Live Review : Heidenfest 2026 @ Academy 2, Manchester on February 4th 2026

There is a fallacy that metal is a consistent whole. It is not. It is a vast tower of Babel of interlinking sub-genres. One of the most idiosyncratic of these many differing components is folk metal. It is born from a desire by, mainly, Scandinavians to combine the forbidden fruits of metal with the traditional folk music of their ancestry. It itself has grown into its own complex catacomb of different sects and tribes. For many years, the gathering of those tribes has happened within the sister touring packages of Paganfest and Heidenfest. The latter was a mainstay of the European circuit between 2008 and 2015. This year sees its miraculous resurrection with a double headliner arrangement of arguably two of the biggest names in this corner of our world. Finntroll and Korpiklaani are not strangers to each other, but this is the first time they have shared top billing on one of these touring circuses.

With five bands to rattle through, it is an early start, thankfully, the folk metal hordes of Manchester (and the surrounding areas) have managed to wangle half days and are chomping at the bit for the first act. The Academy is never full, but what the attendees lack in numbers they more than make up for in enthusiasm, zeal and fanatical commitment to the cause. People have made an effort this evening, and there are pink flamingos (more about those later), inflatable swords and pirate costumes aplenty. The latter are in celebration of the opening salvo The Dread Crew of Oddwood who look all the world like they have taken time out from their daytime pursuit of entertaining patrons queuing for Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. They self-describe themselves as heavy mahogany as opposed to heavy metal, and they are exclusively acoustic in their presentation. Whilst they may not be all muskets blazing in terms of brutality, are an incendiary tight unit and prove to be incredibly entertaining.

The Norwegian metal scene is full of poe-faced outfits who take themselves way too seriously. Trollfest, in their pink tutus and flamingo outfits exist specifically to balance this all out. They are unrepentantly and unashamedly daft and in a live setting come across as a kids' birthday party that has gone quite catastrophically wrong. We may still be crawling through the post-Christmas come down, but it is obvious that those who have gathered here this evening are firmly in a celebratory mood. The upbeat smorgasbord of different musical outputs that parades as Trollfest's style, strikes a massive chord with the assembled hordes. The pit becomes a euphoric cauldron of good-natured happiness. Some front of stage mela’s can feel like a violent confrontation where your fellow concertgoers are hellbent on kicking the living shit out of you. This evening is the antithesis of this and gives the impression of a fully clothed orgy. A circular communal hug of joyful intent. That joy flows from the cavorting crowd and onto the stage. Trollfest are a chaotic cacophony of a hundred different musical styles played at the same time. Rather than use synths or backing tracks, every sound heard is created by way of a revolving door of different instrumentation. Completely nonsensical but utterly delicious.

After two of metal’s more unorthodox outposts, there is a danger that the Viking metal of Heidevolk may feel positively pedestrian. We needn't have worried, as they burn off the stage with malicious intent. This is metal at is most anthemic and epic. There are chock to the brim with rousing choruses about daring do’s. This is stirring and inspiring music that is functionally designed to be sung along with, a beer in hand. Dual vocalists Jacco de Wijs and Dani?l Wansink act as each other's hype man, goading the audience reaction as the other one croons away. They are exquisitely coordinated, never getting in each other's way and beautifully offsetting and juxtaposing each other in both style and presentation. Whereas the previous two acts felt joyful because of their inherent silliness, this becomes a euphoric experience because of the sheer power and presence of the songs. Big, bold and blatantly commercial, it is a gloriously uplifting endeavour

As soon as Finntroll hit the stage it is obvious that something is out of place. It is not Mathias Lillmåns upfront screaming his lungs out, his place is filled by the corpse painted presence of Norwegian Mathias Dahlsveen. If we are honest, he fills Vreth’s place admirably with really the only possible grumble being the absence of a leather skirt or ear appendages. Instead, he goes for the Robinson Crusoe look, sporting a pair of shorts that have long seen better days. However, fashion faux pas aside, his vocal range is deeply impressive and does not stray too far from what we come to expect from Finntroll. The beauty of this band has always been how they wonderfully balance heavy brutality with a jaunty folk mentality. Tonight they roar through their set with authority and renewed vigour.

It is a long time since we actually had any new material from Finntroll (last album “Vresdesvavd” was six years ago). With nothing to promote or spotlight, they have become adept at scurrying around their rather impressive twenty-seven-year recorded history. We get tracks from all seven album sand Mathias treats them if they were his own. He happily recalls tales of men retreating to the woods and defends the decision to include a sort of ballad. He also happily invites his countrymen, Trollfest to the stage (now sadly back in de-rigour hoodies and combat trousers), having invaded their set earlier. Basically, he is the ultimate super sub, fitting into the formation with flair and a dedication to the pre-set formula. Finntroll know what they do works and once again they are a magnificent blur of jaunty feel-good metal.

Korpiklaani have always been the interesting entry in the folk metal lexicon, given that they started as a purely folk act and moved in the metal direction in the early noughties, specifically because of vocalist Jonne Järvelä's work with Finntroll (there has always been a close affinity between the two acts, which makes this double-header even more enticing). If the band that preceded them are death metal with added folk, then Korpiklaani are almost definitely folk with a splash of metal. The accordion of Sami Perttula and the violin of Olli Vanska are as important components of their sound as the guitar and drums. They are, as ever, chaotically wonderful and eminently danceable. Jonnne slurs his way through his between-song interaction in a nonchalant, drunken manner. His attire is reminiscent of the Crow Man from Wurzel Gummidge meets Keith Richard and his delivery is ramshackle enough to keep it on the right side of organic and playful. As ever, it is all alcohol fuelled, and he happily spits out the entire contents of the umpteenth can of the evening all over the front row, leading to several disgruntled punters having to pat themselves dry.

Whilst there has been some reduction in capacity over the course of the evening (5 1/2 hours of folk metal will take its toll on even the most hardened soul), those who remain turn the hall into an anarchistic Ceilidh. Bodies are flung all over the shop, and the remaining attendees bounce around in ecstatic ecstasy, enjoying the hedonistic madness of the whole thing. It is now less a gig and more a big boozy party with the faithful singing along every word as they sup up their final 2 pinters of the night. Putting aside a slightly unnecessary drum solo, it is all track after frantic track of merry mayhem, designed specifically to be yodelled along with at the drunken end of an evening. In these dark days, it just feels wonderfully restorative to have an evening of such unbridled and unashamed fun. That is the takeaway from tonight. The majestic, mischievous and puerile nature of folk metal. It is juvenile and jaunty, but God, does it make you feel good.

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!

Korpiklaani + Finntroll + Heidevolk + Trollfest + The Dread Crew Of Oddwood