Angona is an Turkish metal band, founded in 2007 as Langona. Their sound has evolved through death, thrash and groove metal, and their latest EP “Ashborn” was released in October 2025. Ahead of the concert in Sarajevo, we spoke with vocal Utku Arslan and guitarist Tuna Çil. On February 25, they will share the stage with the Sarajevo-based band Semetra at AG club.
Thank you for your time and for the opportunity to introduce our audience to your band ahead of your concert in Sarajevo.
Utku: Thank you as well. We’re going on this tour to make new friends, and the support of friends like you is very important and wonderful for us. Thank you again.
Let’s start from the early beginnings. The band was founded in 2007 as Langona. Can you tell us a bit more about that period?
Utku: Back then, we were a young and enthusiastic band playing death/thrash metal. We mostly focused on covers. We actually made significant progress in a short time. However, this group only lasted until 2010.
In 2011, the band changed its lineup, name and style. You entered a new chapter as Angona.
Utku: Yes, it’s actually an interesting situation. Angona and Langona mean the same thing. So the name change didn’t affect us that much, but the style changed completely. At that time, we were trying to create a style we called symphonic Turkish metal. You could hear melodies played with Turkish instruments with heavy riffs, while listening to symphonic elements in the background. We worked on this for many years, but “Ashborn” changed everything.
Your sound has evolved through death, thrash and groove metal, and you named the mix of traditional Turkish music elements and symphonic metal the Alaturka style. If I understand correctly, this combination has been very important to you from the very beginning.
Utku: Actually, it was a dream. We could compare it to oriental metal or folk metal, but they’re only similar. We were actually trying to create something completely different. We even came close to that dream in some songs. But I think it was a dream far beyond what we had the means to achieve. Still, we learned a lot from that period, and it shaped who we are today. We love our songs, but unfortunately, they didn’t turn out exactly the way we envisioned.
Can you introduce our readers to the creative side of your band and your songwriting process?
Utku: To be honest, Angona has had very few long-term members in its history. We could say it was both an unfortunate period and a consequence of not living in a city developed for metal music. At that point, Angona became introverted. Over the years, we started making our own recordings, mixing our own tracks, and shooting our own music videos. We still do everything we can for our music. In short, we built our own little world, and now we’re taking action to break out of that shell.
How would you describe Angona in just one sentence?
Tuna: Angona is a spirit that harms no one, but is aggressive, walking alone in the crowd.
Your latest EP “Ashborn” was released in October 2025. Are you satisfied with initial reactions from the audience?
Tuna: Yes, absolutely. We live in Antalya, and a week after the album came out, we had the opportunity to play these songs for our friends who came to see us. The reactions were very positive. “Ashborn” is important to us. It’s the album where we said goodbye to symphonic Alaturka metal and hello to groove/progressive metal. We also told our entire story through the lyrics. We talked about our old friends who started us off in shabby studios and left us halfway through. This is a rebirth for us.
Apart from the “Ashborn tour”, what are your plans for the near future?
Tuna: We released a single called “The Wreck” in January. We are also releasing a Turkish single called “Av” in February. These are works we are eager to play on tour and represent a continuation of the “Ashborn” theme. The lyrics and musical structure are completely intertwined. There will also be shows in Turkey before the “Ashborn tour”. And of course, we will continue to produce new songs and prepare for new shows.
Can you compare the Turkish metal underground scene from your early days to now? Are there more young bands and interest for this genre?
Utku: Of course, Turkish metal is progressing, but it’s a bit introverted. There are many reasons for this – political and economic, for example. That’s why there are many young people in Turkey who can’t dream. They give up on their goals in metal music. But of course, there are still great bands, and very talented bands are coming from the new generation.
To what extent does the media in Turkey support bands oriented towards a harder sound?
Utku: Almost not at all. I think they ignore it. They don’t see anything that isn’t popular. Some things weren’t explained properly, and we’re suffering the consequences. To spread certain things, you have to start from the bottom. That means starting from the lowest level. Unfortunately, it’s not only the media that’s responsible for this, it’s also us and our elders, who haven’t been able to explain metal music properly. As a result, we are now trying to survive through our own efforts, without any support. Of course, there are cities in Turkey where metal music is more popular, but if we look at population ratios and media visibility, we actually have a neglected audience.
Can you single out some concerts that remain among your most cherished memories, as well as some of the bands you shared the stage with?
Utku: One of the concerts we can’t forget was the 2016 Zeytinli Rock Fest. It was amazing to be at that festival with so many famous names. Another memorable moment was playing at Rock’n Antalya in 2008, in our hometown of Antalya. It was also a big festival, and we played alongside many incredible artists. What made it so special was that it was both the first and last time it was held. No other larger or alternative festival has been taken place in our city since then.
Which famous bands have had the greatest influence on your sound and development of your band?
Tuna: If I listed them all, it would be even longer than the interview. So, I just want to mention the bands that influenced us after “Ashborn” – Sepultura, Pantera, Lamb of God, Parkway Drive, and Bleed from Within. There are many bands we love, but I can name these bands as the ones that influenced our current style.
Are you familiar with the scene and some of musicians from the countries of the former Yugoslavia?
Tuna: As far as I know, Divlje Jagode and Bombarder are among the better-known bands from the former Yugoslav scene, although I haven’t explored that scene in depth yet.
What can our audience expect from your concert in Sarajevo?
Tuna: First of all, “Ashborn” is Angona breaking out of its shell, and that requires strength. We will bring all of that energy to the stage. I hope our friends in Sarajevo will be there with us, and that we will have fun together.
Thank you so much for this interview and see you at the concert at AG club. Do you have any message for our readers at the end?
Utku: Thank you very much for your wonderful questions, your efforts, and your support. We eagerly await the day we can come to your beautiful country and have fun with our brothers and sisters. Greetings to everyone and to all of Bosnia and Herzegovina. See you soon.