Yes, Arkona are the Russian contribution to the current crop of ethnically diverse exponents of Pagan Metal and they tick all the boxes. The basic tracks are spirited death/ thrash with a good variety of moods and pace, the pagan/ folk element being provided by a variety of bagpipes, flutes and the accordion. The folk and metal are well blended and distilled into a powerfully but eminently palatable sonic brew not dissimilar to that served up by the likes of Switzerland’s Eluveitie.
I am sure that at this point, those who have embraced the Pagan/Folk/Metal sub-genre will already be checking their piggy banks whilst those who have not will move swiftly on. There is however, as they say, more. There are two elements to Arkona’s music which make them unique; the first is their absolute “Russian-ness”, the second their rather extraordinary vocalist. Whilst most adept musicians even those only semi-aware of Thin Lizzy can trot out competent generically “Celtic” ditties, the prizes go to those who stand out from the crowd by tapping into the essence of their culture’s musical heritage. That they are Russian is rendered unmistakeable in their use of mournful accordion, choruses echoing the massed choirs of the Red Army (a haunting musical memory from the parental record collection!) and of course the fact that all lyrics are in their native language.
Then there’s the singer. Having first heard some decidedly iffy live material on their Myspace site I wondered how female “shouter” Masha “Scream” might fare. The answer is; extraordinarily well. She’s a rather scary and versatile powerhouse, a metal Catherine the Great, able to deliver fearsome death grunts, aggressive thrash and a clear, powerful operatic mezzo soprano. ‘Ot Seroca K Nebu’ is an epic fur clad journey across the rugged Russian steppe and as with all such sagas, emotions run the gamut from optimism, to depression, anger to sorrow with moments of elation and all suffused with a suitable sense of the epic. If you are enjoying the European-wide phenomenon of Pagan Metal then Arkona’s album is a worthy stop on your virtual trans-continental “Inter-Ale” quest.