During the last couple of years I’ve reviewed dozens of Pagan Metal albums – with a lot of shadows and few highlights – but if it comes to the best releases of this genre the Russian ARKONA are still bearing the top positions (together with the German FINSTERFORST). The band perfectly incorporates the Folk universe in their Metal creations and the band is releasing one masterpiece after another. After reviewing nearly the whole band discography I must admit that I became a huge ARKONA fan and the expectations concerning album number five had been really high. But “Goi, Rode, Goi” will not disappoint any Pagan Maniac – the band focuses again on their trademarks, meaning the passionate vocals by band leader Scream and the full spectrum of Folk instruments influenced by the traditional music of their home country. The critics will advise that progress is missing but songs like ‘Na Moey Zemle’ (In my Land) – a 15 minutes opus and the heart and soul of this release – with three guest singer from HEIDEVOLK, MANEGARM and MENHIR (in some way the Pagan “Metalized Blood” version) are the best prove that a fixed musical genre doesn’t mean in any way boring music. The album is again offering over an hour of Pagan art with an uncountable amount of guest musicians and even if ‘Na Moey Zemle’ remains the most remarkable song there are more than a handful of future classics on “Goi, Rode, Goi”. The Metal year 2009 has offered really good Pagan releases but ARKONA proving again their status with a release full of heart blood and dedication which gives them without doubt the right to claim once more the Pagan throne for Mother Russia. www.arkona-russia.com, www.myspace.com/arkonarussia, www.napalmrecords.com