Heidevolk – Batavi
Heidevolk – Batavi CD (Napalm)
From the dark middle ages, as immortalised on ‘Uit Oude Grond’ the pagan warriors of Heidevolk dive into the history of the Batavi, a Germanic tribe that lived on the islands between the great rivers, Rhine and Waal, in the Netherlands during the period of human history that belonged to the Roman Empire. Are they with or against the Empire? That’s something you can find out on your own, by reading the story behind this concept album. Fact remains, there are always battles to be fought, against whatever enemy. Swords and axes sharpened, long marches from home, through swamps and woods. Heidevolk take the folkoristic melancholy, of tribesmen leaving their homes, probably never to return, portrayed by strings, and sad melodies and melt this together with fierce, muscular power-metal. Battlehymns that get the adrenaline flowing, and wake your bloodlust. If you’re Dutch you can sing along to ‘Batavi’, if you’re not, well, you only need a few beers to join the quest. Victory is a certainty. Martijn Welzen
