Review | Arkona’s Decade of Glory – Live and Dangerous

Keep in mind fellow metal heads, I am not keen on live albums. I feel that live is a title that should be enjoyed physically in the pit, or in bowels of the venue, listening and observing the masters of music at work. So when I woke up today to see Arkona had a live album, I had a bit of skepticism. Generally live albums have few songs, mostly newer fare, and with mediocre sound quality.

Band: Arkona
Album: Decade of Glory
Genre: Folk/Pagan Metal
Label: Napalm Records
Release: February 22nd, 2013

Well this album was the exact opposite of anything else. Decade of Glory, is IMMENSE with 31 live songs spanning the entire career of Arkona. You have classics such as ”Slav’sja, Rus’” and live favorites such as “Yarilo” and “Goi Rode Goi”. The impressive part, however, is the sound itself. Not only are the sounds crisp and near studio quality, but very seldom can you hear the wonderful live vocals in harmony with the crowd singing the hooks to the catchy bounce of ”Stenka na Stenku” and many other songs.

“If you love folk, if you love Arkona, if you love vodka, you will love this album, and you will mark your calendar for when these Russian pagans storm your city next. “

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V44XHAuMTmM]

There isn’t much to else to say besides that this is a compilation of some of Arkona’s best works intertwined with the energy they bring live. This is the only live album I have heard that can bring some of that tangible energy of the live event into the ears of headphones walking between classes. If you love folk, if you love Arkona, if you love vodka, you will love this album, and you will mark your calendar for when these Russian pagans storm your city next.