Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genre: Pagan Folk Metal
Label: Napalm Records

A pretty damn good metal album sits here in the arms of Heidevolk, full of Dutch lyrics, heavy guitars, and epic traditional instruments.
From Gelderland, a province of the Netherlands, Heidevolk use the history of their homeland to weave these folk metal songs. I just wish I understood Dutch, I’d be having a great history lesson right now! My favorite track is the faster paced “Dondergod”, with the slightly slower “Gelders Lied” right behind it.
If you like mandolins and violins and pounding drums joining forces, raise your mead horns high to Heidevolk.
7.5 out of 10.

Heidevolk on MySpace.

Genre: Folk Metal
Label: Napalm Records

It’s been a while since I practiced my Dutch or read anything about Germanic history or mythology… but I don’t think any of that matters since Uit Oude Grond is a headbanging good time!

Uit Oude Grond (meaning, “from old soil” in English) is rife with heavy, crushing riffs and raging basslines that appear to be born and bread for battle! The vocal approach is a sturdy one at that, combining Dutch lyrics with clean and death vocals that resonate off of one another in perfect harmony. As for the token unique instrument, the violin accents everything it was meant to and is a more than welcome addition to the fray. And if you dig magic as well as might, then these songs are right up your alley with content ranging from Nehalennia, the Goddess of trade and fertility, Vlammenzee, a song about a man who dies and has his spear pointing towards his next destination; beside the all-father Woden, Dondergod, the God of thunder and his giant slaying adventures and my favorite, Best Bij Nacht, which means “beast by night”. A vicious tale about a werewolf and his prey!

Overall: Heidevolk breaths new life into a genre that blew up too big, too fast with Uit Oude Grond. It’s a mythology/history lesson that kicks your ass from beginning to end with it‘s folk-y tinge and metal heart! A must own for any fan of the genre.

9.5/10

Heidevolk on MySpace

Originally Posted at E-MetalSpace