Wederkeer

Review Score: 9.0

Reviewed By: Jason Deaville

There is much to learn from the mythos and folklore of the North Germanic peoples that lived centuries ago. Their world was one of kinship, values, honor, and survival. Often, these virtuous, soul-affirming tenets were passed down through generations in the form of stories. This allegory practiced by our ancestors is all but non-existent in today’s hyperkinetic, virtually-lived world. The ‘stories’ of today’s world are force-fed to us via the incessant bombardment of negative, triggering stimuli from both traditional media sources and social media, rendering us soulless. Essentially, we have lost our purpose. We have lost ourselves.

In a world where history is constantly being rewritten, and, to a more foul, sinister degree, erased, those of us who wish to seek the virtuous truths of the distant past are having to dig deeper than ever before. On very rare occasions, we unearth the axioms of a time long lost. These axioms are a set of principles that can explain and inform all the actions of a life well-lived. They form the value systems that foster productivity, nurturement, empathy, and truth, in both the individual and their community. Sometimes, this credo presents itself in the form of music. Sometimes that music is, well, life changing.

The location is the Netherlands. The year is 2023. The music is the folkloric fire and pagan pride of the band Heidevolk and their seventh studio album, Wederkeer. It’s been five years since their much-acclaimed album Vuur Van Verzet, an album that took the heavy music scene by storm, allowing the band to conquer stages throughout the world with their very own brand of folk metal.

With Wederkeer (meaning to “return” or “revive”), the band have created a concept album based on the myths, nature and legends of the Veluwe region of the Netherlands. It is a powerful odyssey, deeply rooted in metal and folklore. It is honest, wholesome and noble, both musically and thematically.

For those of you not familiar with the music of Heidevolk, I would best describe it as bombastic folk/pagan metal with frenzied frolics into power metal-like territory. Essentially, if Germany’s Powerwolf decided to go full-on folk metal you’d be left with Heidevolk.

In true epic fashion, Wederkeer‘s twelve songs are filled with blistering riffs coupled with grandiose moments metal moments (à la Sabaton). Songs such as ‘Klauwen Vooruit’ and the magnificence of ‘De Strijd Duurt Voort’ combine raw pagan metal power with the folkloric landscapes of worlds long lost.

Not a band to play it safe, Wederkeer also shows a progression and adventurousness in its composition, delivering profound and emotionally haunting songs such as ‘Drink met de Goden (Walhalla)’ and the stunning acoustic title-track ‘Wederkeer’. Both songs deliver a beautiful and authentic experience, heighted by the utilization of various folk musicians on vocals, violins, cello, bukkehorns and more traditional medieval instruments.

In the end, this Arnhem-based six-piece manages to capture the spirit and intentions of their forebears through their uncompromising sound and vision. With irresistibly catchy songs, dual clean vocals, traditional instrumentation, and a sound fueled by sometimes old-school, sometimes new-school vicious metal riffing, Wederkeer proves why Heidevolk are one of the most exciting, unrivaled and thought-provoking bands of their chosen genre and beyond.

Much like the ancestors they pay homage to, Heidevolk are bards, delivering stories of promise and hope to a bitter and fractured world.

Head here to grab your very own copy of Wederkeer!