Chuck Schuldiner Project

Monday, April 7, 2014

Arkona-Yav


Arkona have long impressed me with their unique approach to folk metal, a veritable melting pot of genres, something that any fan of pagan metal will love. Their new record Yav is more than just metal, it is a powerful pumping pagan perfection. One of the most impressive and mind melting metal records to come out so far this year, this is one of the most exciting releases I've heard in a good long while. Arkona are still on top of their game and more than six full length releases and 12 years into their career they are putting out some of their best music to date.

One of the first things that will strike you about Arkona is the epic arrangements found throughout. From the first, Zarozhdenie, the album opener proves that this band has some wonderful ideas on composition and development of their pieces. Their is a wonderful contrast here between longer masterworks and some shorter more engaging pieces. It gives the whole album an impressive flow, from start to finish it flows beautifully, showing us a new way forward in what has often been called a stagnant genre. This band digs into their very essence with Yav pulling out one of their best releases to date, one that is exciting and engaging, true pagan music for the ages.

At sixty seven minutes long, this is not an album that you will be able to delve into and fully immerse yourself in. The many layered production is worth dozens of spins, and Yav is quite possibly one of the best pagan metal releases I have heard in a good long while. Exciting and dynamic, I think that this bands development is not one to be underestimated. Close your eyes and let yourself be taken in by the incredible all encompassing power of Arkona's attack. This is a release that drives its hand down your throat and touches the heart, this is pagan metal for the masses, so dig in and find yourself.

Find Arkona on Facebook!

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