3.75 /5
Rating
Written by MetalMike
Published March 31, 2012

The music on Heidevolk's fourth album, Batavi, is mostly in the Heavy/Power Metal vein with plenty of major chord riffing and anthemic choruses. They incorporate a few folk elements, like violins and acoustic guitars (on the instrumental "Veled") and even some blackened vocals ("Einde Der Zege") and blast-beat drums ("Het Verbond Met Rome.") For the most part, however, it is all meaty guitars and half-chanted/half-sung vocals, the latter giving the impression of a horde of Vikings pulling in time on the oars of their longship. I can't say any song on Batavi stood out from the others, thus the album as a whole is a good listen, but not particularly memorable.

I was often reminded of Tyr, albeit with lyrics sung in Dutch, when listening to Batavi. If you like that style of Heavy/Power/Folk-influenced Metal, Heidevolk has an album you should enjoy.