Drif

Heilung formed in Copenhagen, Dermark, in 2014, and comprise of German singer Kai Uwe Faust, Danish producer Christopher Juul and Norwegian vocalist Maria Franz. Describing their music as ‘amplified history from early medieval northern Europe,’ the group’s sound will be familiar to viewers of the popular TV series Vikings, Ragnarok and Game of Thrones, all of which feature their work. These shows give you a good idea of what Heilung’s music sounds like; it draws large inspiration from Viking history and mythology.

Drif is the band’s third studio album. Immersion is the key word here. The trio work hard to transport the listener into an ancient world, utilising frame drums, ‘nature’ recordings and even swords and shields to build up a holistic, highly atmospheric soundscape. The results are certainly powerful, even a little unsettling. Opener ‘Asja’ reverberates with vocals that are alternately menacing and beautiful, over a bed of rattling hand percussion and deep strings. ‘Tenet’ unfurls with a repeated mantra and birdsong, before descending into glacial valleys and black seas. This is no easy-listening new age soundtrack. Although happy to mix in elements of modern composition and electronics, Heilung are deeply committed to conjuring an authentic-feeling vision that settles somewhere between the real and the mythological, coming closer to the striking majesty of Dead Can Dance than the lilting melodies of Enya. Ancient music for contemporary ears.