Heilung in Oslo – Music and Myth
- Posted on 18-03-2025
– VENUE: Oslo Spektrum
– DATE: 12th March 2025
– ORGANIZER: FKP Scorpio
On March 12, 2025, Oslo Spektrum became a portal to another age as Heilung took the stage. The Danish-German-Norwegian collective is known for their immersive and theatrical performances, and this night was no exception. As the lights dimmed, the sounds of the forest – chirping crickets, rustling leaves, distant howls, and birdsong – filled the air, while the scent of incense drifted from the stage, setting an atmosphere unlike any other.
Heilung – The Group
Formed in 2014, Heilung – which means “healing” in German – was created by Kai Uwe Faust, Christopher Juul, and Maria Franz. The trio’s music revives the sounds of early medieval and Iron Age Europe, drawing inspiration from ancient texts, runic inscriptions, and historical artifacts. Their performances blur the line between music and storytelling, using traditional instruments like bones, reconstructed historical lyres, and frame drums to create a sonic landscape that is both raw and hypnotic.
Heilung embraces a balance between chaos and harmony, exploring themes of ancestry, spirituality, and nature. Their performances are not about reconstructing history but reinterpreting its echoes for a modern audience.
An Immersive Performance
Dressed in elaborate costumes adorned with furs, bones, beads, and striking face paint, the performers looked like visions from another time. Faust, draped in animal pelts and ancient runes, delivered guttural incantations, while Franz, crowned with antlers and flowing robes, provided ethereal, haunting melodies. Joining them were drummers, dancers, and backing vocalists, all contributing to the performance’s hypnotic effect.
The evening began with the “Opening Ceremony”, a deep, rhythmic introduction that set the tone for what was to come. As the first words of the night rang out – “Remember, we are all brothers and sisters” – the connection between audience and performers was established. Soon, the thunderous percussion of “In Maidjan” reverberated through the arena, building anticipation. The hypnotic beats of “Norupo” and “Alfadhirhaiti” followed, weaving a trance-like spell over the audience. “Asja” and “Svanrand” brought entrancing harmonies, their melodies flowing like whispers from forgotten times.
As the show progressed, the energy shifted between moments of meditative reflection and powerful intensity. The solemn chants of “Urbani” and “Tenet” created an eerie calm before the warlike rhythms of “Othan” and “Anoana” reignited the crowd. The ethereal beauty of “Nikkal” was followed by the flickering flames of “Elddansurin”, as firelight cast dancing shadows across the performers. Finally, “Hamrer Hippyer” erupted into a percussive climax, a fierce and celebratory finale before the echoes of the “Closing Ceremony” faded into silence.
The Experience
Heilung’s ability to craft an immersive experience extends beyond their music. The deep bass of the war drums pulsed through the venue, each beat resonating in the chest of every spectator. The interplay between Faust’s growling vocals and Franz’s soaring melodies created an electrifying contrast that felt both ancient and timeless.
Adding to the spectacle were the dancers, who brought the music to life with striking, ritualistic movements. Clad in tribal garb and wielding Viking-style shields and spears, they engaged in choreographed battle sequences, at times moving in slow, deliberate formations, and at others clashing shields in rhythmic unison. The visual storytelling emphasized Heilung’s themes of ancestry, war, and spirituality.
The audience, though large, often stood in captivated silence, absorbing every moment. When the music demanded it, the energy in the room surged, the crowd becoming a unified force in response to the raw power of the performance.
Oslo Spektrum’s acoustics allowed for every intricate detail, from the faintest whispers to the booming war drums, to be fully experienced. The lighting and stage design heightened the atmosphere, making it easy to lose yourself in the moment.
This deep sense of immersion affected me on a personal level. Having had little prior exposure to Heilung’s music, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, their performance left a profound impact, inspiring me to explore their discography in the days that followed. As cliché as it may sound, I felt an unexpected connection to my roots – the early Germanic and Norse peoples of Northern Europe. Something about the music and performance resonated deeply, stirring a sense of ancestral memory within me.
A Lasting Impression
As the final echoes faded and the band gathered to give their traditional closing words, “Remember, we are all brothers and sisters,” the air was thick with awe. Heilung does not simply perform – they conjure something primal, something deeply rooted in the human experience that lingers after the music has ended.