Arckanum in embryonic form came together in 1992. Shamaatae masterminded the project and played drums, with the assistance of Sataros on vocals and Loke Svarteld on guitar.
Together they recorded an inconsiquential six track demo which I have no information on. In 1994 Shamaatae joined fellow swedish band Sorhin as drummer, and their 'I Skuggan Av Nattens Herre' promo video features him.
Sorhin shared a vision with Arckanum, though the execution of their ideas differed. The only recording of theirs in which Shamaatae performed was a promo entitled 'I Fullmanens
Dystra Sken", which was recorded in 1994, though not released until the spring of 1995. Around the same period Shamaatae created the second Arckanum demo as a solo artist, entitled 'Trulen' ('The Trolls') which contained fifteen songs. Sataros had joined Sorhin shortly after their promo was recorded, and together they performed in the first ever Sorhin show on Halloween, in Mora, Sweden. In early 1995, the band were signed by fledgling swedish label Arte De Occulta, and booked Abyss studios to record a debut MCD. Just
before the recording both Sataros and Shamaatae left. While Sataros no longer plays any role in Arckanum he and Shamaatae formed a dark ambient side project, entitled
Tassermarkers Vaeruld, who are yet to release any recordings. In 1995 Necropolis Records, impressed by the 'Trulen' demo, signed Arckanum for a multi-albumdeal. Shamaatae's
vision was to record a saga in four parts, beginning with 'Fran Marder' ('From the Forest'), which he recorded at the Abyss studios, and has since expressed a dissatisfaction with.
I have no information of Arckanum's doings since then  apart from the subsequent release of 'Kostogher' in 1997 and 'Kampen' in 1998. If the time routine that Shamaatae has used persists, then the fourth and perhaps final Arckanum album will be released this year. I for one hope that a fifth album may one day emerge, though there is no guarantee of this.