TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1. Az'
2. Arkaim
3. Bol'no Mne
4. Leshiy
5. Zakliatie
6. Predok
7. Nikogda
8. Tam Za Tumanami
9. Potomok
10. Slovo
11. Odna
12. Vo Moiom Sadochke...
13. Stenka Na Stenku
14. Zemushka

Total playing time: 57:24

Release Date: August 26th, 2011
Label: Napalm Records

Arkona - Slovo

Reviewer: Deathstalker

August 26, 2011

For the better part of a decade, Russia’s Arkona have been putting out high quality pagan folkened black metal albums at an impressive rate.  While their third album from 2005 Vo Slavu Velikim! will probably always remain my favorite, Arkona seems to continue to approve in their approach on every album.  Their sixth release, Slovo continues this trend.  While not breaking lots of new ground within the genre or themselves, Slovo has many memorable moments that will satisfy old and new fans with new ideas and some

The album starts off with ‘Az’’ which is mostly a string and keyboard instrumental.  However, this is an intro track that demands repeat listening.  It is one of the finer instrumental openers I have heard in quite some time and I don’t see myself giving it the skip treatment in order to get to the ‘real’ songs.  ‘Az’’ flows into what maybe Arkona’s finest song written to date.  ‘Arkaim’ has plenty to offer the listener.  Within you will find a good clue as to what the album has to offer as a whole.  There are blast beats, melodic guitars, classical choirs, folk instruments and of course Masha’s incredible vocals both clean and harsh.  The vocal layering that occurs toward the end of the track is very impressive. The song showcases that Arkona is not going to write the same album again after the very successful Goi, Rode, Goi! from 2009 but instead take their sound and throw in a few changes to keep things fresh.

From here on out the album follows a standard Arkona release.  You will find some heavier songs, some more traditional folk tracks and a few vocal or instrumental interludes.  There are few songs jump out right away on Slovo, primarily ‘Nikogda’ for how downright heavy it is.  The song is easily the most brutal track Masha and Co. have penned and also showcases a good amount of progressiveness to prove folk metal isn’t as pedestrian as many lesser folk metal acts may have people think.  The tracks ‘Tam Za  Tumanami’ and  ‘Zemushka’ remind me a lot of ‘Oy, To Ne Vecher’ from their second album Lepta.  It has been six years now since they released such pure folk songs that reach the emotional level of that song.  It is here that Masha really demonstrates her control of her clean voice and her talents as a song writer and vocal arranger.

Arkona have always been leaders in the folk metal genre.  Over six albums now they have proven that they are leaders for a reason.  They are unique, forward thinking and push themselves to try new sounds without abandoning their roots.  Slovo is not perfect though. Some songs suffer from unnecessary breaks in the flow and some take too long to get started. Overall I think the album could benefit from a few minutes of attrition.  Slovo is still a wonderful addition to Arkona’s impressive catalogue and is also a fine place for new comers to the band to start with.