Heilung’s music is a meticulous blend of authentic sounds and historical texts. Their soundscapes incorporate elements like running water, bones, reconstructed swords and shields, ancient frame drums, and bronze rings. Every sound you hear on their albums "Ofnir," recorded at Lavastudio Copenhagen is genuine. The lyrics are drawn from original texts found on rune stones, preserved inscriptions from weapons, amulets, and other artefacts. At the heart of Heilung is shamanism. Kai Uwe Faust, a shamanic practitioner with over 20 years of experience, brings extensive knowledge of Indo-European history, art, texts, and artefacts to the project. This spiritual foundation, combined with Christopher Juul’s musical expertise and Maria Franz’s ethereal vocals, forms the self proclaimed genre "Amplified History." Their performances are not just concerts; they are immersive rituals designed with the aim to alter the listener’s state of mind. Heilung’s live performances are a feast for the senses, aiming to provide an immersive experience beyond mere auditory pleasure. The experience engages the audience with ancient rhythms, the scent of incense, and visually stunning choreography on a backdrop of an extremely elaborate light design. As a centrepiece you will behold a carefully crafted circular carpet inscribed with the Elder Futhark runic alphabet. This holistic approach ties together all sensory elements into a spiritual journey from beginning to end. "From throat-singing to percussive swords and shields, to naked ritualism to sheer ancient terror – it goes without saying that there’s nothing else like this on offer over the weekend... they’ve won over the entire crowd." - Louder than War "Seeing HEILUNG performing live is much more like witnessing a ceremony than it is like watching a conventional rock band, and the spirituality of the band has been central to their distinctive approach from the very beginning..." - Distorted Sound The name "Heilung" is the German word for healing, reflecting the project's approach to music and ritual. Their work harnesses the healing properties of music and ritual, creating a powerful, transformative experience. Heilung’s live rituals feature a full ensemble of sixteen people, including drummers, vocalists, and a choir of warriors armed with spears and shields. The collective creates a rich, layered sound and a dynamic visual performance, rooted in both musical and spiritual traditions. The warriors, integral to the choreography, combine their material arms with spiritual and vocal expressions, bringing the performance to life. The performance shines through a solid and loyal team of crew on light, audio and backline. Ofnir: Heilung’s first album, "Ofnir," emerged from recording ancient poetry and song, evolving into a full-length album released in 2015. Uploaded to Bandcamp and YouTube, it quickly gained traction within the Nordic folk scene. LIFA: "LIFA" is the live rendition of "Ofnir," capturing the energy and magic of their first live performance at Castlefest 2017. This viral success led to performances at festivals like Midgardsblot and eventually a record deal with the French/Dutch metal label Seasons of Mist, cementing Heilung’s place in the Nordic folk genre. Futha: Ofnir was focused on the masculine energies, to create it we took a big part of the lyrics from preserved rune inscriptions on weapons and armour. Futha is the counterpart, the balance point, the feminine side. Here the lyrics originate from for example Old Icelandic poetry, in which the holy women chant magic spells and offer their blessings. Hence, female voices are more prominent on Futha.
The great healing power of the female wild strength is evoked in Futha. Those who have been present at a birth or seen a lioness hunting, know the spirit. The spirit of the ”wilde Weiber” (German), the wild wise women. Futha endeavours to connect to a time when the wise women were still respected and held a high place in society. Futha was three years in the making and was finished for production and print at midwinter, the very darkest day of the solar year, the 21st in the 12th month at 21:00. Drif: Drif means “gathering”. A throng of people, a horde, a crowd, a pack. In symbiosis with the album title, Drif consists of a flock, a collection, a gathering, a collage of songs, that much like little flames were seeking towards each other, to join, to bond, to create, and be greater together. This album has very clearly dictated its own path. Our attempts to tame it was repeatedly fruitless and once we came to this realisation, the creative flow surged forward with immense force. So much so that sometimes it felt like the songs wrote themselves. All the songs on Drif have their own stories. They each have their place and sense of belonging, with inspiration not only from Northern Europe, but from the ancient great civilisations. Lifa Iotungard: … Lifa Iotungard is the live album that originally spawned after Futha, but was only released after Drif. This live performance was filmed and recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheater 2021 in a time where the world stood still because of the pandemic. This ritual was only possible because of a short moment where people were allowed to be together and experience live music again for the first time in a long while. Heilung's rise has been meteoric. Their live rituals, starting with their debut at Castlefest, have captivated audiences worldwide. From viral YouTube performances to sold-out tours across Europe and North America, including two historic shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Heilung has solidified their legacy. Their music has transcended the underground, featuring in TV series like "Game of Thrones" and "Vikings," video games like "Hellblade II," and films like "The Northman." Heilung’s journey is a testament to the timeless power of music and ritual, drawing from the depths of history to create something profoundly moving and spiritually resonant. Each performance is a journey through time, inviting listeners to connect with the ancient roots of humanity.Heilung’s Sonic Alchemy
A Spiritual Core
An Immersive Experience
Quotes and Acclaim
The Healing Power of Music
A Powerful Ensemble
Albums and Evolution
A Growing Legacy
Heilung’s music is a meticulous blend of authentic sounds and historical texts. Their soundscapes incorporate elements like running water, bones, reconstructed swords and shields, ancient frame drums, and bronze rings. Every sound you hear on their albums "Ofnir," recorded at Lavastudio Copenhagen is genuine. The lyrics are drawn from original texts found on rune stones, preserved inscriptions from weapons, amulets, and other artefacts. At the heart of Heilung is shamanism. Kai Uwe Faust, a shamanic practitioner with over 20 years of experience, brings extensive knowledge of Indo-European history, art, texts, and artefacts to the project. This spiritual foundation, combined with Christopher Juul’s musical expertise and Maria Franz’s ethereal vocals, forms the self proclaimed genre "Amplified History." Their performances are not just concerts; they are immersive rituals designed with the aim to alter the listener’s state of mind. Heilung’s live performances are a feast for the senses, aiming to provide an immersive experience beyond mere auditory pleasure. The experience engages the audience with ancient rhythms, the scent of incense, and visually stunning choreography on a backdrop of an extremely elaborate light design. As a centrepiece you will behold a carefully crafted circular carpet inscribed with the Elder Futhark runic alphabet. This holistic approach ties together all sensory elements into a spiritual journey from beginning to end. "From throat-singing to percussive swords and shields, to naked ritualism to sheer ancient terror – it goes without saying that there’s nothing else like this on offer over the weekend... they’ve won over the entire crowd." - Louder than War "Seeing HEILUNG performing live is much more like witnessing a ceremony than it is like watching a conventional rock band, and the spirituality of the band has been central to their distinctive approach from the very beginning..." - Distorted Sound The name "Heilung" is the German word for healing, reflecting the project's approach to music and ritual. Their work harnesses the healing properties of music and ritual, creating a powerful, transformative experience. Heilung’s live rituals feature a full ensemble of sixteen people, including drummers, vocalists, and a choir of warriors armed with spears and shields. The collective creates a rich, layered sound and a dynamic visual performance, rooted in both musical and spiritual traditions. The warriors, integral to the choreography, combine their material arms with spiritual and vocal expressions, bringing the performance to life. The performance shines through a solid and loyal team of crew on light, audio and backline. Ofnir: Heilung’s first album, "Ofnir," emerged from recording ancient poetry and song, evolving into a full-length album released in 2015. Uploaded to Bandcamp and YouTube, it quickly gained traction within the Nordic folk scene. LIFA: "LIFA" is the live rendition of "Ofnir," capturing the energy and magic of their first live performance at Castlefest 2017. This viral success led to performances at festivals like Midgardsblot and eventually a record deal with the French/Dutch metal label Seasons of Mist, cementing Heilung’s place in the Nordic folk genre. Futha: Ofnir was focused on the masculine energies, to create it we took a big part of the lyrics from preserved rune inscriptions on weapons and armour. Futha is the counterpart, the balance point, the feminine side. Here the lyrics originate from for example Old Icelandic poetry, in which the holy women chant magic spells and offer their blessings. Hence, female voices are more prominent on Futha.
The great healing power of the female wild strength is evoked in Futha. Those who have been present at a birth or seen a lioness hunting, know the spirit. The spirit of the ”wilde Weiber” (German), the wild wise women. Futha endeavours to connect to a time when the wise women were still respected and held a high place in society. Futha was three years in the making and was finished for production and print at midwinter, the very darkest day of the solar year, the 21st in the 12th month at 21:00. Drif: Drif means “gathering”. A throng of people, a horde, a crowd, a pack. In symbiosis with the album title, Drif consists of a flock, a collection, a gathering, a collage of songs, that much like little flames were seeking towards each other, to join, to bond, to create, and be greater together. This album has very clearly dictated its own path. Our attempts to tame it was repeatedly fruitless and once we came to this realisation, the creative flow surged forward with immense force. So much so that sometimes it felt like the songs wrote themselves. All the songs on Drif have their own stories. They each have their place and sense of belonging, with inspiration not only from Northern Europe, but from the ancient great civilisations. Lifa Iotungard: … Lifa Iotungard is the live album that originally spawned after Futha, but was only released after Drif. This live performance was filmed and recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheater 2021 in a time where the world stood still because of the pandemic. This ritual was only possible because of a short moment where people were allowed to be together and experience live music again for the first time in a long while. Heilung's rise has been meteoric. Their live rituals, starting with their debut at Castlefest, have captivated audiences worldwide. From viral YouTube performances to sold-out tours across Europe and North America, including two historic shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Heilung has solidified their legacy. Their music has transcended the underground, featuring in TV series like "Game of Thrones" and "Vikings," video games like "Hellblade II," and films like "The Northman." Heilung’s journey is a testament to the timeless power of music and ritual, drawing from the depths of history to create something profoundly moving and spiritually resonant. Each performance is a journey through time, inviting listeners to connect with the ancient roots of humanity.Heilung’s Sonic Alchemy
A Spiritual Core
An Immersive Experience
Quotes and Acclaim
The Healing Power of Music
A Powerful Ensemble
Albums and Evolution
A Growing Legacy