Arkona is a Russian band, who play Pagan Folk Metal. So there are some Black Metal undercurrents in it, but the folk side is mostly present, thats why I placed it in the Melodic Metal Forum.

The bands vocalist Masha "Scream" sings in her native language, she also proves to have a good grunt. Masha is pretty much the face of the band, giving Arkona their sound. The rest of the music is based around traditional melodies and instruments with the combination of the usual Metal instruments.

Alright, enough introduction stuff. Time to check out their music. Arkona released a great DVD this year, and has put it on their site for download, free of charge, which is really cool obviously. Check it out right here, its really quite good:

650 MB version, great quality
290 MB version, still very good quality

The links are taken from their official site, right from here. Hesitant to download? Look at this promotional video from youtube.

For a review of their debut album, click here

So well, what do you all think about this band? I kind of fell in love with them

Sounds very interesting i'll definitely check them out! Any stuff you would personally suggest?

Thanks for taking an interest

Hmm, I think I would reccommend to start with their debut album. I haven't been able to listen to "Lepta" thouroughly, but so far I think my favorite is "Vozrozhdenie".

Written by [user id=823] on 10.08.2006 at 10:25

Sounds very interesting i'll definitely check them out! Any stuff you would personally suggest?

Everything, absolutely everything! I personally like their debut album "Vozrozhdenie" best, since it starts off with the awesome "Kolyada" and also has the great title track. Perfection from start to end! Their other two albums are great as well, "Vo Slavu Velikim" just needs a bit time to get you going since it starts kinda slow. I still need to give "Lepta" a few more listens though.

And shame on me, I still haven't downloaded the DVD yet.


EDIT:
Damn, didn't notice you had posted in the meantime, Eddie.

Written by Promonex on 10.08.2006 at 13:59

Everything, absolutely everything! I personally like their debut album "Vozrozhdenie" best, since it starts off with the awesome "Kolyada" and also has the great title track. Perfection from start to end! Their other two albums are great as well, "Vo Slavu Velikim" just needs a bit time to get you going since it starts kinda slow. I still need to give "Lepta" a few more listens though.

And shame on me, I still haven't downloaded the DVD yet.

EDIT:
Damn, didn't notice you had posted in the meantime, Eddie.

Hehe, my thoughts exactly "Kolyada" is also my favorite track of the album. The DVD is really good as well, get it asap

Probably my favourite Pagan Metal band... very blissful and fresh-sounding, well played and well, Russian folk will always rule. Vozrozhdenie and Lepta are both amazing, specially the first.

Thanks for the help,I'll get started right away!

I like alot of their stuff, and I don't usually listen to pagan/folk metal.

First heard about them trying to look for bands who sing in the Russian language (for my language studies). I still haven't gotten any of their albums yet - largely because it's kinda hard to find Russian Pagan Metal at the local FYE.

Probably band number 2 in Russian Pagan Metal behind undisputed number 1 -- Butterfly Temple. Masha has an almost perfect voice for the metal music and what's even more important she can vary it from song to song -- clear vocal or screaming or even growling whatever you like. Music wise the first two albums we can compile into a tip top single album, there is not enough first class material for two albums. Still I daresay these albums are of must-listen-must-have type. The 3d one I have yet to listen.

Anyone checked out the DVD yet?

Don't make me spam my own thread!!

Written by [user id=823] on 12.08.2006 at 10:01

Thanks for the help,I'll get started right away!

So hey, is it to your liking??

I like this band and and all stuff conected whit them, its intresting and maybe because thay sings in mother tounge(russian)
''Vozrozhdenie'' are great album also ''V Slavu Velikim'' I never had hear ''lepta'' and I dunno but ''V Slavu velikim'' are diferent, yeah glory to the brave

@Eddie I hasnt chack DVD and wont get it and ''Zhizn Vo Slavu'' its them newest live album and BTW does Zhizn means live whf h doing there

Yes...exactly like I thought....quite identical to Holy Blood....right now I already listen to another slavonic folk metal act...Holy Blood.....the latter is from Ukraine though but I still seem to understand the lyrics so perhaps these are in Russian after all....
Masha has a good voice indeed.....Perhaps I'll get some of their stuff in the nearer future...when she uses clean vocals it really adds an original sound....that is at the moment the only difference whil comparing to Holy Blood....these gauys only have male vocals but these are very fine too.....anyhow.....two good bands discovered....I must admit that slavonic folk metal appeals a lot to me.....

Bad news: I've heard rumours about Arkona having disbanded! Nothing's official yet, but I'm still kinda alert.

Nah, couldn't be, my friend is a huge fan of Arkona, and he would know if it being disbanded and stuff...

Arkona is a great band i like the lyrics very much

I really really hope thats not true

Don't worry, *gives a hug* just went to them of. web-site, nothing there, and talked to that friend (that i talked bout) today, so no worrys mates.. i think

The person I have gotten it from is concert organizer and apparantly contacted them for a gig when he got the news. You don't really believe that all websites are always up to date, do you?

Yeah, official sites aren't usually very up to date. But I guess it will eventually be posted up there... if it's true that is.

Uhmm, that would be a bummer.. just now i start to realize, that they could really split up, gddamnt.

Let's pray guys

Wow, interesting conversation.

Well, I'm going to check them out now, I'll start with Vozrozhdenie.

Does anyone know what Arkona means? The great NS Folk / black band Temnozor has a song named that also. Those guys are also from russia, so it means somethin right?

If I'm informed correctly, Arkona was the last pagan fortress to fall which resisted the longest against the violent christianization.

Written by Promonex on 30.10.2006 at 16:37

If I'm informed correctly, Arkona was the last pagan fortress to fall which resisted the longest against the violent christianization.

Wow. That really is an epic name then. I saw the live vid and it was great. But nothin spectacular. Arkona \m/

There are a lot of Arkona's, dammit. I am currently listening to a Polish one.

It is good, but that asides. I have songs from the polish Arkona and from an Arkona from Russia, but that seems to be the wrong one. I'll be back, with some good songs hopefully.

Written by Promonex on 30.10.2006 at 16:37

If I'm informed correctly, Arkona was the last pagan fortress to fall which resisted the longest against the violent christianization.

Thats correct, im currently in search of a book about it, people say it's spectacular.

I just found on the website of Wolfsangel that they share a gig with Arkona in February next year. Looks like Arkona still are alive after all

Well, if it is 'our' Arkona. Cherck out M-A, there are lots of em.

I know about those other ones. The gig is in St. Petersburg, which most likely rules out the Polish one since the gig is rather local. The other Arkona from Russia has renamed to no-idea-what, but they don't play under the name Arkona anymore. Which leaves us with only one Arkona, "our" Arkona and the fact that they play with Alkonost, another female-fronted Pagan Metal band kinda confirms this thought.