Arathorn was founded in the summer of 1996 by A.K. (guitars and vocals) and Sköll (drums and vocals). Some time later M. Gericke joined them ..boards. Since the beginning, Arathorn focused on finding their space in the Black Metal scene and creating their own style.
As their soundscapes were dominated by both harsh Black Metal riffing and atmospheric keyboard passages, "Medieval Metal" seemed to be the most fitting description for their music. Folk elements like acoustic guitars, flutes and clear vocals combined with medieval inspired melodies, as well as instruments which are rather atypical for the metal genre like the accordion give the listener the feeling of a musical journey through these dark ages of history.
With a four track demo, Arathorn succeeded in inking a deal with the still rather young label Folter Records but, after the release of the debut album "Niemals krönender als was einst war", the members of Arathorn faced an uncertain future in which direction their sound should develop. Sköll wanted to take Arathorn to an even more folkloristic level while A.K. and M. Gericke were tending towards a harder sound (Nox Intempesta).
So, they decided to go separate ways and Arathorn was put on hold. Meanwhile, Sköll would not give up his ideas of Neo-Folk, classical arrangements and Pagan Metal... and in 2003, he decided to revive Arathorn as a one man band. In winter 2003/2004, the untitled promo demo "Demo 2004" was recorded as a new sign of life.
Some recording problems followed which resulted in a re-recording of the material and the song "Siegfried von Xanten" which can be seen as a musically seamless follower of "Hymne des Winters Zorn". Winter 2007 witnessed the completion of the recordings of "Treue und Verrat", and as Folter Records also showed interest in the new material, everything was on the right path for the release.
"Treue und Verrat", Arathorn's new album, offers a felicitous symbiosis of Black/Pagan Metal, Folk and classical music. Apart from lyrics inspired by Germanic mythology, this release also brings you an excursion into the realms of the Nibelung.
Source : http://www.myspace.com/arathornberlin
