Arkona is a Russian folk metal band founded in February 2002 in Moscow. Their music is heavily inspired by Russian folk traditions and Slavic mythology, with lyrics often focusing on pre-Christian customs, nature, and mythological figures.
The group began as a project called Giperboreya and later changed its name to Arkona, after the last pre-Christian Slavic fortress. After initial lineup changes, the band recorded their first demo, "Rus," at the end of 2002, which laid the foundation for their future work. They performed alongside other Russian folk metal bands such as Butterfly Temple, Pagan Reign, Svarga, and Rossomahaar.
Their debut album, "Vozrozhdeniye," was released in 2004, followed by several more albums including "Lepta" (2005), "Vo slavu velikim!" (2005), "Ot serdtsa k nebu" (2007), and "Yav" (2014). Their eighth studio album, "Khram," came out in 2018, and their ninth album, "Kob'," was released in 2023.
Arkona is known for their energetic and emotional live performances, with lead vocalist Masha "Scream" Arkhipova being recognized for her strong stage presence. The band gained international popularity and has performed at numerous festivals and concerts across Europe and worldwide.
Their music combines elements of black metal, pagan metal, and folk metal, often featuring traditional Russian instruments such as bagpipes, flutes, and tambouras. Arkona is distinguished by their unique sound and strong visual identity, reflecting Slavic cultural heritage.
