Arkona - Live for the Glory
CD Info
2007
European Import
11 Tracks
Russian Lyrics
It’s difficult to get a lot of information regarding Arkona, unless your Russian is real good, and of course, it goes without saying that the lyrics can be difficult without the same skill set. However, this is a pretty interesting CD and, assuming you like this kind of music, it is very much worth taking the time to give it a listen. I’ve been playing it a lot and was playing many of the same songs directly from their MySpace site before that.
Arkona is from Moscow, at least that’s what their MySpace site says. Other sites provide more detailed information about the band but, unless you understand this, and some of it is understandable. . . .
...Корни группы Аркона следует искать в начале 2002 года, когда участники долгопрудненской родноверческой общины «Вятичи» Маша «Scream» Арихипова и Александр «Warlock» Королев решили организовать музыкальный коллектив, соответствующий их музыкальным и идеологическим взглядам. Изначально коллектив назывался «Гиперборея», в состав которого входили: Маша «Scream» Архипова (вокал), Евгений Князев (гитара), Евгений Борзов (бас), Илья Богатырев (гитара), Александр «Warlock» Королев (барабаны), Ольга Логинова (клавиши), но с февраля 2002 года название коллектива было изменено на «АРКОНА». Творчество группы музыкально изначально было ориентировано как pagan/folk metal с лирикой на темы родноверия и истории древней Руси.you’ll have to go with my description. Arkona , or in the original Russian, Аркона is a somewhat flexible lineup of musicians with multiple personnel contributing over the past few years. The name Arkona is taken from an old Slavonic city, which is located on a little known cape in Germany known as Rügen. Historically, that city is said to have fallen in 1168 in a battle with a Christian army. The city is believed to be the last Slavonic pagan fortress and has special meaning to Slavic pagans. That’s important because Arkona is described as a Slavic Pagan metal band. They play Folk Metal with Black Metal elements and a lot of Russian (Slavonic) traditional music. Lyrics are entirely in Russian and themes are generally about Mother Nature and Slavonic mythology. Or so they tell me.The band itself is a background to vocalist Masha "Scream" Arhipova. And, since this is a live album, we get to hear lots of Masha, and, to this reviewer’s perspective, it is a delight. She is backed up by Sergei "Lazar" - guitar Ruslan "Kniaz" - bass and Vlad "Artist" – drums, but this line up seems to change with some degree of regularity. The music is diversified; it includes female growling, clean female vocals and "Slavonic-folk-style" vocals. Background sounds come from keyboards, guitars and a range of old traditional Slavic instruments, which are beyond the ability of this reviewer to identify in any meaningful way.
The beginnings of Arkona stem from some musical activity in 2002, when the members of local pagan community "Vyatichi" – Maria (or Masha) "Scream" Arhipova and Alexander "Warlock" (as mentioned in the Russian above) Korolyov decided to form a band, based on their ideology and musical tastes. The original band was called Hyperborea. That changed shortly after to the name currently in use. Arkona began playing live dates and did some initial recording, receiving some positive reviews. However, that version of Arkona disappeared in 2003, only to be revived through the efforts of Masha Arhipova. During the next several years a variety of writers and musicians worked with Archipova before a new lineup was established in the 2004 – 2005 timeframe.
I can’t think of any particular reason to go into the song titles in any depth or to discuss lyrics, especially since I don’t understand them. However, two of the titles have always appealed to me and would probably be representative of the Arkona sound. "Восстание рода" (Vosstane roda) captures most of what Arkona is about, the grunting of Masha, the hard metal sound of the background musicians and the traditional instruments that make up much of the individualistic sound found here. The accompanying booklet found in the CD provides numerous pictures of the band in concert and it is clear from those visuals who is in charge and who the paying public came to see. Masha can also sing and does both on many songs, however, it is the energy of the presentation that captures the listener. Masha appears as an attractive blond Slavic pagan, wearing ancient Slavic outfits complete with furs. Her presentation often includes direct interaction with the audience and that occurs in this number on several occasions. Of course, what they’re talking about is beyond me. The songs aren’t short; they can last up to 10 minutes and include multiple segments that are distinct in terms of tempo and sound. But you can clearly understand the excitement of the audience, even if you haven’t a clue what they’re talking about.A second title from the CD is "Черные дебри Войны", which roughly translated means Chiornie debri voini. Don’t ask me to go beyond that. The song is a little more direct than the first one mentioned, but the sound is similar. You don’t hear a lot of female grunters, especially when it comes from a cute little blond, but Masha can grunt with the best of them. . . and with more energy than most. This title includes a tight drum line with a variety of instruments thrown into the mix. The crowd seems to know every word. . . which puts them one up on most of us. . . and they seem to be having a whale of a good time. I’m just guessing here that the vodka was flowing long before the concert began and didn’t back off through the concert. Wish I had been there, always been a fan of the “Russian medicine.”
The music has a certain animal magnetism. I put it on at a party recently, a rather boring affair up to that point, and to my surprise, within a few moments a slew of conservative capitalist types were up on the floor dancing, whooping it up and having the time of their lives. . . to the sound of Russian pagans. If it can do that for them, just think what it can do for you.
7 / 10
