Alkonost (The goddess of the land of the dead) have been creating epic folk infused metal long before it became a movement and a genre. The Russian outfit from inception in 1995 have been stirring the soul with their seamless combination of pure metal riffing, traditional folk and beautiful vocals. It is a combination of rich soundscapes that captures symphonic metal, with death and folk gothic metal... The continually evolving pioneers have returned with “Дар саламандры’ ((Salamander's Gift), that is more epic and yet more beautiful as well. Is it the definitive Alkonost Album?
Kenia Pobuzhanskaya (Vocals) ‘’First of all, we would like to thank you for the high appreciation, we are pleased! It's not quite correct to talk about return, because we haven't disappeared anywhere: since the release of the previous album ‘Driven by the Wind’ we've toured across the country several times, released a few releases and music videos, in general, we've been active as much as the situation allowed. This is the album that defines Alkonost for the last couple of years, as our creativity changes with us, and a lot of things have happened, both good and not so good.
Its dedication to the element of Fire?
‘’Yes, it reveals the fire, if not in all, then in its basic appearances.
The journey from spark to raging bonfire? Is it something that can ever be extinguished?
‘’You could say that.
The diverse vocals styles reflect the passion and the personal fire within?
‘’Not exactly. The theme and mood of each song is emphasised by melodies, arrangements, tempo and many other things, including the vocals, which play perhaps one of the leading roles here.
How do you control such a primal uncontrollable element? Sometimes is it better to give into it?
‘’We believe that since we have learnt to control fire, human development has gone up sharply. Symbiosis is important, it is necessary to keep a balance. However, if we talk about metaphorical inner fire, passion and the like - then, yes, you can sometimes succumb ;) The main thing is not to get carried away!
The importance of light and shadow within your music? Does it reflect the continual struggle of darkness and light and the emotions of the human condition?
‘’We can't say that we pay much attention to this aspect in our songs, but in our stage performances - definitely. We could say that the play of light and shadow is an integral part of our shows, emphasising the magic of the music itself.
How do you keep your music so vibrant and original?
‘’I guess the point is that we never stand still; we are always in some kind of movement and search. But at the same time, from the very first albums we have kept the spirit of Alkonost, our specialities and melodies. In a way we managed to find our own recognisable signature, face, if you will. No one else has done anything like this, and no one else is doing anything like this, which means that our ideas continue to be original.
What inspired you to create music? And your continual evolution of it?
‘’Our permanent guitarist and composer Andrey Losev was originally inspired by gothic and medieval music, it started to come to our country in the 90s, and no one played something like that then, so our band appeared. As for the current times, every day brings a bunch of new events and news, there is no lack of sources of inspiration. It's true for our evolution - the world around us is changing, we are changing inside, and the music is changing as well.
How do you feel about the growth of the folk metal genre since your beginnings? Is it a genre or a representing of local traditions and current music?
‘’We have been in existence for almost three decades, and during this time folk, like any other long-playing genre of music, has undergone various metamorphoses. They mainly consist in the fact that, like a sponge, it absorbs some current trends in music. Now you can find combinations of folk with technical metal, popular music, even rap. Undoubtedly, the core of the creativity of some bands is the local traditions of certain peoples and places, and this is wonderful. Music is eternal, which means that the traditions reflected in it will not die.
And how do you define uncompromising?
‘’It is, firstly, to be free from externally imposed frames of reference, and secondly, to do everything you do at 150%!
Final thoughts
‘’Take care of yourself, do sports, spend more time with friends and family and, of course, listen to Alkonost! \m/
Top 6 albums of all time
1. The Beatles — "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967)
2. Nirvana — "Nevermind" (1991)
3. Pink Floyd — "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973)
4. Metallica — "Master of Puppets" (1986)
5. Alkonost — "Octagram" (2018)
6. Michael Jackson — "Thriller" (1982)
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