Arken was founded in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2015 by guitarist and composer Raph Ronin, alongside former members of São Paulo-based band Inner Call: Renato Passero, Fabio Lima, Arthur Lopes, and Rafael Negreiros. Built around Ronin’s earlier compositions and a shared ambition to develop a new body of material, the band spent 2015 and 2016 composing and rehearsing intensively, initially working towards their first full-length album.

Arken eventually had to scale the project down to a four-track demo EP. Featuring “Arken”, “Care Less”, “Fast Dog”, and “Make It Real”, the demo was never officially released but circulated extensively online, attracting attention from contacts within the music industry and even prompting a record deal offer from a Los Angeles-based producer. With the line-up still evolving and the material continuing to develop, however, the opportunity was ultimately not pursued.

In 2017, Arken focused on writing new material and found a new drummer in Fabio Schultz. The following year, engineer Rogério Weko recorded the band's first official release at Dual Noise Studio in São Paulo. Released digitally in August 2018, the self-titled Arken EP retained “Arken”, “Care Less”, and “Fast Dog” from the original demo, while introducing “Pieces of My Life”. The release established Arken within the Brazilian metal scene and laid the foundation for the band's next phase.

Following another line-up change, Rey Bello joined on drums in June 2019. The new line-up took Arken on the Arken Opening Tour 2019, performing across several cities in the São Paulo countryside before culminating in an appearance at the Metal Stock Festival in Botucatu. Plans for a full-length album and further touring were subsequently interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic period, Rey Bello re-recorded the drums for “Hope”, originally released as a single in 2020 as part of Roadie Metal's 6 Years Heavy compilation. The release featured a demo version of “Arken” on the B-side and kept the band's momentum alive during a period when live activity was impossible.

A major turning point came in 2021, when Raph Ronin relocated to Luxembourg, effectively moving Arken's headquarters to Europe. The band's long-awaited debut full-length, Social Nightmares, was released digitally on 23 December 2023. Combining an intro with nine songs, the album marked a significant step forward in Arken's songwriting and production, receiving a positive response and generating steady organic growth around the band's music.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, Arken, Hope, and Social Nightmares were released in physical formats on vinyl and CD through Elastic Stage UK. With copies reaching listeners across Europe, South America, and Asia, these releases expanded Arken's international presence and reinforced the band's commitment to maintaining a physical catalogue alongside its digital releases.

Arken's next chapter is The Walk of the Defeated, the band's second full-length album, scheduled for release in February 2027. Comprising ten tracks written during the years following the band's earliest recordings, the album was recorded with engineer Eric Cavalcante, who also handled the initial mixing. Jack Ferrante recorded the drums in 2024, while all guitar and bass parts were performed by Raph Ronin and the vocals by Fabio Lima. The album was subsequently re-mixed and mastered by Rogério Weko at Dual Noise Studio in São Paulo, Brazil.

In 2026, Arken entered a new line-up era, with Tom Leydinger taking over guitar duties from Renato Passero and Noa Hoffmann replacing Rey Bello on drums. The new line-up will be introduced through three singles leading into the album: Running, released in August 2026, Another One in October, and Real Man in November. With The Walk of the Defeated arriving in February 2027, Arken is now focused on expanding its presence across Europe, with touring plans from late 2026 onwards supporting the album and bringing the band's music to new audiences.

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Arken is:

- Fabio Lima – Vocals

- Raph Ronin – Guitar

- Tom Leydinger – Guitar

- Arthur Lopes – Bass

- Noa Hoffmann – Drums

For more information, interviews, or booking inquiries, please contact arkenband@gmail.com and/or call +352 661 405 630

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