| Pagan metal leaders ARKONA return after five years with intriguing Kob’! Preparing listeners for the first step into the abyss, the album opener “Izrechenie. Nachalo” (ENG: The Speech. The Beginning) gently takes the listener’s hand, leading them into trancelike realms of ominous whispers and murmuring voices – a recurring motif on the album. Dominated by rhythmic synths and a catchy bassline, “Ugasaya” (ENG: Fadin’ Away) represents the modern era of ARKONA’s pagan roots, as well as the great diversity in their music. Although Kob’ is dedicated to pagan metal, “Mor”, one of the album’s longest tracks, leans towards black metal – forming the most epic hymn on the album. Not only articulating through lyrics, Masha also sets the tone with her keyboard solo on the emotional “Razryvaya plot’ ot bezyskhodnosti bytiya” (ENG: Tearing the flesh owing to the despair of being). While society digs its own grave through wars, religious beliefs and environmental problems, pensive wind instruments and acoustic guitar interludes transform the aggression of deep low growls and fast-paced guitar shredding. Closing the album with the world’s absolute apocalypse on “Izrechenie. Iskhod” (ENG: The Speech. The Conclusion), Kob’ is deeply rooted in pagan metal stylings of the old days, but offers a modern spirit via its production and variety alike. ARKONA state about the upcoming album, Kob’: “Kob’ is ARKONA’s darkest creation to date. Conceptually, the album describes six steps of the descent into the abyss, where each of the songs is the epitome of every step. We invite everyone to recognize the truth of the Primordial Darkness by plunging gradually into the world of the black reality of Suicidal Humanity through its complete annihilation.” | 
