CONCERT REVIEW: Heilung - Live at Kings Theatre - Ghost Cult MagazineGhost Cult Magazine

The Palladium, Worcester, MA 9/8/2022

Sometimes your mind is clouded by your own thoughts, and you just need to get yourself saged, and howl throughout the night. I’m seeing Heilung on the 19th anniversary of my mother’s passing. I definitely felt some kind of way that day. If you’re still not familiar with Heilung by this point in time, the short answer is, they are an earthly ritual based performance.

From their opening ceremony, the set leaned heavily on songs from their previous album, Futha (Season of Mist). We were treated to only one song from their new album Drif (also Season of Mist, read our review here), ‘Anoana’ which is simply mesmerizing. The shield and spear clad Warriors took the stage over for ‘Hakkerskaldyr’ which could be considered their version of a haka.

Each piece tells a story, especially ‘Traust’ were you see a Warrior imprisoned, and ultimately freed. You just get lost in the grandness of the music and chanting. Did I mention, there’s also fire? ‘Elddansurin’ brings the heat. No crazy pyro; just a primal feeling that comes with fire dancing. There are so many moving parts happening all at once in their ritual; from the sonic level, the theatrical staging, to the lighting. It’s lighting with purpose, and adding to the drama, not just to be flashy.

The Palladium, Worcester, MA 9/8/2022

Heilung knows how to end a show, their Warriors take center stage once again and come to you – crowd surfing, chanting, and dancing then finally finishing everything with a sage cleanse. Once the ritual is over, you’re going to feel better than when you got there. Seeing them live is one of the best things you can do for yourself, physically and mentally.