Russian Pagan/Folk Metal band Arkona have issued the following message on their MySpace:

"Arkona started to record the fifth album, named "Goi, Rode, Goi!" which will include 12 tracks with common duration more than 70 minutes. Musically, the album continues the conception of previous two albums of the band, but something new will appear in arrangements - the band invited a string orchestra and a real chore. The list of invited musicians is already known: all live parties of ethnic instruments are performed, as before, by Vladimir Cherepovskiy - the specialist in old instruments and music. Accordion is played by Alexander "Olen'" Oleinikov of Kalevala band. The band plans to widen the list of instruments never being used before. Shaman drums are already ordered from a famous master Dmitriy Ravich + line of jaw harps and some other ethnic percussion.

The special stuff of the new album is a 15 minutes long song "Na Moey Zemle" ("In my land"), a kind of pagan metal opera about the travelling of Slav around countries of Europe. Guest vocal parties are performed by Skyforger (Latvia), Obtest (Lithuania), Månegarm (Sweden), Menhir (Germany) and Heidevolk (Holland). The design of the new album is already developed and soon will be realized by well known artist Kris Verwimp.

The album will be released under Napalm Records label, not earlier than end-spring 2009. Conversations about Russian release of this album are still being held.
First pics from the studio are available here"

Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Arkona