On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the Forum Black Box in Copenhagen became the gateway to another world—a world of ancient traditions, haunting melodies, and primal energy. The evening brought together two extraordinary acts: Eivør, whose voice carries the soul of the North, and Heilung, the enigmatic collective known for their immersive ritualistic performances. It was not just a concert; it was a passage through time, where music, mythology, and spirit intertwined.
Eivør – The Voice of the North
The night began with Eivør stepping onto the dimly lit stage, bathed in a soft, otherworldly glow. The first notes of Jarðartrá resonated through the venue, her ethereal voice floating over the haunting instrumentation like a spirit calling out across the Faroese cliffs. From the very start, she held the audience in quiet awe, her presence magnetic yet delicate.
She followed with Hugsi bert um teg, a song steeped in raw emotion, her voice carrying both longing and resilience. Then came Salt, its deep, atmospheric pulses mirroring the ocean’s ebb and flow, drawing the audience further into her sonic landscape. The misty, dreamlike Í Tokuni wrapped the venue in an almost tangible haze, its electronic textures blending seamlessly with her organic, soulful vocals.
The set took an even more hypnotic turn with Hymn 49, an intimate moment where time seemed to pause, allowing every note to linger in the air like a prayer. Then, with Trøllabundin, she truly transported the crowd into the realm of myth and folklore, her throat singing adding a primal intensity to the piece. The rhythmic drumming and chanting grew in force, echoing through the venue like an incantation.
With Enn, she pulled the audience into a swirling world of dark beauty, her voice rising and falling like the wind over the rugged Faroese landscape. The night reached its closing spell with Upp Úr Øskuni, its melancholic yet uplifting tones acting as a final, burning ember in the fire of her set. As the last note faded, the audience stood motionless for a moment, as if reluctant to let the enchantment slip away, before erupting into thunderous applause.
Eivør’s performance was a moment of deep reverence—a balance of fragility and power, of ancient tradition and modern innovation. But as her final echoes faded into silence, the air in the venue thickened, signaling a shift. The ritual was about to begin.
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Heilung – A Ritual Beyond Time
A dense, smoky atmosphere filled the room as Heilung’s members emerged from the darkness, their silhouettes barely visible against the glow of flickering firelight. The Opening Ceremony began, a ritual of whispered incantations, rattling bones, and rhythmic drumming. As the voices of Maria Franz, Kai Uwe Faust, and Christopher Juul intertwined, the Forum Black Box ceased to be a concert venue—it became a sacred gathering ground, a place outside of time. Heilung describes this experience as “amplified history”, a form of heightened historical storytelling that draws on Celtic and Norse myths and Icelandic poetry.
The primal pulse of In Maidjan followed, the deep percussion thundering like war drums as the performers moved in perfect synchrony. With each chant, each stomp, each rising crescendo, the energy in the room intensified. The sacred runes of Norupo were sung with reverence, the layered harmonies creating an eerie, hypnotic trance that spread through the audience like a spell.
Then came Alfadhirhaiti, its fierce, rhythmic chanting growing in strength with every beat. The warriors on stage—clad in tribal markings—stomped in perfect unison, their presence both terrifying and enthralling. Asja brought a moment of eerie serenity, Maria Franz’s voice floating like an echo from the past, only to be followed by Svanrand, where throat-sung drones rumbled through the venue like the voices of forgotten ancestors.
As the journey continued, Urbani and Tenet built upon each other, their ritualistic cadences growing more intense. By the time Othan began, the boundary between past and present had all but vanished. The voices, the drums, the sound of bones clashing against shields—it was no longer just music, but an invocation, a summoning of spirits long departed.
The ethereal, almost celestial sounds of Anoana lulled the audience into a meditative trance before Nikkal and Elddansurin reignited the fire. The warriors on stage howled and chanted, their movements growing more erratic as the energy reached its peak. Then came Hamrer Hippyer, a furious explosion of rhythm, voice, and motion, the final battle cry before the ritual reached its climax. The entire venue shook under the weight of the performance, every person in the crowd swept up in the storm.
Of course, music alone wouldn’t be enough to make the evening truly diverse. However, Heilung's performance goes far beyond just the musical aspect. The stage design and visual elements play a central role in the experience. The stage had an earthy feel, resembling a forest clearing. The visual aspect, in particular, was mesmerizing—dim lighting bathed the scene in a mystical glow, while mist drifted across the floor, enhancing the sacred atmosphere.
And then, suddenly, it was over. The Closing Ceremony brought a stark contrast—a moment of silence, of reflection, of return. The voices softened, the drumming faded, and as the last chant echoed into nothingness, there was a collective breath, as if the entire audience had just awoken from a shared dream.
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A Night to Remember
Eivør and Heilung, though sonically different, formed the perfect duality—one an enchanting siren of the North, the other an untamed force of nature. Where Eivør’s voice soared with celestial beauty, Heilung's ritualistic chaos grounded the experience in raw, primal power. Together, they crafted a night that transcended mere performance; it was an immersion, a journey, a communion with something far older than the modern world.
Heilung demonstrated that they are more than just a band—they are a spiritual journey that resonates deep within the subconscious. Their performance was a powerful, almost transcendental experience that left the audience spellbound. It was an evening that did not just stay in memory—it became part of the soul. Be sure to catch them at their limited summer shows before they take a break.
