Review by JD on June 29, 2009.

Face Of Ruin... even the name screams out that this band is pure Death Metal. That is what is promised by this Milwaukee based five piece, so that is exactly what you end up getting. Harsh as someone doing an acid gargle, brutal as a Antarctic storm and straight out heavy. The band is simply some of the most intense metal out there..

This is like almost no other band I have came across... Face Of Ruin has this progressive edge with their take on the music, yet they still are able to keep this barbaric sort of raw energy both musically and lyrically. These two sides are in perfect balance, which makes them more dangerous. Clearly, Face Of Ruin is a band that does not or will they ever coddle the listener, they just set out to pummel you note after note as you are listening to this EP.

What makes Face Of Ruin so amazing, is that no so hidden level of talent that oozes out of each metallic strike they do. With the two sides always straddling that perfect balance line of strength and finesse at all times, the outcome is that they come out with the most honest feeling music that can really play while continually blowing your ass off with every note. Adding in to the concoction of talent and heaviness, the lyrics that are there are bleak and barren as a hot day in the desert.

Face Of Ruin spins darkened tales of pure malice and searing pain that just adds that extra bit of sheer viciousness to the fun of it all... and making this band an act that is worthy to have the tag ‘Death Metal’ hung on them. They deliver what they set out to, and we are all mighty grateful for that.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 8.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by John B. on July 25, 2024.

Well, if Uit Oude Grond really is Heidevolk's worst work, as the low scores before me suggest, then they are doing a lot of things right! All of the best elements of folk/viking metal are showcased here, with practically nothing you don't want in there. Fantastically harmonized, deep but clear vocals bordering on a chanting style - check. Catchy Germanic folk melodies mostly led by the guitars - check. Cool mandolins poking out now and then without neutering the metal - check!

Bockting and van Gelre, with occasional backup from Jesse Middelwijk for catchy group choruses, manage to turn one of the cheesier ideas of viking metal into a respectable signature for themselves. That is, many other bands in the Falkenbach/Kampfar/Thyrfing vein relegate their rare clean vocals to the intentionally simple singalong choruses, so they end up feeling very camp. Heidevolk's vocal crew sing in that deep, sort of ritualistic chant all the time, so it feels like it belongs. That's not to say it ever gets monotone. The guys often harmonize with one taking the (relatively) higher registers, and the effect is always rousing. Check the chorus of "Ostara" and the opening verses of "Reuzenmacht" for the best of the vocal harmonies.

Musically, Heidevolk achieve a true mixture of folk tunes with metal instruments, like I believe the genre should. Along with Skyforger and Obtest, I'd put these Dutchmen on the list of masters of doing folk metal properly: which to me, means that they play "metalized folk". Even the fully guitar-dominated songs like "Nehalennia" and "Een Geldersch Lied", don't need any fiddling or other stuff to remind you it's folk, because of the super catchy Germanic folk melody being played by said guitars themselves. (The bullhorn in "Nehalennia" is of course still welcome, and a pretty cool touch.)

On the other side, songs like "Alvermans Wraak" and "Levenslot" offer the band's best moments of trading mandolin and guitar leads, both of which make the most of their time in the sun. "Deemstering" is a wistful little fully acoustic piece that would have made a lovely farewell to the album, except that there's another (admittedly quite good), song after it.

Pretty much the only things I'd take out from this masterpiece are the mercifully rare attempts at harsh vocals in "Vlammenzee" and "Beest bij Nacht". Not that they're poorly done, they're just unnecessary and out of character. I could also do without the drinking and hey-heys at the end of "Alvermans Wraak", but I guess that's no biggie.

Need more clean singing in your folk/viking metal collection? Need more folkish melodies played on metal guitars, rather than lazy metal chugs accompanied with flutes and fiddles? Start here!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10