Ctulu

Ctulu
Origin	Germany
Genres	Extreme metal
Years active	2004-Present
Labels	Northfire Records, Godeater Records
Website	www.ctulu.de
Members
Lars Mathias Arne Martin Lasse
Past members
Rolf Paulo Jan Mario Stefan Chrille

Ctulu is an extreme metal band from Germany, founded in 2004. The name derives from the fictional creature Cthulhu, invented by American novelist H.P. Lovecraft.

History

Ctulu was founded in Delmenhorst, Lower Saxony, at the end of 2004. At that time, the lineup consisted of Mathias (guitars and bass) and Stefan (vocals, keyboards and drums) only.^[1] The first demo "Zins der Zeit" was recorded with this lineup in 2005 and included keyboards which never again have occurred on the later releases.

To be able to play concerts, Jan (drums) and Chrille (bass) joined the band. First shows were played in 2006 and 2007, including Hamburg, Delmenhorst and Athens (Greece). The second demo "Freie Geister" followed with this new lineup and included four tracks.

Chrille left the band in 2007 and was replaced with Mario. In 2008, the first full-length album "Freie Geister" was expanded by four extra tracks and released via Northfire Records and Twilight Distribution. Several concerts followed while the first Paganfest show ever was opened by Ctulu in Bremen. Arne joined the band as a second guitarist before the album was released, but did not contribute to it.

In 2009, Stefan left the band and shows in Germany, Austria and Denmark were played. Rolf (vocals) joined the band in autumn that year.

In 2010, Ctulu were introduced to a broader audience by playing the venerable Ragnarök Festival in Bavaria. Mario left the band in autumn.

In 2011, Ctulu released their second full-length album "Sarkomand" at the Ragnarök Festival. Later that year, Rolf and Paulo left the band and were replaced by Lars (vocals) and Lasse (bass). In May, Ctulu and their new album "Sarkomand" were topic of a two-hour radio broadcast in Germany's biggest online metal radio "Metal Only".^[2]

Style

Music

Ctulu's music is guitar dominated extreme metal. Journalists tend to describe the music as black metal in old Scandinavian style, but with influence from various other rock styles.^[3] Ctulu themselves call their music "Seastorming Extreme Metal".^[4]

Lyrics

Ctulu's lyrics are dominated by stories inspired from H.P. Lovecraft's tales, while mostly being about death, dreams and gods.^[5] All lyrics are in German language.^[6]

Band members

Current members

• Lars – vocals
• Mathias – guitars
• Arne – guitars
• Martin – drums
• Lasse – bass

Past members

• Rolf (2009–2011) – vocals
• Paulo (2011) – bass
• Jan (2006–2010) – drums
• Mario (2007–2010) – bass
• Stefan (2004–2009) – vocals
• Chrille (2006–2007) – bass

Discography

Studio albums

• Freie Geister (2008)
• Sarkomand (2011)

Demos

• Zins der Zeit (2005)
• Freie Geister (2006)

References

1. ^ metalrecusants.wordpress.com: Exclusive interview with CTULU's Arne
2. ^ metal-only.de: Live-Interview with Ctulu
3. ^ kn-online.de
4. ^ pest webzine: Ctulu
5. ^ nordlandreise.info: Pressespiegel
6. ^ heavymusic.ru: Ctulu. The Call From The Depths Of Northern German Seas

External links

• Official homepage
• Ctulu on Myspace