Arkona

Formed in Moscow, Russia, during 2002, the folk/pagan-metal ensemble Arkona blends regional folk instruments with themes drawn from Slavic mythology and Russian folklore. Vocalist Maria "Masha Scream" Arkhipova and her husband, guitarist Sergei "Lazar" Atrashkevich, established the project while both belonged to the Dolgoprudny Slavic Neopaganism Society. Initially performing as Hyperborea, the musicians adopted the Arkona name in early 2003 and commenced live appearances. Their first full-length album, Vozrozhdenie (Revival), surfaced at the beginning of 2004, followed later that year by Lepta (The Contribution). The 2005 release Vo Slavu Velikim! (For the Glory of Great!) marked a deliberate move away from the synthesized keyboard textures of earlier work toward acoustic traditional instrumentation, featuring numerous guest contributors such as Vladimir Cherepovskiy (Mervent, ex-Voinstvo Sidov, Veter Vody, Trio Mario) alongside players from the folk-metal acts Svarga and Alkonost. The subsequent records Ot Serdca K Nebu (From the Heart to the Sky) and Goi, Rode, Goi! maintained this approach, the latter issued on Napalm Records. In 2011 the expansive Slovo introduced choral and chamber-orchestra elements, while 2013’s Yav folded black-metal textures into the band’s established sonic palette. Arkona’s eighth studio album, Khram, appeared in 2018.