The scene:

You are a in a forest in Germany, lost, with your legion.  Through the trees, you here this:

And you think, “we’re screwed”

This is Heilulng, an experimental folk metal electronica (??) band that performs “amplified history”, which, per their youtube channel, means using “sounds from the northern european iron age and viking period. We used everything from running water, human bones, reconstructed swords and shields up to ancient frame drums and bronze rings in the songs. The lyrics contain original texts from rune stones and preserved spear shafts, amulets and other artifacts. Furthermore poems, which either deal with historical events or are translations/ interpretations of the originals.”

Which is very neat.

Of course, this being 2018, aka the Age of Terrible, some serious googling was required, as many people who are fans of the Vikings have…unpleasant political views.  Fortunately, Heilung seems to steer clear of that, stating “Every attempt to link the music to modern political or religious points are pointless”, which seems to be a discrete way of saying that they are not about that life.  No, they are just three people who enjoy making music and think Vikings are cool, which is fair, because Vikings are cool.

As someone who’s DNA is almost certainly a soupy mix of Pict, Celt, Gael, Welsh, Angle, Saxon, Jute, Viking, and Norman, listening to this inspires something primal in me;  I can hear my ancestors calling.  Prepare for battle!  Sack the village!  SACRIFICE TO THE OLD GODS!!

Ahem

You can watch Heilung’s full show here

How Denmark’s Heilung are creating “amplified history” with human bones, throat singing

The grand fashion of Heilung and their iconic sound