The Folk / Pagan branch of Heavy Metal, is a difficult musical style to dwell, you have to incorporate among the guitars, drums, Heavy Metal vocals the folk aspect that is all the classical instruments and the musical idioms that follow the folk genre. Vocally you have to be able to incite the passion of that that you sing and maintain a balance between Heavy Metal and Folk. Also, if you wish to create something truly based on the Folk / Pagan genre you must know very well the legend and the lore, least you end up singing about bullshit like stupid rituals involving young girls to gods that actually even the band can't pronounce the name right.
I never heard of ARKONA before but Goi, Rode, Goi is their fifth full length. Goi, Rode, Goi is an album filled with songs from the folk mythology of Russia and consequently all the songs are in the Russian language. I know that the fact that it is in Russian raises a dilemma on how one can connect to what he is listening. Yet Masha's voice has something that captivates you instantly. Maybe it's the harsh undertone of the Slavic women or the fact that she has great respect to what she sings, as she is part of a pagan community the Vyatichi. Her voice carries the beauty and the melodic greatness fit for the theme of the album; themes that steam from prayers and stories about the life of warriors and common men, about the ancient ways that a land such as Russia holds in her cradle. Masha's voice takes you away to a land filled with legends and dreams and has the ability to break the language barrier just through the feelings that come out of her song.
Goi, Rode, Goi combines the modern instruments with the classical folk instruments in a perfect way, which together augment the epic feel of the album. They work so well together that the listener feels deep inside him the power of the music. It is as if they augment each other, never allowing any stand alone moment and each musical instrument knows when and what to play. I was amazed by their ability to the musical momentum, they play as one. Heaviness is not sacrificed for a classical bravado and the classical musicians are not trying to show off their unique skills. Even the chorus is humble and does not cover any main vocal part or instrument.

Goi, Rode, Goi might have mistakes that I could not listen because I was absorbed by the music, it took me to places I have been and forgot with the help of the ambient banality of everyday life. So listen to this album and let the power and passion take you away.