Artist description One of the most important italian gothic-Rock bands

Music Style Gothic rock dark rock

Artist History he Artica project began in 1989. Having evolved and slowly improved through live concerts and studio-sessions the band abandoned its preious tendence toward New Wave and presented itself, with new and original features, in a style tied directly to the romantic-intimist vein of Dark/ Cold Wave and especially of Gothic-Rock music, which are used to exalt the lyrical and the sound potentialities. Towards the end of 1992, in fact, the band radically modified the composition of the songs, beginning with the writing of all the lyrics in Italian and introducing more powerful guitar sounds in the arrangements. In the same year work began on of the first demo-tape Marea (eight tracks) that came out in February 1993. Marea brought overnight success to ARTICA in Italy and was also warmly received in France, Germany and England, where the difference in language didn't seem to present a problem. During 1993 the band participates in several cassette compilations and, gaining the interest of Olivier Paccaud (Lucie Cries - Alea Jacta Est), ARTICA appears for the first time on a CD for the well-known Alea Jacta Est sampler `l'Appel De La Muse, vol. IV', with the mix Preghiera (Ecclesia). The interest in the band increases both in Italy and abroad and near the end of the year the recording of eight new tracks featuring in the second demo-tape; Dahlia (February 1994), is almost completed. This time mixing and recording (both digital), make use of the professional experience of Paolo Pratali giving to the whole sound the right clarity and ensuring a product of the higher quality . With Dahlia the style develops again through the depth of guitars whether clean or distorted and of the new five-strings bass. The keyboards, at once ethereal and dynamic, the acoustic drums - one of the main strengths of the band - the warm and aggressive voice combine to create to a unique and mature sound. This new work received an excellent response; the name of the band appears in most of the specialist publications of Europe and also in some others in Australia and the USA. The number of the participations on ambitious compilations increases, such as `Gothic-Rock II' (Jungle Records) and `Death by Dawn 2 - The Avenger' (Apollyon Records). On top of this in `94, Mick Mercer decides to include ARTICA in the third `Gothic-Rock book' and soon after came good responses from Bari-Bari (Mephisto Walz), Mike Van Portfleet (Lycia/ Bleak), GodKrist (Madre Del Vizio), Patrick Hendrix (The Breath Of Life), Dave (Vendemmian) and amongst others also Jörg Kleudgen (The House Of Usher). The latter helped the band to step out, not only through the enthusiastic article appearing in the German magazine `Gothic' and inviting the band to participate in the CD compilation enclosed, but most importantly placing ARTICA's music in the hands of Joelen Mingi, manager of Nyctalopia, the gothic label of Stuttgart. In October 1994 ARTICA signs the contract with this German label and in May 1995 the first album CD `Ombra e Luce' is released featuring 12 tracks partly taken from the two previous demos and partly new. In April 1996 the band refuses a new contract with Nyctalopia and begins a new recording session for a forthcoming CD titled `Natura'. The recordings lasts about three months at the Cucurbitacea Studio Sapiens of Rome. This time the sound engineer is Sandro Oliva, official member of the Franck Zappa's band `Mothers Of Invention'. The style changes radically getting more aggressive both in the music, decidedly less melodic, stronger and darker, and in more articulate and direct the lyrics. The roman band announces this album as a sort of deliverance from all the stupid taboos of the scene, but at the same time the most Gothic album ARTICA could ever compose». Most of the tracks of the new work are supported by a classical use of harpsichord, violin and female voice. In April 1997 the band signs a new contract with an Italian alternative label called RADIO LUXOR. In July 1997 `Natura' is finally released and RADIO LUXOR intends re-releasing the sold-out `Ombra e Luce'. During the releasing of Natura, the English label Euromedia produces the new Mick Mercer's compilation The Hex Files vol. 2 - The Goth Bible where the band is featured with the new track `Lucrezia': Always improving, ARTICA fully deserve to be one of the best respected bands. They offer a much improved version of what are traditionally regarded as 80's lyrical crossed with the vigour of early 80's to create a satisfying 90's hybrid. This is prowling, stormy stuff» (Mick Mercer 1997). One year later Radio Luxor prepares a tribute to Virgin Prunes. Artica decide to partecipate with the track "Caucasian Walk" wich has been recorded in one single session of 10 hours: the final result is quite exciting and the compilation reaches very good responses worldwide. In April 1999 the band singes a new contract with Black Velvet Agency of Rome with the aim of promoting the band and the new tracks in Italy and abroad...

Group Members Alberto Casti - Voice & guitar Stefano Marcon - drums Massimiliano Bonavita - synth & piano Michele Mariella - bass guitar Gabriele Serafini - lead guitar

Instruments live drums, guitars, keyboards, voice

Albums Ombra e Luce

Location Rome, Italy - Italy

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