I’ve been looking forward to Goi, Rode, Goi!, the new album by Russian Pagan/Folk Metal band ARKONA, for quite some time. Not only because of the well done album’s predecessors but more because of ARKONA together with Skyforger, Pagan Reign, Alkonost and Severnye Vrata some years ago being my introduction to as well East European mythology and the Pagan Metal scene of these lands.
So let’s head now to the newest output from ARKONA, who should be quite well known to most Pagan Metal fans at the latest since their 2007 release:
Their earlier albums already have been quite lush and opulent but on Goi, Rode, Goi! things are more than ever done in a big way. As if the range of folk instruments like flutes, accordions, mandolins, Domra (a Russian plucking instrument) and Kolke (a Latvian version of the kantele) isn’t enough, ARKONA this time even make use of a string quintet and a professional choir, all furnished by a crystal clear production.
Apart from this increases there aren’t real changes in the music of ARKONA. In a well known matter you get highly melodic Folk Metal, which is often interrupted by harder, slightly blackish Pagan Metal parts. The whole time grafted by the variable voice of Masha, who covers everything from beautiful clean singing, powerful shouting to dark and menacing growls.
Linchpin of Goi, Rode, Goi! surely is the epic 15 minutes long Na Moey Zemle (In My Land), in which ARKONA have gathered together a bunch of fellow minded guest musicians (Månegarm, Skyforger, Menhir, Obtest, Heidevolk) for support – so to speak a meeting of the various mythologies of the Northern hemisphere. Especially the guest vocals of Månegarm’s Erik and Skyforger’s Peter and Edgar are extraordinary great and absolutely enthralling.
In addition to this epos there further are a lot of other really good songs on Goi, Rode, Goi!, with Tropoiu Nevedannoi, Kolo Navi and Pamiat, who all are pending between epic, folk and ravaging darker parts, being my favorites.
Without any doubt absolute professionals are at work here. You won’t find a single bad song and Goi, Rode, Goi! successfully transports the spirit of Russian mythology and folklore, in that way making the hearts of many Pagan or Folk Metal fans leap for joy.
What I personally miss to a point are some real edges, musically speaking: a wild, raw and archaic element, which to me is a form of must for heathen music. A bit of harsh screaming or some upbeat Black Metal influenced parts don’t always do the trick. Somehow everything here is a bit too clear, too slick and glossy, resulting in the realization that Goi, Rode, Goi! just isn’t the masterpiece I personally had expected.
But leaving these (maybe too) high expectations aside, Goi, Rode, Goi! is a quite impressive album with lots of good and even great songs, grated by ARKONA’s extremely high level of quality and skill as well as the deep rooted pagan beliefs. So everything else except a clear recommendation to buy this would be more than unjustified.