Arkona And Nytt Land Bring Pagan Folk Ritual To Australia For The First Time

Russian pagan folk legends Arkona and Siberian mystics Nytt Land will tour Australia for the first time this September with their immersive Southern Ritual.

Prepare for a tour unlike anything Australia has seen before. This September, Russian pagan folk titans Arkona will make their long-awaited debut on Australian soil, joined by Siberian dark folk duo Nytt Land for the Southern Ritual tour.

For over two decades, Arkona have channeled the spirit of ancient Slavic mythology and Russian folklore into their music. Blending blackened metal with traditional Russian instruments, the band has carved out a cult following around the world. Now, with their latest album Kob released via Napalm Records, Arkona are bringing their firebrand sound to Australian stages for the very first time.

Led by frontwoman Masha “Scream” Arkhipova, Arkona’s performances are known for their intensity, theatricality, and spiritual weight. The band’s name itself is drawn from the last pagan Slavic city-castle before Christianisation – a fitting symbol for their refusal to let cultural history be forgotten.

Joining them for the full run is Nytt Land, a Siberian folk project whose music evokes the raw essence of the natural world. Drawing comparisons to Wardruna and Danheim, the band craft dark, ritualistic soundscapes with throat singing, handmade instruments like the talharpa and kantele, and live field recordings of raven calls and forest ambience. Their lyrics, often sung in Old Norse, dig deep into Norse mythology and epic texts like the Poetic Edda.

Together, Arkona and Nytt Land will offer a night of immersive, primal storytelling – a double bill that will resonate with fans of dark folk, ambient music, pagan metal and the occult fringe of black metal.

Early bird tickets for the Southern Ritual tour go on sale Wednesday 28 May at 10am AEST with no booking fees. General tickets will be available from Tuesday 3 June at 10am AEDT.

Arkona & Nytt Land Southern Ritual Australian Tour Dates

Wednesday, 24 Sep: The Baso, Canberra
Thursday, 25 Sep: Manning Bar, Sydney
Friday, 26 Sep: Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne
Saturday, 27 Sep: Crowbar, Brisbane
Sunday, 28 Sep: Lion Arts, Adelaide

Much like other pagan groups that have graced Aussie shores (Heilung, Wadruna), these shows are expected to sell fast – so get in quick or miss out on a transcendent evening.