DE ARMA

DE ARMA are:
A. Petterson – guitars, bass, vocals
J. Marklund – drums

discography:
2011 Towards the Shores of the End Split
2013 Lost, Alien & Forlorn Full-length
2021 Pain of the Past Single
2021 Strayed in Shadows Full-length
2022 Nightcall EP
2023 Synthwave Sessions Vol.1 EP
2024 Synthwave Sessions Vol.2 EP

De Arma’s ‘Synthwave Sessions Vol.2’ is a vibrant homage to the golden epoch of 80s synthpop.
This EP, volume two in a series, re-envisions the iconic electronic music of the decade, marrying the era’s hallmark sounds with De Arma’s atmospheric finesse to craft a modern throwback experience.
Though the musical execution of the ‘Synthwave Sessions’ marks a departure from De Arma’s previous creations, it retains the essence that defines their sound.
The songs stand on a swirling foundation of immersive rhythms and evocative melodies, interlaced with dystopian visions, melancholy and a wistful remembrance of times past.
‘Synthwave Sessions, Vol.2’ is an invitation to relive the neon-drenched, synth-driven zenith of the 1980s, re-imagined through De Arma’s darker, more introspective lens.
De Arma commented:
“This EP is essentially inspired by the notion of departing our world at the eleventh hour, a world engulfed in flames on the brink of extinction. It captures the feeling of taking off at the last possible moment, without a clear destination, embarking on a voyage toward an undefined horizon.”
De Arma was founded in 2009 by guitarist, vocalist and bass player Andreas Pettersson.
After enlisting drummer Johan Marklund, the duo recorded three tracks for ‘Towards the Shores of the End’ (Nordvis), a 2011 split with British band Fen.
In the very earliest incarnation of De Arma, the founder’s black metal roots shone through quite a bit.
But there were also plenty of musical elements present which remain a fixture in the band’s sound today.
Later that year, encouraged by the positive response to the split, De Arma not only wrote a full-length record but also began tracking it.
Despite retaining a palpable sense of darkness, the music had now drifted even further from black metal and into the realms of gothic rock.
‘Lost, Alien & Forlorn’ (Trollmusic) was released in February 2013.
With inspiration still raging wild, a follow-up album was composed in its entirety over the months following the debut.
Unfortunately, ulterior obligations delayed its completion until 2021, when De Arma unveiled ‘Strayed in Shadows’ (Trollmusic).
The second chapter saw the band explore a wide spectrum of music – from gothic metal to synthwave, even pop music – all boiled down into their unique brand of cold and heartfelt northern melancholia.
Then, to round off an already eventful year, De Arma entered a multi-album collaboration with Swedish label Silent Future Recordings.