After a restful hiatus, Heilung is waking up. This month, the world famous ritual collective is entering LAVA Studios to begin recording their highly-anticipated fourth full-length studio album.
While fans around the globe eagerly await their next album, today, Heilung is excited to share the first single from Sagas, a collection of recordings that core members Kai Uwe Faust, Maria Franz and Christopher Juul created in collaboration with Ninja Theory for the award-winning video game Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga. Unreleased until now, “Læknisgaldr” heals afflictions of the mind, body and soul through the simple act of ritual repetition.
“‘Læknisgaldr’ is the first song we are sharing from our in-between albums release Sagas, which collects sounds from the time we traveled to the land of Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga”, Heilung says. ”We see Sagas as its own branch within Heilung’s musical universe. These recordings show a cinematic, immersive and environmental side of what we do and were shaped very specifically by our work with Ninja Theory and the world of Hellblade.
“The first sound you hear on ‘Læknisgaldr’ was not made by anything from our reality. During the recording process, somehow, while playing with real human bones and breath, we managed to capture a ghost in the studio!” Heilung continues. “The video tells the second part of a greater story about trauma. Like Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga, it deals with what causes trauma to our minds and, most importantly, how to heal it”.
Stream “Læknisgaldr”: https://orcd.co/heilunglaeknisgaldr
Watch the music video for “Læknisgaldr” on Heilung’s YouTube channel.
Sagas comes out December 11, 2026 on Season of Mist. The deluxe CD and vinyl editions of Sagas include Ambient, which features eight additional soundscapes that Heilung recorded to draw listeners even deeper into the world of Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga.
Pre-order Sagas: https://orcd.co/heilungsagas
Pre-save Sagas on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/73MXpxZwUgff1fbvRknmTl
Sagas holds a special place in Heilung’s discography. While the recordings capture Senua’s epic journey through 9th-century Iceland, they took on a life of their own after Franz, Faust and Juul returned home inspired from a 10-day trip across the country’s ice caves, rivers, waterfalls, beaches and volcanoes. These forces of nature inspired them to write far more material than could be used in the game, including the new single “Læknisgaldr”.
Heilung envisions “Læknisgaldr” as a song of healing. It is rooted in a belief from the early medieval period that language is connected to the condition of the human body. By naming an affliction, it becomes defined, contained and open to ritual healing. With each repetition of the song’s percussive beat, its affliction weakens, until it is guided toward dissolution by soothing tribal chants.
“In situations that create acute stress, shock or danger, the body releases adrenaline, preparing the muscles to go into a fight-or-flight state or the so-called freeze response”, Heilung core member and throat singer Kai Uwe Faust explains. “In nature, mammals use neurogenic tremors to shake off this built-up adrenaline once the danger has passed”.
“We humans, being socially conditioned, see trembling with fear as a sign of weakness”, Faust continues. “Or we find ourselves in dangerous situations that last for a long time, where the body simply has no chance to release it. As a result, the adrenaline builds up both in the muscles and in the body. Only in a state of absolute safety and security – and often with the help of therapy – does the possibility arise to develop these neurogenic tremors and free the body from the built-up energy. If this energy stays trapped in the body, it can lead to a range of illnesses.
“In the video for ‘Læknisgaldr’, you can see how the warriors reach this feeling of absolute safety and security in the forest after the battle is over. There, with the help of psychedelics, they are guided into the neurogenic tremors”.
The video for “Læknisgaldr” was directed by Gornoss (@gornoss)
Additional video credits
Produced by Eudaimonia APS/Maria Franz
Filmed on location at Borre Vikingmarked, Borre National Park, Norway and
Árdalur, Írárfoss and various others parts of Iceland.
Camera, Lightening and Editing – Gornoss
Camera Assistant – Ruben Terlouw
Colorist and Visual Effects – Teddy Masson
Main Project Coordinator – Maria Franz
Warrior Coordinator – Ruben Terlouw
Smoke Effects – Francien Heckman
Special Effects Makeup – Avalon Middelton
Special Effects, Makeup and Lighting Assistant – Andor Syvertsen Juvet
Natural Props – Petter-Olai Østbye Sagen
Bjørnar’s Caretaker – Christine Gaski
Local Assistants – Tonje Årolilja Størseth Digre, Lene Madsen Hageløkken, Bent Ole Hageløkken
Catering – Bjunegårdsdrift, Linnea Hellström
Catering Assistant – Jóhanna Sif Þórðardóttir
Location Advisor – Christopher Lund
Location and Project Assistant – Ariya Theprangsimankul
Location Manager – Líam O’Malley
Landowner – Pétur Jónsson
Runner – Jessica Martinez
Warriors – Marian Brinkman, Tom André Skigelstrand, Petter Hennissen, Johannes Reinert Agdestein, Eirik Skår Tomren, Martin Ek, Anja Baalerud Sand, Sisilje Gregersen, Adrian Sarmasan, Rebekka Olafsen Aarum, Brage Sandengen, Morten Svendsrud, Monica Bjørnstad, Markus Wande, Pawel Odvold-Widuto, Stig Morten Flaat, Elias Valbo Ridderström, Krister, Egill Óskar Gíslason, Sigurjón Arason, Kristjón Runar Halldórsson, Kristján Logi Einarsson ísfeld, Jón Gestur Björgvinsson, Theodór Árni Söebech Hansson, Eydìs Moon Guðmundsdóttir, Natalía Ósk R. Snædal, Diðrik Mason Sigurðsson, Daníel Örn A. Linduson, Andri Björn, Heimdall Apeland, Ísleifur Gisurrarson, Bjorgvín Hafn Ásmundson
Sagas Tracklist
- Geiteseidh (00:48)
- Slagt (3:53)
- Læknisgaldr (6:15) [WATCH]
- Orrustumaul (2:34)
- Seidh (5:06)
- Jøtnarhaiti (5:30)
- Sverdhasøngurin (4:10)
- Spjoutsyla (2:42)
- Sonatorrek (2:01)
- Opnun (5:10)
- Dauðimessa (2:32)
Total runtime: 40:40
Ambient Tracklist
- Strongyle (11:01)
- Ran (13:04)
- Dimmuborgir (6:13)
- Baina (3:34)
- Isshellir (2:15)
- Hvaldaudhigaldr (15:45)
- Meinbein (14:03)
- Hyttepåhyttepå (2:31)
Total runtime: 1:08:26
Since they began in 2015, Heilung has paved melodic paths to the past with their unique and mystifying sound. Evading all conventional genre tags and the confines of any specific labels, the ritual collective connects modern society with the rudiments of humanity’s beginnings through amplified history.
“Our ancestral Nordic civilizations did not just pop up, exist and disappear in isolation”, Heilung core member and throat singer Kai Uwe Faust says. “With singing these primordial songs we want to give tribute to these cultures, reconnect to the beginnings and remember that we all, from East to West, from past to present, are connected through the exchange of ideas and inspiring each other”.
While Heilung features authentic and archaic instrumentation that ranges from rattles and ritual bells to human bones and throat singing, their captivating brand of music is far from primitive. Producer and core member Christopher Juul implements subtle electronic elements that elevate the musical atmosphere and provides a more in-depth and layered soundscape.
Indeed, Heilung’s success has been unprecedented. The collective had already been rapidly growing a buzz upon the self-release of their first full-length Ofnir in 2015, but their dizzying upward trajectory really took off from the moment they set foot on the stage at Castlefest in 2017 for the now-legendary debut of their live ritual.
Every Heilung performance begins with Faust leading Juul, core member and vocalist Maria Franz and the rest of the tribe in an ancient prayer. Soon after, the audience is swept into rapture, swayed by incense and throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire.
As Heilung trekked across Europe and brought their mystifying experience to new audiences, talk of this new band and their stunning ceremony made its way to Season of Mist label owner Michael Berberian, who quickly offered the band a record contract after seeing their undeniable musical impact for himself.
By 2019, Heilung launched their second full-length record, Futha, which contrasted the masculine and battle-heavy themes of their debut with a feminine counterpart that celebrated fertility and female energy. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers Charts and #4 on the Billboard World Music Chart and would place on a total of seven Billboard charts while receiving critical-acclaim from press around the globe.
Heilung has crossed over into places outside the music industry. From hit television series like Game of Thrones and Vikings to the blockbuster Robert Eggers film The Northman, their songs have transcended into the larger world.
Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow down Heilung’s success; it only strengthened them and gave them the gift of time to complete work on their third album. In English, Drif means “Gathering”. The music embodies this philosophy by tying together the beginning of civilization with today’s modern society.
Heilung now performs their ritual all over the world. They sold out their first North American tour in 72 hours. Upon returning to the United States in 2021, they were greeted by another sold-out crowd, this time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. This performance was released on vinyl and CD in 2024 as the live album Lifa Iotungard.
In 2025, Heilung embarked on headlining tours of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, they cast their spell over more of the world’s biggest stages, including Roskilde Festival, Download Festival and Glastonbury.
After completing their 2025 Amplified History tour, Heilung went on hiatus. After a restful period, in September 2026, the collective announced that they are returning to the recording studio in October to record their fourth studio album.
They also announced Sagas, a collection of recordings that Franz, Faust and Juul created in collaboration with Ninja Theory for Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga, including many recordings that don’t appear in the video game. Now available in full for the first time on CD, vinyl and digital platforms, these recordings capture the game’s epic journey while also adding the Icelandic landscape to the ritual collective’s unmistakable sound. Lead single “Læknisgaldr” remedies an affliction through the simple act of repetition, like water running over stone.
The special edition of Sagas includes Ambient, a bonus disc with eight atmospheric soundscapes that Heilung recorded to immerse gamers even deeper into the world of Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga.
“Sagas holds a special place in Heilung’s discography”, Faust says. “The ideas that we composed and developed with Ninja Theory for Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga soon took on a life of their own after Chris, Maria and I came home from a formative 10-day journey through Iceland. The landscape of the country helped shape the sonic identity of the material and inspired us to write far more than could be used in the game. The pieces collected on Sagas and Ambient now stand on their own and can be experienced as fully realized Heilung music. After almost eight years since its creation, we are grateful to finally be able to share this material and present it to our listeners as part of our creative journey”.
More news about Heilung’s fourth studio album is coming soon.
Line-up:
Kai Uwe Faust
Christopher Juul
Maria Franz
Production credits
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at LAVA Studio
Produced, Mixed, Mastered and Engineered by Christopher Juul
Cover Art
Kai Uwe Faust
Christopher Juul
Maria Franz
Adrien Bousson
Follow Heilung
Official Website: https://www.amplifiedhistory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amplifiedhistory
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amplifiedhistory
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amplifiedhistory
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sTKZr30LqC928DZ5P9mNQ
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/heilung/536814752
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Heilung
Bandcamp: https://heilung.bandcamp.com/music
Bandsintown: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1977594-heilung
