Heidevolk - Batavi

Heidevolk play folk/pagan/Viking (whatever) metal. Okay, yes this is true, many of the melodies are folk ones, but what about the riffs, the riffs? Heidevolk throw thrash, black metal, speed metal, and hard rock riffs around like pocket change. Well, actually, no: they handle their riffage with much more care than that, as will be seen when Batavi absolutely destroys you. This is a concept album about the ancient Germanic tribe Batavi who were near the place in the Netherlands where Heidivolk come from about two thousand years ago. They were a tribe renowned for their bravery and used by the Romans as war pawns.  Although this is their first concept album it is also a departure from previous works musically. While this is still definably Heidevolk, the folk influences have been toned down just a notch, trading acoustic passages (featuring only once as an interlude) for more continuous hard-rocking thrash and speed riffs. I think Heidevolk’s strongest point lies in their vocals, which float ethereally over the breakneck guitar melodies, remaining almost apart and aloft from them as if sung from Valhalla above, and yet the harmonies between the different instruments are blended expertly. The tone of the voices is pure and more controlled than before and once again there are battle calls and injections of black rasping. The album entertains from start to end, and should be on anyone who like’s folk or speed/heavy metal’s lists.

Conclusion: Heidevolk’s strongest and most metallic album, Batavi is the year’s best folk metal release as of yet.

Standout tracks: De Toekomst Lonkt, Het Verbond Met Rome

Score: 9.0