Ever been to Russia? Well, just listening to this you get the full on experience of Russian folklore and Slavic myths, played on authentic Russian folk instruments (i.e. balalaikas, flutes, accordion) and sung / wailed entirely in Russian by a pagan siren called Masha accompanied by the all too familiar toiling-in-the-fields workers choir of misery! I’m not sure if this 14 track album was meant as a conceptual or spiritual experience but it’s a complete cultural immersion to say the least and songs like ‘Na Moey Zemle’ or ‘Nevidal’ are certainly less jolly and straightforward compared to the likes of Korpiklaani - more like bloody Klingon opera! Elsewhere it’s got elements of Emperor style riff bashing such as on ‘Tropoiu Nevedannoi’ or is the opposite shifting entirely into folk like on ‘Kolo Navi’. Then there are the instrumentals like ‘Pritcha’ which are a heavy experience indeed that add to the overall trancing effect of the album. Although well played and sung with spiritual conviction, my problem was that there were too many songs that ultimately had the effect of creating monotony such that by the time I got to track 12 I couldn’t remember track 2 so if “Goi, Rode, Roi!” is to be recommended then it’s only done so with a big bottle of Vodka.

-Shan Siva