Arkona - Goi, Rode, Goi!

November 11, 2009

Reviewer: Deathstalker

After what seemed like no time at all, Russia’s Arkona return with their 5th studio album, Goi, Rode, Goi!.  Arkona has steadily been releasing albums that seem to always outdo their previous offering.  The band has to stumble somewhere along the way, no?  Well, the answer this time is, they didn’t.  Once again, Arkona prove themselves as a powerhouse in the pagan folk metal genre.  For those of you unfamiliar with the band, Arkona is known for masterfully mixing heavy blackened pagan metal with delicate Russian folk.  Goi, Rode, Goi! more than previous releases, seems to push these two themes to further extremes.  At times the album is heavier than anything they have done and at others the album is more jig worthy and folk influenced than before.

Once again, Masha is in top form as a vocalist.  Her grunts continue to improve and her vocal harmonies continue to send chills down your spine.  If anyone is familiar with Russian folk music, you will gain a huge appreciation for this band.  The melodies and harmonies found in the softer parts of songs sounds very reminiscent of the music my Russian grandparents raised me on.  It is here that I find Arkona to be more successful than many other pagan folk bands.  They truly capture the heart and spirit of their culture and nature in their songs.

The first 3 songs are great openers that immediately tell the listener that Arkona is up to the task of becoming the crowned ruler of their genre.  Once “Na Moey Zemle” begins to play, there is no doubt that they are the rightful owners of that title.  The 15-minute opus is a beast.  It spans many different emotions and employs guest vocalists from Skyforger, Heidevolk, Menhir, Obtest and Manegarm.  After the conclusion of this epic, Arkona begins an onslaught on the listener.  The songs become more full of rage, malice and rancor.  It’s almost as if they wanted the opening tracks to get you comfortable so they can more easily conquer you afterward.   “Tropoiu Nevedanndi” is Arkona’s most aggressively relentless song yet.   “Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov”  showcases Masha’s ability to create a haunting and beautiful melody from something that sounds extremely foreign to a Westerner’s ears.  Once the slower “Kupalets” arrives, it is a welcome respite.  The mostly vocal track is an eerie set up to the closing two tracks that brilliantly leave the listener under the spell of the band.  The last track, “Nebo Hmurde, Tuchi Mrachniye” is a disquieting and unforgettable way to close out this beast of an album.  Its delicate melody and use of mandolin  seem like Arkona’s way to let you down gently after just having its way with you for the previous 13 tracks.

For those familiar with the band, you won’t find anything too shockingly new on the album.  Goi, Rode, Goi! continues in the same vain where Ot Cerdu K Nebu left off.  The production and overall darker atmosphere are similar.  There seems to be more lead guitar work, and the use of a string quartet adds new dimensions to Arkona’s  sound.  The band is still pushing themselves to create something that is familiar and also challenging.  It is the perfect progression for a band.

If anything negative is to be said about Goi, Rode, Goi!, it is that it is a tiring listen.  The album clocks in at just under an hour and twenty minutes.  Once it is finished, you need to take a break to really let the album sink in.  There is so much going on, the album will require many listens to fully understand and appreciate the effort.

Goi, Rode, Goi! Is a definite front-runner for album of the year.  Those into pagan folk metal will appreciate this release and welcome it into their collection with open arms.  Metal fans that aren’t too familiar with the genre will also be satisfied for they can easily find something worthwhile in the album, as there are so many different elements, styles and emotions found within its playing time.

Welcome to your rightful throne, Arkona.

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Label: Napalm Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Goi, Rode, Goi!
2.  Yarilo
3.  Nevidal (The Wonder)
4.  Na Moey Zemle (In My Land)
5.  Pritcha (The Parable)
6.  V Tsepiakh Drevney Tainy
     (In Chains Of Ancient Mystery)
7.  Tropoiu Nevedannoi
     (On The Unknown Trail )
8.  Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov
     (Faces Of Immortal Gods)
9.  Kolo Navi (Kolo Of Nav)
10.  Korochun
11.  Pamiat (The Memory)
12.  Kupalets
13.  Arkona
14.  Nebo Hmuroe,
       Tuchi  Mrachniye
       (Sullen Sky Lurid Clouds)

Total playing time: 1:19:46

TO THE TOP

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments: