So.... sorry in advance for the delay on this next release, but things have been quite hectic here in the household. Regardless, I have not abandoned my intentions on attempting to help broaden the listeners of this beautiful genre of music known as metal. Far too many people out in this great big wide world view metal as nothing more than a bunch of noise covered by screaming. If people took the time to sit, relax and listen to the instrumentation as well as the beauty of the lyrics rather than the intimidating front, they would discover (as us metal heads have) that there is so much more to metal, and it takes a skill of unrelenting and undying lengths to pull off what they do. Then maybe more people would love it and appreciate it as we do. Alas, we are in a digital age where pre-fabricated garbage is shoved into the ears of the musically weak-minded. We are in an age where the majority population needs their art spoon-fed to their will-lacking mouths. It disgusts me.

But I digress, I'm getting ahead of myself. Where was I? Ah, yes. The beauty of folk metal.

You are all in for a treat. This next particular band hails from Russia, and they have majestically combined the ferocity of metal with the ambient croon of melodic chants and singing paired with old-style folk music to accompany the metal sound. This female-fronted folk metal powerhouse is nothing short of a spectacular example as to why folk metal is the perfect gateway drug to metal as a whole.

Without further ado, I give to you.... Arkona.

http://www.greekrebels.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/arkona-2016-480x240.jpg

The lyrics, as well as much of the instrumentals, are heavily influenced by Russian folklore, as well as Slavic mythology in general. In fact, much of their music, on an instrumental level, involve some traditional Russian folk instruments often found in old folklore songs typically sung and performed by Russian natives. Even the band name, Arkona, refers to the last pagan Slavic city-castle located on the northeastern tip of the German Baltic Sea island of Rugen at Cape Arkona. Maria "Masha Scream" Arkhipova, the vocalist/keyboardist, as well as the main songwriter, who is married and has two children with one of the guitarists, Sergei "Lazar" Atrashkevich, is one of the very few female vocalists of the folk metal genre who plays such a monumental role in the songwriting process. Additionally, she is one of the only female vocalists in folk metal who has dared to go beyond just singing a pretty melodic tune, and furthermore also uses death metal-esque growls, particularly during the more intense parts of the band's music, which really sets them apart from many of their fellow folk metal acts, in my opinion.

The band was founded in 2002, under a different name, Hyperborea, and by the end of 2002 they were already playing live with other similar folk metal acts of that time, right after releasing a demo, "Rus". The former band name did not last long, however, and was changed to Arkona. Due to a general lack of enthusiasm from the other members, Arkona disbanded, leaving Arkhipova to pick up the pieces and continue onward, working on solo material as well as music with another band she was fronting at the time, Nargathrond. Eventually, Arkona's debut album, "Vozrozhdeniye", came out in March 2004, then their second album, "Lepta", was recorded later that year in the autumn and released in December of 2004. This was only the tip of the monumental proverbial iceberg that became Arkona, as they are still active to this day, over ten years later.

To me, as I've said before, their sound really stands out. Many folk metal fans are used to the typical Finnish or occasional German style of folk metal. It almost has grown a niche of the sound, but Arkona take it to a whole other level. Their traditional Russian/Slavic folklore and such can be found in just about every part of their music, and it all shows handsomely. The sound takes you into their Russian background, which brings into it an ambiance all its own. They seem to use their music as a gateway (a portal, if you will) into their world and their background and upbringing, with a great many tunes that are either heavily influenced by or literally contain, traditional songs or stories of their culture. To me, that is a rare find in many musical groups, be it metal or not. If you are intrigued as I was, see below for a few examples of their musical prowess! As always, my fellow Steemians, stay metal. \m/

"Chiornye Vorony", from their debut album, "Vozrozhdeniye" (2004)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNKiVHb42jA&list=PLB1F350566CD731E7&index=5

"Kupalets", from their album "Goi, Rode, Goi!" (2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BEDlwTRchQ

"Odna", from their album, "Slovo" (2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVVCB2gy6tI&list=PLOeZJf5g945XM5xI8WBs_pQsyDfXuaOMF&index=11

- @damiancraymond

P.S.: Behind in this series? Fear not, I have affixed the links to the previous posts below!

Introduction

https://steemit.com/music/@damiancraymond/folk-metal-and-why-it-s-the-perfect-gateway-drug-to-metal-music

Part 1 - Alestorm

https://steemit.com/music/@damiancraymond/folk-metal-a-z-part-1-alestorm

Folk Metal A-Z, Part 2 - Arkona