Rooted in the epic past, weaving powerful melodic inspiration for the modern Viking spirit

Few could have envisioned the bright future that the Norns had in store for HEIDEVOLK back in 2002. Since its inception in Arnhem (The Netherlands) a decade ago, HEIDEVOLK came, saw, and conquered stages throughout Europe with their very own brand of folk metal. The instantly recognizable dual clean male vocals and irresistibly catchy songs have ignited the pagan fire in the souls of many on the continent. They deliver their songs on divine matters and profane pleasures with equal integrity, fueled by a folkloric fire and pagan pride.

With a repertoire ranging from epic to raging, captivating live shows, and an undying desire to perform, HEIDEVOLK has become a familiar face in Europe. HEIDEVOLK stands for an uncompromising attitude, intense shows, and the transcendence of barriers between performer and audience… Even if your Dutch sucks!

In 2003, HEIDEVOLK released its first CD, “De strijdlust is geboren”, followed by the “Wodan Heerst” EP in 2005. Both releases were re-released on one CD by Napalm Records in 2008.

The sophomore full-length CD “Walhalla Wacht” (Napalm Records) also saw its worldwide release in 2008. With their third full-length, “Uit oude grond” (2010), HEIDEVOLK combined its folk roots and raw energy with more mature songwriting. The album was their most varied release to date, and opened many doors to tours and festivals. It also set the bar high for its successor. Yet HEIDEVOLK now deliver their heaviest, most aggressive and powerful album ever: “Batavi”

The band travels 2,000 years back in time to an era in which numerous Germanic tribes struggled for dominance against the Roman Empire in Northwest Europe, along the shores of the river Rhine. Caught in the middle of it all were the Batavians: the protagonists and namesakes of HEIDEVOLK’s latest album.

“Batavi” is a concept album that deals with the early history of the Batavian tribe: from its beginnings to its daring revolt against one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen. Set against the backdrop of war, alliances, intrigue, and betrayal, the nine songs relate the struggle of a people needing to redefine themselves in order to survive this turbulent time.

While HEIDEVOLK’s musical path continues to explore traditional pagan metal, it proves to be much more resolute and aggressive than ever before. The characteristic clean sound of both Heidevolk vocalists recounts the stories comprising “Batavi”, while heavy guitars, thundering drums, and folk melodies build the foundation of each track: at times sweeping and at others melancholic. Peter Tägtgren’s mix has masterfully defined the band’s sound on this 2012 release. “Batavi” catapults the listener directly onto the northwestern European battlefields of the Roman Empire.

TrollfesT are a Norwegian folk metal band.The band released their first full-length album, Willkommen Folk Tell Drekka Fest, on the Solistitium Records label on 15 March 2005. The album name translates roughly to “Welcome Folk to the Drinking Feast” in English. Their second album, Brakebein (2006), was released by Omvina on 24 May 2006. The band performed at the 2007 Barther Metal Openair festival in Germany, which was their first-ever live appearance; in 2008 they played at the pagan metal Ragnarök Festival. On 10 January 2022, the band were announced as an act in Melodi Grand Prix 2022 with the song “Dance Like a Pink Flamingo”.

On 24 February 1999, three men held a meeting at the borders of the Pääsküla bog, in the singer and guitar player Markus’s basement, one of whom could play a little bit of guitar, another who knew how to play a little bit of drums, and a third who had come up with a sufficiently ancient-sounding name that would be just right for a heavy metal band – ’Metsatöll’ (the name “Metsatöll” is an ancient Estonian euphemism for wolf).The thought soon turned into reality and over the next few days four or five songs were composed and a couple of months later there was an entire album-full of them. The demo album Terast mis hanging me hinge was released in the autumn of 1999. Soon afterwards, Lauri joined the band, bringing with him a second guitar, the torupill, kannels and flutes.

In early 2001, the original bass player was replaced by Kuriraivo. A year later, a single and video for the song Hundi loomine were released.

Metsatöll’s current line-up was finalised in 2004, when Atso took up the place behind the kit. At that same year, the album Hiiekoda was released, which multiplied the number of the band’s fans several hundred times, crushed all previous sales records for an Estonian metal artist and won Metsatöll the Best Metal Act 2005 award at the Estonian Music Awards ceremony.

In 2006, the same award was won for the album Terast mis hangund me hinge 10218, a re-recorded and re-arranged version of the band’s demo album. The live DVD See You On The Battlefield! was recorded during the album’s presentation show, and it won the title of Best DVD 2006. At that very same year Metsatöll and the Estonian National Male Choir composed an arrangement of Veljo Tormis’s magnum opus, Raua needmine; a DVD was released in Estonia and Germany of the show that took place in the ruins of the Pirita cloister.

Metsatöll’s third album, Iivakivi, released in February 2008, won the band the now familiar Metal Act of the Year award from the Estonian Music Awards ceremony. At the same year, Metsatöll signed a contract with Universal’s Finnish subsidiary, Spinefarm Records.

To celebrate the band’s 10th birthday, a 2DVD/CD Kõva Kont (2009) was released, which will be Metsatöll’s final release published with the band’s own resources. More than five hours of stuff to watch and listen, from between the years 2000-2008, it provides a thorough overview of the band’s history – from rehearsals recorded in a basement and the very first gigs attended by both of their fans, to the show at the Rabarock festival, cheered by a stadium full of people, and the concert Märkamisaeg, which was attended by an audience of more than 100 000.

In the autumn of 2009, Metsatöll joined Ensiferum (FIN) for an European tour of 31 shows in 11 countries. By today, the band has played more than 350 shows in Europe and the US, and has sold more than 50 000 albums.

On 15 january 2010, the online-single and video Vaid vaprust was released, a first taste of Metsatöll’s fourth album Äio, due out on 3 March. All the music and lyrics on the album were conceived in the isolation of a small farmstead in Hargla, South Estonia. This provided the songs with a breath that, according to the guys themselves, cannot be achieved in a big city. Äio was recorded in Finnvox studios in Finland and Sinusoid studios in Estonia. The album was mixed by the legendary producer and sound engineer Mikko Karmila.

In 2012, Metsatöll gave concerts in Estonia, Finland and Latvia. In autumn, the band toured with Korpiklaani (FIN), Tyr (FRO) and Moonsorrow (FIN) for a month in North-America, where a total of 26 shows were given. The DVD Tuska, which was recorded at the Tuska Open Air 2012 in Helsinki, was released.

The year 2013 took off to a flying start – Metsatöll gave two gigs for the soldiers of Estonia, USA, UK and Denmark in Afghanistan, at the Helman province. Followed by a trip to Southern Asia, the band went on a European tour with Korpiklaani (FIN) – 40 shows were given in 15 countries.

To this day, Metsatöll have given more than 490 performances and have sold more than 100 000 records.

* Metsatöll uses the chronology of the local natural religion. It begins with the Billingen catastrophe of 8213 before Common Era, when the Baltic ice lake broke its way into the ocean and most of the current territory of Estona appeared from under the water.