VIRUS IV (BE)

Samuel Arkan

Sam played, wrote and recorded with different bands and projects including Uli Kusch’s Beautiful Sin (with members from Masterplan, Pagan’s Mind, Jorn) or German progressive metal band Over Us Eden. He is also the songwriter and the mastermind behind ORIGINS concept, his new project with Kristoffer Gildenlöw (Dial, ex-Pain of Salvation), drummer Léo Margarit from Pain Of Salvation and vocalists from bands like Beyond Twilight, Communic, Thunderstone, At Vance, Dial, Ayreon and some more…

The band VIRUS IV was founded by Samuel Arkan in 2006 with the complicity of Magali Luyten, joined afterwards Renaut Van Oeyen and François Brisk. The compositions show themselves effective and the band occurs successfully on stage during live gigs. Dark Sun is the name of this first album released in May 2008 at Pervade (Thundering Records) and is truly welcomed by the worldwide press! Virus IV is preparing its second album for 2009, also now together with a new member on bass, Christophe Babin.

Virus IV shows its affection for true power metal from the American continent, reminiscent to good old Vicious Rumors, Annihilator, Warrior and Warlord, injected with the new found élan of European metal acts like At Vance and Hammerfall. On top the band has been fuelled by the driving force and nu grooves of acts like Disturbed and Oomph! Meaning; it is melodic hard driving metal with a forceful drive! VIRUS IV has a pure melodic music and atmosphere, some great percussion work. All with intense power and lots of drama, the music of the band sounds from the school of Rammstein with marching riffs over a forceful stomping marching beat, and floating bridge leads powers up the dark and gloomy ambiance.

Samuel Arkan, the founder and the leader of Virus IV, endorses our company using a customized Regius 7. Samuel's axe bares evil Ash top in Black Gothic finish and Ebony fingerboard with an exclusive Scorpion Tribal inlay and SCORPIO inscription at 12th fretpole. The guitar is equipped with active EMG 707+81-7 pickups, Q-Parts Cross knobs and Q-Parts Fire Wheel straplocks.

I wanted to give more strength and deep sounds to Virus IV guitars and my side projects, I asked Mayones for a 7 strings Regius, customized with my needs, especially EMG pick ups, which I am faithful to.

Frets are smooth, heavy tones for the rhythms and crystal ones for the leads. Ultra pleasant to play, the comfort of playing is just perfect. It’s high quality! Playability on the sharp neck is just impressive, Mayones created the guitar as I wanted it to be, the best instrument for my future works, the Regius 7 ‘Scorpio’! Surely not my last Mayones guitar! Addicted for life!