I try to jump on as many bands as I can. Trying to absorb as much metal as possible, it looks like another band has slipped through the cracks and are definitely underrated and not really known much in our community.
I am talking about the latest album from Russian Pagan/Folk metallers, Arkona and the re-release of one of their previous albums titled, Vozrozhdenie. This was one of those bands that did not settle with me upon initial listen but as one begins to uncover more and more, I liked where things were going. Fans of folk metal tend to receive usually the standard elements of a folk metal album and while that is the case with these guys, and gal, there are other more extreme elements that convey me to claim this album is almost a sub-genre of a sub-genre. Pretty crazy huh, but hey that explains why they are signed onto one of the biggest metal labels, Napalm Records and have been around since 2002, well over a decade.
Vosrozhdenie comes in at about an hour in length and it could not get any more extreme yet melodic with the opening track, Kolyada. Masha Scream really enunciates and rolls her R’s giving the tracks a much more authentic feel to them. Aside from the occasional flutes and wind instruments, it’s more on the death metal trek with blast beats, great riffs, speedy drums, easily a headbangable track. A personal favorite, Kdomu Svaroga, still remains wild and vengeful but many, much more folk elements and ambience are introduced making this a win-win track. The wind instrumentals, the drums and the tremelo style picking gallop their way toward victory. There are male death metal growls as well, also making this one a pretty sick and tasty endeavor.
The title track, Vozrozhdenie, is extremely ambient. It gets much more into the realms of melodic death, less folk but with pleasing results. I felt a story and pain were being foretold, with the gang vocals adding indefinite strength to the overall atmosphere. Zalozhny has some great riffs and normally, riffs don’t make that much of a difference to me, as long as they’re heavy but in this track I just had this “whoa” moment. Furthermore, the guitars definitely play a vital role in this one, with some great harmonics incorporated within as we gallop once again to the end. I would recommend pairing a beer this time around. The ending of the album gets really eerie and suspenseful. The most unique track of the album, Zov-Predkov starts on a hauntingly ominous tone, messages are delivered up until the halfway mark where the drums and riffs layer on more devious stimulation. I felt I was at a haunted house of some sort so the ending is well worth it.
Overall, this album is pure headbanging folk metal style. Perhaps the band was afraid to apply the brakes with this album, as metal fans can get picky once tracks get slower or change but on a personal scale, I was just a tad disappointed there were not enough guitar solos or harmonic workings. Each track is perfect to mosh to so the lack of variety was present but nevertheless the energy is undeniably present and accounted for. Fans of folk metal will surely love this album. If you like Korpiklaani, Alestorm, Tyr, all bands in the pagan/folk metal spectrum, this album will surely make it’s way into your library as the band will as well. A solid album from the Russian metallers, let’s wait for their next original release and see what the group can muster next time around. Stay Metal m/
Vozrozhdenie: 8/10
Official Website: https://www.arkona-russia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkonarussia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/arkonarussia?lang=en
The Metal Alchemy 