[8/10] Arkan was started by ex-The Old Dead Tree drummer Foued Moukid and plays a unique blend of death metal with nods to Moukid’s former band and North African folk. Although the group cites France as home, each member has a name owing to Muslim origin. Two of the members formerly played in the Algerian-based melodic death act, Worth. The group’s African heritage shines through on their first full-length album Hilal, released through Season of Mist Records.

The Algerian and Moroccan elements found on Hilal are certain to catch the listener’s ear first, not only because it is unusual (most metal/folk combos are of European origin), but also because the genuine melodies the group produces. Arkan makes use of traditional and folk instruments such as oûd, mandole, bendir and derbouka. The vocal harmonies, whether performed by a female vocalist on tracks like “Groans of the Abyss” or by male prayer chanters (“Lords Decline” and “Athaoura”), also give the music a feeling of authenticity. While the bulk of the album combines death metal with traditional North African music, Arkan strips away the metal for a more organic approach for folk interludes such as “Lamma Bada” and “El Houdou.”

Because Hilal is an album containing much music from Africa’s west coast, many will find this album a bit much to bear, especially the prayer-type vocals. Some tracks contain no metal, whatsoever. However, Arkan deserves credit for creating something ingenious. Are there any other groups that weld together two styles of such a disparate nature? The only group I can think of creating music similar to Arkan is Orphaned Land, who blended traditional Israelian music with death metal, but there is no mistaking the two. Not only is Hilal unique, it shows a band smoothly blending styles. When Arkan changes direction, the change occurs smoothly because the folk element persists throughout each song, even during the death metal parts.

Readers who fancy the more melodic side of death metal and have a mind that is open enough to take on ideas seldom explored, Hilal comes with high recommendations.

www.arkan.fr