Artch

{{Short description|Norwegian heavy metal band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Artch | image = Eirikur Hauksson.jpg | caption = | image_size = | origin = Sarpsborg, Norway | genre = Heavy metal, power metal | years_active = 1983–present | label = Metal Blade | website = [http://www.artch.net www.artch.net] | current_members = Eirikur Hauksson Cato André Olsen Geir Nilssen Bernt Jansen Jørn Jamissen | past_members = Gudmund Bolsgård Lars Fladeby Espen Hoff }} '''Artch''' is a heavy metal band from Sarpsborg, Norway.<ref name="artch a-z of power metal">{{cite book |last=Sharpe-Young |first=Garry |date=2003 |title=A-Z of Power Metal |location=London |publisher=Cherry Red Books Ltd. |pages=32 |isbn=1-901447-13-8 }}</ref> Initially formed in 1983 by guitarist Cato André Olsen and bass player Bernt Jansen,<ref name="off1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.artch.net/history1.htm|title=index|website=Artch.net|access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> in 1984 guitarist Geir Nilssen, drummer Jørn Jamissen and vocalist Lars Fladeby all joined the band but they had formerly been with a local rock group called '''Oxygen'''. Espen Hoff replaced Fladeby as lead singer in 1985, but he died in a motorcycle accident later that same year,<ref name="LarkinHM">{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1995|edition=Second|isbn=0-85112-656-1|pages=29/30}}</ref> and was replaced by Eiríkur Hauksson in 1986.<ref name="off1"/><ref name="off2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.artch.net/history2.htm|title=index|website=Artch.net|access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref><ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3576/biography|pure_url=yes}} Artch] at AllMusic</ref>

Artch released two albums on the American record label Metal Blade that got great reviews, especially in the English heavy metal press, but sales were disappointing.<ref name="off3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.artch.net/history3.htm|title=index|website=Artch.net|access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> The first album released in 1988, and the second album, ''For the Sake of Mankind'', followed it in 1991. Both got positive reviews by AllMusic, rating the first album at 3 out 5 and the second at 4.5 out 5; comparing the second album to the Metallica discography.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/another-return-to-church-hill-r889/review | title = Artch Another Return to Church Hill review | accessdate = 2011-10-04 | last=Book | first= John | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-sake-of-mankind-r890 | title = Artch For the Sake of Mankind review | accessdate = 2011-10-04 | last=Book | first= John | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation}}</ref> ''Kerrang!'' rated the first album at 5 out 5.<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Reynolds | first = Dave | magazine = Kerrang! | title = Artch 'Another Return' | issue = 206 | publisher = Spotlight Publications ltd. | date = 24 September 1988 | location = London, UK | page = 29}}</ref>

Drummer Jamissen left the band in 1991 and was replaced by Gudmund Bolsgård. They reformed in 2000 after a prolonged period of inactivity. Their original lineup was reunited again in 2010.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==Discography== *''Demo'' (Demo, 1984) *''Time Waits For No One'' (Demo, 1987) *''Another Return'' (Metal Blade, 1988) *"Shoot to Kill" / "Reincarnation" (single, 1988) *''For the Sake of Mankind'' (Metal Blade, 1991) *''Another Return - Live... And Beyond'' (DVD, 2004)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *[https://www.metalexpressradio.com/2001/07/06/artch-another-return/ Another Return review by metalexpressradio.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Artch}} Category:Norwegian power metal musical groups Category:Norwegian musical quintets Category:1983 establishments in Norway Category:Musical groups established in 1983 Category:Musical groups from Sarpsborg Category:Metal Blade Records artists