"Kob'" CD by Arkona

Limited Digisleeve edition.

Folk-Pagan metal entity ARKONA returns after five long years and presents their ninth album Kob', which will be released on June 16, 2023. Once again, the musicians delve into singer Masha's philosophies and views of the future, placing the modern society in thematic focus.
Since the release of their last album Khram (2018), ARKONA has been attentively following world events and on the eight new tracks, they reflect both a problem of modern society and the descent into hell. The opener 'Izrechenie. Nachalo' (EN: The Speech. The Beginning) opens the path to the underworlds: trance-like rhythms go hand in hand with eerie whispers, which represent a recurring motif on the album. On the other hand, 'Kob'' (EN: The Sorcery) excavates the long-forgotten past. Melodic synth interjections and threatening guitar plays underscore the song's statement that humanity has not learned from the mistakes of history but is stuck in a vicious cycle, consistently repeating said mistakes. On 'Ugasaya' (EN: Fading Away), ARKONA musically strike more modern tones, giving the album another facet without losing sight of their Pagan roots. With raging blast beats and spiritual melodies, the track symbolizes the immense power of Mother Nature. Dueling guitar shreds with ascending harmonies provide an epic duality that sends shivers down your spine. The death metal-infused track 'Mor' (EN: Death) challenges acoustic guitar playing with genre-typical riffs and marks the most epic anthem of the album. In addition, brass instruments and synthesizer effects represent the next step into hell: since the dawn of time, plagues have plagued society, with society itself being the greatest plague of all. On 'Razryvaya plot' ot bezyskhodnosti bytiya' (EN: Tearing the Flesh off a Hopeless Existence), singer Masha indulges in an emotional keyboard solo that speaks volumes. Wars, religious beliefs, and environmental problems announce the final hours, while thoughtful flute and acoustic guitar interludes discuss the last remnants of reason. In the concluding track 'Izrechenie. Iskhod' (EN: The Speech. The Conclusion), the apocalypse is in full swing on ARKONA's ninth studio album. Although Kob' is deeply rooted in the pagan metal of the early days, its modern production and diversity appeal not only to long-time fans but also to new target audiences.