Arkan

by Chris True The coming together of seemingly disparate styles and cultures is the backbone of what rock & roll is all about, and nowhere is this more true than in the vast, ever-expanding world of metal. Sometimes it is merely a mash-up of styles within the larger metal world -- thrash and death, for example -- while other bands are more than willing to go outside of the genre -- and in the case of Arkan, outside the cultural homeland (Europe and America) altogether. Formed with the intent to meld Eastern musics and sounds with the Western traditions of metal, Arkan's inception took place in 2005. Formed at the outset by Abder (of Dawn of Decline) and Foued (of the Old Dead Tree), the duo roped in members Mus, Samir, and Florent soon after, and within a year released their first EP, Burning Flesh. Their unique combination was well received, and after many live performances and further musical development -- including the integration of instruments well outside the normal parameters of metal -- Arkan unleashed their first full-length -- the Fredrik Nordström-produced Hilal -- upon the world in 2008.