmo during Sept. 13th-18th
Mixed and engineered by vidar Eremsjoe
Addictional sound fx on intro and outro by Per Grimsgaard
Mastered by Tom Kvälsvoll at Strype Audio
1. Classical Flute & Choirs (Intro) 02:14
2. Fall of Gods 03:57
3. By War They Came 02:11
4. Darkness Is Forever 02:52
5. The Lost Souls 04:11
6. Impaled Jehova 02:34
7. I Hunt You Down 02:57
8. Portals to the Darkest Infinity 02:59
9. Cursed to Live 03:33
10. Sons of Satanic Warfare 04:35
11. I Slit Your Throat 03:21
12. All Ravens Cry 04:35
13. Outro 01:47
Total playing time 41:46
Genre: Black Metal
Lyrical themes: Darkness, Death, Nature, Anti-christianity
Origin: Norway (Bergen)
Formed in: 1993
Current line-upV-Rex (Vassago Rex) - Vocals, guitar, bass, synth, drums programming (Cold Eternity, Ancient (Nor), Aeternus (Nor), Frozen Cries)
Fordervelse - Drums (Koldbrann, Frostwork, Slavia, Raven Tongue)
Tivillius - live bass
LB - live guitar
Former/past members:- Ares (Ronny Hovland) - bass (Gorgoroth, Aeternus (Nor), Grimfist, Immortal (Nor), Black Hole Generator, Corona Borealis (Nor))
- Grim (Erik Brødreskift) - drums (R.I.P. October 4, 1999, suicide) ( Gorgoroth, Immortal (Nor), Borknagar, Emptor)
Aindiachai - Live guitar (Taake, Druid (Irl), Slavia)
Hexzaldre - Live bass
Additional notesThe band was formed in 1993 under the name Orth. In 1993-96 Orth was the one man band of Vassago Rex. In the early summer of '96 Grim (Immortal (Nor), Borknagar, Emptor, Gorgoroth) joined on drums, and Ares (Aeternus (Nor), Gorgoroth, Immortal (Nor)) joined on bass. In Winter'96 they recorded an album, which wasn't officially released. After Grim's suicide in 1999 Vassago Rex decided to continue as one man band, and the name was changed to Arvas.http://www.myspace.com/arvas
nterview with V-Rex from the Norwegian Black Metal band ARVAS.
To begin, please give us a very brief history behind Arvas….
V-Rex: well just read the bio on the myspace page.
Drummer Grim (ex-Immortal, ex-Borknagar, ex-Gorgoroth) was part of Orth now Arvas at that time back in ’96 and after he died you decided just to continue as a one man band, I mean Norway has very huge scene of talented musicians, why not just look for a new drummer?
V-Rex: I did not wanna continue because I was kinda depressed and lost focus when he died.
I read on your Biography that an album was recorded back in ’96 as well, why the decision of not release the album, what happened, any plans on release this recording?
V-Rex: we did release NOCTURNO INFERNO as a demo album really, but in a very limited amount of copies so it was swept away pretty fast. No more copies vere ever made.
Definitely Arvas was very quiet for a long long time, what happened during all this time from 1996-2008, did you play on other bands/projects?
V-Rex: I did not do that much musically, I kinda just did other things, I had different personal problems to deal with as well so the only musical things I did was playing bass in a band called COLD ETERNITY for a short periode of time, we released a demo and played a few gigs and that was it really,back in 2003-04.
Talking about “Dawn of Satan”, the production definitely reminded me old recordings like Emperor’s “Wrath of the Tyrant”, do you think that this is the way the Black Metal should sound like or do you agree with bands that likes to record on pro-studios like Grieghallen for example?
V-Rex: Thanx man, I am proud of that production. I like the sound raw and unpolished. But on the other hand, as long as a band manage to make their music sound cold and eerie, mission accomplished and it doesn't matter how or where you record it. NOCTURNO INFERNO by Örth was recorded in Grieghallen by the way.
I can see that your Influences are not just Black Metal stuff, even you have instrumental songs like “As I Lay Dying” on the album with some guitar solos, are you trying to offer something different or this just come naturally?
V-Rex: It comes naturally as I am a big fan of retro heavy metal from mid sixties to the mid eighties era. And I also have a certain passion for thrash metal from the eighties. I do not really listen to black metal at all.
Looking on the titles of the songs there’s no lyrics in Norwegian on the album which is very classic on bands from Norway and at the same time weird, do you like lyrics in English only?
V-Rex: I like norwegian lyrics but I do mine in english, english is the most beautiful language, however..on the new album there will in fact be a Norwegian lyric. We are going to re-record DEN GAMLE MANNS PROFETIER from the NOCTURNO INFERNO album by Örth.
Do you have any guest musicians on the album or did you record the whole album just by yourself?
V-Rex: I did it all by myself in my home studio.
How difficult is for you to be a one man band, Do you consider to have fulltime members on Arvas?
V-Rex: I actually made FORDERVELSE a full time member a while ago. Having a steady and good drummer is vital in this kind of project.
Who are the musicians that plays with you on the Arvas shows??
V-Rex: It is me on lead guitar and vocals, FORDERVELSE (KOLDBRANN) on drums, AINDIACHAI (TAAKE/SLAVIA) on guitar and HEXZALDRE on bass. HEXZALDRE is going to be replaced though due to him wanting to do other things and carry on with his own projects.
How come to have “Dawn of Satan” as split album with Hordagaard?
V-Rex: Hordagaard came up with the suggestion and and we did it. It was a great way to promote the name as well so why not?
Any plans on recording a full-length soon?
V-Rex: For sure, FORDERVELSE and me are entering the studios during the two last weeks of June now to lay down the drums, I will do guitars, bass and vocals shortly thereafter.
Do you have any feedback from the media/fans about “Dawn of Satan”?
V-Rex: I have received positive response so I am happy, of course there are a little bit of non positive response as well but you have to expect these reactions in this business, it doesn't bother me at all.
The Norwegian scene used to be awesome back in the 90’s, great bands rising here and there, but now days all that bands are now in a different direction…. What’s your point of view from the Norwegian Black Metal scene today?
V-Rex: I do not listen Black Metal so I don't know what to think or what not to think, but I personally feel that newerbands has lack all the ideology, lifestyle and attitude behind the art of Black metal. Might sound strange but to me Black Metal is NOT just about music at all, but about lifestyle, attitude and ideoligy based on Darkness, Master SATAN and the nature of the beat in man. The music should be a soundtrack to all this. And not the focus of the scene.
Well V-Rex thank you very much for your time for this interview, any last words?
V-Rex: No problem, my pleasure. I will greet my fans and say that you are the world to me. Keep supporting ARVAS.
Be sure to check out ARVAS on www.myspace.com/arvas
Nu prea am ce adauga, doar ca-i un album mai mult decat decent, bine executat si care promite pe mai departe. Nu-l recomand suferinzilor.
